Welcome back!

In addition to reviewing Module 00, please get a jumpstart on the reading, listening, and assignments for Module 1:

Required Reading:

1. Mary Beth Beazley, A Practical Guide to Appellate Advocacy (6th ed. 2023): Chapter 1—Introduction*

2. Ruth Anne Robbins, Steve Johansen & Ken Chestek, Your Client’s Story: Effective Legal Writing (3d Ed. 2024). The link for this ebook can be found on the Module 01: Overview page, which will be made available in the next few days. Only one person may use this ebook at a time. You may download up to 50 pages, so please download the required sections below and exit the resource to free it up for another user.

a. Chapter 3—Effective Tools for Communicating with or on Behalf of Clients (Section 3.3: Cognitive Psychology through the end of the chapter only).*

b. Chapter 6—Types of Legal Reasoning (Section 6.3: Charting the Types of Legal Reasoning only)

3. Deena Jo Schneider, The Complete Appellate Advocate: Beyond Brief Writing, ABA Appellate Issues (Sept. 6, 2019). The link for this article can be found on the Module 01: Overview page, which will be made available in the next few days. You can also Google the article.

4. CALI, Appellate Briefs: Ethical and Professional Considerations (2020). The link for this lesson can be found on the Module 01: Overview page, which will be made available in the next few days.

Required Listening:

1. In preparation for our first synchronous session, please listen to the following podcast: https://youtu.be/g7WROP8eFuk. This podcast can also be found in Activity 1.1 Synchronous Session Prep Work.*

Required Viewing:

1. Course Expectations Video located in Module 00 - Lesson 0.3: Navigating Your Course, which will be made available in the next few days. This is a mostly asynchronous course, which means you must navigate this course on your own. Notwithstanding, I have provided a plethora of resources, examples, and exercises to ensure you retain and understand the material presented so that you are fully capable of drafting a well-written appellate brief and are prepared to give an oral argument in support of that brief at the end of this course. This video explains my teaching method and how to successfully complete Advance Brief Writing 615.*

*Please ensure that you have completed Module 1 and the above starred assignments prior to the first synchronous session, which will be held on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, from 5:45 p.m. – 7:10 p.m.

I look forward to meeting you all soon!

Prof. Kravchenko