Part 1: Proposal
For my research question, I would like to find out what type of writing attorneys do the most in their job, as well as in what ways they need to write for their writing to be the most effective and persuasive. I would like to know what all goes into being an attorney, starting with questions a bit closer to home, such as law school. I would like to know how one goes about gaining apprenticeship experience while attending school, since law school teaches specifically a way of thinking rather than firsthand work experience. Since one of my interviewees is a UW-Madison Law School graduate, I can ask him specific things, such as avoiding the bar exam, and how that affected his career.
The course materials have made me think about economics and writing in a different way, specifically that it either is or is becoming the main source of knowledge and revenue in today’s economy. When people are able to divert their attention to that specific piece of writing, then the writer has the reader captivated and is able to teach and educate the reader. That is the current economy, and writing is highly prized skill.
The best methods to the collect data on this research question will be interviewing people who use writing very heavily in their careers. This is what I plan to do with my interviews, looking at certain people with attorney training, and observing them at work. I could see, firsthand, their writing process and how they think. Another good source to look at would be the people who these attorneys write to directly. If I can track down who the attorney wrote to, I could specifically ask the addressee how they felt about the piece of writing, and if they were persuaded by it, and why or why not.
Part 2: Protocols and Scripts
Interview Protocol
- What are your day-to-day tasks?
- What kinds of writing are required for your line of work?
- What process do you use to write the most persuasively?
- Are you compensated for your writing separately or is it included in your regular salary?
- How has UW-Madison Law School limited/expanded your options?
Recruitment Script
Dear Mr./Mrs. Interviewee,
I would like your permission to interview and record you for a class project, dealing with the responsibility of writing in your career. Your identity will be kept anonymous, unless you wish otherwise.
Thank you,
Jakob Michaelis
Jake's Blog 