Dear ABW Students, 

Welcome to our first alternatively-scheduled ABW class -- it looks like we've got a great group, and I'm really looking forward to working with all of you. I'm writing today for several reasons: (1) to tell you about the assigned text and some other books I'd like you to have, (2) to identify WHAT you should read, and (3) to say a bit about our schedule. 

First, there are two required texts: (1) Beazley's A Practical Guide to Appellate Advocacy. The book is in its fifth edition, but that edition is really expensive. If you can find an inexpensive version of the third or fourth edition, by all means, buy that instead and we'll make it work, and (2) The Bluebook.

In addition, I'd like you to bring your favorite style guide to class. I don't care which you use, but I want you to develop the habit of working with a style guide to improve your writing, You probably were assigned something in your first year of legal writing, and if that's the case and you like the book, bring that. If you don't have a style guide or you'd like to try something new, a few of my favorites are as follows:

• Plain English for Lawyers by Wydick (short and readable, not comprehensive, but covers most important rules)
• Chicago Style Manual (comprehensive, but a great book for any writer; it's expensive, though)
• The Redbook by Garner (covers move than Wydick but less than Chicago)

Our first week together is going to be pretty intense, and I'm guessing that many of you will still be working. With that in mind, I'd suggest that you read ahead. Here is, roughly, what I intend for us to cover each class:

• Class one: Chapters 1-3 (Intro; App Jur, Stds of Review; Before You Write)
• Class two: Chapters 4-7 (Blank Page; Drafting Argument; Cases & Statutes)
• Class three: Chapters 8-10 (Format; Special Teams; Reader Friendly Docs)
• Class four: Chapter 11 (Persuasion)
• Class five: Chapter 13 (Oral Argument)
• Class six: Chapter 12 (Polishing)
• Class seven: no reading from the text

Finally, I've discovered that our planned time together is a little short -- we need to add 30 minutes to each class in order to achieve the required amount of class time. It'll be late that first week (we'll go from 6-9:30), but I promise that we'll find ways to keep it interesting and fun.

Please email if you have any questions. And I look forward to seeing you on our first night together!

Carolyn Broering-Jacobs
Associate Dean for Administration
Clinical Professor of Law
Cleveland-Marshall College of Law

Room 111
216-687-5506

c.broeringjacobsnull@csuohio.nulledu