Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Alternatives to Rosetta Stone
The possibility of making a career in international law is greatly enhanced by knowledge of a foreign language…or two. Law students can take advantage of the language programs available through the Penrose Library. And DU is now expanding the number of options available to acquire foreign language skills. Many students, faculty, and staff have taken advantage of the Rosetta Stone program, and now Penrose is now offering additional programs, on a trial basis, as described below. See the rest of the story here.
Computer-Assisted Language-Learning Programs at DU
As you may have heard, Penrose Library and the Center for World Languages and Cultures (CWLC) are evaluating the computer-assisted language-learning (CALL) programs, including Rosetta Stone, that we offer to the campus community. Currently, we offer Rosetta Stone and Tell Me More, but there are several other programs available, including Live Mocha, Mango, Pimsleur, and Transparent Languages. Together, this broader suite of tools would provide our students and faculty with a wider variety of languages and would serve a broader range of learning styles.
If you are currently using Rosetta Stone through Penrose, you will want to be aware that Penrose will be transitioning away from the current Rosetta Stone program, and will be moving to a more limited option (details at the link, above). This is your opportunity to try out the alternatives that could be offered in its place, and express your views on the best replacement(s). And, if you tried Rosetta Stone, but found it didn’t meet your needs, here is an opportunity to find a program that matches your learning style.
Taking a trip to Mexico or Italy may be beyond the means of many of us, but the break is a great time to explore Spanish or Italian language learning programs. Because maybe, someday, having those language skills will be the key to getting us that position that we really want in Geneva or Beijing!
Written by Joan Policastri, Foreign,Comparative & International Librarian
Monday, January 30, 2012
Writing Tip of the Week: Persuasive Style Part I
Be a subtle advocate. Don’t risk losing credibility with your reader by coming on too strong or attacking the other side. Instead, strive for a reasonable tone.
- Too strong: No one could possibly believe that Mr. Smith’s complaints about his new office have any merit whatsoever.
- Better: Mr. Smith’s complaints that his new office is unattractive and that the printer is too far away are mere inconveniences rather than significant changes in his employment status.
Choose persuasive words. To emphasize favorable information and present your case positively, use colorful and persuasive verbs, adverbs, and adjectives. To de-emphasize facts or information, use neutral, colorless words.
- The witness promptly spotted the man as he fled from the store.
- The witness saw a man leave the store.
Frame your arguments as conclusions rather than opinions. Opinion statements are less persuasive and typically include unnecessary “throat-clearing” phrases such as “it is arguable” or “our client maintains.”
- Opinion: It is our contention that Mr. Smith took reasonable measures to keep the information secret.
- Better: Mr. Smith took reasonable measures to keep the information secret.
Argue affirmatively, rather than defensively. Focus your reader on your own argument by making affirmative instead of defensive statements whenever possible.
- Defensive: The defendant wrongly claims that she should not be liable for the injury to Mr. Jones.
- Affirmative: Public policy mandates holding the defendant liable to Mr. Jones.
Robin Wellford Slocum, Legal Reasoning, Writing, and Persuasive Argument 311-26 (2d ed. 2006); Laurel Currie Oates & Anne Enquist, The Legal Writing Handbook 353-61, 592 (5th ed. 2010).
Friday, January 27, 2012
Restricted Library Access
The doors will be locked from 6pm - closing weeknights and from 6pm Friday until opening on Monday morning. During those times, patrons will need a DU law school ID card to swipe at the front door to gain access. Non-law school patrons, such as attorneys and other individuals needing to do legal research, will need to knock on the door and speak to the Circulation Desk employee in order to enter the library. DU (non-law) students are asked to please find another place to study during this time. Thank you for your consideration.
Written by Patty Wellinger, Reference Services Coordinator
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Legal History Databases
Making of Modern Law: Primary Sources, 1620-1970
Making of Modern Law: Treatises
Making of Modern Law: Trials, 1600-1926
Written by Patty Wellinger, Reference Services Coordinator
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Resources Supporting Research on P4R
If you would like to find additional information on the World Bank or the Project for Results, as well as some basic background for the discussion, here are some resources to get you started – there are many other resources you will want to consult. See particularly the tabs on Projects and Operations, and Data. Research papers can be found under the Publications tab.Here is a link to the results of a search in the Westminster Law Library catalog for a keyword search on “world bank” AND “indigenous peoples”
Monday, January 23, 2012
Writing Tip of the Week: Capitalizing "Court"
1. When “naming any court in full.”
- The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit addressed this question in Gove v. Robinson.
- Justice Scalia wrote the dissenting opinion for the Court.
3. When “referring to the court that will be receiving that document.”
- This Court should deny the Motion for Summary Judgment.
Otherwise, do not capitalize “court.”
- The Smith court considered whether a swimming pool was an attractive nuisance.
- The court in Wilson found the physician liable for failing to warn the victims about his patient’s threats against them.
The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation R. B7.3.1, at 22, R. 8, at 84 (Columbia Law Review Ass’n et al. eds., 19th ed. 2010); see also Lawmanac—Clickable Help for Legal Writers, “Punctuation, Capitalization, & Typeface” (follow “Capitalization” hyperlink; then follow “Words in Text” hyperlink; then follow “Court” hyperlink) (C. Edward Good ed., 2009).