TERTIARY DEPARTMENT

FACULTY OF AB POLITICAL SCIENCE

COURSE: TECHNICAL AND LEGAL WRITING

PROGRAM: BACHELOR OF ARTS IN POLITICAL SCIENCE
NUMBER OF UNITS: 3 UNITS
PRE- REQUISITE: NONE

I. INSTITUTIONAL VISION

To become the leading institution for professional development and the first and
foremost provider of quality, affordable and sustainable development education.

II. INSTITUTIONAL MISSION

To provide quality and excellent global education for the total development of a
responsible, innovative, skillful and professional global workforce whose values and
dignity are beyond par.

III. CORE VALUES

St. Clare College of Caloocan aims to foster distinction and excellence in all the
endeavors of the school community members. All stakeholders are envisioned to be
imbued with enduring core values which define and shape the central beliefs and
character of every genuine Clarean student, employee and administrator within and
beyond the premises of the academic institution.

Hereafter are the core values of St. Clare College:

1. Star that Shines

All members of the school community are encouraged to exemplify remarkable
standards in attaining excellence in every aspect of life, making them role models
who possess the values and character that are worth emulating.

2. Truthfulness
Truthfulness is characterized by embracing honesty in thoughts, words and deeds of
all concerned individuals who are part of the school community.

3. Compassion
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FACULTY OF AB POLITICAL SCIENCE

Selflessness and genuine concern for others are instilled in Clareans through
constant exposure to various academic, extracurricular and co-curricular activities
that will bring out their compassionate attribute.
4. Love
Love for oneself, for others and for noble causes are pivotal in cultivating a well-
rounded individual who embodies unwavering desire and sustained commitment in
undertaking

5. Amiable
Displaying a friendly disposition and pleasant attitude towards other people inspires
positive rapport and desirable outcomes.

6. Righteousness
All concerned members are expected to uphold the ideals and moral principles of
the institution as a reflection of their integrity and dignity.

7. Ever Loyal
Remaining steadfast to the ideals and good name of the institution is a desirable
impression ingrained in the minds and hearts of all the members of the school
community.

IV. INSTITUTIONAL OUTCOMES:

1. Intellectual Creativity, Critical Thinking and Innovativeness

Graduates can use their imagination as well as their rational thinking abilities and
innovation, in order to adopt and adjust to the changing needs of the times both
nationally and globally.

2. Effective Communication
Graduates are proficient and skillful in the four areas of communication: reading,
writing, listening and speaking. They can use their skills in solving problems and
articulating their thoughts when engaging with people in various situations.

3. Leadership Effectiveness and Managerial Skills

Graduates are developed to become the best professionals in their respective
specializations by imploring leadership competencies, managerial skills and
technical know-how.

4. Sense of Nationalism and Global Responsiveness

Graduates are nationalists and respect the values of global citizenship.

5. Personal and Professional Ethical Standard of Excellence

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FACULTY OF AB POLITICAL SCIENCE

Graduates demonstrate desirable strength of character and attitudes in their

personal and professional endeavours.

6.Quality Service and Collaboration

Graduates exemplify the potentialities of an efficient, responsible and well-rounded
professional committed to quality service, honest toil and collaboration.

7.Adeptness in the Use of Information Communication Technology (ICT) Modern

Facilities
Graduates are skillful and knowledgeable in the use of digital learning
devices/facilities, including technical and numerical skills.

8. Community Engagement
Graduates assume an active role in organizing projects, programs and activities to
help and advance the interest and welfare of the people in their respective
communities.

9. Passionate to Perpetual Learning

Graduates are committed to continually advance their knowledge and technical skills
in order to keep themselves abreast to the needs and challenges of their profession,
both nationally and globally.

10. Strong Sense of Spiritual and Moral Values

Graduates are morally and spiritually upright in their day to day undertakings.

V. COURSE DESCRIPTION:

A course in legal writing technique. It involves application of basic legal research

and legal bibliography, case reporting, case analysis, problem solving, legal reasoning,
critical writing, and legal terminology. Students are assigned conflicting decisions, legal
problems, and hypothetical cases.
The course is designed to introduce the students to the broad range of legal
writing from the viewpoint of the law student, client, professor, lawyer, and judge. In the
end of the course, the students are expected to learn how to present ideas clearly,
concisely, and accurately.

VI. COURSE OUTLINE:

Desired learning Course Content/ Subject Teaching and Learning SUGGESTED

outcome Matter Activities (TLA’s) READINGS
What is ‘Good Legal
LESSON 1: Writing’ and Why Does it
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FACULTY OF AB POLITICAL SCIENCE

Matter?” by Mark K.
Introduction to the Course Osbeck, 4 DLR 417, pp.
417-422
a. Importance of Legal “Elements of Style” by
Writing Strunk, W., Jr. and
White, E.B., 4th Edition
Review of Rules of
Grammar Fundamentals of
Decision Writing, pp.
122-130

Fundamentals of
Decision Writing, pp.
LESSON 2: 7-32; 109-121
a. Definition and Manual of Judicial
source of case law Writing, pp.2-8; 35-38
b. Object of the
doctrine
c. Necessity of
adherence to the
doctrine
d. Test as to authority
of decision as
precedent
e. Parts of a decision
f. Headnotes or
syllabus
g. Opinion vs.
Decision
h. Decision vs.
Judgment
i. Kinds of Opinion

