Substantial Writing Requirement
The writing requirement: In order to graduate, a student must produce an original analytic paper of substantial length (ordinarily at least 10,000 words in length) under the supervision of a faculty member, who may augment these requirments.
The character of the paper: The paper must be a sustained piece of writing and not purely descriptive. It should be thorough, well-written, properly documented, and anticipate and address opposing arguments.
The form of the paper: The paper may be a traditional journal note; the author’s empirical research with analysis; a proposal for law reform with defense and commentary; a memorandum of law or a brief addressing a substantial legal issue: or an equivalent project showing original thought and analysis.
The scope of faculty oversight: Students should present an outline of their paper to the supervising faculty member for approval before doing substantial work. After approval, the student must prepare a first draft of the paper and, after faculty review, and discussion, the student must prepare a rewritten second draft that is responsive to the instructor’s criticism and acceptable to him or her.
The time for completion of the paper: A student should have completed his or her first draft no later than January of the student’s final semester to ensure adequate time before graduation for the supervising faculty member to critique the paper, the student to rewrite the paper, and the faculty member to review the second draft and determine whether to approve it or request further work. A small number of seminars will satisfy the Substantial Writing requirement automatically since a Substantial paper is required of all students in the seminar.
A student may earn Substantial Writing credit under the supervision of a faculty member either through a two-credit Directed Research or as part of a seminar or other classroom activity. In the case of a seminar with an optional one credit writing component, students who write such a paper can earn an additional credit for the seminar by registering for the writing credit portion in addition to the seminar itself. For example, if you are registered for Law & Society in China (L05.3009) for two credits, you should register for Writing Credit: Law & Society in China (L05.3615) for the additional credit. You may add the Writing Credit on Albert during the add/drop period, or in person at the Office of Academic Services with a add/drop form by September 28 for Fall 2009 and by February 8 for Spring 2010 classes. Writing Credit courses are listed in the Schedules of Classes.
For lecture courses, satisfaction of the course requirements through completion of the Substantial Writing paper will be awarded the number of credits that the course normally carries.
Substantial Writing credit may not be earned for work a student does for pay.
2009-2010 Substantial Writing Requirement
• Fall 2009 Courses
• Spring 2010 Courses
2008-2009 Substantial Writing Requirement
• Fall 2008 Courses
• Spring 2009 Courses
2007-2008 Substantial Writing Requirement
• Fall 2007 Courses
• Spring 2008 Courses
2006-2007 Writing Requirements
• Part A Fall 2006 Courses
• Part A Spring 2007 Courses
• Part B Fall 2006 Courses
• Part B Spring 2007 Courses
2005-2006 Writing Requirements
• Part A Fall 2005 Courses
• Part A Spring 2006 Courses
• Part B Fall 2005 Courses
• Part B Spring 2006 Courses
2004-2005 Writing Requirements
• Part A Fall 2004 Courses
• Part A Spring 2005 Courses
• Part B Fall 2004 Courses
• Part B Spring 2005 Courses
2003-2004 Writing Requirements
• Part A Fall 2003 Courses
• Part A Spring 2004 Courses
• Part B Fall 2003 Courses
• Part B Spring 2004 Courses