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 Post subject: 8-hour takehome w/ 1000 word limit
PostPosted: Sun Dec 13, 2009 10:32 pm 

Joined: Tue Oct 06, 2009 8:41 pm
Archived Posts: 34
3 questions, 1000 words per...do you recommend still using headings? Seems like with this much time there can't be that big of a difference between answers. Thoughts? General advice?


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 Post subject: Re: 8-hour takehome w/ 1000 word limit
PostPosted: Sun Dec 13, 2009 10:52 pm 

Joined: Mon Oct 20, 2008 8:50 pm
Archived Posts: 1067
Headings are probably even more CR than usual with plenty of time and a steep word limit. You can subvert the rules of grammar/syntax to decrease word count far easier by using headings and eliminating transitional and topic sentences than you can in any other manner.


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 Post subject: Re: 8-hour takehome w/ 1000 word limit
PostPosted: Sun Dec 13, 2009 10:54 pm 

Joined: Mon Dec 29, 2008 5:33 am
Archived Posts: 2812
I'd also recommend using single letters for names. "J" for Jerry, etc.


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 Post subject: Re: 8-hour takehome w/ 1000 word limit
PostPosted: Sun Dec 13, 2009 11:00 pm 

Joined: Sat Oct 13, 2007 9:48 pm
Archived Posts: 447
prezidentv8 wrote:
I'd also recommend using single letters for names. "J" for Jerry, etc.

I think that with 8 hours to write 3000 words, OP can lengthen J to Jerry. They're both one word anyway.


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 Post subject: Re: 8-hour takehome w/ 1000 word limit
PostPosted: Sun Dec 13, 2009 11:08 pm 

Joined: Mon Dec 29, 2008 5:33 am
Archived Posts: 2812
LjakW wrote:
prezidentv8 wrote:
I'd also recommend using single letters for names. "J" for Jerry, etc.

I think that with 8 hours to write 3000 words, OP can lengthen J to Jerry. They're both one word anyway.


<facepalm> @ self....sorry, still thinking of page limits like we had


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 Post subject: Re: 8-hour takehome w/ 1000 word limit
PostPosted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 12:19 am 

Joined: Sun Apr 13, 2008 2:48 pm
Archived Posts: 1048
is this for gillette?


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 Post subject: Re: 8-hour takehome w/ 1000 word limit
PostPosted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 3:41 pm 

Joined: Wed Dec 27, 2006 5:48 am
Archived Posts: 1026
Cut out words like "the" and pretty much everything you can while still having it make sense. Then use dashes like a mother fucker even though they don't make sense because that way it only counts as one word (e.g. D's-claim-for-negligence-should-fail) -- and make sure you do this for all your headings. If you abbreviate words make sure you put the legend at the bottom after the word limit since the prof will probably just not count anything past the word limit... You really just got to come up with creative ways to write like a complete douchebag.

EDIT- I forgot to mention this- if your prof doesn't care about having complete sentences, then just bullet point an outline for you answer (that will cut out a shitton of words).


Last edited by XxSpyKEx on Tue Dec 15, 2009 3:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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 Post subject: Re: 8-hour takehome w/ 1000 word limit
PostPosted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 3:43 pm 

Joined: Wed Sep 16, 2009 5:25 pm
Archived Posts: 490
XxSpyKEx wrote:
Cut out words like "the" and pretty much everything you can while still having it make sense. Then use dashes like a mother fucker even though they don't make sense because that way it only counts as one word (e.g. D's-claim-for-negligence-should-fail) -- and make sure you do this for all your headings. If you abbreviate words make sure you put the legend at the bottom after the word limit since the prof will probably just not count anything past the word limit... You really just got to come up with creative ways to write like a complete douchebag.



Im not in law school yet, but I would imagine this is terrible advice.


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 Post subject: Re: 8-hour takehome w/ 1000 word limit
PostPosted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 3:47 pm 

Joined: Wed Dec 27, 2006 5:48 am
Archived Posts: 1026
randyn wrote:
Im not in law school yet, but I would imagine this is terrible advice.


