Recently Graduated UT Law Student taking questions Forum

[unlicensedpotato]

I actually disagree with this.

First, my 5 credit small section 1L class was contracts and the prof told us on day one that he took participation into account.

Second, I've heard from friends that professors moved their grade up due to participation. Professors grade everything blind, then they get their grades back from the administration with names attached, then they submit the final grades back to the administration. I've definitely heard from friends that profs told them they had gotten a pretty good exam grade and they were on the margin between an A- and an A. The prof moved em up for their participation.

So theres a curve, but professors can be flexible and move people up a +/- grade based on participation. Now, that's for HELPFUL participation. Don't pose random hypotheticals or waste people's time.

This response makes no sense. If the syllabus says that participation is a factor in your grade, then obviously participating/attending becomes a concern and you should actively work on it. If the syllabus says that the grade is based solely on your blind-graded exam, then participation/attendance isn't a factor and you don't need to worry about it. It's one or the other.

That's despicable if professors are moving grades up or down based on participation after telling the class that their grades are based solely on the final exam. If that's what you're actually saying then those students have a responsibility to report the professor to the administration.

[nonprofit-prophet]

I actually disagree with this.

First, my 5 credit small section 1L class was contracts and the prof told us on day one that he took participation into account.

Second, I've heard from friends that professors moved their grade up due to participation. Professors grade everything blind, then they get their grades back from the administration with names attached, then they submit the final grades back to the administration. I've definitely heard from friends that profs told them they had gotten a pretty good exam grade and they were on the margin between an A- and an A. The prof moved em up for their participation.

So theres a curve, but professors can be flexible and move people up a +/- grade based on participation. Now, that's for HELPFUL participation. Don't pose random hypotheticals or waste people's time.

Sounds like being a sociable non-asshole who makes a good faith effort to keep up with what's happening in class is a good thing to strive for. I, for one, am amazed at this development.

Considering that you were about to buy the "nothing matters but the exam" advice, I thought I was being helpful by letting you know that for some profs, the exam isn't your entire grade (even if they don't mention it). But I can stop with the advice. Good luck.

[blackmooncreeping]

I actually disagree with this.

First, my 5 credit small section 1L class was contracts and the prof told us on day one that he took participation into account.

Second, I've heard from friends that professors moved their grade up due to participation. Professors grade everything blind, then they get their grades back from the administration with names attached, then they submit the final grades back to the administration. I've definitely heard from friends that profs told them they had gotten a pretty good exam grade and they were on the margin between an A- and an A. The prof moved em up for their participation.

So theres a curve, but professors can be flexible and move people up a +/- grade based on participation. Now, that's for HELPFUL participation. Don't pose random hypotheticals or waste people's time.

Sounds like being a sociable non-asshole who makes a good faith effort to keep up with what's happening in class is a good thing to strive for. I, for one, am amazed at this development.

Considering that you were about to buy the "nothing matters but the exam" advice, I thought I was being helpful by letting you know that for some profs, the exam isn't your entire grade (even if they don't mention it). But I can stop with the advice. Good luck.

Maybe I shouldn't have been so literal with what I said earlier....

99% of what matters is the exam so focus your attention accordingly. I never meant that you can walk into class and politely tell the Prof to fuck off when you get called on. I just feel like far too many 1L's forget the big picture when they are preparing for class and exams.

[nonprofit-prophet]

I actually disagree with this.

First, my 5 credit small section 1L class was contracts and the prof told us on day one that he took participation into account.

Second, I've heard from friends that professors moved their grade up due to participation. Professors grade everything blind, then they get their grades back from the administration with names attached, then they submit the final grades back to the administration. I've definitely heard from friends that profs told them they had gotten a pretty good exam grade and they were on the margin between an A- and an A. The prof moved em up for their participation.

So theres a curve, but professors can be flexible and move people up a +/- grade based on participation. Now, that's for HELPFUL participation. Don't pose random hypotheticals or waste people's time.

This response makes no sense. If the syllabus says that participation is a factor in your grade, then obviously participating/attending becomes a concern and you should actively work on it. If the syllabus says that the grade is based solely on your blind-graded exam, then participation/attendance isn't a factor and you don't need to worry about it. It's one or the other.

That's despicable if professors are moving grades up or down based on participation after telling the class that their grades are based solely on the final exam. If that's what you're actually saying then those students have a responsibility to report the professor to the administration.

