COURSE INFORMATION Course Title: ACADEMIC RESEARCH AND WRITING

Code	Course Type	Regular Semester	Theory	Practice	Lab	Credits	ECTS
LAW 215	A	3	3	0	0	3	5

Academic staff member responsible for the design of the course syllabus (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature)	Dr. Gentjan Skara gskara@epoka.edu.al
Main Course Lecturer (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) and Office Hours:	Dr. Gentjan Skara gskara@epoka.edu.al , Wednesdays 12-1:30 or by appointment
Second Course Lecturer(s) (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) and Office Hours:	NA
Language:	English
Compulsory/Elective:	Compulsory
Study program: (the study for which this course is offered)	Integrated second cycle study program in Law
Classroom and Meeting Time:	Thursdays, 13:45-16:30, D201
Teaching Assistant(s) and Office Hours:	NA
Code of Ethics:	Code of Ethics of EPOKA University Regulation of EPOKA University "On Student Discipline"
Attendance Requirement:	yes
Course Description:	KThis course provides students with the basic and main concepts as well as with the necessary tools to independently conduct a research project and to carry out academic writing and presentations. Concepts of what the science of research is and how research is carried out are also covered in this course. Next, the concepts of how to handle a topic as well as of how to develop and evaluate the ideas that researchers have regarding conducting a study are discussed. A special aspect of the course is related to the communication of results and their connection with scientific knowledge. Reading techniques are also given in this course accompanied with techniques on how to improve the writing style by maximizing the structures used. Special issues of oral presentation and communication with interested parties are also addressed in this course.
Course Objectives:	Students are equipped with research strategies and writing skills to succeed in their discipline. They will learn different modes of writing throughout the semester. They will learn how to conduct research and to write research proposals.

BASIC CONCEPTS OF THE COURSE

1	Academic Writing
2	Legal Research
3	legal skills
4	lawyering skills
5	legal reasoning
6	Academic Paper
7	Referencing
8	Memo
9	Brief Case

COURSE OUTLINE

Week	Topics
1	Introduction to Academic Research and Writing This week will provide an introduction to the course “ACADEMIC RESEARCH AND WRITING”. It will explain the importance of academic research and writing in the future legal profession. Additionally, the course syllabus will be discussed. Literature: 1. Slocum and Nerger (2022), chapter 1
2	Introduction to the Albanian Legal System. This lecturer discusses the Albanian legal system. It discusses the sources of law in the Albanian legal system, including the hierarchy of laws and the legislative process, as outlined in the Constitution of Albania, adopted in 1998 and last amended in 2022. Literature: 1. Constitution of Albania, adopted in 1998 and last amended in 2022
3	Reading and Briefing Cases. This lecturer provides some tips for developing skills in reading and briefing cases. By taking the Albanian Constitutional Court Decision, students will be asked to identify several aspects of the court opinion. Moreover, students will be asked to brief on this case. Literature: 1. Slocum and Nerger (2022), chapter 3
4	Understanding common complaints and basic points in the law assessment. This lecturer provides common practical tips on how to do well in writing law assessments in undergraduate courses. It discusses common complaints and basic points of the assessment. Moreover, practical information on assessing how to research and evaluate will be provided. Literature: 1. Lisa Webley, An Introduction to Legal Writing (Routledge 2024), chapter 1.
5	Answering Problem Questions. This lecture will focus on a public law scenario. Students will be asked to i) diagnose the legal problem, ii) to apply the law to the facts in the problem, and iii) to provide accurate advice on the likely chances of success if a case were to be taken further. Literature: 1. Lisa Webley, An Introduction to Legal Writing (Routledge 2024), chapter 2.
6	Finding the source and the Topic. This lecturer focuses on finding a topic for an essay and legal materials. It provides the students with practical information on: i) finding the topic and locating their sources; ii) using legal materials; iii) providing authority; iv) using cases; v) using statutory materials; vi) using law journals; and vii) using websites.
7	mid term
8	Writing a short essay. Writing an essay is very difficult for most undergraduate students. Sometimes they are confused about where to start or which topic to choose. This lecturer offers some strategies for approaching the writing of an essay. Furthermore, students will be asked to find a topic and draft a 5-paragraph essay outline. Literature: 1. Lisa Webley, An Introduction to Legal Writing (Routledge 2024), chapter 3.
9	Writing Extended Essays and Dissertations. This week discusses writing an extended essay. Extended essays and dissertations are very similar to standard essays in many respects; however, the depth and range of research is more extensive than for a 2,500-word piece of coursework. Additionally, the process of writing a dissertation will be discussed. Literature: 1. Lisa Webley, An Introduction to Legal Writing (Routledge 2024), chapter 4.
10	Referencing. This week shows legal referencing and citation. Students will learn how to: i) cite cases; ii) cite statutory materials; iii) cite journals; iv) cite books; v) cite websites and vi) build a bibliography. Literature: 1. Lisa Webley, An Introduction to Legal Writing (Routledge 2024), chapter 6.
11	Completing and Pooling the Paper. This lecturer considers the important stage of finishing and polishing your answer before handing it in to be marked. It provides some hints to help you make the most of your writing. Literature: 1. Lisa Webley, An Introduction to Legal Writing (Routledge 2024), chapter 7.
12	Presentation of the Legal Research. This week covers a presentation of law assessments. It discusses the following topics: i) word-processed work; ii) adopting good practice in grammar, punctuation and spelling; iii) clear and coherent writing style; iv) avoiding plagiarism; v) providing authority; vi) reading over your answer; vii) answering the question; viii) reasons why students fail to answer the question; ix) writing critically and gaining enhanced grades and x) summary of writing and presentational skills. Literature: 1. Lisa Webley, An Introduction to Legal Writing (Routledge 2024), chapter 7.
13	How to prepare for exams. Open question exams are very similar to legal writing in coursework essays and problem-based coursework. This lecturer will discuss the different types of law exams and the way this will affect your essay and problem question answers. Literature: 1. Lisa Webley, An Introduction to Legal Writing (Routledge 2024), chapter 8.
14	Writing a Memorandum. This week covers writing a legal memorandum. Students will understand the objective and purpose of a legal memorandum. Additionally, students will engage in practical exercises on writing a legal memorandum. Literature: 1. Slocum and Nerger (2022), chapter 10

