4.10 The Upper-Class Writing Requirement: Goals and Implementation

4.10.01 Statement of Goals

A. To reinforce, expand and amplify the skills learned by students’ in the three mandatory Legal Research and Writing Courses.

B. To develop the techniques of in-depth analysis, synthesis and organization of a body of material.

C. To develop the ability to analyze multiple sources.

D. To require students to produce original and rigorous written works. Examples of written works which could comply with this policy include law review style papers, briefs, policy papers and estate plans. A series of shorter works may also qualify. 

4.10.02 Options to Fulfill the Obligation

The upper-class writing requirement may be fulfilled by the preparation, under the direction of a full-time faculty member, of a rigorous written work consistent with the above goals, in any of the following classes:

A. Capital University Law Review (via an approved note or comment).

B. An approved research seminar, taught by a full-time faculty member. Qualifying seminars shall be determined by the Law School Administration. Such seminars shall be designated in the students' registration materials.

C. An approved course or practicum taught by a full-time faculty member. Qualifying courses and practicums shall be determined by the Academic Affairs Committee upon the request of the professor teaching the course. In considering the request, the Committee will consider both the above goals and the percentage of the course-grade assigned to the written work. On approval, such courses shall be designated in the students' registration materials. The following courses have received such approval: Appellate Advocacy Practicum and Environmental Law Practicum.

D. A course or practicum taught by a full-time faculty member, in which the normal means of grade achievement is an examination but in which the professor has granted a written work option to a maximum of five (5) students. Qualifying courses and practicums shall be determined by the Law School Administration after consultation with the professor of the course. Such courses shall be designated in the students' registration materials.

E. An independent research (course 982), by completion of an independent research paper or independent research project To fulfill the upper-class writing requirement, independent research projects require the pre-approval of the Academic Affairs Committee. No faculty member may direct more than three independent study papers or projects per semester. Students are advised that faculty members generally are unwilling to supervise independent study for purposes of satisfying upper-class writing in the areas in which they offer upper-class writing opportunities in a seminar or course. 

4.10.03 Format and Storage

A. Every written work submitted in fulfillment of the upper-class writing requirements shall have a title page bearing the name of the student and the Faculty member supervising the work as well as the title of the work.

B. Written works submitted in fulfillment of the upper-class writing requirement shall be stored with examination papers for the same time as the examination papers.

4.10.04 Minimum Grade

To satisfy the upper-class writing requirement under Section 4.10.02 (A), the faculty advisor to the Capital University Law Review shall certify that the publishable note or comment submitted by the student merits a minimum grade of C. To satisfy the upper-class writing requirement pursuant to any other provisions of Section 4.10.02, the student must earn a minimum grade of C on the submitted written work. A student who earns less than a C on a written work submitted in fulfillment of the upper-class writing requirement will receive an incomplete (1) and must complete the written work consistent with the provisions governing incomplete grades (See Section 4.7.05 (C)(3)). In a course or seminar in which a written work is one component of the grade for the course or seminar, the student satisfies the upper-class writing requirement only if the student earns a minimum grade of C on the written work component of the course of seminar.