Most profs, in my experience, don't really definitively say either way. And it's probably for like 1-2 people in the A range. And if you think about it, profs don't go into grading with target scores for each grade. They try to form clusters. if theres a bunch of scores in the 90s for an A and a bunch of A-s in the low to mid 80s, what should an 88 get? Should it be the best A- or the worst A? The mandatory curve is really a percentage range for each grade, a prof can often move people up or down after the first round of blind grading without messing with other people's grades.

[unlicensedpotato]

Most profs, in my experience, don't really definitively say either way. And it's probably for like 1-2 people in the A range. And if you think about it, profs don't go into grading with target scores for each grade. They try to form clusters. if theres a bunch of scores in the 90s for an A and a bunch of A-s in the low to mid 80s, what should an 88 get? Should it be the best A- or the worst A? The mandatory curve is really a percentage range for each grade, a prof can often move people up or down after the first round of blind grading without messing with other people's grades.

Oh, o.k., I'm pretty sure that all the professors I had last year said definitively one way or the other. So we just have had different experiences. You're right though about clusters and I think they certainly have flexibility. I'm just hoping (maybe naively) that if a professor said that participation wasn't a factor then they wouldn't use the individual's identity to change how the clusters are grouped.

[Chaucer1343]

Thoughts on:

Bracha (Contracts)
Klein (Crim I)
Sturley (Prop)
Bridges (LRW)

[shifty_eyed]

Most profs, in my experience, don't really definitively say either way. And it's probably for like 1-2 people in the A range. And if you think about it, profs don't go into grading with target scores for each grade. They try to form clusters. if theres a bunch of scores in the 90s for an A and a bunch of A-s in the low to mid 80s, what should an 88 get? Should it be the best A- or the worst A? The mandatory curve is really a percentage range for each grade, a prof can often move people up or down after the first round of blind grading without messing with other people's grades.

So is the mandatory curve something like - 20% A range, 50% B range, 20% C range, 10% D range? And profs can choose how many of those are +/-s?

Edit: Found this on utdirect which seems helpful --LinkRemoved--

[txdude45]

how hard do you laugh at people when they tell you what their rent is in NY/DC?

[nonprofit-prophet]

Most profs, in my experience, don't really definitively say either way. And it's probably for like 1-2 people in the A range. And if you think about it, profs don't go into grading with target scores for each grade. They try to form clusters. if theres a bunch of scores in the 90s for an A and a bunch of A-s in the low to mid 80s, what should an 88 get? Should it be the best A- or the worst A? The mandatory curve is really a percentage range for each grade, a prof can often move people up or down after the first round of blind grading without messing with other people's grades.

So is the mandatory curve something like - 20% A range, 50% B range, 20% C range, 10% D range? And profs can choose how many of those are +/-s?

Edit: Found this on utdirect which seems helpful --LinkRemoved--

30 to 40% of grades must be A+, A, or A-; and,
at least 5% of grades must be C+, C, D, or F.

http://www.utexas.edu/law/sao/academics ... olicy.html

Edit: So profs have a lot of flexibility.

[txdude45]

edit: derp

[shifty_eyed]

Most profs, in my experience, don't really definitively say either way. And it's probably for like 1-2 people in the A range. And if you think about it, profs don't go into grading with target scores for each grade. They try to form clusters. if theres a bunch of scores in the 90s for an A and a bunch of A-s in the low to mid 80s, what should an 88 get? Should it be the best A- or the worst A? The mandatory curve is really a percentage range for each grade, a prof can often move people up or down after the first round of blind grading without messing with other people's grades.

So is the mandatory curve something like - 20% A range, 50% B range, 20% C range, 10% D range? And profs can choose how many of those are +/-s?

Edit: Found this on utdirect which seems helpful --LinkRemoved--

30 to 40% of grades must be A+, A, or A-; and,
at least 5% of grades must be C+, C, D, or F.

http://www.utexas.edu/law/sao/academics ... olicy.html

Edit: So profs have a lot of flexibility.

Thanks!

[dkb17xzx]

Most profs, in my experience, don't really definitively say either way. And it's probably for like 1-2 people in the A range. And if you think about it, profs don't go into grading with target scores for each grade. They try to form clusters. if theres a bunch of scores in the 90s for an A and a bunch of A-s in the low to mid 80s, what should an 88 get? Should it be the best A- or the worst A? The mandatory curve is really a percentage range for each grade, a prof can often move people up or down after the first round of blind grading without messing with other people's grades.

