Cherminsky treatise: Should I even read the textbook? Forum

[arvcondor]

Prof is using the Cherminsky textbook. I probably don't need to give too many details on the treatise, since if you're advising me, you've likely seen it.

For that matter, can I just defer to Singer's property treatise instead of reading his textbook?

[LawMan20]

If you don't care about getting outgunned by people like me who do both, then don't read it.

[Grizz]

Depends if your prof likes Chemerinsky's interpretations of the cases or not.

[hawkeye22]

It probably isn't necessary, but I would at least read the text at the start of the semester to make sure that your professor's discussion mirrors chemerinsky's.

[wiseowl]

What they said. Read the first few cases. See if he particularly leans on the analysis or the notes. Then hit the treatise.

[traehekat]

Agree with what everyone else said. I read about 5 cases in the textbook and once I figured out that our professor pretty much said the exact same things in class as Chemerinsky did in the treatise I never picked up the textbook again. In fact, I pretty much read a semester's worth of material in about 3 days right before finals.

[wiseowl]

Agree with what everyone else said. I read about 5 cases in the textbook and once I figured out that our professor pretty much said the exact same things in class as Chemerinsky did in the treatise I never picked up the textbook again. In fact, I pretty much read a semester's worth of material in about 3 days right before finals.

Yep, me too. And it worked, beautifully. Allowed me to completely zone out during the class political debates.

[shock259]

Same here. There's a lot of repeated language in the treatise and casebook. And the prof emphasizes observations in the treatise. But I'm probably still going to read both because I have no idea what it is going on in that class.

[alicrimson]

I'm reading both. It doesn't take terribly long and I feel the risk outweighs the rewards. I wouldn't chance it but, then again, I'm pretty risk averse.

[smelltheglove]

Only used the supp and got an A.

[jess]

.

[kalvano]

Who cares? It won't matter come exam time.

[smelltheglove]

Who cares? It won't matter come exam time.

[bceagles182]

I read the supp and then skimmed the casebook. Got an A. My professor didn't coldcall that often but when he did, I usually had enough of an idea to give a decent (albeit somewhat incomplete) answer.

[bartleby]

im on the verge of only reading cherminsky after 3 weeks of con law. we have to read 30-40 pages a day, double digit cases, and he just asks impossible questions that have nothing to do with the specific readings. nobody in class knows what's going on.