Legal Writing for Clarity Flashcards

1
Q

Don’t write to be ______. Write so that you CAN’T be _______ - _______

A

Understood; Misunderstood; Taft

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2
Q

Create _______ before detail

A

Context

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3
Q

Relax your ______

A

Diction

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4
Q

______ the information in your sentences

A

Link

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5
Q

Convey the information in _______.

A

Manageable chunks

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6
Q

4 principles of clarity (CRLC)

A
  1. Create context before detail
  2. Relax diction
  3. Link the information to sentences
  4. Convey the information in chunks
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7
Q

Absolute importance of giving context so that the reader will understand _____ they are reading

A

As (simultaneously)

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8
Q

How do you create context throughout the document? (IMT)

A
  1. Informative introduction
  2. Meaningful headings
  3. Topic sentences
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9
Q

Give both ______and _____ context within _____ language

A

Factual; Legal; Concise

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10
Q

In an opinion, the first sentence only includes _____ umbrella law, which sets the overall ______.

A

ONE; Context

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11
Q

_______ headings are background, procedural history, discussion, analysis

A

Empty (meaningless)

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12
Q

Informative headings lead to ________ and improve reader’s ability to _______

A

Improved recall; Summarize content

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13
Q

_______ provide valuable opportunity for readers to understand context in each paragraph sequentially by sentences

A

Topic sentences

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14
Q

Readers should be able to ______ see why _____are important

A

Instantly; Details

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15
Q

Use meaningful headings and topic sentences to ______the reader

A

Focus

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16
Q

Second method of creating clarity is to ______

A

Relax diction

17
Q

Avoid using what 3 types of language? (LLB)

A
  1. Latin
  2. Legalese
  3. Big words
18
Q

Avoid ______at all costs.

A

Typos

19
Q

Judges will mostly consider whether applicants are ________, using _______ correctly

A

Attention to detail; Grammar

20
Q

Linking ideas with effective _______, such as by using “it, this, etc.” to _______refer to the subject

A

Transitions; Directly

21
Q

Try to make as clear as possible when referring to _______ that is in fact is what we referred to previously. You can take the “guess word” by using _______, or more effectively, use the ______.

A

Old information; Synonyms; Same word

22
Q

Make the reader able to _______see the ______ between old and new information

A

Instantly; Relationship

23
Q

Convey the information in ______.

A

Manageable chunks

24
Q

A chunk is an item that can be held in one’s ______

A

Short term memory

25
Q

Separate long sentences or paragraphs in ______chunks. Each chunk is ______ in its content (naturally flows)

A

Digestible; Easy to spot

26
Q

Favorite judges (RKGKE):

A
  1. Roberts
  2. Kagan
  3. Gorsuch
  4. Kavanaugh
  5. Easterbrook