Preparing Preparing summariessummaries

January web tutorialJanuary web tutorial

WhyWhy summaries?summaries?

Preparation of summaries helps you:Preparation of summaries helps you:1.1. OrganiseOrganise material in a clear and

logical manner2.2. Structure Structure your thoughts and ideas3.3. TestTest your understanding of course

materials – if you don’t know it you can’t summarise it

4.4. ReduceReduce your notes to a form useful for study and open book exams

5.5. Learn Learn course materials

ORGANISEORGANISE

You will have You will have assembled a lot of assembled a lot of material – lecture material – lecture notes, case notes, notes, case notes, notes of readings, notes of readings, tutorial answerstutorial answers

Your summaries Your summaries need to organise need to organise this in a way which this in a way which is accessible and is accessible and usefuluseful

Organisation requires editingOrganisation requires editing As you summarise, you should As you summarise, you should selectselect

the most important points you need the most important points you need to rememberto remember

These points should be organised These points should be organised around topics, or themes, or grouped around topics, or themes, or grouped together with similar ideas, in a way together with similar ideas, in a way which makes sense to you.which makes sense to you.

Rewriting your notes is NOT Rewriting your notes is NOT preparing a summary – you also preparing a summary – you also need to RETHINK your notesneed to RETHINK your notes

An organised summary is:An organised summary is:

Brief – ideally, every topic should be Brief – ideally, every topic should be dealt with in only one pagedealt with in only one page

Headings only – your summary Headings only – your summary should be key points or headings should be key points or headings which remind you of the main which remind you of the main material to be covered, not a material to be covered, not a complete restatement of the course complete restatement of the course materialmaterial

Supported by relevant authorities Supported by relevant authorities (cases/legislation)(cases/legislation)

STRUCTURESTRUCTURE

““Black holes” are Black holes” are very dense and full very dense and full of matter.of matter.

There is so much There is so much matter in a black matter in a black hole that once you hole that once you enter there is no enter there is no escape.escape.

A good structure A good structure ensures that your ensures that your summaries do not summaries do not become black holes.become black holes.

A good structure:A good structure:

May be different for every person – May be different for every person – as we all think differently.as we all think differently.

Should be able to work as an essay Should be able to work as an essay plan, or a check list to make sure plan, or a check list to make sure you spot and discuss all relevant you spot and discuss all relevant issues raised in a questionissues raised in a question

Should be structured logically and Should be structured logically and supported by relevant materialsupported by relevant material

A good structure:A good structure:

Will use headings and dot pointsWill use headings and dot points Won’t use so much information Won’t use so much information

that the reader gets lost in the that the reader gets lost in the detaildetail

May cross reference to other May cross reference to other summaries if ideas overlap, or summaries if ideas overlap, or you want to link to related you want to link to related remediesremedies

Examples: Legal InstitutionsExamples: Legal Institutions

Legal Institutions is a thematic course Legal Institutions is a thematic course with a spiralling curriculum which looks with a spiralling curriculum which looks at a number of issues and concepts. at a number of issues and concepts. One useful structure would be to One useful structure would be to prepare a prepare a glossary of terms and glossary of terms and conceptsconcepts commonly encountered in commonly encountered in lectures and in your reading. lectures and in your reading. Attempting a Attempting a one sentenceone sentence explanation explanation for each of the concepts listed on the for each of the concepts listed on the next slide (and others you may add) is a next slide (and others you may add) is a useful approach.useful approach.

Concept glossaryConcept glossary BICAMERAL LEGISLATUREBICAMERAL LEGISLATURE CONCURRENT POWER/EXCLUSIVE POWERCONCURRENT POWER/EXCLUSIVE POWER CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHYCONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY DEMOCRACYDEMOCRACY DIVISION OF POWERSDIVISION OF POWERS FEDERATIONFEDERATION INDEPENDENCE OF THE JUDICIARYINDEPENDENCE OF THE JUDICIARY MANNER AND FORM PROVISIONSMANNER AND FORM PROVISIONS PARLIAMENTARY SOVEREIGNTYPARLIAMENTARY SOVEREIGNTY PLENARY POWERPLENARY POWER REPUGNANCY (OF COLONIAL LAWS)REPUGNANCY (OF COLONIAL LAWS) REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENTREPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENTRESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT RULE OF LAWRULE OF LAW SEPARATION OF POWERSSEPARATION OF POWERS

Other LI structuresOther LI structures

You could also consider using:You could also consider using: The The course outlinecourse outline as the structure for as the structure for

your summariesyour summaries The The review questionsreview questions – construct a – construct a

summary around the issues raised by summary around the issues raised by the questionsthe questions

A A time-linetime-line – especially useful for the – especially useful for the historical material and highlighting the historical material and highlighting the important developments over timeimportant developments over time

Examples: ContractsExamples: Contracts

There are four different summaries There are four different summaries attached to this tutorial which attached to this tutorial which represent different structures. represent different structures. Each has strengths and Each has strengths and weaknesses, and they are provided weaknesses, and they are provided as guides for discussion of as guides for discussion of technique. They are not a technique. They are not a replacement for preparing your replacement for preparing your own summaries.own summaries.