Prerequisite(s):	Intermediate or higher English skills.
Textbook(s):	1. Lisa Webley, An Introduction to Legal Writing (Routledge 2024) 2. Robin Wellford Slocum and Gina Nerger, Legal Reasoning, Writing and Other Lawyering Skills (Carolina Academic Press 2022)
Additional Literature:	- Hope Viner Samborn and Andrea B Yelin, Basic Legal Writing for Paralegals (5th edn, Aspen College Series, Wolters Kluwer 2016) Steve Foster, Legal Writing Skills: A guide to Writing Essays and Answering Problem Questions (5th edn, Pearson 2019)
Laboratory Work:
Computer Usage:	For research and writing
Others:	No

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES

1	Students will read efficiently and critically
2	Students will use academic vocabulary and style
3	Students will critically review peer work
4	Students will critically engage with academic litearture
5	Students will write and revise academic papers
6	Students will present academic work to a critical audience

COURSE CONTRIBUTION TO... PROGRAM COMPETENCIES (Blank : no contribution, 1: least contribution ... 5: highest contribution)

No	Program Competencies	Cont.
Integrated second cycle study program in Law Program
1	Fitimi dhe përdorimi i njohurive të avancuara në fushën e drejtësisë dhe jurisprudencës, mbështetur në tekstet mësimore, materialet dhe burimet e tjera shkencore.	4
2	Fitimi i njohurive rreth çështjeve dhe problematikave të fushës së drejtësisë, së bashku me analizën e aspekteve historike, shoqërore e politike.	4
3	Fitimi i njohurive rreth organizimit të shtetit.	3
4	Fitimi i njohurive rreth kapaciteteve të analizës lidhur me konceptet dhe ndarjet kryesore të degëve të së drejtës.	4
5	Përmirësimi i aftësive për të punuar së bashku me disiplinat kryesore të shkencave sociale dhe disiplinat e tjera të cilat janë të lidhura me drejtësinë.	4
6	Fitimi i njohurive rreth drejtësisë duke përthithur terminologjinë profesionale të fushës.	4
7	Përcaktimi i ngjarjeve dhe temave komplekse, nëpërmjet zhvillimit të diskutimeve dhe bërjes së sugjerimeve të reja në përputhje me hulumtimet e fushës.	4
8	Fitimi i aftësive në përdorimin e programeve kompjuterike dhe të teknologjisë së informacionit me qëllim arritjen e qasjes në dijen aktuale.	4
9	Përmirësimi i të menduarit kritik dhe aftësive në kryerjen e hulumtimit në mënyrë të pavarur.	5
10	Fitimi i njohurive për të folur në një gjuhë të huaj në një nivel të mjaftueshëm për të komunikuar me kolegët dhe për të kuptuar zhvillimet bashkëkohore në fushën e drejtësisë dhe të jurisprudencës.	5
11	Fitimi i aftësive për të respektuar vlerat shoqërore, shkencore dhe etike gjatë mbledhjes dhe interpretimit të të dhënave që kanë të bëjnë me zhvillimet shoqërore dhe atyre në drejtësi.	5
12	Ndërgjegjësimi në lidhje me rëndësinë e të drejtave të njeriut dhe mjedisit.	5

COURSE EVALUATION METHOD

Method	Quantity	Percentage
Midterm Exam(s)	1	25
Presentation	0	0
Final Exam	1	65
Attendance		10
	Total Percent:	100%

ECTS (ALLOCATED BASED ON STUDENT WORKLOAD)

Activities	Quantity	Duration(Hours)	Total Workload(Hours)
Course Duration (Including the exam week: 16x Total course hours)	16	3	48
Hours for off-the-classroom study (Pre-study, practice)	16	2	32
Mid-terms	1	15	15
Assignments	1	5	5
Final examination	1	25	25
Other	1		0
Total Work Load:			125
Total Work Load/25(h):			5
ECTS Credit of the Course:			5

CONCLUDING REMARKS BY THE COURSE LECTURER