ylj-argument-structure
Use when organizing the Parts of a The Yale Law Journal (YLJ) article into a doctrine→theory→normative arc. It sequences the argument and pressure-tests counterarguments; it does not polish prose (use ylj-writing-style) or format citations (use ylj-sources-and-bluebook).
Profile →npx skills add brycewang-stanford/Awesome-Journal-Skills --skill ylj-argument-structure --agent claude-code
Same command for any agent — swap --agent for codex, cursor, copilot.
Weekly change comes from our own snapshots, not the repository page — it measures attention, not adoption.
# Argument Structure (ylj-argument-structure) A YLJ Article is a sustained legal argument, not a report. The dominant arc is **doctrine → theory → normative**: show what the law *is* (and where it breaks), explain *why* with a framework, then say what *should* change. This skill sequences the Parts and stress-tests counterarguments. It assumes the claim and novelty are settled (`ylj-thesis-and-contribution`, `ylj-preemption-check`). ## When to trigger - The claim is set but the Parts have no logical spine - A reader reaches Part III without knowing why Parts I–II were necessary - The normative payoff arrives without the descriptive/theoretical groundwork to support it - Reviewers (or your own outline) reveal an unaddressed counterargument ## The doctrine→theory→normative arc | Part | Job | Failure mode | |------|-----|--------------| | **I. The landscape (doctrine/facts)** | Map the current law or practice; surface the tension your claim resolves | A neutral survey with no tension — reader can't see the problem | | **II. The diagnosis (theory)** | Explain *why* the tension exists; introduce your framework | Description restated as "theory" with no organizing idea | | **III. The rec
- When to trigger
- The doctrine→theory→normative arc
- Sequencing rules
- Roadmap paragraph
- Checklist
- Anti-patterns
- Output format
- Supplementary resources
What does the ylj-argument-structure skill do?
Use when organizing the Parts of a The Yale Law Journal (YLJ) article into a doctrine→theory→normative arc. It sequences the argument and pressure-tests counterarguments; it does not polish prose (use ylj-writing-style) or format citations (use ylj-sources-and-bluebook).
How do I install it?
Run `npx skills add brycewang-stanford/Awesome-Journal-Skills --skill ylj-argument-structure --agent claude-code` — it drops the skill into your project so the agent can pick it up. Swap the --agent value for codex, cursor or copilot if you use one of those.
Where does this skill come from?
From brycewang-stanford/Awesome-Journal-Skills, a repository with 909 stars. We read it straight from the repository tree rather than a submitted listing, so what you see here is what is actually published.
Is a popular skill a good skill?
Not necessarily. Stars measure attention, not adoption — a repository can trend for a week and be abandoned. That is why we show the weekly change from our own snapshots next to the total, instead of a single flattering number.