I am taking Pieper bar review but I don't feel like I am retaining the information. So far we have only covered Civ Pro. I have done everything on the schedule but I can't write an essay to save my life! I realize it is only week one of bar review but I don't want to wait until I only have a week left to make adjustments at to how I am studying. I want to spend my time studying most effectively, I am not sure what that is...hence this post.
I would greatly appreciate any and all suggestions successful bar examiners have regarding the most effective study strategies.
Should continue listening to the lectures, if so, suggestions on what to do with the information after the lectures...make my own outline? Just read the notes? Make notecards? If not, suggestions on how to spend my time studying in place of the lectures.
Also, should I buy the MEE One Sheets?
Thanks in advance!
Best!
Help with retaining the information and writing essays.... Forum
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nschaeffer10
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LockBox
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Re: Help with retaining the information and writing essays....
Here is my advice - don't worry about retaining information at this point. Memorization typically happens in the final two weeks. However, I would also advocate for taking MBE/Essay tests "closed book" instead of open. Fail now, figure out what you did wrong, learn from it and do it over and over again until the actual thing. You fail now in order to pass later. Good luck.nschaeffer10 wrote:I am taking Pieper bar review but I don't feel like I am retaining the information. So far we have only covered Civ Pro. I have done everything on the schedule but I can't write an essay to save my life! I realize it is only week one of bar review but I don't want to wait until I only have a week left to make adjustments at to how I am studying. I want to spend my time studying most effectively, I am not sure what that is...hence this post.
I would greatly appreciate any and all suggestions successful bar examiners have regarding the most effective study strategies.
Should continue listening to the lectures, if so, suggestions on what to do with the information after the lectures...make my own outline? Just read the notes? Make notecards? If not, suggestions on how to spend my time studying in place of the lectures.
Also, should I buy the MEE One Sheets?
Thanks in advance!
Best!
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Call2222222
- Posts: 11
- Joined: Wed Nov 22, 2017 6:54 pm
Re: Help with retaining the information and writing essays....
Make a solid outline for every subject. For the majority of your bar review, take all essay exams open note with your outline.
Treat each essay like you were taking an exam, but use the outline as your guide. This will not only help with issue spotting, but also with memorization. Once you read the call and the facts, run through your outline and see what issues you can discuss. Then write the rules down and do the analysis.
Once you’re done, review 2-3 different model answers and read the model answers fully. Do this until 1-2 week before the exam.
When I took the bar, i used this technique for the essays. I took 99% of the practice essays open note/outline. When exam day came around, I mentally ran through my outline (which was memorized with practice) and passed. I essentially had a checklist memorized from using my outline so much. This technique worked for me. May not work for you.
Treat each essay like you were taking an exam, but use the outline as your guide. This will not only help with issue spotting, but also with memorization. Once you read the call and the facts, run through your outline and see what issues you can discuss. Then write the rules down and do the analysis.
Once you’re done, review 2-3 different model answers and read the model answers fully. Do this until 1-2 week before the exam.
When I took the bar, i used this technique for the essays. I took 99% of the practice essays open note/outline. When exam day came around, I mentally ran through my outline (which was memorized with practice) and passed. I essentially had a checklist memorized from using my outline so much. This technique worked for me. May not work for you.
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nschaeffer10
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- Joined: Wed May 30, 2018 1:26 pm
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Neilt001
- Posts: 293
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Re: Help with retaining the information and writing essays....
great question! I am a foreign writer who passed first time round in Feb 18. had no idea what I was getting into and quickly found myself in a similar boat to you: wondering how the eff I was supposed to memorise all of this stuff, and having completely forgotten how I studied back in lawschool days. By the end of my studying, I felt like I had it down, and I ended up scoring in the 90th percentile.
First, I agree with the above poster that you shouldn't worry at this stage. Everything will click as you approach the end and you should just stay the course and trust the process. It's overwhelming at first but you start to get better and better.
MBE memorization tips:
During each lecture I would make my own notes based on the lecture. I didn't use the Themis (or in your case Pieper) notes/outlines, because I like to make my own. The reasons are because:
- my own notes contain just the right amount of info for my head to handle; not too much and not too little. Everyone is different and I found myself getting overloaded by the Themis outlines. The bar is about minimum competency and so I didn't see the need to use the Themis outlines because they're too comprehensive.
- my own notes were set out the way I wanted them to be. I like boxes, lists, arrows and colors. I have trouble memorizing slabs of black and white text, which someone else has laid out in a particular way.
- making your own notes during lectures ensures that you understand as you go. As Themis was video lectures, I would pause/rewind as necessary so that my notes were caught up, before moving on.
- making your own notes is also a great way to conceptualize, and memorize.
As for practice MBE questions, I would always review the wrong answers and flukes. For any rules I didn't know, I would write them down. That assisted with memorization, understanding, and ensured I didn't keep making the same mistakes. It also helped to fill in my notes with important rules.
MEE memorization:
I really hated doing practice MEEs because I never knew the answer (or sometimes I knew the answer and didn't wanna waste my time writing it down, or sometimes I was just too busy and couldn't be bothered). So I would often just fudge it, or just write down stuff in point form, or sometimes I wouldn't even write the practice essays at all.
