Legal Research Methodology And Project Writing Ii
- Law
- 400 level
- 4 credit units
- 121 pages
- 8 units
This course introduces students to general research planning, models, tools, and designs. It explores evolutive, evaluative, identificatory, impact, projective, predictive, collative, historical, and comparative legal research models. The course also covers mono-disciplinary, trans-disciplinary, and inter-disciplinary approaches. Students will learn about the structural outlay of research reports, table of contents, selecting and arranging materials, and finalizing a research paper, including citation guides and Latin phrases.
About this course
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Study hours
- 150 hours
- Maths
- None
- Content
- Theoretical, case study, research
- Practical work
- Yes
- Assignments
- Tutor Marked Assessments
- Final Examination
What you'll read
The real module and unit structure of JIL448, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.
One paragraph, so you can see how it reads
JIL448 · UNIT 1 RESEARCH MODEL
Legal research, like any other research, invariably involves collection and analysis of facts and their interpretation to ascertain or refute existing information or add new information thereto. Inquiry into a legal fact, thus, either supplements the existing theory/information or supplants it with new one.
What you should be able to do
- Describe different models of legal research.
- Explain objectives and significance of different models of legal research.
- Explain emerging trends in legal research.
- Describe weaknesses and strengths of inter-disciplinary legal research.
- Apply research tools and techniques.
- Design a research project.
- Write a research report.
- Apply citation rules.
- Use Latin phrases appropriately.
What it prepares you for
- Legal Researcher
- Legal Analyst
- Law Librarian
- Policy Advisor
- Academic
- Law Firms
- Government Agencies
- Non-profit Organizations
- Academic Institutions
- International Organizations
Where it gets hard
The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.
- Module 1: General Research Planning
Unit 1: Research Model
Understanding the nuances between different models such as evolutive vs. historical requires careful attention to detail and specific examples.
- Module 1: General Research Planning
Unit 3: Research Designs
Applying different research designs (exploratory, descriptive, diagnostic, experimental) to specific legal problems requires critical thinking and analytical skills.
- Module 3: Finalising a Research Paper
Unit 3: Latin Phrases and Expressions Generally Used in Legal Research
Memorizing and correctly applying numerous Latin legal terms in different contexts demands significant effort and practice.
A suggested way through it
13 weeks, about 60 hours in total. Yours will differ.
- Week 1Module 1: General Research Planning
Unit 1: Research Model · 3 hours
Understand the definition and purpose of research models.. Differentiate between evolutive and evaluative research models.. Identify the objectives and significance of different research models..
- Week 2Module 1: General Research Planning
Unit 2: Research Tools · 3 hours
Explore the basic tools used in legal research.. Learn about interviews, questionnaires, and schedules.. Understand the difference between primary and secondary sources of data..
- Week 3Module 1: General Research Planning
Unit 3: Research Designs · 4 hours
Explain the concept of research design and its importance.. Understand the major steps involved in creating a research design.. Differentiate between exploratory, descriptive, diagnostic, and experimental research designs..
- Week 4Module 2: Work Outline/Parts of a Thesis
Unit 1: Structural Outlay of Research Report · 3 hours
Identify the key components of a research report.. Understand the purpose of preliminaries, texts, and references.. Learn about the structure of the title page and preface..
- Week 5Module 2: Work Outline/Parts of a Thesis
Unit 1: Structural Outlay of Research Report · 4 hours
Differentiate between abstract and concrete language in legal writing.. Understand the basic principles of paragraph organization.. Learn about the correct usage of punctuation marks..
- Week 6Module 2: Work Outline/Parts of a Thesis
Unit 2: Table of Contents · 3 hours
Understand the purpose and structure of a table of contents.. Differentiate between analytical and non-analytical tables of contents.. Learn how to create a list of tables and illustrations..
- Week 7Module 2: Work Outline/Parts of a Thesis
Unit 3: Selecting and Arranging Materials · 4 hours
Learn how to select and arrange materials for a legal research paper.. Understand the deductive and inductive forms of reasoning.. Explore different methods of approaching a subject, such as comparison, contrast, and process..
- Week 8Module 3: Finalising a Research Paper
Unit 1: Final Work · 3 hours
Understand the importance of editorial work in finalizing a research paper.. Learn about the content, form, arrangement, and style of a thesis.. Identify the final parts of a research paper, including acknowledgments, abstract, and bibliography..
- Week 9Module 3: Finalising a Research Paper
Unit 2: Citation Guide in Law · 4 hours
Learn about the different citation signals used in legal research.. Understand the rules for citing books, periodicals, and other sources.. Explore the use of signals and parentheticals in citations..
- Week 10Module 3: Finalising a Research Paper
Unit 3: Latin Phrases and Expressions Generally Used in Legal Research · 5 hours
Master the meaning and usage of common Latin terms and phrases in legal research.. Understand the literal translations and definitions of these terms.. Learn how to apply these terms in legal writing and analysis..
- Week 11Module 1: General Research Planning
Unit 1: Research Model · 4 hours
Review all models of legal research.. Practice applying different research tools.. Consolidate understanding of research designs..
Unit 2: Research Tools · 4 hours
Review all models of legal research.. Practice applying different research tools.. Consolidate understanding of research designs..
- Week 12Module 2: Work Outline/Parts of a Thesis
Unit 1: Structural Outlay of Research Report · 4 hours
Review structural outlay of research report.. Practice using abstract and concrete language.. Consolidate understanding of paragraphing and punctuation..
Unit 2: Table of Contents · 4 hours
Review structural outlay of research report.. Practice using abstract and concrete language.. Consolidate understanding of paragraphing and punctuation..
- Week 13Module 3: Finalising a Research Paper
Unit 1: Final Work · 4 hours
Review selecting and arranging materials.. Practice editorial work.. Consolidate understanding of citation guide in law..
Unit 2: Citation Guide in Law · 4 hours
Review selecting and arranging materials.. Practice editorial work.. Consolidate understanding of citation guide in law..
Preparing for the exam
- Create detailed outlines for each research model, focusing on key characteristics and applications.
- Practice applying different research tools to hypothetical legal scenarios.
- Develop a strong understanding of research designs and their appropriate use.
- Memorize key Latin legal terms and practice using them in legal writing.
- Review citation rules and practice creating accurate citations for various sources.
- Focus on understanding the structural components of a research report and their purpose.
- Practice writing clear and concise summaries of key concepts.
- Review all Tutor-Marked Assignments (TMAs) and identify areas for improvement.
- Create flashcards for key terms and concepts.
- Participate in study groups to discuss challenging topics and share insights.
Questions students ask about this course
What is JIL448 about?
This course introduces students to general research planning, models, tools, and designs. It explores evolutive, evaluative, identificatory, impact, projective, predictive, collative, historical, and comparative legal research models. The course also covers mono-disciplinary, trans-disciplinary, and inter-disciplinary approaches. Students will learn about the structural outlay of research reports, table of contents, selecting and arranging materials, and finalizing a research paper, including citation guides and Latin phrases.
How many units does JIL448 have?
JIL448, Legal Research Methodology And Project Writing Ii, has 8 units across 3 modules, over 121 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.
How many credit units is JIL448?
JIL448 carries 4 credit units, at 400 level in Law.
Is JIL448 hard?
JIL448 is rated intermediate level, with no mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical, case study and research work, and it has a practical component.
How long does JIL448 take to study?
About 150 hours of study, spread across its 8 units.
How is JIL448 assessed?
JIL448 is assessed by Assignments, Tutor Marked Assessments and Final Examination.
What can I do with JIL448?
Legal Researcher, Legal Analyst, Law Librarian, Policy Advisor and Academic.