B.A., LL.B & B.B.A., LL.

B,
Course Outline

Subject Name Law and Literature (English II)

Subject Credit 4
Subject Code NLAW102
This course intends to integrate law and literature by examining law and society
through the lens of literature. Students will examine different genres of literature
like non-fiction, fiction, film, art, plays and music. This course will also focus on
developing writing skills that meet external as well as internal reporting standards
Summary/ while also producing documents that are accessible and understandable to business,
non-business / legal audiences. The course aims at sharpening writing skills and
Overview
grammar and also honing the presentation skills. It will provide inputs to legal
decision making by enhancing the proficiency level of students in areas such as self-
analysis, communicating decisions across functional areas, analysis of legal business
scenarios, case study analysis, customer-centricity, and client/stakeholder
communication.
 To articulate, discuss, reflect and explain a range of oral and written forms and
examine law from a humanistic perspective.
 To understand how law deals with social, political, economic and cultural issues
Aims
through literary readings.
 To assimilate the basics of communication as an important professional tool.
 To demonstrate proficiency in the critical written skills of communication.
Dr. Sabina Zacharias
Office: OF-42, Fourth Floor, Technical Block, Alliance School of Law
Instructor Phone Number: 080-30938100 (Ext.no.8193)
Email: sabina.zacharias@alliance.edu.in
Office Hours 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm Friday

Core Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes Assessment Criteria
Sl.
On completion of this course you To achieve the learning outcome you must
No.
should be able to: demonstrate the ability to:
Appreciate the nuances of English Identify how literature enhances our understanding
1 Language with relation to legal/business of the role of law in society and to sensitize students
usage and towards better preparation for about social issues.
 a legal career.
Discuss case studies, presentations and debates on
Relate the importance of listening vis-a-
2 contemporary topics from a legal/management
vis other aspects of communication.
perspective.
Create a professional resume and build Participate in classroom presentations; understand
3 a professional profile for internships and the importance of asking questions, always be
placements. interactive in sessions and case-scenarios.
Develop the skill of professional and
Practice compact and precise writing in all
academic writing, especially letters,
4 classroom exercises and mid-term as well as end-
emails, memos, reports, research papers,
term examinations.
precis writing and drafting.
The teaching methods will consist of formal lectures, case study analysis, practical
workshops and discussion groups.
Students will work on their own to identify and assess communication methodologies,
and then continuously be trained to refine their all-round communication skills through
class room projects and exercises. This might be a presentation on a legal topic, a
leader/ justice, a business plan or a law case. Over the whole span of the semester, the
Approach student will speak, read, write, listen and play roles so as to be assessed and
continuously appraised on new methods and tools to improve his / her ability to
to
articulate the nuances of legal/business communication in a simplified and professional
Learning manner.
As is appropriate at the Graduation level, students will also be expected to read beyond
texts assigned, and to identify on their own the sources of information for
complementing their studies.
Towards improved General Awareness, students would be encouraged to analyze
current events to provide information not just on an incident that has happened but to
use the same as an opportunity to discuss related information and concepts.
Participants will use case-studies and this learner-centric approach is used to impart the
knowledge. The subject matter expertise of students enrolled in this course is evaluated
and assessed on the basis of project work – that includes case studies, group
assignments, book reviews, listening, reading and writing exercises, media interviews,
speeches, and quizzes and group discussions on current / legal topics.
Assessment of this course will be divided between written examination and research
project.
 Written Examination: Written examination component further divided into two
Assessmen parts which consist of Mid Semester Examination (MSE) which will be held during
the semester and Semester End Examination (SEE). MSE of 45 marks for 2 hours,
t Strategy
the weightage of 15 percent of the total grade will be taken into consideration. The
students will receive the notification of the examination from the ASOL Dean’s
office. The Semester End Examination (SEE) which consists of 100 marks and the
duration of 3 hours to answer the questions, out of which 50 percent weightage will
be taken into consideration. The instructor will provide tips and technics to write
thematic and problem based answers during the class.
 Class Tests/Assignments: Class tests/assignments consist of 5 Marks of the total
marks, which is generally conducted during 4th or 5th week of teaching. Exact dates
will be informed by the teacher. Modalities of the class test can be discussed and
 agreed with the class.
 Classroom Attendance (CA): Classroom attendance and participation comprises of
5 Marks based on your attendance and your participation in the classes marks will
be awarded
 Written Project: During the second week of the teaching the teacher will assign a
title of the research project in consultation with specific student. Each student in the
class is required to submit the full research paper of not less than 4000 words (which
carries 15 percent of the total grade). Specific date lines have been provided in the
academic, requested to find the specific dates for your submission. Each student is
expected to submit their research project work on or before the mentioned deadline in
the academic calendar. Penalties will be imposed to the late submission. If any
student is interested to work on their own topic chosen by them, they are encouraged
to do so, however, they have to get prior approval from the class teacher. Once the
class teacher approves the project then the work can be carried out on regular basis.
The project should be structured around the given topic incorporating therein the
importance of the topic, brief introduction, identifying the research problem,
reviewing the existing legal system, need to write object of the research study and the
scope along with methodology. Further you are required to provide with the
analytical review of the existing literature on the given topic and the specific
questions to be addressed. The class teacher will provide you with a template;
students will have to follow the template strictly. Non-compliance of the template
will attract the penalties. The project should be typed in Times New Roman 12 font
size with 2 point line spacing. The paragraphs should also be justified with normal
margin. Students are required to follow the OSCOLA format for the standard citation.
Project work must be free from plagiarism, you are required to provide with
proper citations in the footnote, and at the end of your project of work you are
required to give full list of select bibliography. If the work found to be a
plagiarized work then it will treated as a serious academic misconduct. Serious
actions will be taken against the student.
 Presentation and Viva: The Presentation and/or Viva-voce comprises of 10 percent
of the total grade where the students are required to give oral/presentation in the class
before the panel of teachers on the project which you have submitted and questions
will be posed by the panel of teachers based upon the presentation.

