1 / 16

Why outline when you can buy one? (or let me give you a cliché)

Professor Claudia Diamond University of Baltimore School of Law. Why outline when you can buy one? (or let me give you a cliché). Overview. What’s the point? How do we do it? What should one look like? How do you use your outline effectively once you’ve created it? Outline examples.

jillian-orr
Télécharger la présentation

Why outline when you can buy one? (or let me give you a cliché)

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Professor Claudia Diamond University of Baltimore School of Law Why outline when you can buy one? (or let me give you a cliché)

  2. Overview • What’s the point? How do we do it? • What should one look like? • How do you use your outline effectively once you’ve created it? • Outline examples

  3. How does it work? • Read for class • Brief/Highlight cases and materials • Attend class and take meaningful notes • Review and annotate notes at end of day before reading for next class • Weekly: work on OUTLINE (ideal versus practical)

  4. Why Outline? • Although we all learn differently, most of us benefit from collecting and organizing material into written form • The process of outlining is as important as the actual end result, if not more so – FOR THIS REASON, DO NOT RELY SIMPLY ON READING COMMERCIAL, LAW REVIEW, OR OTHER THIRD PARTY OUTLINES • The outline becomes your roadmap through the material, either to help you memorize for closed-book exams or for use during open-book exams

  5. Do I really Have To? • I don’t know of any successful law student who does not outline course material, though some might exist. You learn the law when you outline. • First semester is probably NOT the time to see if you’re “special.” • There is no shortcut to the hard work in law school. Your outline is your pride & joy.

  6. Getting Started • Organization of Outline • Might be obvious from notes • Could use book’s table of contents for guide • If course is rule or statute based, these might be source of organization • Could look to third party outline as a guide

  7. Content • To start, black letter law that you will use to spot and analyze issues on the exam • You must know BLL cold before walking into the classroom for the exam • Clearly note areas of gray and arguments either way • Make sure you conform to professor’s way of conceptualizing the law

  8. Level of Detail • Outline should be precise, and written to the level of detail matching course • Unless Professor tells you otherwise, case names and facts are not super important; it is the HOLDINGS you are weaving into a series of RULES and EXCEPTIONS • Include reminders about tricky issues that might pop up • Specify places where law is not clear (opportunities to argue both sides) • Collect your rules and divide into elements

  9. Outline the Rules!! Duh! • Organize your outline around concepts-not cases. Where do you get the concepts? • General statement about the law—the GROL • Break the rule into component parts and then include all the elements • Reasons supporting the rule • Exceptions to the Rule/Defenses • Other sources referred to by the professor: UCC, Restatement, FRCP, etc.

  10. Level of Detail, Con’t • Write down “key language” from the cases • Write down the important “X-Part tests” • Include the law from the various jurisdictions studied, given professor’s preferences • Include “key language” and “key concepts” from class discussion

  11. What should it look like? • Neatly typed • Highlights • Tabs • Charts • Roadmaps • Written-in comments and additions

  12. How Long is long enough? • Not too long – it must be SUMMARY and SYNTHESIS of material • Not too short – it must be COMPREHENSIVE that could appear on the exam • Perhaps 40 to 50 pages?

  13. How do I know if it’s Good? • Study group: are discussion issues covered by your outline? • Practice tests – was the outline helpful? • Practice tests – does the outline lead to correct answers? • Practice tests – does the outline help issue-spotting?

  14. Next steps: Outlining the outline • Next step: CONDENSE your outline into a “mini-outline” or even a “checklist” of important issues • This becomes your reference for spotting issues on the exam • Suggestion: FOR CLOSED BOOK exam, memorize checklist and write it down BEFORE READING QUESTIONS

  15. Example from CONTRACTS FORMING THE CONTRACT • APPLICABLE LAW • UCC • CL II. Offer A. Definition—subparts, illustrations, B. Definite & Certain Terms C. Missing Terms D. Termination of Offer 1. Revocation by Offeror 2. UCC revocation – Firm Offer 3. Termination by Offeree

  16. QUESTIONS?

More Related