Curriculum Guide · Courses

Professors Jonathan Gimblett and Sharon Nokes

J.D. Seminar 511 | 1 credit hours

This course is designed to prepare law journal members for the significantly different and, in many instances more challenging, nature of their responsibilities in their second year on journal. Its focus is twofold: to help students develop excellent editing techniques in the context of publication, and to help students master other aspects of second year journal membership, including journal management, timely publication, and author-editor interactions. During the course, students will analyze scholarly writing from the editor’s perspective, covering such topics as article selection, large- and small-scale edits, style judgments, and analytical precision. Studying scholarly papers eligible for publication, students will discuss how to edit them to achieve the best balance among the author’s intent, the readers’ needs, and the journal's production imperatives. Students also will do several individual and group assignments focused on particular editing challenges. The class will meet in four three-hour sessions, and attendance will be mandatory in order to receive credit. This seminar may be taken as pass/fail or for a grade.

The seminar will meet on the following Thursdays in Spring 2014: 3/20, 3/27, 4/3 and 4/10. Attendance at all classes and completion of all assignments are required for credit. This seminar may be taken pass/fail or for a grade. THIS COURSE REQUIRES PROFESSOR PERMISSION TO ENROLL. This course is open to second year students. Priority will be given to students who are members of one of the law journals during the 2012-2013 academic year. Students cannot register or put themselves on the waitlist for this course through MyAccess. Students interested in taking this course should send an e-mail to Monica Stearns (smithstm@law.georgetown.edu) indicating their interest in the course and explaining, if relevant, their law-journal-membership status. This course will not be enrolled until after the add/drop period for Spring 2013. Students may not drop another course after the add/drop period in order to add this course. Full-time students will not be able to exceed their maximum credit load by enrolling in this class. Part-time students must pay for this credit when they enroll.