Academic Hint #18
Here are some final thoughts regarding exam-taking:
Divide up the Issues and the Cast of Characters: The best way to guarantee that you have answered the question asked on the exam is to divide up the issues and the various people involved. You need to divide and conquer in order to succeed. Don’t analyze two different issues or apply the law to two people in divergent factual situations in the same paragraph. Instead, spend 1/3 or 1/4 of your time framing the issues into a quick outline before you begin writing. Use headings for each new issue and separately analyze each character’s legal status. This will help maximize organization – and points.
Time Management: The best answer on question #1 doesn’t make up for the last question that you didn’t answer. Even if you got all the points for the first question (and second and third), it takes a lot to make up zero points on the last issue. Just remember that whether the allotted time is reasonable or not, you must answer each essay question. So, note the exact time that you need to begin a new question – and follow that schedule! Similarly, answering three of four issues in a question may result in only a mediocre score for that question, even if you do a good job on the initial issues.
Sometimes this problems occurs when a student decides to share every bit of knowledge on a legal issue (a.k.a., “brain dump"). Students are most apt to fall into this pitfall when they want to be comprehensive. However, being comprehensive regarding this issue or point is not the same as writing your outline. So, don’t make the mistake of talking about law not needed or describing the law way past the time allotment or worth of the issue. While there may be the temptation to use every case, restatement and policy argument, once you nailed it, move on! While you might pick up a few more points by overly enthusiastic analysis, you will also lose a lot more points because you won’t get to the rest of the question (or exam). To avoid this problem – watch your time.
Writing Support Services
2L and 3Ls are welcome to get feedback on seminar projects. Please be advised that I need at least a 4-day window to read your paper and provide feedback. E-mail me for an appointment or drop by my office, 101A Student Services.
Kim Novak Morse, Asst. Director Writing Services, morseka@slu.edu
SLWA 2008 Writing Excellence Award
Congratulations to Thomas B. Harvey! Mr. Harvey, a 2L here at Saint Louis University, was awarded the Student Legal Writers' Association Writing Excellence Award at the Symposium on April 18. To read his paper in full, click here.
Kim Novak Morse, SLWA Faculty Adviser, morseka@slu.edu
Send in Your Accomplishments
Current and recent SLU law student grads are invited to send their name and their writing/competition accomplishments to my attention to be posted on an upcoming Web site here at the School of Law.
Kim Novak Morse, Asst. Director Writing Services, morseka@slu.edu
Bar Preparation Workshop Schedule
BAR PREPARATION TIP: The time for bar study is drawing near. Make sure you have a preliminary study plan detailing how you will allocate your time. It's essential that you be specific about how your time will be spent during bar study. Two months is enough time to learn all you need to know to be successful on the bar exam. However, there is little of those two months to waste.
Professor Goldsmith will hold her annual Bar Essay workshop this summer. This workshop is free to you as a graduate of the law school. You should receive information regarding that workshop soon.
Make sure you update your e-mail address through Banner or have your slu.edu mail forwarded to an e-mail address that you regularly check. I plan to contact you with tips and advice during bar study.
Lastly, I will be around for most of the summer. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns regarding your bar study.
Please direct questions to Professor Twinette Johnson at johnsot@slu.edu or 977-3448. Professor Johnson is available for meetings by appointment.
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