1- Introduction.

Disciplinary
approaches in national context

Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Thomas Kruessmann, LL.M.

(King‘s College London)
Yerevan State University, 1 March 2023
 Please review the
interview with the
Hon. Ruth Bader Gin
sburg, Associate Just
ice, Part 1 - YouTube
 Legal reasoning skills in various legal cultures?
 Disciplinary expectations in producing legal research?
How do you „do writing“?

• What is important to you?

• Do you have any „writing rituals“?
• Do you enjoy writing?
• How do you focus?
Have you ever consulted
literature on scholarly writing?
Have you ever consulted
literature on scholarly writing?

This book is available in open access:

https://www.ru.nl/publish/pages/988872/mast
eringyourphd.pdf
Practical exercises I
Edit the following
sentences for
wordiness.
I am writing you in regard to your
letter of March 5, 1994.
I am writing you regarding your letter of
March 5, 1994.
John is a person who succeeds at
everything he does.
John succeeds at everything he does.
Mary left in an abrupt manner.
Mary left abruptly.
Owing to the fact that he was ill, Barry
did not go to work.
Because he was ill, Barry did not go to
work.
Many people here in the city of Louisville
enjoy horse racing.
Many people in Louisville enjoy horse
racing.
Students use the library for research
purposes.
Students use the library for research.
She lives in the vicinity of Chicago.
She lives near Chicago.
He acted in a suspicious manner.
He acted suspiciously.
In the last few days, she recently decided
to attend law school.
In the last few days, she decided to
attend law school.
He studied abroad in France.
He studied in France.
Edit the following sentences, using the
list of common wordy expressions.
John is a person who likes to have fun.
John likes to have fun.
He took an umbrella to work due to the
fact that it was raining.
He took an umbrella to work because it
was raining.
Her phone call was in regard to the Davis
case.
Her phone call was about the Davis case.
A bedroom is for sleeping purposes.
A bedroom is for sleeping.
Nancy proposed a number of solutions for
Jack's roommate problem.
Judy lives in the city of Dayton, which is
in the state of Ohio.
Judy lives in Dayton, Ohio.
He left the party in an abrupt manner.
He left the party abruptly.
Based on the fact that he hates pasta,
Larry didn't join us for dinner.
Because he hates pasta, Larry didn't join
us for dinner.
He lives in the neighborhood of the law
school.
He lives near the law school.
Owing to the fact that several of the
students failed the property test,
Professor James gave a test for makeup
purposes.
Because several students failed the
property test, Professor James gave a
test for makeup purposes.
The level of the water in the river is at
flood stage.
The river is at flood stage.
The principal canceled school on account
of snow.
The principal canceled school because of
snow.
A large percentage of women support the
law.
Many women support the law.
In view of the fact that he had been
drafted, Martin wrote a will.
Because he had been drafted, Martin
wrote a will.
The bad economy has had an impact on
home sales.
The bad economy has affected home
sales.
The school will in the future add a
program in health law.
The school will add a program in health
law.
Those kinds of teenagers frequently
smoke pot.
Those teenagers frequently smoke pot.
All my friends came to my party with the
exception of Peggy.
All my friends came to my party except
Peggy.
The level of wages remained steady last
year.
Wages remained steady last year.
Our lawyers suggested a variety of
solutions.
Our lawyers suggested several solutions.
Eliminate the unnecessary repetitions
in the following sentences.
The weather here in Louisville is
beautiful.
The weather in Louisville is beautiful.
Each and every person should attend his
lectures.
Every person should attend his lectures.
Her painting was beautiful in
appearance.
Her painting was beautiful.
His presentation was equally as good as
John's.
His presentation was as good as John's.
She is shorter in height than her sister.
She is shorter than her sister.
The car was blue in color.
The car was blue.
I personally have never been to Europe.
I have never been to Europe.
The weather will probably continue to
remain cold.
The weather will probably remain cold.
The professor allowed him to retake the
test again.
The professor allowed him to retake the
test.
The spacecraft was oval in shape.
The spacecraft was oval.
Eliminate the unnecessary words or
phrases in the following sentences.
Mark likes eighteenth-century music and
nineteenth-century music.
Mark likes eighteenth- and nineteenth-
century music.
Susan's hair was black; Mary's hair was
blonde.
Susan's hair was black; Mary's blonde.
You will succeed by working hard, by
living frugally, and by caring about
others.
You will succeed by working hard, living
frugally, and caring about others.
John likes his classes during third period
and fifth period.
John likes his third and fifth period
classes.
Kevin liked Anne because she was smart,
because she was kind, and because she
was polite.
Kevin liked Anne because she was smart,
kind, and polite.
Jim had five dollars, Jack had four
dollars, and Jill had six dollars.
Jim had five dollars, Jack four, and Jill
six.
Sally had a yellow sports car, and Joe
had a red sports car.
Sally had a yellow sports car, and Joe
had a red one.
You cannot go to the party until you do
your homework and until you clean up
your room.
You cannot go to the party until you do
your homework and clean up your room.
The class accepts children who are five-
years old, six-years old, or seven-years
old.
The class accepts children who are five-,
six-, or seven-years old.

Or: The class accepts five-, six-, or seven

year old children.
A student can complete the degree in
three years, in four years, or in five
years.
A student can complete the degree in
three, four, or five years.
Eliminate wordy “there” or “it”
clauses from the following sentences.
It is obvious that John will win the
competition.
John will obviously win the competition.
There are many ways to train a dog.
Correct; “there” is the subject.
There are six subjects the professor
might test us on.
The professor might test us on six
subjects.
There are five students nominated for
the scholarship.
Five students are nominated for the
scholarship.
It is probable that it will snow tonight.
It will probably snow tonight.
It is cold in this room.
The room is cold.
There are at least five women who can
win the competition.
At least five women can win the
competition.
John told me it is a good book.
Correct; “it” stands for a particular book.
It is probable that the Giants will win the
Super Bowl.
The Giants will probably win the Super
Bowl.
There are too many people packed into
the concert hall.
Too many people are packed into the
concert hall.