The Three-Act Argument: How to Write a Law Article that Reads Like a Good Story

64 J. Legal Educ. 707 (2015)

5 Pages Posted: 29 May 2015

See all articles by Shari Motro

Shari Motro

University of Richmond - School of Law

Date Written: May 28, 2015

Abstract

Why do many law articles — my own included — leave readers cold? One reason may be that they lack fundamental elements that make up a good story. They lack tension. They lack narrative arc. Over my years teaching seminars and exchanging drafts with colleagues, I’ve developed a recipe inspired by dramatic plot that helps me organize ideas into a form that better engages the reader. I’ve also found it to be conducive to a richer, more generative, more joyful writing process. I hope it does the same for you!

Keywords: Writing, narrative, argument, plot, structure, legal reasoning, story, academic, scholarship

Suggested Citation

Motro, Shari, The Three-Act Argument: How to Write a Law Article that Reads Like a Good Story (May 28, 2015). 64 J. Legal Educ. 707 (2015), Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2611668

Shari Motro (Contact Author)

University of Richmond - School of Law ( email )

28 Westhampton Way
Richmond, VA 23173
United States

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