SUMMARY ONESUMMARY ONE

An example prepared from the An example prepared from the contents pagecontents page of of Gooley and RadanGooley and Radan. . This is the best summary for exam This is the best summary for exam purposes, in that it contains all the purposes, in that it contains all the key points (and key points (and onlyonly the key points) the key points) about contract formation. However it about contract formation. However it may have to be may have to be supplementedsupplemented by by notes of relevant notes of relevant case law or case law or legislationlegislation or more detail about each or more detail about each of the key points.of the key points.

SUMMARY TWOSUMMARY TWO

An example, again prepared from the An example, again prepared from the contents pages of Gooley and Radan, contents pages of Gooley and Radan, with with expanded detailexpanded detail on each of the key on each of the key points. Its points. Its advantage is detailadvantage is detail, its , its disadvantagedisadvantage is that the is that the detail obscures detail obscures the key pointsthe key points..

A good approach may be a hybrid of one A good approach may be a hybrid of one and two – a front page key summary and two – a front page key summary with more detail available behind if with more detail available behind if required.required.

Summary two: commentsSummary two: comments

Consider: is all the detail given required? eg Consider: is all the detail given required? eg although although Gooley and RadanGooley and Radan cover Aliens and cover Aliens and Married Women under Capacity, is this really Married Women under Capacity, is this really necessary in your summary? necessary in your summary? Summaries Summaries should always be a process of reduction – ask should always be a process of reduction – ask yourself if material you are including is really yourself if material you are including is really relevant or necessary.relevant or necessary.

Note: Certainty and Completeness discusses Note: Certainty and Completeness discusses what happens if these elements are not met what happens if these elements are not met in the process of contract formation. in the process of contract formation. Remedies or outcomes are important aspects Remedies or outcomes are important aspects of a summaryof a summary. .

SUMMARY THREESUMMARY THREE

This is a more realistic example of This is a more realistic example of the size of summary two after any the size of summary two after any relevant legal authorities are added relevant legal authorities are added to support each point. Consider how to support each point. Consider how workable a summary of this size is.workable a summary of this size is.

SUMMARY FOURSUMMARY FOUR

A different example of a summary A different example of a summary based not on based not on Gooley and RadanGooley and Radan, but , but instead, using the Course Outline.instead, using the Course Outline.

Advantage: Advantage: the Course Outline the Course Outline already has the relevant authorities already has the relevant authorities citedcited

Disadvantage: Disadvantage: it can be hard to see it can be hard to see the key points of each topic.the key points of each topic.

HYBRID APPROACHHYBRID APPROACH

A hybrid of the approach discussed A hybrid of the approach discussed under Summary Two, together with under Summary Two, together with the authorities found in the Course the authorities found in the Course Outline (Summary Four) may be the Outline (Summary Four) may be the strongest approach. strongest approach. However, However, different methods will be useful for different methods will be useful for different studentsdifferent students..

UNDERSTANDINGUNDERSTANDING

A key purpose of summary A key purpose of summary preparation is for preparation is for youyou to check you to check you have understood the course material.have understood the course material.

The process of summarising should The process of summarising should expose gaps in your understanding – expose gaps in your understanding – and give you the opportunity to fix and give you the opportunity to fix them, before the examiner also looks them, before the examiner also looks for any lack of understanding. for any lack of understanding.

Summaries of summariesSummaries of summaries

Because summarising is a process of Because summarising is a process of building understanding rather than building understanding rather than just rewriting notes, the best exam just rewriting notes, the best exam summaries are often summaries of summaries are often summaries of summaries.summaries.

Preparing summaries is not a one-Preparing summaries is not a one-step processstep process..

How to?How to? Start by reviewing (and if necessary Start by reviewing (and if necessary

rewriting) your lecture notes, case rewriting) your lecture notes, case notes and the notes of other readings notes and the notes of other readings from texts or other sources.from texts or other sources.

