Should I take an Advanced Expository Writing Course as Prep? Forum

[EdmundBurke23]

I'm not the best writer in the world, and I know that law school grades pretty much depend on exam performance. Should I take an expository writing course in order to prepare for law school?

[firemed]

If you aren't a good writer then it will help you write your PS, and wouldn't hurt for exams from what I hear.

On the other hand, my understanding is that it won't help one bit for legal writing other than to cut down on the number of grammar issues your computer will have to correct for you.

[EdmundBurke23]

Should I take a constitutional law course from a political science department instead?

I'm totally oblivious about law, so I'm thinkin this 'might' be a good idea. But I'm also worried that the course might taint my head with an incorrect approach to the study of law. What do you guys think?

[kalvano]

Let your law school professors teach you the law they want you to learn their way.

[Bartlebee06]

Huhuhuhuh, He said taint.

[MartianManhunter]

Take whatever you can get an A in.

[EdmundBurke23]

Thanks for letting me know that an expository course wouldn't be of much help. But could someone please explain to me how this is so? Just a brief example would be awesome.

[dr123]

Expository Writing was probably my favorite class in undergrad, I say take it. Dunno, if it will help much with law school though

[kalvano]

Thanks for letting me know that an expository course wouldn't be of much help. But could someone please explain to me how this is so? Just a brief example would be awesome.

Because legal writing has nothing to do with being a good writer at all. Your LRW teacher will teach you exactly how they want you to write a memo or a brief, and you damn well better write it their way. I was an English major and find myself pained by how I am forced to write, but I prefer good grades to good writing.

[jkay]

Because legal writing has nothing to do with being a good writer at all.

My first memo, I wrote like Cormac McCarthy. I got a D.

My second memo, I wrote like Cardozo. C-.

Next assignment, I wrote like Grisham. Book award.

[EdmundBurke23]

Okay,

I can really see how expository writing wouldn't really help much for law school. I'll just go ahead and use that credit to write an undergraduate thesis instead. Maybe that'll actually help me write a student note in LS.

[kalvano]

What's a student note?