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EXAM-TAKING TIPS

EXAM-TAKING TIPS. Job Description Before You Write While You Write Efficient Use Of Time Exam Preparation Afterward. Wrapping Paper Cabbage Pinball Machine Wine Tasting Sports Ticker Mobius Strip Socket Wrenches. 7 COMMON EXAM ERRORS. WARNING:.

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EXAM-TAKING TIPS

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  1. EXAM-TAKING TIPS • Job Description • Before You Write • While You Write • Efficient Use Of Time • Exam Preparation • Afterward

  2. Wrapping Paper Cabbage Pinball Machine Wine Tasting Sports Ticker Mobius Strip Socket Wrenches 7 COMMON EXAM ERRORS

  3. WARNING: • Most of what I’ll say probably applicable to most law school exams • Need to check re your own professors • Look at old exams & model answers • Talk to Prof • Talk to Dean’s Fellow • Read Instructions for Particular Questions

  4. JOB DESCRIPTION

  5. JOB DESCRIPTION • NOT to show how much you know

  6. JOB DESCRIPTION • NOT to show how much you know • Use what you know from course to address new legal problems

  7. JOB DESCRIPTION • NOT to show how much you know • Use what you know from course to address new legal problems • Address the questions you are given

  8. JOB DESCRIPTION:ISSUE-SPOTTING QUESTION DRAFT OF ANALYSIS SECTION OF LEGAL MEMO

  9. JOB DESCRIPTION:ISSUE-SPOTTING QUESTION • No elaborate introductions or conclusions

  10. JOB DESCRIPTION:ISSUE-SPOTTING QUESTION • No elaborate introductions/conclusions • No separate fact section or questions presented

  11. JOB DESCRIPTION:ISSUE-SPOTTING QUESTION • No elaborate introductions/conclusions • No separate fact section/questions presented • Imperfect sentences OK

  12. JOB DESCRIPTION:ISSUE-SPOTTING QUESTION • No elaborate introductions/conclusions • No separate fact section/questions presented • Imperfect sentences OK • Getting ideas on paper more important than style or rhetoric

  13. BEFOREYOU WRITE

  14. BEFORE YOU WRITE • Read/Follow General Instructions

  15. BEFORE YOU WRITE • Read/Follow General Instructions • Read Each Question Carefully More Than Once

  16. BEFORE YOU WRITE • Read/Follow General Instructions • Read Each Question Carefully More Than Once • Look at Call of the Question First

  17. WRAPPING PAPER

  18. WRAPPING PAPER • Found on the outside of a box.

  19. WRAPPING PAPER • Found on the outside of a box. • If the Professor gives you limits on the scope of the question, stay within the box you are given to work with.

  20. WRAPPING PAPER • Found on the outside of a box. • If the Professor gives you limits on the scope of the question, stay within the box you are given to work with. • Wrapping paper is easy to dispose of

  21. COMMON LIMITATIONS • Apply particular case or rule • Play particular role • Use law from particular jurisdiction • Do not discuss … • Assume certain facts

  22. BEFORE YOU WRITE • Read/Follow General Instructions • Read Each Question Carefully More Than Once • Look at Call of the Question First • Select Most Important Topics to Discuss

  23. CABBAGE

  24. CABBAGE • Game Show: Grocery Cart Race for $$$ • Useful Items: Meat, drugs, saffron • Cabbages & Cantaloupes: Take up lots of space, not worth very much

  25. CABBAGE • When choosing among issues, maximize score by focusing on issues lawyers will fight about

  26. CABBAGE • When choosing among issues, maximize score by focusing on issues lawyers will fight about • Issues nobody will contest are cabbage.

  27. BEFORE YOU WRITE • Read/Follow General Instructions • Read Each Question Carefully More Than Once • Look at Call of the Question First • Select Most Important Topics to Discuss • Roughly Organize Your Answer

  28. PINBALL MACHINE

  29. PINBALL MACHINE • When operating a pinball machine, you try to score as many points as possible without worrying about the order in which you hit them.

  30. PINBALL MACHINE • When operating a pinball machine, you try to score as many points as possible without worrying about the order in which you hit them. • When writing an exam, make your points in a logical order and make that order apparent to the reader.

  31. POSSIBLEORGANIZATIONAL SCHEMES • Chronology • Major Causes of Action (by Character) • Elements/Factors from Causes of Action • Decision Trees • Most Complex First

  32. Roughly Organize Your Answer Outline Before You Write • List Major Issues to Discuss

  33. Negl by Truck Driver • Prod. Liab.: Truck Mfr. • Negl by Nurse • Jt/Several

  34. Roughly Organize Your Answer Outline Before You Write • List Major Issues to Discuss • List Some Details/Arguments You’ll Cover

  35. Negl by Truck Driver • Speeding; Stat Viol • Contrib by P • Prod. Liab.: Truck Mfr. • Which Rule Applies • Rel. of Industry Stds • Signif of Subseq Modification • Causation??!! • Negl by Nurse • Shd Double-Check Pill Bottle? • Causation? • Jt/Several • Statute Looks Like Indiana

  36. Roughly Organize Your Answer Outline Before You Write • List Major Issues to Discuss • List Some Details/Arguments You’ll Cover • Indicate Order & Rough Weight/Time

  37. Negl by Truck Driver(2)5-10mins? • Speeding; Stat Viol pretty quick? • Contrib by P • Prod. Liab.: Truck Mfr. (1)20-25 mins? • Which Rule Applies (B) • Rel. of Industry Stds (D) pretty quick • Signif of Subseq Modification (C) • Causation??!! (A) lot here • Negl by Nurse (3) 10-15 mins • Shd Double-Check Pill Bottle? • Causation? lot here • Jt/Several (4) (if time) • Statute Looks Like Indiana

  38. Wine Tasting

  39. WINE TASTING • Take one roughly equal taste of each wine offered

  40. WINE TASTING • One roughly equal taste of each wine • All issues are not alike; drink more deeply of more complex issues

  41. Roughly Organize Your Answer Outline Before You Write • List Major Issues to Discuss • List Some Details/Arguments You’ll Cover • Indicate Order & Rough Weight/Time Don’t Spend 38 Minutes Outlining 1 Hour Q

  42. WHILEYOU WRITE

  43. WHILE YOU WRITE • Discuss One Thing At a Time • Finish one major issue before starting next • If you have ideas about other issues, jot them on outline • Do separate paragraph or section to discuss interaction between major issues

  44. IRACv.IRACv.IRC

  45. WHILE YOU WRITE • Discuss One Thing At a Time • Show All Work

  46. SPORTS … TICKER …

  47. SPORTS TICKER • Provides results of sporting events without analysis.

  48. SPORTS TICKER • Provides results of sporting events without analysis. • On exams, always provide analysis before attempting a conclusion. • No points for unsupported conclusion • May commit you too strongly to stated position

  49. SPORTS TICKER • Provides results of sporting events without analysis. • On exams, always provide analysis before attempting a conclusion. • On an open book exam, virtually no points for simply stating a rule then an unsupported conclusion.

  50. WHILE YOU WRITE • Discuss One Thing At a Time • Show All Work • Argue both sides

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