Make sure your lecture notes are Make sure your lecture notes are complete and that you have read complete and that you have read enough to understand the material enough to understand the material covered in each lecture.covered in each lecture.

Your lecture notes are the best basis Your lecture notes are the best basis for your summary preparation.for your summary preparation.

UnderstandUnderstand what you what you summarisesummarise

For some people reading the text or other For some people reading the text or other recommended reading will be sufficient to recommended reading will be sufficient to understand the lecture material. Others understand the lecture material. Others may have to go wider to other sources to may have to go wider to other sources to build their understanding.build their understanding.

Ask questions, read widely, do whatever it Ask questions, read widely, do whatever it takes to make sure you understand the takes to make sure you understand the material.material.

You need to summarise your knowledge, not You need to summarise your knowledge, not your ignoranceyour ignorance..

Self preparationSelf preparation Because summaries are Because summaries are

prepared so that you prepared so that you can check your can check your understanding – and to understanding – and to help you demonstrate help you demonstrate that understanding in that understanding in an exam, the best an exam, the best summaries are self summaries are self prepared: made for prepared: made for you, by you. Every you, by you. Every summary may look summary may look different, but be equally different, but be equally useful to the person useful to the person who prepared it.who prepared it.

REDUCEREDUCE Once you understand the Once you understand the

material, then you can material, then you can reduce it into a usable reduce it into a usable summary.summary.

Summary preparation is a Summary preparation is a process of process of distilling downdistilling down lecture notes, case notes lecture notes, case notes and readings into a very and readings into a very abbreviated summaryabbreviated summary, , which reminds you of the which reminds you of the key pointskey points at a glance. at a glance.

LEARNLEARN Now your summaries Now your summaries

are ready, the last step are ready, the last step is to learn them.is to learn them.

Writing the summary is Writing the summary is only part of the processonly part of the process

You must also know You must also know what is in the summary, what is in the summary, so you can use it in the so you can use it in the exam (and in practice.)exam (and in practice.)

Aide memoireAide memoire

A summary is an aide memoireA summary is an aide memoire The purpose of a summary is to The purpose of a summary is to

remind remind you of the law you already you of the law you already knowknow

Summaries cannot teach you law in Summaries cannot teach you law in exam conditions with which you are exam conditions with which you are not already familiar.not already familiar.

Other ideas for summariesOther ideas for summaries

““reverse summaries” or summaries reverse summaries” or summaries which group together remedies are which group together remedies are often useful for subjects such as often useful for subjects such as contracts. contracts.

For example, if a question asks you For example, if a question asks you about “breach of contract” or about “breach of contract” or “damages” or circumstances where a “damages” or circumstances where a contract may be void it is useful to have contract may be void it is useful to have a summary prepared using these terms. a summary prepared using these terms. You can use it to ‘work backwards’ from You can use it to ‘work backwards’ from the question to determine the relevant the question to determine the relevant issues.issues.

Other summariesOther summaries

As you review questions from past papers As you review questions from past papers or work through examples in class or in or work through examples in class or in tutorials you may notice that certain tutorials you may notice that certain phrases always indicate certain issues – phrases always indicate certain issues – make a summary of these for the exam.make a summary of these for the exam.

For example, an involved conversation at For example, an involved conversation at the point of contract formation giving the point of contract formation giving detail about the reasons for entering the detail about the reasons for entering the contract is often linked to a damages issue contract is often linked to a damages issue – 2– 2ndnd limb of limb of HadleyHadley v v BaxendaleBaxendale..

RECAPRECAP

When you summarise, you When you summarise, you organise organise your lecture material and other your lecture material and other readings.readings.

This process of organisation will help This process of organisation will help you approach questions in an you approach questions in an organised way, and provide a well organised way, and provide a well organised answer to any questionorganised answer to any question

Avoid Avoid Black Black HolesHoles•A summary which is a complete rewrite of the text book and all your lecture notes is a black hole - it will suck up all your time and energy and give you nothing back.•Summaries should be brief, cover only the main points and be a rethink not a rewrite

Understand before you Understand before you summarisesummarise

• The process of preparing a summary will help you learn, if you check and develop your understanding along the way.

•If your summaries are nothing more than rewrites of material you do not understand then they are not learning tools – but exercises in penmanship.

•You need to rethink for a summary, not simply rewrite.

REDUCEREDUCEA good summary is short, and to the point.

Remember, you are preparing notes for an exam – not for a 50,000 word thesis

LEARNLEARNYou need to know what is in your summary.

Write it yourself, learn it, and rely on it as a checklist and aide memoire in the exam.

A summary is a powerful tool for open book exam success.