John Putnam
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Research Mentor(s): Patrick Barry
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Law / Law
Program: UROP
Session: Session 1 (9:00am – 9:50am)
Authors: John Putnam, Patrick Barry
Abstract
The Good with Words: Writing and Editing project I am involved with is focused on attending a weekly law school seminar as an undergraduate student, with the goal of critiquing the class structure and students’ out-of-class work. The seminar is led by Clinical Assistant Professor of Law, Patrick Barry. Together, we research ways to improve the course and gain a better understanding of writing, editing, speaking, and presenting techniques. Additionally, the project aims to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of online learning platforms, such as Coursera, in delivering high-quality legal education. The key terms within this project include “Editing feedback-loops”, “E-D-I-T memos”, and “RA (research assistant) projects”. The term “E-D-I-T memos” refers to Eliminate, Decrease, Increase, and Try memos, which are used to provide structured feedback and guide research on class structure and out-of-class work. There are also bi-weekly meetings which are focused on developing research skills and are attended by other Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) students. During my time spent on this UROP project, I have learned what to expect from a law school setting as an aspiring law student, I’ve learned more about how my interests align with the coursework I critique, and I’ve learned of the many ways in which law school pedagogy is developed and approached.
