The following
requirements shall apply to papers written for a class of two or
more credits in which students are required to write a research
paper which will account for at least 60% of the student's final
grade. These requirements are in addition to any other requirements
imposed by the professor.
- Topic Approval. The proposed topic for the paper must be approved
by the professor. In addition, at the time the topic is
approved, the student must provide the professor with a
description of all written projects previously worked on by the
student, in higher education or during the course of employment,
which are related to the proposed topic. The professor may
consider this information in deciding whether to approve the
topic, how to evaluate the project, or for any other purpose
deemed relevant by the professor.
- Paper
Requirements. The paper must exhibit substantial research and
analysis that has substantial impact on the law or legal system.
It should be at least twenty-five pages in length. It should
include extensive footnotes that comply with the Blue Book or
another citation system approved by the instructor. The paper
should rely on multiple sources. It may be based on empirical or
other research rather than or in addition to more traditional
legal research, provided the professor approves of the project,
and provided the overall tenor of the paper is legal.
- Outline and
Draft Required. The student must submit an outline and at
least one preliminary draft to the professor. The outline and
draft shall each be evaluated by the professor and returned to
the student in sufficient time to permit the student to
incorporate the professor's comments.
- Advance
Legal Writing Requirement. For papers which are intended to
satisfy the advanced legal writing requirement, the professor
must agree that the topic is appropriate for advanced legal
writing credit. After completion of the paper, the professor
must certify to the registrar that the paper satisfies the
advanced legal writing requirement. At the option of the
professor, this certification may be based on revisions which
are made after the student has received a final grade in the
seminar. Revisions made after the conclusion of the seminar may
not result in any change in the final grade.
- Credit in
Two Classes. A paper written for one class may also be used
for credit in a second class being taken simultaneously, if both
faculty members agree in advance. Such paper must evidence
extraordinary work meriting the award of the total number of
credits to be earned.
- Limits on
credit. No paper or any significant part thereof may be used
(i) for credit in multiple classes not being taken
simultaneously; (ii) for credit in a class and for journal
participation; (iii) for credit in a class and credit for any
internship or clinic work; (iv) for credit in a class and for
independent research; or (v) for credit in a moot court
competition and in a class or independent research. This
prohibition shall not be construed to prohibit joint projects by
two or more students, if approved by the faculty member(s)
involved, or to prevent a student from including work from
another project in a paper, so long as credit is not awarded
based on the work from the other project.
- Final grade.
In a class where a single paper accounts for 60% or more of the
final grade, a professor may base up to 40% of the student's
final grade on any other permissible grading method.
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