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Should I take an Advanced Expository Writing Course as Prep?

Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2011 10:05 pm
by 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?

Re: Should I take an Advanced Expository Writing Course as Prep?

Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2011 10:31 pm
by 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.

Re: Should I take an Advanced Expository Writing Course as Prep?

Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2011 10:47 pm
by 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?

Re: Should I take an Advanced Expository Writing Course as Prep?

Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2011 12:42 am
by kalvano
Let your law school professors teach you the law they want you to learn their way.

Re: Should I take an Advanced Expository Writing Course as Prep?

Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2011 12:59 am
by Bartlebee06
Huhuhuhuh, He said taint.

Re: Should I take an Advanced Expository Writing Course as Prep?

Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2011 1:25 am
by MartianManhunter
Take whatever you can get an A in.

Re: Should I take an Advanced Expository Writing Course as Prep?

Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2011 1:41 am
by 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.

Re: Should I take an Advanced Expository Writing Course as Prep?

Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2011 1:50 am
by dr123
Expository Writing was probably my favorite class in undergrad, I say take it. Dunno, if it will help much with law school though

Re: Should I take an Advanced Expository Writing Course as Prep?

Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2011 4:08 pm
by kalvano
EdmundBurke23 wrote: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.

Re: Should I take an Advanced Expository Writing Course as Prep?

Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2011 12:11 am
by jkay
kalvano wrote: 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.

Re: Should I take an Advanced Expository Writing Course as Prep?

Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2011 11:45 am
by 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.

Re: Should I take an Advanced Expository Writing Course as Prep?

Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2011 1:14 pm
by kalvano
What's a student note?