I just wanted to share a quick essay tip I have recently taken to. Basically, the crux of the tip is writing out the rules in an model essay answer out by hand. This is a tip my a few friends of mine, one who passed the Florida bar (and New York I think), and another who passed Tennessee. I have read about similar though modified strategies elsewhere. My compatriots read essay questions, read the answers, and wrote the answers by hand. One of them said they would read the answers and try to issue spot while the other said she did not.
So, I have incorporated this into my studying. I will read a question in a timeframe of 15 minutes and I will try to issue spot for 5 minutes and outline if I can within that same 5 minutes. By writing the essays out a mere two times, I have been able to memorize so much more of the information. By reading what I write, I have been forced to synthesize the information into my mind. This tip may just be what I need to put me over the top this time. This revelation is a much needed boost to my confidence. Additionally, I will reread the fact pattern with the same time constraints and attempt to formulate the essay outline to be close to the model answer I previously read.
I tried this techinqe starting out with Business entities. The reason I began with this topic is because it is first alphabetically in my Bar/bri materials. For anyone who has taken or studied for Florida, this is not a topic they have tested in the last 12-20 years as an essay topic. But, you can never be too careful. This techniqe has helped familiarize myself with possible issues as a pattern begins to emerge if you do enough of them. Also, the constant reading and subsequent writing of the rules has helped me to remember them much more than anything else I have done concerning my bar studies or law school for that matter.
In the past when practicing essays, I would read the information and hold my self to some fictitious honor code where I could not use an outline and where I had to remember what I just read without reference. Sure, it works, but not as well or as quickly as this new strategy seems to be working (at least in my case). I think it has a lot to do with my learning style. Good thing I finally seemed to have figured this out, although it has been 29 years in coming.
In fact, I might even incorporate this into my MBE studies. As of the moment, my MBE strategy is to do the problems under heightened time constratints, and to review the answers and explanations by typing them out on a google document. However, writing takes me longer but it may be more beneficial. It is something to consider, although it would cost me more time in reviewing if I do this way thus preventing me from being able to do more problems.
Wow, I am really excited. Maybe you can tell from the rambling I just did in this post. But, remember this. When it comes to studying, everyone seems to have a suggestion and they are almost all different. What works for one person may not work others. This tip is probably useless for some and great for others. So, I hope this will help someone as well as myself. Do what is best and most suited for you. Do whatever it takes to find out what that is.
No. I am really fortunate. I was working for a while and looking for full time employment when my last job didn't pan out. But, my family has all chipped in to support me full time. I have been studying full time as of a few weeks ago. I am studying anywhere from 5-10 hours a day.
ReplyDeleteI realize how fortunate I am. Not everyone has this kind of support. But, if you check my blog links to other successful repeaters, they almost all worked fulltime. You should check out their blogs to get an idea of how they managed. It's possible and in some cases necessary. Of course as most people will agree, if you can avoid working then do it. But life can definitely get in the way.
A lot of articles will come up if you google the subject. The resounding theme I have seen is most people seem to take the last 2 to 4 weeks off before taking the test. But, we all know people who worked straight through. Like everything, it just depends. You know you better than anyone else and how much time it will take you to prepare. Either way, it won't be easy and will take alot of discipline which you already know. You have my support. We can beat this thing with the right plan, attitude, and preparation.