Exam Tip Topics

What follows is a topic-by-topic table of organization for the exam-writing "tips" posted from time-to-time on the website, "Law School Academic Support Blog," started in 2002 by Dean Dennis Tonsing & Professor Richard Litvin.  In August of 2011, Dennis Tonsing began posting tips one-by-one that are keyed to the outline below.  Each tip is numbered, and that number corresponds to the date it was drafted or posted (example: a tip might read, "State the rule with precision [82511]."  We'll link each tip title listed below with the tip as it appears on the "Law School Academic Support Blog." 

What professors are looking for when they read your essay exam answer (#81411)

·         Focusing on key facts  Focus on facts (#103011)

·         Issue identification  What an issue is (#82011)

·         Rule statements

·         Cogent presentation  Begging the Question (#92611)

o   Insight – departure from the mundane

·         Policy recognition

·         Writing proficiency

Keeping the target in mind

·         Writing for points

Prewriting

·         The call of the question

·         Reading the question

·         Visualizing

o   “Seeing” the hypothetical

o   “Standing” in the court room

·         Flagging important words

o   Trigger words

·         Charting

o   Drawing a timeline

·         Marginal notes

·         Issue-spotting   Spot the Issues (#91311)

o   Trigger words

o   Memorization – Memorize (#120611)

·         Outlining the essay answer

o   Outline structures

o   Abbreviating

o   Reminders

§  Alternative rules

§  Alternative fact interpretations

o   Noting useable facts

·         Timing issues (for prewriting)

Writing the essay answer

·         Issue statements

o   Clarity

o   Separation of issues

o   Avoidance of non-issues

·         Rule statements

o   Precision

o   Clarity

o   Concision 

o   Memorization (of rules)

o   Combining rules with analysis

·         Analysis

o   Conclusory answers  What "conclusory" means (#82211)

o   Common sense

o   Logical sequencing

o   Discussing facts

o   Assuming facts

o   Taking different paths

o   Arguing both sides

o   Using analytical templates

·         Conclusions

o   Elemental conclusions

o   Overall conclusions

·         Watching the clock while writing

·         Writing with precision

·         Writing with style

o   Crisp writing

o   Concise writing - Write with concision (#9911) 

o   Avoiding legalese

·         Focusing on the audience - Writing for your audience (#82511) Avoid Expository Writing (#10411)

·         Humor

·         Emphasis

·         Repetition - Refer to facts; Don't repeat them (#101111)

·         Signposts

·         Advanced writing techniques

 Reviewing your essay

·         Comparing against your outline

·         Typos