Framing, Narrative, and Supreme Court Jurisprudence

LAW 3011 Subject & Catalog Number

Description

Analytical Paper Optional: All enrolled students have the option of completing a research paper of at least 20-25 pages, with faculty and peer review of a substantially complete draft. This paper can be used to satisfy the analytical paper requirement for J.D. students.

Prerequisites: None

Exam Type: No Exam

In this seminar we will examine the ways in which the rhetorical and communications principles of framing and narrative inform U.S. Supreme Court jurisprudence and advocacy.  Analyzing opinions, briefs, and oral arguments, as well as legal and social science scholarship, we will consider how different approaches to legal storytelling can lead to differing judicial outcomes.  And we will discuss the implications of our findings for the development and integrity of the law.

Class participation and successful completion of written and oral assignments (including a final paper) will count for significant portions of students' final grades. Assigned material will include cases, legal scholarship, social science literature, and mass media works.