Assessment Description of Weight Duration and Marks of

No
Method Assessment Method % Examination
2 hours and 45 Marks in which 15
1 DSA Written examination 15
percent weightage
2 AT Class attendance 5 Throughout the Course
Case study/ Assignments,
Project, Presentation on
CS / PR / OR
3 various topics, Viva- voce/ 30 Throughout the Course
/ CP
Quiz, Participation in class
activities
Semester End 3 hours and 100 marks from which
4 Written 50
Examination 50 percent weightage will taken
 Examination
Outline Teaching Schedule
Unit
Topic
Number
1.Professional Communication Skills
(5 Teaching Sessions)
I 1.1 Group Discussion/Debate
1.2 Meeting
1.3 Interview
2.Legal Writing Skills
(5 Teaching Sessions)
2.1Grammar and Punctuation for legal writing
2.2 Business Letter writing and Memorandum
II
2.3 Resume writing and Cover Letter
2.4 Report Writing
2.5 Academic Writing
2.6 Legal document drafting
3.Legal Language
(3 Teaching Sessions)
III
3.1 Legal Terminology and Abbreviations
3.2 Legal Linguistics
4.Public Speaking and Presentation skills
(5 Teaching Sessions)
IV 4.1 Effective speaking for lawyers
4.2 Preparation and structure of public speaking and presentations
4.3 Style, tone and delivery of speeches and presentations
5.Case Studies
(2 Teaching Sessions)
V
5.1Writing case studies, case analysis
5.2 Summarizing cases/legal documents
6. Speaking Skills for Lawyers
(5 Teaching Sessions)
VI 6.1.Conversation Practice and Oral Presentations
6.2 Pronunciation and Intonation; Developing a neutral accent
6.3 Correct Usage and Common Errors
7.Grammar for Effective Speaking and Writing for Lawyers
(4 Teaching Sessions)
7.1 Remedial Grammar: Degrees of comparison; Active and Passive Voice; Modal Verbs ;
VII Reported speech
7.2 Common errors in Writing
7.3Vocabulary, Spelling rules and Idioms
7.4 Essay writing, Comprehension and Precis writing
9.Communication Skills for Advocacy
(4 Teaching Sessions)
VIII
8.1 Etiquettes and Manners for Law Professionals
8.2 Telephone/Internet Etiquette
 9.Literary Readings and Social Skills
(10 Teaching Sessions)
 The Five Functions of The Lawyer by Arthur T. Vanderbilt
 On The Entirely Reasonable Murder of Police Constable by George Bernard Shaw
 Of Judicator by Francis Bacon
 Legality of Book Banning by A.M. Bhattacharjee
IX  The Plain English Movement by Peter Tiersma
 The Bajaj Dispute and Mediation by Sriram Panchu