So is the mandatory curve something like - 20% A range, 50% B range, 20% C range, 10% D range? And profs can choose how many of those are +/-s?

Edit: Found this on utdirect which seems helpful --LinkRemoved--

3 failed LRW for Bridges?!?!

Is this common for his/her class?

[Chaucer1343]

You can search through Student Surveys of previous courses (by Instructor)
here

[dkb17xzx]

You can search through Student Surveys of previous courses (by Instructor)
here

thanks

[dkb17xzx]

Thoughts on the following profs:

Contracts - Oren Bracha
Criminal Law I - Susan R Klein
Property - Lynn E Blais
LRW - Elizabeth M Youngdale

[blackmooncreeping]

Thoughts on the following profs:

Contracts - Oren Bracha
Criminal Law I - Susan R Klein
Property - Lynn E Blais
LRW - Elizabeth M Youngdale

I had Blais for property. In class she comes off as very standoffish and can occasionally make people look stupid in class, which is why I think we had such awful participation in my class, she never cold-called but would take volunteers. She is actually a really nice lady though and she'll throw the section a party at her house. Go see her in office hours she was fairly helpful all the times I went. The best thing I ever did for that class was find a supplement which was keyed to the casebook we were using and I would recommend you do the same. I found some of the cases in property to be confusing as hell and the supp helped a lot.

I thought that her exam was ridiculously hard but I did really well so don't really know what to say about that. There will be an essay question on takings guaranteed, she loves the subject and y'all will spend quite a bit of time on it. General format of the exam is multiple-choice followed by essay. She let us use our outlines for the essay but not the multiple choice.

Oh, present and future interest suck ass.

[dkb17xzx]

Thoughts on the following profs:

Contracts - Oren Bracha
Criminal Law I - Susan R Klein
Property - Lynn E Blais
LRW - Elizabeth M Youngdale

I had Blais for property. In class she comes off as very standoffish and can occasionally make people look stupid in class, which is why I think we had such awful participation in my class, she never cold-called but would take volunteers. She is actually a really nice lady though and she'll throw the section a party at her house. Go see her in office hours she was fairly helpful all the times I went. The best thing I ever did for that class was find a supplement which was keyed to the casebook we were using and I would recommend you do the same. I found some of the cases in property to be confusing as hell and the supp helped a lot.

I thought that her exam was ridiculously hard but I did really well so don't really know what to say about that. There will be an essay question on takings guaranteed, she loves the subject and y'all will spend quite a bit of time on it. General format of the exam is multiple-choice followed by essay. She let us use our outlines for the essay but not the multiple choice.

Oh, present and future interest suck ass.

Thanks for the response. Any insight on the other profs?

[blackmooncreeping]

Thoughts on the following profs:

Contracts - Oren Bracha
Criminal Law I - Susan R Klein
Property - Lynn E Blais
LRW - Elizabeth M Youngdale

I had Blais for property. In class she comes off as very standoffish and can occasionally make people look stupid in class, which is why I think we had such awful participation in my class, she never cold-called but would take volunteers. She is actually a really nice lady though and she'll throw the section a party at her house. Go see her in office hours she was fairly helpful all the times I went. The best thing I ever did for that class was find a supplement which was keyed to the casebook we were using and I would recommend you do the same. I found some of the cases in property to be confusing as hell and the supp helped a lot.

I thought that her exam was ridiculously hard but I did really well so don't really know what to say about that. There will be an essay question on takings guaranteed, she loves the subject and y'all will spend quite a bit of time on it. General format of the exam is multiple-choice followed by essay. She let us use our outlines for the essay but not the multiple choice.

Oh, present and future interest suck ass.

Thanks for the response. Any insight on the other profs?

Nope. Didn't have any of the others.

[nonprofit-prophet]

Thoughts on the following profs:

Contracts - Oren Bracha
Criminal Law I - Susan R Klein
Property - Lynn E Blais
LRW - Elizabeth M Youngdale

I had Blais for property. In class she comes off as very standoffish and can occasionally make people look stupid in class, which is why I think we had such awful participation in my class, she never cold-called but would take volunteers. She is actually a really nice lady though and she'll throw the section a party at her house. Go see her in office hours she was fairly helpful all the times I went. The best thing I ever did for that class was find a supplement which was keyed to the casebook we were using and I would recommend you do the same. I found some of the cases in property to be confusing as hell and the supp helped a lot.

