III. Rules for constructing a brief.
1. A brief should be composed of three parts: Introduction, Proof, and Conclusion.
The three parts of the brief, Introduction, Proof, and Conclusion, should bear a well regulated proportion to each other. The tendency of the beginner is to make the introduction too long: a two page introduction to a three page brief is absurd. The proof should occupy by far the greater part of the brief, the introduction should be as compact as is consistent with its purpose, and the conclusion should be shorter than the introduction.
2. Each statement in a brief should be a single complete sentence.
The sentences of the brief must be grammatically correct. Each idea should be carefully thought out and presented in a short, simple, direct, and comprehensive sentence, for long and complicated sentences lead to ambiguity. Moreover, the sentence must contain but one central idea, which must be stated completely. Mere topics are not sufficient. The word “Practicable” should not be made to represent the entire statement that “The commission form of city government is practicable,” but the complete statement should be written out.
3. The relation which the different statements in a brief bear to each other should be indicated by symbols and indentations.
Every statement in the brief must stand either directly or indirectly as a reason for the truth of the proposition. If a statement stands as direct proof of the proposition, this fact must be indicated; if as indirect, this fact must also be indicated. The statements which stand as direct proof should be marked with the same kind of symbols and indented in the same way. This enables the reader to glance over the brief and see the main issues standing out distinctly from the subordinate statements.
The system of symbols used is immaterial, providing they serve the purpose above indicated. For the sake of uniformity, however, it is suggested that the student adhere to the following plan:
This proposition is true, for
I................................, for