Academic Support Program Workshops
Workshops for Winter Quarter 2008
1L Outlining Parties
TORTS -- Wednesday, February 20, 2008
3:00 - 5:00, Room 133
CIVIL PROCEDURE-- Thursday, February 21, 2008
3:30 - 5:30, Room 133
CONTRACTS-- Thursday, February 28, 2008
3:30 - 5:30, Room 133
Worried about finding time to work on your outlines before final exams? The Academic Support Program is hosting three "outlining parties" at the end of February. Stop by for some snacks, the opportunity to look at commercial study guides and example outlines, and the chance to discuss how to condense and organize class material into an outline. Prof. Sarah Kaltsounis, Academic Support tutors, BLS Teaching Fellows, and SBA Peer Mentors will be on hand during the first part of the session to help you figure out the best way to prepare your materials, or just to provide a friendly bit of advice from those who have been there. Make sure to bring your class notes, case book, and any other materials you need to work with.
Workshops for Autumn Quarter 2007
Expert Reading Techniques for Law Students
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
3:30-4:20, Room 127
This workshop will be based on recent research about the reading strategies employed by expert/fluent legal readers. Strong reading skills are something we can all develop with practice. At this workshop, students will have the opportunity to engage in hands-on exercises to reinforce these expert reading strategies, including taking a reading speed diagnostic test. Students will receive a packet of materials to take home. This workshop is designed for students who want to learn how to schedule their reading time, to read their class assignments more efficiently each day, and to better understand and retain the information they have read.
Case Briefing and Note-Taking Techniques
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
3:30-4:20, Room 133
This workshop will reinforce what students learned about case reading and case briefing in Foundations of Legal Study, but will take those skills a step further. Students will learn why, from an educational psychology perspective, case briefing is such a powerful learning tool during the first year of law school. The workshop will also address how to take notes effectively in different types of law school classes (lecture, mixed lecture and discussion, Socratic method, and skills/workshop-based classes like BLS), and how to review or work with your notes after class to maximize retention of information. Students will have the opportunity to practice different briefing and note-taking techniques, and will receive a packet of materials (including several briefing and note-taking forms and examples) to take home.
Using Your Personal Learning Style to Your Advantage
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
3:30-4:20, Room 133
Have you ever wondered why certain types of learning situations are more difficult for you, or why you seem to learn very easily or quickly in others? In this workshop, students will be able to take a questionnaire to determine their primary learning style (e.g., auditory, visual, tactile/kinesthetic). Students will also learn which study skills techniques can allow them to capitalize on their unique learning style.
This workshop will not use the same Meyers-Briggs-based questionnaire that students took during Foundations of Legal Study/FLS. That particular questionnaire is designed to help you understand your *personality* type and how you approach your interpersonal interactions with others. In this workshop, by contrast, we will focus on your *learning* type, which learning situations work best for you, and how you can use that knowledge to your advantage when studying for law school.
The workshop will be conducted in an informal drop-in format. You are welcome to stop by any time between 3:30–4:20 to take the learning styles questionnaire and learn about different studying techniques that fit your unique learning style. You are also welcome to stop by to discuss any general reading/briefing/note-taking/outlining/exam questions you have!
Creating Course Outlines and Other Study Materials
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
3:30-4:20 , Room 133
Right before final exams, students begin to panic about the need to create a course outline. The task seems so overwhelming that many students procrastinate until the week (or day) before the exam. This workshop will take place mid-quarter so students can learn how to schedule outlining into their regular weekly study time to make it more manageable. Students will learn why outlines are valuable study tools, but will also learn about other types of study tools that they can create (flow charts, diagrams, check-lists for elements of a claim/defense, etc.). Students will be able to see excerpts from sample outlines created by 2L and 3L students. Students will also receive a packet of materials to reinforce the techniques learned at the workshop.
How to Prepare for and Take Law School Exams
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
3:30-5:20, Room 138
Professor Aronson will offer insight on what distinguishes law school exams from other types of exams, suggestions on how to focus your study and preparation, and how to monitor your time during the exam itself. He will also respond to questions from those in attendance. Professor Aronson has bee offering this popular session annually for over 17 years. Students will receive a packet of materials created by Professor Kaltsounis.