Got Issues? An Empirical Study About Framing Them

Abstract:     
Grounded in framing theory and the analyses of judges and commentators, this article examines issue statements in a sample of recent briefs from six states. The data cover various aspects of issue statements, including sentence structure, length, and the most common beginning words. Issue statements from recent briefs provide examples throughout the discussion. The article concludes with recommendations for framing effective issue statements.

Keywords: issue statement, brief, question presented

Accepted Paper Series