Knowing what NOT to include!

Either directly or indirectly your professor will often tell you what not to include in your essay answer.  Avoid discussing whtat the professor tells you not to discuss.

Example:  If Karen only sued Xavier for battery (in the hypothetical question you're responsing to), that is the only tort to discuss in your answer.  If Xavier also committed an assault, or could be liable for negligence, those torts are irrelevant.  Discussing them earns no exam points.  It takes up valuable time that could be used for addressing relevant and point-scoring issues.

Sometimes professors will include an express instruction like this:  "Limit your response to intentional torts."  When you see a direction like that, follow it.  A discussion of negligence in that case would earn no points.

You may be reading this and saying, "Well, that goes without saying!"  One would think so.  Nevertheless, I'd say at least ten percent of the exam answers I've graded include discussion of issues that are off-limits.