Also any literary readings which could not be covered in the previous semester will be
carried forward this semester.
*Skits and Class Plays
* Performances – theatre workshop
Student Presentations/ Research Project in Language and Linguistics – Discussion/
X Remedial classes/ tutorials
(5 Teaching Sessions)
Total 48 Active Teaching Sessions
Recommended Resources
Compulsory Reading:
1. Raymond V. Lesikar, Marie. E. Flatley, Neerja Pande, Paula Lentz, Kathryn Rentz. Business
Communication: Connecting in a Digital World 13th Edition. Mishawaka: McGraw Hill Higher
Education, 2011.
2. Gordon Brown and Kent Kauffman. Legal Terminology (6th Edition) Indiana: Pearson, 2014.
3. R.P. Bhatnagar. Law and Language. Delhi: Trinity Press, 2012.
4. K.L. Bhatia. Legal Language and Legal Writing. Uttar Pradesh: Central Law Publications, 2014.
5. Nayan Joshi. Legal Writing and Drafting. Delhi: Lawmann’s Books, 2017.
6. Anirudh Prasad. Outlines of Legal Language in India. Uttar Pradesh: Central Law Publications,
2014.
7. Bryan A. Garner. The Winning Brief: 100 Tips for Persuasive Briefing in Trial and Appellate
Court. USA: Oxford University Press, 2014.
8. Brown G and Sally Rice. Professional English in Use: Law. England: Cambridge University
Press, 2017.
9. Oxford Dictionary of Law
Suggested Reading:
1. Bansal, R.K. and J. B. Harrison. Spoken English for India: A Manual of Speech and Phonetics.
2. Hyderabad: Orient Longman, 1983.
3. Adrian Akmajian, Richard A Demers, Ann K Farmer and Robert M Harnish. Linguistics: An
Introduction to Language and Communication. MIT Press: Prentice-Hall, 2001.
4. A.S.Hornby. Guide to Patterns and Usage in English. Delhi: OUP, 1999.
5. Krishna Mohan and Meera Banerji.Developing Communication skills by. Delhi: Macmillan,
2002.
6. Seema Gupta. Correct Etiquette & Manners for all. Delhi: V&S Publishers, 2013.
7. David Green. Contemporary English Grammar Structures and Composition. Chennai:
Macmillan, 1999.
8. Forsyth, Sandy & Lesley Hutchison. Practical Composition. Edinburgh: Oliver & Boyd, 1981.
9. Geoffrey Leech and Jan Svartvik. A Communicative Grammar of English.Delhi: Longman,
2001.
10. H.K.Mukherjee. Legal Language, Legal Writing and General English. Calcutta: Law Point,
2004.
11. Herbert Brown .A Selection of Legal Maxims. London: Sweet and Maxwell, 1998.
12. Locker, Kitty O. Business and Administrative Communication. Boston: McGraw Hill Higher
13. Education, 2006.
14. M.A. Yadugiri and Geeta Bhasker. English for Law. Delhi: Foundation Books, 2005.
15. Maison, Margaret M. Examine Your English. Hyderabad: Orient Longman, 1980.
16. N. Krishnaswamy. Modern English. Delhi: Macmillan, 2001.
17. Paul Rylance. Writing and Drafting in Legal Practice. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2012.
18. S. Pit Corder. An Intermediate English Practice Book. Hyderabad: Orient Longman, 1996.
19. S.C.Tripathi. Legal Language, Legal Writing and General English. New Delhi: Central Law
Publications, 2005.
20. Thomson and Martinet. A Practical English Grammar. Mumbai: Oxford University Press, 1970.
21. V.R.Narayanswami. Strengthen Your Writing. Hyderabad: Orient Longman, 2000.
22. Wren and Martin. English Grammar and Composition. Delhi: S. Chand, 2000.
23. Andre Sutcliffe. Writer‘s Guide to Style and Usage. Delhi: Macmillan, 2000.
24. Bradin Cormack, Martha C. Naussbaum and Richard Strier, (eds.) Shakespeare and the Law: A
Conversation Among Disciples and Professions. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2013.
25. Prasannanshu. Law and Literature: Readings in English. New York: LexisNexis, 2016.

Recommended Websites:
www.owl.english.purdue.edu – Purdue University Online Writing Lab
www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/general/talkaboutenglish -BBC- Learning English
www.bbc.com/news/business
www.onestopenglish.com/business - Business English
www.oxfordlearnersdictionaryies.com/wordlist/english - Oxford learner’s Dictionary
http://blog.businesscommunicationnetwork.com/ - Bovee and Thill- Business Communication blog
www.toleslegal.com – TOLES (Test of Legal English Skills) practice tests and resources
www.studylegalenglish.com – Legal English podcasts.