A Valuable Cache of Legal Writing Articles by George Gopen.

08 Sunday Mar 2015

Posted by Celia C. Elwell, RP in Brief Writing, Editing, Legal Analysis, Legal Argument, Legal Writing, Readability, Style Manuals

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George Gopen, Legal Skills Prof Blog, Legal Writing, Litigation, Louis J. Sirico Jr.

Excellent Legal Writing Articles by George Gopen, by Louis J. Sirico, Jr., Legal Skills Prof Blog

http://tinyurl.com/psygoox

There are many really superb experts in legal writing. Mr. Sirico is one of them. Mr. Sirico has provided us with a link to not one, but all of Mr. Gopen’s legal writing articles published in Litigation since 2011 to date. Do not lose this, and save under “must read”! -CCE

George Gopen has been writing columns on legal writing for “Litigation,” the magazine of the ABA Section on Litigation. You can access them here.

I cannot speak too highly of George’s work. Years ago, I attended one of his workshops and discovered a new way to think about writing. I have passed the lessons down to my students, and now, even years after they graduate, they tell me how greatly those lessons transformed their writing and contributed to their success.

Controlling Crowded Sentences. Shorter Is Not Always Better?

22 Sunday Jun 2014

Posted by Celia C. Elwell, RP in Editing, Legal Writing, Proofreading, Readability

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Controlling Crowded Sentences, Editing, George Gopen, Judith D. Fischer, Legal Writing Prof, Legal Writing Prof Blog

Controlling Crowded Sentences, by Judith D. Fischer, Legal Writing Prof, Legal Writing Prof Blog

http://tinyurl.com/kacsecz

In his recent article Controlling Crowded Sentences, rhetorician George Gopen shows how to make Gopen the most of stress positions. He starts with a sample thirty-six word sentence and then revises it six different ways. Some revisions are a bit longer than the original, but Gopen emphasizes that ‘I do not hold with those who advise ‘to make it better, make it shorter.’ Each revision has a different purpose: one places a person in a subordinate role, and another builds empathy for her. The article appeared in the spring 2014 issue of Litigation.