LESSON 3:

Legal Writing
a. Definition and types
of legal writing
b. Broad categories of
legal writing (Legal
analysis and legal
drafting)
c. Definition of terms

Abad, pp. 1-12

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FACULTY OF AB POLITICAL SCIENCE

LESSON 4:

I. Stages of Legal
Writing
II. Importance of
drafting an outline.
III. The Legal Dispute
vs. Legal Issue
Tabucanon, pp. 125-
LESSON 5: 165
Manual of Judicial
Matters of Style: Writing, pp. 1-26, 38-
53
Numbers, Punctuations, Fundamentals, pp.
Capitalization, etc…. 122-137

LESSON 5:

IV. The Facts

a. Random Notes vs.
Summary

b. Facts seen through

issue

c. Cluttered facts

d. Relevant facts
Facts set in sequence
Abad, pp. 54-69, 94-
LESSON 6: 120

The Issues

a. Issues in multiple
legal disputes
b. Subordinate
controlling issues
c. Relevant vs.
irrelevant issues
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FACULTY OF AB POLITICAL SCIENCE

LESSON 7:
The Facts
e. Random Notes vs.
Summary
f. Facts seen
through issue
g. Cluttered facts
h. Relevant facts
Facts set in sequence

LESSON 8:

a. Factual vs. legal

issues
b. Correct statement
of the issues
c. Threshold issue
d. Introducing the
issues

Abad, pp. 149-190

LESSON 9: Fundamentals of
Decision Writing, pp.
I. ABC’s of Legal Writing 33-48
Osbeck, pp. 423-440
(framing issues that
Tabucanon, pp. 6-26,
immediately capture
54-62
the reader’s attention,
cutting the verbosity
that wastes readers’
time, achieving the
continuity that lets your
arguments flow
Abad, pp. 191-208
naturally, composing
Tabucanon, pp. 63-86
your writing projects
most efficiently, and
quoting authority more
effectively)
Legalese Writing
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FACULTY OF AB POLITICAL SCIENCE

Abad, pp. 209-219

LESSON 10: Tabucanon, pp. 87-
100
I. Different types of Legal
Correspondence
a. Office
Memorandum
b. Demand Letter
c. Legal Opinion
Letter (to a client)

The Writing Process:

LESSON 11: Drafting, Revising,
and Editing by the
Importance of Editing and Fountainhead Press
Revising

Tabucanon, pp. 166-

168
LESSON 12:
Introduction to Legal Ateneo Law Journal,
Bibliography Legal Citation Guide
(2011)
a. Scope of the study
of legal bibliography
b. Importance of legal
bibliography

In the Matter of the

LESSON 13: Charges of
Plagiarism, etc.,
Rule on Citations Against Associate
Plagiarism Justice Mariano C.
Quotations Del Castillo, A.M. No.
10-7-17-SC, February
8, 2011
Vinuya v. Romulo,
G.R. No. 162230, April
28, 2010
Rule 10 of Code of
Professional
Responsibility
Manual of Judicial
Writing, 26-31, 54-73
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FACULTY OF AB POLITICAL SCIENCE

Rule 6, Sections 1-3

LESSON 14: Rule 7
Rule 8
Writing a Complaint Rule 9
Rule 110, Sections 1-
Pleadings, Parts of a 12,15
Pleading, Manner of Tabucanon, pp. 101-
Making Allegations in a 124
Pleading, Effect of Failure
to Plead

LESSON 15: Rule 110

Rule 112
BASIC LEGAL FORMS IN
CRIMINAL CASES
A. Complaint Affidavit
B. Counter Affidavit

LESSON 16:

Pre-trial Brief
 Writing a Pre-Trial
Brief

LESSON 17: Rule 110

Rule 112
BASIC LEGAL FORMS IN
CRIMINAL CASES
A. Complaint Affidavit
B. Counter Affidavit

LESSON 18:

SPECIAL TOPICS IN
TECHNICAL AND LEGAL
WRITING.

VII. COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND GRADING SYSTEM:

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FACULTY OF AB POLITICAL SCIENCE

Class Recitations 20%

Quizzes 20%
Office Memorandum, Legal Opinion,
Demand Letter, etc… 35%
Complaint 25%

VIII. COURSE POLICIES:

All assignments are mandatory and must be turned in on time. All assignments must
turned in:

(1) via email no later than 2:00 p.m. on the due date to the following email address;
AND

(2) WE STRICTLY PROHIBIT STUDENTS TO SUBMIT A HARD COPY OF

THEIR MODULE OR ASSIGNMENT. Assignments must be attached as a word
document in a format compatible with Microsoft Word 2010 with the filename:
LastName_Module_Type.doc (Marohomsalic_1_Complaint.doc). SUBMITTED
VIA ONLINE.
(3) Academic Honesty: all work is expected to be the student’s own original
work.
(4) “Collaboration on assignments is strictly prohibited unless explicitly
permitted by the instructor. When collaboration is permitted, students must
acknowledge all collaborations and its extent in all submitted work.”