How can I prepare for exams w/out outlines? Forum

[Animal_Activist]

I have kept up with all class readings and have a complete set of class notes, but I have no outline out and was wondering if given that I have 7 days till my first exam, whether I should attempt to outline and write out important parts of the class or do something else. I will be happy passing all my classes and getting a 2.5 would be the best thing in the world. So let me know what I have to do to guarantee a gpa around that.

[pancakes3]

All you have to do is show up to pull a 2.5

[totesTheGoat]

An outline is just a compilation of the information you've learned in class. If you have open-book exams, an outline is a great resource for making sure you get case names correct and don't flub the factual details of a case.

I've never started studying for a class prior to a week out, so it's perfectly plausible that you could end up with a good grade, despite not putting a ton of time into studying.

If you have an open-book exam, make your outline based on the table of contents of your casebook. Then, put case names in the appropriate sections of the outline. Then, fill in a 3-4 sentence summary of each case, including a 20,000 foot view of the facts, the black letter law being applied, and any elements/factors used in the analysis. Finally, make sure to write down the ruling and any procedural quirks that stick out to you. While flipping through the casebook, pay particular attention to the notes. Sometimes the prof gets lazy and makes a fact pattern based on a note.

If you do that, you'll have enough exposure to the material along with a 10-15 page outline that can be used on the exam. It typically takes me 10-12 hours to get that done.

If you still have time, pull appropriate sections of restatements and put them in your outline.

[xael]

what do you mean you don't have an outline? especially just for 1L classes an outline is just your notes, organized nicely. But also, there are literally a million outlines out there. if your school doesn't have an outline bank, just google "torts outline epstein," for example, and you'll get one keyed to your book. Then add in comments about your notes as well. for civ pro it doesn't even matter the book, it's just rules.

the nice part about outlining is that by ordering and structuring it, it makes you take a very broad look at the class. You can get the same broad overview by making attack sheets.

[Animal_Activist]

What if I just don't study and take the exams and not care. I am burned out.

[Big Red]

What if I just don't study and take the exams and not care. I am burned out.

are you looking for support?

what's the point of doing the work all semester if you're going to flake off right now?

[zhenders]

Animal, think about taking to friends, your academic advisors, or one of your school psychologists/counsellors. It's a 100% normal feeling, and talking to someone about it -- a counsellor especially -- can be incredibly helpful and totally normal too. Don't let this stress and burnout turn your semester sour -- you're at the finish line.

[Animal_Activist]

I don't know what it is. Everyone is like studying 8 hours a day. I just cannot sit down and study. I have been trying to look through my cases and notes but my brain is burned out. I got 4 days till 2 finals and I honestly need a Christmas miracle to be ready. I was always studying and on top of my stuff in college and high school. I am 26 years old and somehow have completely screwed up the last 4 years of life since college. I can't name one positive thing I have done. And now that it is time to prove myself, my brain refuses to function. I just stare at my computer with about 10% of the material studied for each class. I am frustrated and disappointed. Yet I can't do anything about it.

[Johann]

I have kept up with all class readings and have a complete set of class notes, but I have no outline out and was wondering if given that I have 7 days till my first exam, whether I should attempt to outline and write out important parts of the class or do something else. I will be happy passing all my classes and getting a 2.5 would be the best thing in the world. So let me know what I have to do to guarantee a gpa around that.

google con law outline etc. i did this and got As. outlines aren't worth much. just do some practice tests online with your new outlines that took 5 mins to google.

[thisiswater]

I don't know what it is. Everyone is like studying 8 hours a day. I just cannot sit down and study. I have been trying to look through my cases and notes but my brain is burned out. I got 4 days till 2 finals and I honestly need a Christmas miracle to be ready. I was always studying and on top of my stuff in college and high school. I am 26 years old and somehow have completely screwed up the last 4 years of life since college. I can't name one positive thing I have done. And now that it is time to prove myself, my brain refuses to function. I just stare at my computer with about 10% of the material studied for each class. I am frustrated and disappointed. Yet I can't do anything about it.

You're overwhelmed. You might be something more but too but I don't want to go there. You still have time, I promise. 2 days per class is completely possible if you have done the reading.
Take one of those classes, and think of two things your professor has mentioned more than once, and write each of them on the top of a new page (or type them, whatever)
You need to make some attack sheets for those 2 topics. Those two are all we are thinking about right now.
Start with the law. Where does it come from, if it's a case write the law and the case name. If it is statutory write that. If you have common law and MPC or two laws somehow then write both.
In your notes or your textbook, then find the names of the cases you read and put them here. No need for long summary, key major facts (20,000 foot view) looking for distinguishing elements between the different cases,and how those distinguishing facts affected the outcome.
And then skim your notes (for just that topic) and see if you have any wrap-up notes from your prof, if so add those. Maybe he gave hints on how to spot something in a fact pattern? Or he linked this topic to another topic you discussed? Or there was a weird hypo here and you wrote some of it? Whatever that is, add it here at the bottom and you're done with that sheet. Start with the two, and then keep going. Just, don't try and conquer a semester when you sit down, take it one topic/chapter/issue/crime/etc. at a time.

[Animal_Activist]

Thank you for all your advice. I hope everyone who has finals coming up does well. I tried learning and using all the strategies. I just lost my skills of memorizing and learning everything on an outline. I used to learn everything in college. But something has happened. Anyways, I hope I pass.