Note:
Course content may be changed, term to term, without
notice. The information below is provided as a guide
for course selection and is not binding in any form,
and should not be used to purchase course materials.
GOVT 346 Course Syllabus
COURSE SYLLABUS
GOVT 346
LEGAL RESEARCH AND WRITING
COURSE DESCRIPTION
An overview for the pre-law student of legal research methods and legal writing. Attention will
be given to online and traditional avenues of legal research, as well as standard formats for case
briefs, IRAC, Bluebooking, formal legal memoranda, synthesizing cases, and the principles of
statutory construction. The course requires a major legal research paper.
RATIONALE
This course provides an introductory overview of legal research methods and legal writing. It
builds the foundational skills that students will need as they learn to conduct legal research and
write case briefs, legal citations, and legal memoranda.
I.
PREREQUISITE
For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic
Course Catalog.
II.
III.
IV.
REQUIRED RESOURCE PURCHASE
Click on the following link to view the required resource(s) for the term in which you are
registered: http://bookstore.mbsdirect.net/liberty.htm
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS FOR LEARNING
A.
Computer with basic audio/video output equipment
B.
Internet access (broadband recommended)
C.
Microsoft Office
MEASURABLE LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
A.
Analyze a court case to extract the relevant facts and law.
B.
Synthesize court cases and statutes to determine the law.
C.
Apply the law to a specific set of facts.
D.
Employ the Bluebook citation style.
E.
Exhibit an understanding of the IRAC or CREAC form of legal writing.
F.
Demonstrate research skills using both physical libraries and online resources.
G.
Organize thoughts into a quality outline.
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GOVT 346 Course Syllabus
H.
V.
Demonstrate proficiency at writing legal briefs and memos.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND ASSIGNMENTS
A.
Textbook readings and lecture presentations/notes
B.
Course Requirements Checklist
After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will
complete the related checklist found in Module/Week 1.
C.
Discussion Board Forums (3)
Discussion boards are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student is
required to submit a thread in response to the provided prompt for each forum.
Each thread must be 300–500 words and demonstrate course-related knowledge.
In addition to the thread, the student is required to reply to 2 classmates’ threads.
Each reply must be 150–200 words.
D.
Interactive Citation Workbook Exercises (7)
Exercises will provide the student with an understanding of the Bluebook citation
format.
E.
Case Brief
The student will complete a 1–2-page Case Brief based upon the assigned judicial
opinion. The brief must be written in current Bluebook format. The judicial
opinion will appear in the Assignment Instructions folder.
F.
Client Matter Project
The student will represent a fictitious client by preparing the following
assignments:
1.
Legal Memorandum – Question Presented and Facts
The student will draft both the Question Presented and Facts sections for
the Legal Memorandum in current Bluebook format. These sections must
follow the instructions provided in the Assignment Instructions folder. All
the research needed for this assignment will be contained in the
Assignment Instructions folder. The student must not incorporate outside
research for this assignment.
2.
Legal Memorandum – Final
The student will write a 4–6-page Legal Memorandum – Final in current
Bluebook format. The Legal Memorandum – Final must follow the
instructions provided in the Assignment Instructions folder. All the
research needed for this assignment will be contained in the Assignment
Instructions folder. The student must not incorporate outside research for
this assignment.
3.
Persuasive Brief to Court – Case and Statute List
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GOVT 346 Course Syllabus
The student will prepare a Persuasive Brief to Court – Case and Statute
List in current Bluebook format. This list will include the case(s) and
statute(s) the student will use to support his/her position in the Persuasive
Brief to Court. The student will do legal research for this assignment. The
student must include at least 4 cases and 1 statute in the Case and Statute
List.
4.
Persuasive Brief to Court – Final
The student will write a 6–8-page Persuasive Brief to Court – Final. The
brief must be written in current Bluebook format and must follow the
template provided in the Assignment Instructions folder. The student will
do legal research for this assignment. The student must cite to at least 4
cases and 1 statute in the Persuasive Brief to the Court.
G.
Core Grammar Exercises
Exercises will provide the student with an opportunity to practice grammar and
punctuation skills that are prerequisites to successful legal writing.
VI.
COURSE GRADING AND POLICIES
A.
Points
Course Requirements Checklist
Discussion Board Forums
(3 at 50 pts ea)
Interactive Citation Workbook Exercises (7 at 20 pts ea)
Case Brief
Client Matter Project
Legal Memorandum – Question Presented and Facts
Legal Memorandum – Final
Persuasive Brief to Court – Case and Statute List
Persuasive Brief to Court – Final
Core Grammar Exercises
Total
B.
10
150
140
80
75
200
75
200
80
1010
Scale
A = 900–1010 B = 800–899 C = 700–799 D = 600–699 F = 0–599
C.
Late Assignment Policy
If the student is unable to complete an assignment on time, then he or she must
contact the instructor immediately by email.
Assignments that are submitted after the due date without prior approval from the
instructor will receive the following deductions:
1.
Late assignments submitted within one week of the due date will
receive a 10% deduction.
2.
Assignments submitted more than one week late will receive a 20%
deduction.
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GOVT 346 Course Syllabus
3.
Assignments submitted two weeks late or after the final date of the
course will not be accepted.
4.
Late Discussion Board threads or replies will not be accepted.
Special circumstances (e.g. death in the family, personal health issues) will be
reviewed by the instructor on a case-by-case basis.
D.
Disability Assistance
Students with a documented disability may contact Liberty University Online’s
Office of Disability Academic Support (ODAS) at LUOODAS@liberty.edu to
make arrangements for academic accommodations. Further information can be
found at www.liberty.edu/disabilitysupport.
Page 4 of 4
COURSE SCHEDULE
GOVT 346
Textbooks: Norton et al., Interactive Citation Workbook for The Bluebook (Current).
Slocum, Legal Reasoning, Writing, and Other Lawyering Skills (2011).
MODULE/
WEEK
READING & STUDY
1
Norton et al.: ch. 1
Slocum: chs. 1–2
3 presentations
Course Requirements Checklist
Class Introductions
DB Forum 1
ICW Exercise 1
10
0
50
20
2
Norton et al.: ch. 2
Slocum: chs. 3–6
2 presentations
ICW Exercise 2
Case Brief
20
80
ICW Exercise 3
Legal Memorandum – Question Presented
and Facts
20
3
Norton et al.: ch. 3
Slocum: chs. 7–12
2 presentations
4
Norton et al.: ch. 4
Slocum: chs. 13–17
2 presentations
ICW Exercise 4
20
5
Norton et al.: ch. 5
Slocum: chs. 22–23
2 presentations
ICW Exercise 5
Legal Memorandum – Final
20
200
6
Norton et al.: ch. 6
Slocum: chs. 24–25
2 presentations
DB Forum 2
ICW Exercise 6
Persuasive Brief to Court – Case and
Statute List
50
20
7
Norton et al.: ch. 7
Slocum: chs. 26, 28
1 presentation
DB Forum 3
ICW Exercise 7
Core Grammar Exercises
50
20
80
8
Slocum: chs. 30–31
1 presentation
Persuasive Brief to Court – Final
200
TOTAL
1010
ASSIGNMENTS
POINTS
75
75
DB = Discussion Board
ICW = Interactive Citation Workbook
NOTE: Each course module/week (except Module/Week 1) begins on Tuesday morning at 12:00
a.m. (ET) and ends on Monday night at 11:59 p.m. (ET). The final module/week ends at
11:59 p.m. (ET) on Friday.