So get out of the forum for law students.


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 Post subject: Re: 8-hour takehome w/ 1000 word limit
PostPosted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 3:50 pm 

Joined: Sat Dec 12, 2009 2:21 am
Archived Posts: 35
-


Last edited by postitnotes on Wed Jan 06, 2010 2:33 am, edited 1 time in total.

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 Post subject: Re: 8-hour takehome w/ 1000 word limit
PostPosted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 4:22 pm 

Joined: Mon Apr 13, 2009 6:13 pm
Archived Posts: 1477
You should use headings liberally, assuming they don't count towards the word limit. They can save you a surprising number of words. For instance, if there's a clear fork, you can write something like

If the Mens Rea for this Crime is Knowledge

Defendant will argue...

If the Mens Rea for this Crime is Recklenssness


Defendant will argue...

You can easily expand your word limit by 5% without making it too obvious.


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 Post subject: Re: 8-hour takehome w/ 1000 word limit
PostPosted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 5:40 pm 

Joined: Thu Jan 01, 2009 11:50 pm
Archived Posts: 329
randyn wrote:
Im not in law school yet, but I would...


these posts make me laugh every time


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 Post subject: Re: 8-hour takehome w/ 1000 word limit
PostPosted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 8:08 pm 

Joined: Sun Dec 02, 2007 2:32 pm
Archived Posts: 237
apper123 wrote:
randyn wrote:
Im not in law school yet, but I would...


these posts make me laugh every time


They usually make me laugh too but it really does sound like absolutely horrible advice.

Why don't you just put in ZERO spaces and your word count will be one?!? Obviously the professor has a purpose in asking for a word limit, and when you use obvious tricks to get around the limit, you're just going to piss him/her off.


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 Post subject: Re: 8-hour takehome w/ 1000 word limit
PostPosted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 10:35 pm 

Joined: Wed Dec 27, 2006 5:48 am
Archived Posts: 1026
gollymolly wrote:
apper123 wrote:
randyn wrote:
Im not in law school yet, but I would...


these posts make me laugh every time


They usually make me laugh too but it really does sound like absolutely horrible advice.

Why don't you just put in ZERO spaces and your word count will be one?!? Obviously the professor has a purpose in asking for a word limit, and when you use obvious tricks to get around the limit, you're just going to piss him/her off.


We had a discussion about this last year in my contracts class (for contracts 2-- about the contract 1 exam) where this guy outright asked the professor if she cared if we left out words that weren't necessary and did other stupid shit like that and she just outright laughed, and asked how many people actually did it. Then about 50 people fessed up to it. After that I did it my second semester and it made a pretty clear difference in my final grade. In all reality you are competing against your classmates and the more substantive stuff you can cram into those few words you get the better you will do (e.g. taking out "the" 50 times is 5% more shit you can put in there, so possibly another issue). If you don't use complete sentences and outline that's even more shit you can get in there. It really all depends on the prof, if they are going to grade based on your grammar and writing style, then yes, write normally. But if they are like any professor I have ever had and realize that there is a time limit and don't care about anything but substance and possibly organization to the extent that it helps them read it (e.g. using headings) then it makes more sense to give them something really bare bones with a ton of substance and little anything else.


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 Post subject: Re: 8-hour takehome w/ 1000 word limit
PostPosted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 10:38 pm 

Joined: Sat Sep 30, 2006 2:30 pm
Archived Posts: 6260
man-I _would_abuse_ the_ hell_ of_ out_this


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 Post subject: Re: 8-hour takehome w/ 1000 word limit
PostPosted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 10:53 pm 

Joined: Wed Dec 27, 2006 5:48 am
Archived Posts: 1026
PKSebben wrote:
man-I _would_abuse_ the_ hell_ of_ out_this


lol, I never even thought about using underscore. I could have crammed so much more into that K exam if I had thought about that one :lol:


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 Post subject: Re: 8-hour takehome w/ 1000 word limit
PostPosted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 11:38 pm 

Joined: Sun Dec 02, 2007 2:32 pm
Archived Posts: 237
XxSpyKEx wrote:
gollymolly wrote:
apper123 wrote:
randyn wrote:
Im not in law school yet, but I would...


these posts make me laugh every time


They usually make me laugh too but it really does sound like absolutely horrible advice.