But what I did was I would always ensure to print out a copy of the model answer. With Themis, I just copied and pasted the answer into a Word doc. I would then delete the really fact-specific stuff, leaving the statements of law and sometimes leaving how that was applied to the facts. I would then print it, highlight/underline it, mark it up, ensure I understood it, and then placed it in my notes. By the end of my study, I had a nice bunch of model answers for each subject. I would then review those answers and, by the end of my study, had them pretty much memorized.
it's a lot to memorize but you'll surprise yourself as the weeks go on.
Good luck!
First, I agree with the above poster that you shouldn't worry at this stage. Everything will click as you approach the end and you should just stay the course and trust the process. It's overwhelming at first but you start to get better and better.
MBE memorization tips:
During each lecture I would make my own notes based on the lecture. I didn't use the Themis (or in your case Pieper) notes/outlines, because I like to make my own. The reasons are because:
- my own notes contain just the right amount of info for my head to handle; not too much and not too little. Everyone is different and I found myself getting overloaded by the Themis outlines. The bar is about minimum competency and so I didn't see the need to use the Themis outlines because they're too comprehensive.
- my own notes were set out the way I wanted them to be. I like boxes, lists, arrows and colors. I have trouble memorizing slabs of black and white text, which someone else has laid out in a particular way.
- making your own notes during lectures ensures that you understand as you go. As Themis was video lectures, I would pause/rewind as necessary so that my notes were caught up, before moving on.
- making your own notes is also a great way to conceptualize, and memorize.
As for practice MBE questions, I would always review the wrong answers and flukes. For any rules I didn't know, I would write them down. That assisted with memorization, understanding, and ensured I didn't keep making the same mistakes. It also helped to fill in my notes with important rules.
MEE memorization:
I really hated doing practice MEEs because I never knew the answer (or sometimes I knew the answer and didn't wanna waste my time writing it down, or sometimes I was just too busy and couldn't be bothered). So I would often just fudge it, or just write down stuff in point form, or sometimes I wouldn't even write the practice essays at all.
But what I did was I would always ensure to print out a copy of the model answer. With Themis, I just copied and pasted the answer into a Word doc. I would then delete the really fact-specific stuff, leaving the statements of law and sometimes leaving how that was applied to the facts. I would then print it, highlight/underline it, mark it up, ensure I understood it, and then placed it in my notes. By the end of my study, I had a nice bunch of model answers for each subject. I would then review those answers and, by the end of my study, had them pretty much memorized.
it's a lot to memorize but you'll surprise yourself as the weeks go on.
Good luck!
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nschaeffer10
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Wed May 30, 2018 1:26 pm
Re: Help with retaining the information and writing essays....
First, Congratulations!!!! You passed and never have to take another bar exam again if you don't want!!!!
Second, thank you for you great advice! I starting to take my notes from the lectures and create my own outlines...it's taking a long time but I think it is an effective study strategy.
I appreciate you taking the time to share with me. You ROCK!!!!
Second, thank you for you great advice! I starting to take my notes from the lectures and create my own outlines...it's taking a long time but I think it is an effective study strategy.
I appreciate you taking the time to share with me. You ROCK!!!!
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northwood
- Posts: 5036
- Joined: Fri May 14, 2010 7:29 pm
Re: Help with retaining the information and writing essays....
I used Pieper when I sat (and passed on my first attempt). They are big on mneimonics, but a lot of other bar companies use them too.when I took NY it was NY only ( not UBE) but the way pieper structures their delivery method, to me it seems as though they help guide you write an essay. Just remember the format that you need for the ube essay and make sure your essay is in that format.
Since you hear and write your own outlines your are forced to be more engaged in learning. The subject as you don’t just have to listen and wait for the sentence to pop up with the missing word to write in. I too was worried about getting the info , but it amazing how you will recall (and hear the pieper s voice) when you come back to them.. so just trust the process. Believe me ( but I understand your skepticism given the magnifications associated with this test. But it does work)
Pieper has an essay writing workshop that I used. My tutor was very helpful and provided me with personalized critiques and would conference with me for an hour via phone.
For MBE just drill as many MBE questions and review your answers.
Since you hear and write your own outlines your are forced to be more engaged in learning. The subject as you don’t just have to listen and wait for the sentence to pop up with the missing word to write in. I too was worried about getting the info , but it amazing how you will recall (and hear the pieper s voice) when you come back to them.. so just trust the process. Believe me ( but I understand your skepticism given the magnifications associated with this test. But it does work)
Pieper has an essay writing workshop that I used. My tutor was very helpful and provided me with personalized critiques and would conference with me for an hour via phone.
For MBE just drill as many MBE questions and review your answers.
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nschaeffer10
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Wed May 30, 2018 1:26 pm
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northwood
- Posts: 5036
- Joined: Fri May 14, 2010 7:29 pm
Re: Help with retaining the information and writing essays....
Just keep going. And trust the method. Focus on each subject as it comes and remember to take mental health breaks ( I.e a walk, jog or whatnot) it’s only June 4. Plenty of time to go before the test.
