The Call to Question
(This is the part of the exam problem that directs the student about what to answer.)
- Provides structure for answer
- Gives specific guidance for response
The Body of the Question
- Supplies Content for Answering the
- Gives Boundaries for Answer
Organization Matters
- Organizing helps the reader discern the analysis
- Order by the time line of the events in the problem
- Organize analysis for each party in the problem. This aids students and readers in knowing the issues for each relevant person in the problem.
- Use the course material to organize. Some examples include: a checklist, the elements of a legal principle, a familiar series of questions the professor asks in class.
Common Mistakes
- Not following the directions set out by the professor
- Not playing the role or following the perspective assigned in the question
- Not using the format, such as, letter, memo, or judicial opinion
- Not responding to all parts of a question. It is helpful to designate which part is being answered and to use the same order
- Answering a question that is not responsive to or is different from what the professor asks in the call of the question.
- Failure to organize
- Makes it difficult for the reader to follow
- Analysis seems lacking when there are gaps in the sequence
- Using theory to explain instead of applying factual situation
- Choice of words IS important
- Words reflecting the question are responsive to what is asked.
- Using wording from the problem shows the student recognizes the relevance of those particular facts, language, and events
- Use terms accurately. Misuse of terms indicates misunderstanding of concepts or lack of precise analysis
- Failure to use a checklist
- May result in forgetting issues that the student knows but does not remember in the excitement of the exam
*© Martha M. Peters, Ph.D. 1999.