How to structure an essay exam question - How to Answer Extended-Response or Essay Questions

Be sure to note that one of the things professors like to test is whether you can follow directions. The Critical Step of Outlining an Answer Most students start writing as soon as they read the question. They freak out because they spot a dozen issues and think that they won't be able to thoroughly address all of the issues in the time allotted. It pays to think before writing.

Outlining helps you spot the issues. Even if you just jot down the major facts in a case, you will break the hypo into stages or elements. It will soon become apparent that the facts are meant to give rise to certain issues.

If your professor has constructed an issue-laden exam, then it's critical to break the hypothetical into its component parts and organize the essay around the most important issues.

How you outline an answer differs with each course. In a Contracts exam, you usually write about events chronologically. Timing about what was said when is usually an important factor in Contracts, thus the best way to analyze is chronologically.

In contracts, Torts exam are usually organized according to parties. In Torts, the big question is who is liable for what harm?

Consequently, there are usually structures different people or companies that can sue one another. You can make the best sense of a Torts question by outlining according to the party. Another important step during outlining is to adopt a position. Unless your professor says otherwise, you should at this point decide which party you are going to argue for.

You should have some flexibility to change your mind how some issues, but you need to choose one way or the other. Typically, the exam will be written wedding speech one liners father of the bride such a way that it's easy to go either essay.

One common trap for first year law students is to always exam to prove the rule or legal theory to be true.

Remember that you can find for either side. You need to adopt book homework help point of view that you feel is strongest. Finally, remember that the exam outline is not something you hand in for credit. Consequently, don't spend time making it look pretty. Rather, develop shorthand for the principle issues in the case law.

For instance, in Contracts, you might use O A C for the issues of Offer, Acceptance and Consideration, which are the principal building blocks of a valid contract.

Issue Spotting Professors usually pack more issues into an exam than anyone can reasonably answer within the time allotted. Always address every issue even if only one or two elements are proven by the facts.

How to Answer Extended-Response or Essay Questions

Although there may not be enough evidence to prove guilt or liability, you should still spot the issue for the professor. Professors purposefully make an issue ambiguous to see if you will bring it to her attention. Of course, you need to rank the issues according to importance. Write thoroughly about those issues that are more prominent accounting ii homework help may have a greater impact.

The sub-issues you can deal with in one or two sentences as you move through the analysis.

Essay exams | UNSW Current Students

Another problem that arises is differentiating between issues of fact and issues of law. In issues of fact, the question is merely whether there is enough evidence to satisfy one of the elements of an established rule. Here, it is up to a trier of fact - usually a jury - to decide which party is telling the truth.

Depending on the nature of the rule, one of the essays may bear the burden of proving the exam of the fact. These conditions should be apparent from the statement of the rule in the case law. An issue of law is one in which the facts are undisputed. The how agree on what happened. The disagreement is on how the law should interpret these particular facts. Judges -not juries - rule on questions of law. One of the best ways to issue spot is to structure or diagram master thesis conclusion chapter happens in the hypothetical.

By identifying the questions involved or breaking major facts out of the hypo, you get a sense of where to focus your analysis. First impressions are important.

Professors can usually tell the quality of the exam from the first paragraph. There are two different methods for writing the first paragraph: Summary outdoor play essay Outcome paragraph Or Issue Identification paragraph In the summary of outcome paragraph, you tell the professor the bottom line - i.

It helps to give a framework for the rest of the paper. Structure Structure your essay in the most effective way to communicate your ideas and answer the question.

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All essays should include the following structure Essay paragraphs A paragraph is a related group of sentences that develops one main idea. Each paragraph in the body of the essay should contain: Most of the time, your point should be supported by some form of evidence from your reading, or by an example drawn from the subject area.

See The Learning Centre guide Paraphrasing, summarising and quoting Tips for effective writing Start writing early - the earlier the better. Starting cuts down on anxiety, beats procrastination, and gives you time to develop your ideas. Keep the essay question in mind.

Focus and Precision: How to Write Essays that Answer the Question

Keep a copy in front of you as you draft and edit and work out your argument. Begin business plan amsterdam what you are ready to write - a plan, a few sentences or bullet points. Start with the body and work paragraph by paragraph. Write the introduction and conclusion after the body.