Law and the Rhetorical Tradition
(Same as PWR 194). This interdisciplinary seminar explores the rhetorical underpinnings of legal argument. The first half of the course acquaints students with relevant elements of the rhetorical tradition. The second half analyzes a variety of legal texts (both written and oral) with an eye to the use and function of rhetorical principles, as well as the ways form and content are mutually constitutive. This course aims both to increase students' understanding of rhetoric as readers and interpreters of legal texts and to develop students' skills as writers and speakers. Students are expected to participate in class discussion in addition to completing a series of writing assignments including the rhetorical analysis of legal and non-legal texts and the revision of students' legal writing.