Chapter V: Constructing the Brief

I. The Purpose of the Brief 72

II. Method of Constructing the Brief 73

III. Rules for Constructing the Brief 76

1. A brief should be composed of three parts: Introduction,
Proof, and Conclusion 76

2. Each statement in a brief should be a single complete
sentence 77

3. The relation which the different statements in a brief
bear to each other should be indicated by symbols and
indentations 77

4. The introduction should contain the main issues together
with a brief statement of the process of analysis by
which they were found 79

5. The main statements in the proof should correspond to the
main issues set forth in the introduction, and should
read as reasons for the truth of the proposition 84

6. Every statement in the proof must read as a reason for the
statement to which it is subordinate 85

7. Statements introducing refutation must state clearly the
argument to be refuted 87

8. The conclusion should be a summary of the main arguments
just as they stand in the proof of the brief and should
close with an affirmation or denial of the proposition
in the exact words in which it is phrased 89

Specimen student brief 91