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Indiana University-Purdue University Fort
Wayne Department of Communication
COM 557 – Legal Communication – Spring
Semester 2011
Instructor: Irwin Mallin
Courtroom Observation Assignment
Due at the beginning of class on
Tuesday, April 12
This is your opportunity to compare what happens in court to what we
read and discuss in this class. Visit any open session of any
public court (i.e., not arbitration). Write a brief paper in
which you describe and critique what you saw and heard from a
communication perspective. What sort of arguments do litigants
make and what persuasive strategies do they use? Are some more
effective than others? In what ways does what you observe seem
consistent with our readings and class discussions and in what ways
does what you observe seem inconsistent? What do the litigants do
that you would do differently? You should take notes as you sit
in court so you can comment on your observations with
specificity.
A separate handout listing opportunities for court observation will be
provided in class.
The best papers will also be grammatically correct, free of spelling
and punctuation errors, and will follow APA style. Of course, you
will include an introduction in which you set up your paper as well as
a conclusion in which you wrap up.
The essay should be between three and five pages in length. It
should be typed (double spaced, margins of 1" all around, font no
larger than 12). It should also be stapled. Be sure and
keep a copy of your paper.
Hints for success for this paper:
•Make sure you do everything called for in these directions.
•Start now, take your time, and
use the services of the Writing Center in Kettler G19 if you need
to.
•You are invited to show me a draft or discuss potential paper topics
in office hours or by appointment.
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2001-2011 Irwin Mallin
Last Updated: 7
February 2011
URL:
http://users.ipfw.edu/mallini/557courtobs.html