Deck 15: The Writing Process for Effective Legal Writing

Question 1

One of the reasons writing skills are important is because a person possessing such skills can produce a finished product in a shorter time than one who does not possess such skills.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Most courts do not have rules governing the format of documents submitted to the court.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

When writing, it is important not to try to make the first draft the final draft.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

The first section of the prewriting process is preliminary research.

Question 5

The primary goal of legal writing is to use as few words as possible.

Question 6

Revising focuses on technical issues, such as grammar and phrasing.

Question 7

The use of an expanded outline results in the preparation of a rough draft while research is conducted.

Question 8

An outline is of greatest value in the writing stage of the legal writing process.

Question 9

The legal writing process is composed of four stages.

Question 10

Legal writing should all be crafted in the same manner, whether it is intended for internal or external use.

Question 11

The vast majority of cases are settled and never go to trial.

Question 12

The basic organizational format for most legal writing that requires analysis is the IRAC format.

Question 13

Editing focuses on whether the writing is complete.

Question 14

Part of the prewriting stage requires the identification of the audience.

Question 15

When an assignment involves several legal issues, do not attempt to research more than one issue at a time.

Question 16

The prewriting stage of the legal writing process is divided into three sections.

Question 17

One of the general research suggestions mentioned in the text is to prepare an expanded outline.

Question 18

The legal writing process begins with an identification of the type and purpose of the assignment.

Question 19

Correspondence is one of the types of legal writing that requires the use of a writing process.

Question 20

When you begin writing an assignment, it is important to write in the sequence of the outline.

Question 21

Which of the following guidelines help in the writing process?

A)Begin writing early in the day when the mind is fresh
B)Write in the sequence of the outline
C)Make the work environment pleasant and physically comfortable
D)Develop and stick to a fixed timetable
E)All of the above
F)Answers a, b, and d above

Question 22

A goal of legal writing is:

A)To clearly convey legal information
B)To fully address a topic in as few words as possible
C)To concisely convey legal information
D)To completely convey legal information
E)All of the above
F)Answers a, c, and d above

Question 23

The prewriting stage consists of which of the following sections?

A)Research
B)Assignment
C)Constraints
D)Organization
E)All of the above
F)Answers a, b, and c above
G)Answers b, c, and d above

Question 24

An expanded outline:

A)Has a separate page for each section and subsection of the outline
B)Includes quotes from key cases
C)Should be kept with you at all times while working on an assignment
D)Allows for the preparation of a rough draft while researching
E)All of the above
F)Answers a and b above
G)Answers a, b, and d above

Question 25

The assignment section of the prewriting stage requires:

A)A determination of the type of legal writing required
B)A determination of the length of the assignment
C)A determination of the format of the assignment
D)The preparation of an expanded outline
E)All of the above
F)Answers a, b, and c above

Question 26

Writing skills are important because:

A)A job evaluation may be based on writing skills
B)Good writing skills usually result in the production of more work in less time
C)The greater the skill, the greater the quality of the product
D)Correspondence to a client is less likely to be misunderstood
E)All of the above
F)Answers a, c, and d above
G)Answers b, c, and d above

Question 27

An outline is integrated into the research and analysis process by:

A)Consulting the local court rule to determine the proper format
B)Converting the outline to a usable form
C)Integrating all research, analysis, and ideas into the outline
D)Conducting preliminary research
E)All of the above
F)Answers b and c above
G)Answers b, c, and d above

Question 28

An outline:

A)Provides an organized framework for presenting research
B)Provides an organized framework for presenting analysis
C)Is of greatest value in the writing stage
D)Provides a context in which to place research and ideas
E)All of the above
F)Answers a, b, and d above
G)Answers a and b above

Question 29

Which of the following are guidelines for legal research in the prewriting stage?

A)Identify the issue
B)Become familiar with the area of law.
C)Locate the case law that may apply.
D)Establish a timetable.
E)All of the above.
F)Answers a, b, and c.
G)Answers b, c, and d.

Question 30

The process of legal writing consists of the:

A)Research stage
B)Prewriting stage
C)Writing stage
D)Postwriting stage
E)All of the above
F)Answers a, b, and c above
G)Answers b, c, and d above

Question 31

Research is a major part of the

A)prewriting process
B)writing process
C)post writing process
D)revision process
E)All of the above.
F)Answers a and b.
G)Answers b, c, and d.

Question 32

A constraint of legal writing is:

A)Time
B)Length
C)Style
D)Format
E)All of the above
F)Answers a, b, and c above
G)Answers a, b, and d above

Question 33

The revision process requires a determination of whether:

A)The document is well organized
B)The writing is clear
C)A new expanded outline is necessary
D)Citations are correct
E)All of the above
F)Answers a and b above
G)Answers a, b, and d above

Question 34

Editing includes a determination of whether:

A)The writing is well organized
B)The grammar and phrasing are correct
C)The writing is concise
D)The writing is complete
E)All of the above
F)Answers a, c, and d above

Question 35

What should you do if you reach a dead end?

A)Make sure the research is current.
B)Restate the issue.
C)Reanalyze the issue.
D)Return to a basic research source.
E)All of the above.
F)Answers a, b, and c.
G)Answers b, c, and d.