I thought that her exam was ridiculously hard but I did really well so don't really know what to say about that. There will be an essay question on takings guaranteed, she loves the subject and y'all will spend quite a bit of time on it. General format of the exam is multiple-choice followed by essay. She let us use our outlines for the essay but not the multiple choice.

Oh, present and future interest suck ass.

I'm a 3L and had Blais 2 years ago. Buy Understanding Property, it's a fantastic supplement for her class. Her exams also had fewer issues than other fast-paced issue spotters, but the time saved goes into better answer structure (even more than other profs, she puts a premium on formatting/structure)

[dkb17xzx]

Nope. Didn't have any of the others.

haha yea I should have figured. Why would you provide a detailed response on one prof and not the others? That was stupid of me. Thanks again for the tips.

[dkb17xzx]

Thoughts on the following profs:

Contracts - Oren Bracha
Criminal Law I - Susan R Klein
Property - Lynn E Blais
LRW - Elizabeth M Youngdale

I had Blais for property. In class she comes off as very standoffish and can occasionally make people look stupid in class, which is why I think we had such awful participation in my class, she never cold-called but would take volunteers. She is actually a really nice lady though and she'll throw the section a party at her house. Go see her in office hours she was fairly helpful all the times I went. The best thing I ever did for that class was find a supplement which was keyed to the casebook we were using and I would recommend you do the same. I found some of the cases in property to be confusing as hell and the supp helped a lot.

I thought that her exam was ridiculously hard but I did really well so don't really know what to say about that. There will be an essay question on takings guaranteed, she loves the subject and y'all will spend quite a bit of time on it. General format of the exam is multiple-choice followed by essay. She let us use our outlines for the essay but not the multiple choice.

Oh, present and future interest suck ass.

I'm a 3L and had Blais 2 years ago. Buy Understanding Property, it's a fantastic supplement for her class. Her exams also had fewer issues than other fast-paced issue spotters, but the time saved goes into better answer structure (even more than other profs, she puts a premium on formatting/structure)

Thank you - do you mean this one: http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Pro ... operty+law

[nonprofit-prophet]

Thoughts on the following profs:

Contracts - Oren Bracha
Criminal Law I - Susan R Klein
Property - Lynn E Blais
LRW - Elizabeth M Youngdale

I had Blais for property. In class she comes off as very standoffish and can occasionally make people look stupid in class, which is why I think we had such awful participation in my class, she never cold-called but would take volunteers. She is actually a really nice lady though and she'll throw the section a party at her house. Go see her in office hours she was fairly helpful all the times I went. The best thing I ever did for that class was find a supplement which was keyed to the casebook we were using and I would recommend you do the same. I found some of the cases in property to be confusing as hell and the supp helped a lot.

I thought that her exam was ridiculously hard but I did really well so don't really know what to say about that. There will be an essay question on takings guaranteed, she loves the subject and y'all will spend quite a bit of time on it. General format of the exam is multiple-choice followed by essay. She let us use our outlines for the essay but not the multiple choice.

Oh, present and future interest suck ass.

I'm a 3L and had Blais 2 years ago. Buy Understanding Property, it's a fantastic supplement for her class. Her exams also had fewer issues than other fast-paced issue spotters, but the time saved goes into better answer structure (even more than other profs, she puts a premium on formatting/structure)

Thank you - do you mean this one: http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Pro ... operty+law

Yea, it looks like a different shade of green though. make sure it's the right edition. That book was amazing; I never read a single takings case for class because the supplement broke it down so well. It's also is fantastic for covenants and easements.

[dkb17xzx]

Got it... thank you.

This thread is an invaluable resource. thanks to all the upperclassmen / graduates taking the time time to help us 0L's out.

[mg7]

Anybody have any insight on McGarity for torts?

[Magnifique1908]

First of all....take all of nonprofit-prophet's advice. All of it. Don't ask any questions. Don't pass Go, don't collect $200. Just do it. Your grades will thank you lol.


Secondly, I haven't seen any of my professors on here except Youngdale. This year was the first year that they changed the LRW professors mid-year (apparently, everyone got to keep the same professor in previous years). While I preferred Robin Meyer's teaching style, I got a better grade in Youngdale's class. She was very helpful, answered all of my (probably inappropriate) questions about my lack of understanding of brief writing, and is genuinely a nice person. She seems a little bit more nit-picky than Meyer was but overall, I liked her. Definitely improved my writing in her class.