Bombed Ks midterm need advice to ace final with 1 month left Forum

[hansolo88]

Title says it all. Im in a summer program where we take 3 classes over the summer. I got an "A" in a low credit intro to law type class which basically tested issue spotting, but I got somewhere below median on my Ks midterm that mostly tested contracts I. My final will cover contracts I +II.

For reasons beyond my control, the month leading up to the midterm I could not do many case readings, I would skim the casenotes, my chirelstein....downloaded some outlines and used them. In retrospect, considering these factors, I'm probably lucky I did as "well" as I did. The exam was an issue spotter with 3000 word limit and I only managed around 1200.

The external issues I had are pretty much resolved now, and I have a fire under my ass to knock the final out of the park. I'm also taking crim law at the same time, but am keeping up with the readings much better than K1.

How would you go about it? Which supplement to pick and tear apart? Should I reread every case I missed? Or is my time better spent learning the concepts in fewer pages?

I have taken pretty good class notes this whole time though, and will take more practice exams. Professor seems to favor "brain-dumping" concepts. THanks in advance.

[Mick Haller]

crunchtime for K's was the best for me

[Dr. Review]

crunchtime for K's was the best for me

Agreed. Crunchtime helped me get an A-

[Mick Haller]

crunchtime for K's was the best for me

Agreed. Crunchtime helped me get an A-

I got B+ but had a tough prof and this subject isn't one of my strongest

[hansolo88]

So you guys are saying instead of reading the cases that I've missed (which is most of them) I should finish up chirelstein, and do the crunchtime cover to cover (i understand its interactive/workbook format kind of like an e and e)? Should I also copy the Acing Contracts checklists?

Thanks for the advice, my midterm grade has me down in the gutter.

[ClubberLang]

Most of the points in K's will come from arguing both sides. If you only got out 1200 words you're missing a lot of analysis. You should probably read your cases to help here. The concepts in K's are simple enough that I don't think a hornbook is all that helpful (unless you are struggling with the concepts, in which case you should use them to supplement but not replace your class reading). I also think a lot of prof's teach k's differently, which is further reason to pay attention in class and do the assigned reading. But do what you want.

[ilovesf]

I used the Ks E&E and liked most of it. The most important thing though imo is taking practice tests and going over them with the professor. That's definitely what helped me do so well in Ks. Also: make sure you REALLY understand the UCC and Restatement if your professor emphasizes those things. I'd compare the relevant sections that cover the same ideas and make sure I can easily distinguish them.

[Dr. Review]

I used the Ks E&E and liked most of it. The most important thing though imo is taking practice tests and going over them with the professor. That's definitely what helped me do so well in Ks. Also: make sure you REALLY understand the UCC and Restatement if your professor emphasizes those things. I'd compare the relevant sections that cover the same ideas and make sure I can easily distinguish them.

Be an expert at 2-207. Have a good flowchart. Know how it works and be able to make an argument at each decision in the process for either side. Knowing that one thing went a long way to a good grade in both Ks and Commercial Transactions

[piccolittle]

Law In a Flash, a good old outline, and the best hornbook for your casebook. Plus Crunchtime, if you must.

But Law In a Flash did it for me.

[victortsoi]

Does Chirelstein count as hornbook? When you say hornbook, I think Farnsworth, which I have...but remember, I have about 4 weeks to do this...

[piccolittle]

Does Chirelstein count as hornbook? When you say hornbook, I think Farnsworth, which I have...but remember, I have about 4 weeks to do this...

I don't count Chirelstein. It's too basic. Is your casebook Farnsworth? Mine was. If it is, read that hornbook and make sure you go over the things you have the most trouble with. You can skip the really basic stuff you have a handle on, though, like the first chapter or so and (I think) the last few which don't say much.

[Mick Haller]

E&E and Chirelstein would probably be better suited to a semester long course. For something quick and dirty, I'd go with Crunchtime + some old outlines from previous classes.

[victortsoi]

^^outed as an "alt-er", tried to keep the gory details from a friend with whom I share login info sometimes, defeated by google chrome password save

Whatever. Thanks for your advice guys nonetheless. The casebook is dawson and I have the farnsworth hornbook based on the recommendation of this forum. Im about 1/3rd-1/2 way through chirelstein. I figure I have enough time to make substantial progress, but not enough time to dive into the material, which really sucks, since it's actually kind of interesting and the professor is very good.

[KidStuddi]

If you're not a visual learner, I highly recommend the Sum and Substance audiobooks. I'm a commuter so I just deleted everything off my iPod but those books and listened to them for about an hour an a half every day. By the end of the semester, I could basically state the black letter law for all the substantive courses as easily as singing a song you've heard 100 times.

Might not be for everyone but it worked well for me. I was about median on my K midterm, but it was a weird test that asked about fact patterns and outcomes from cases we read, not substantive law (Yeah I know -- who does that?). I absolutely murdered the final though, 164/170 possible points where the median was 102. A+.