Why don't you just put in ZERO spaces and your word count will be one?!? Obviously the professor has a purpose in asking for a word limit, and when you use obvious tricks to get around the limit, you're just going to piss him/her off.


We had a discussion about this last year in my contracts class (for contracts 2-- about the contract 1 exam) where this guy outright asked the professor if she cared if we left out words that weren't necessary and did other stupid shit like that and she just outright laughed, and asked how many people actually did it. Then about 50 people fessed up to it. After that I did it my second semester and it made a pretty clear difference in my final grade. In all reality you are competing against your classmates and the more substantive stuff you can cram into those few words you get the better you will do (e.g. taking out "the" 50 times is 5% more shit you can put in there, so possibly another issue). If you don't use complete sentences and outline that's even more shit you can get in there. It really all depends on the prof, if they are going to grade based on your grammar and writing style, then yes, write normally. But if they are like any professor I have ever had and realize that there is a time limit and don't care about anything but substance and possibly organization to the extent that it helps them read it (e.g. using headings) then it makes more sense to give them something really bare bones with a ton of substance and little anything else.




I agree that it's a good idea to skip unnecessary formalities/points of grammar. And I definitely think it's a good idea to use strategic headings. I just took issue with your "use dashes like a mother fucker" advice as I can't see that doing anything but pissing off the professor.


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 Post subject: Re: 8-hour takehome w/ 1000 word limit
PostPosted: Wed Dec 16, 2009 4:37 pm 

Joined: Wed Sep 16, 2009 5:25 pm
Archived Posts: 490
apper123 wrote:
randyn wrote:
Im not in law school yet, but I would...


these posts make me laugh every time



so are you saying that using hyphens is good advice? I don't think you have to be in law school to realize the advice is terrible. All you need is a brain. It has nothing to do with law school. It has to do with concise poignant writing.


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 Post subject: Re: 8-hour takehome w/ 1000 word limit
PostPosted: Wed Dec 16, 2009 4:53 pm 

Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2007 8:52 pm
Archived Posts: 221
randyn wrote:
apper123 wrote:
randyn wrote:
Im not in law school yet, but I would...


these posts make me laugh every time



so are you saying that using hyphens is good advice? I don't think you have to be in law school to realize the advice is terrible. All you need is a brain. It has nothing to do with law school. It has to do with concise poignant writing.



I think the major laughing point is that you, who have absolutely no clue what you're talking about, are posting on a forum for law students critiquing law students advice for other law students.


Maybe next you can start answering questions people have about substantive issues for classes. Like, I'm not in law school, but I can't imagine they'd let you keep a piece of property you didn't have title to just because you moved onto it for 10 years. I mean that's stealing!


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 Post subject: Re: 8-hour takehome w/ 1000 word limit
PostPosted: Wed Dec 16, 2009 5:15 pm 

Joined: Wed Sep 16, 2009 5:25 pm
Archived Posts: 490
sperry wrote:
randyn wrote:
apper123 wrote:
randyn wrote:
Im not in law school yet, but I would...


these posts make me laugh every time



so are you saying that using hyphens is good advice? I don't think you have to be in law school to realize the advice is terrible. All you need is a brain. It has nothing to do with law school. It has to do with concise poignant writing.



I think the major laughing point is that you, who have absolutely no clue what you're talking about, are posting on a forum for law students critiquing law students advice for other law students.


Maybe next you can start answering questions people have about substantive issues for classes. Like, I'm not in law school, but I can't imagine they'd let you keep a piece of property you didn't have title to just because you moved onto it for 10 years. I mean that's stealing!



