Legal Writing

Almost everyone has heard of that butterfly whose flapping wings can affect distant weather. It's often labeled as Chinese, though Edward Lorenz's 1972 introduction of the concept was titled "Does the Flap of a Butterfly's Wings in Brazil Set Off a Tornado in Texas?"

The point: in a complex system, tiny causes can have huge effects.

Remember that as you revise your drafts. A small difference in how your readers respond to your first sentence can make a somewhat bigger difference in how they respond to your second sentence. And so on. So make sure your first sentence is absolutely clear, economical, and compelling.