Practical Guide to Appellate Advocacy

This accessible paperback earned its success in the classroom by: - providing a complete introduction to the techniques and process of writing appellate briefs - presenting class-tested materials and ample illustrations that are both accessible and teachable - emphasizing the process approach to writing, beginning with large-scale issues like content and organization, moving to smaller-scale issues like signals to the reader, and ending on the smallest-scale concerns of format and polishing methods - using numerous annotated examples -- both good and bad -- of legal writing from briefs, with commentary on the point each example is illustrating - including in the appendices four sample briefs with annotations that identify strengths of the brief and/or why the writer chose a particular technique - teaching students how abstract formulas (IRAC, CREXAC, etc.) can be effective in legal writing by having them identify whether certain elements have been included in a document and giving concrete advice on how to use formulas - encouraging students to critique their own work and improve their final product by using the self-graded draft The Second Edition is strengthened by: - including format and function information about dispositive motion memos (such as motions to dismiss or for summary judgment), along with a sample motion memo - refining the discussion of the use of authority to help students better understand what a citation means - improving the discussion of CREXAC to facilitate easier comprehension of how to use formulas to write effectively - adding the concept of "user" to complement the concept of "reader" and explaining the needs of bothgroups - supplying more information on identifying a theme for the argument - including tips on citing to web pages and citing to unpublished opinionsBeazley, Mary Beth is the author of 'Practical Guide to Appellate Advocacy ', published 2006 under ISBN 9780735553774 and ISBN 0735553777.