Did I answer a substantive question? I was interested in the topic and thought I could input useful advice, which I still believe is true. In any case I know a little bit about adverse possession if that is what your smart ass comment was about. I will admit I do not know much about it, and would be hesitant to give advice about it. I am interested in law school exams which is why I read the topic initially and said, wow that was absolutely moronic advice and would be counter-intuitive to a professor's goal of trying to elicit a close to perfect response.


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 Post subject: Re: 8-hour takehome w/ 1000 word limit
PostPosted: Wed Dec 16, 2009 5:23 pm 

Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2007 8:52 pm
Archived Posts: 221
I'm not a doctor, but I'm sure you'll be fine!


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 Post subject: Re: 8-hour takehome w/ 1000 word limit
PostPosted: Wed Dec 16, 2009 5:29 pm 

Joined: Wed Dec 27, 2006 5:48 am
Archived Posts: 1026
randyn wrote:
I am interested in law school exams which is why I read the topic initially and said, wow that was absolutely moronic advice and would be counter-intuitive to a professor's goal of trying to elicit a close to perfect response.


EDIT- I am really interested in becoming a pilot. Maybe I should go tell pilots how to fly a plane..


Last edited by XxSpyKEx on Wed Dec 16, 2009 5:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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 Post subject: Re: 8-hour takehome w/ 1000 word limit
PostPosted: Wed Dec 16, 2009 5:37 pm 

Joined: Tue Jun 09, 2009 3:51 pm
Archived Posts: 1122
sperry wrote:
Maybe next you can start answering questions people have about substantive issues for classes. Like, I'm not in law school, but I can't imagine they'd let you keep a piece of property you didn't have title to just because you moved onto it for 10 years. I mean that's stealing!


but they didn't...I'm not a doctor, but I know that simply putting a band-aid on a gunshot wound is not sufficient and giving red bull to a diabetic probably isnt a good idea. Some things are common knowledge and/or clearly obvious; lack of belonging to a particular group or organization doesn't bar you from making observations. So unless you are a meteorologist maybe you should refrain from responding the next time someone asks you if it is going to rain.


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 Post subject: Re: 8-hour takehome w/ 1000 word limit
PostPosted: Wed Dec 16, 2009 5:48 pm 

Joined: Mon Dec 29, 2008 5:33 am
Archived Posts: 2812
GATORTIM wrote:
sperry wrote:
Maybe next you can start answering questions people have about substantive issues for classes. Like, I'm not in law school, but I can't imagine they'd let you keep a piece of property you didn't have title to just because you moved onto it for 10 years. I mean that's stealing!


but they didn't...I'm not a doctor, but I know that simply putting a band-aid on a gunshot wound is not sufficient and giving red bull to a diabetic probably isnt a good idea. Some things are common knowledge and/or clearly obvious; lack of belonging to a particular group or organization doesn't bar you from making observations. So unless you are a meteorologist maybe you should refrain from responding the next time someone asks you if it is going to rain.


Hahahahaha

WE SPECIAL BECAUSE WE IZ IN LAWZ SKOOL, DONT YOU KNOW DUMMY?!!?!


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 Post subject: Re: 8-hour takehome w/ 1000 word limit
PostPosted: Wed Dec 16, 2009 5:49 pm 

Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2007 8:52 pm
Archived Posts: 221
GATORTIM wrote:
sperry wrote:
Maybe next you can start answering questions people have about substantive issues for classes. Like, I'm not in law school, but I can't imagine they'd let you keep a piece of property you didn't have title to just because you moved onto it for 10 years. I mean that's stealing!


but they didn't...I'm not a doctor, but I know that simply putting a band-aid on a gunshot wound is not sufficient and giving red bull to a diabetic probably isnt a good idea. Some things are common knowledge and/or clearly obvious; lack of belonging to a particular group or organization doesn't bar you from making observations. So unless you are a meteorologist maybe you should refrain from responding the next time someone asks you if it is going to rain.



if someone asked me if it was going to rain i'd say how the fuck should i know.


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