"In vacant or in pensive mood..." I am: Bekah; 24; Law Student / Favorite Things: Carbs (so there!), Johnny Damon, Smiling at babies, Grilled cheese, Comfortable silence / Favorite Supreme Court Justice: Brennan / Favorite Wilson: Owen by an inch / Today's Special: Song: Elliott Smith, "Bled White"; Quote: "You know, there's like a butt-load of gangs at this school. This one gang kept wanting me to join because I'm pretty good with a bowstaff." Please love me: mmbekah@yahoo.com


February 2003 March 2003 April 2003 May 2003 June 2003 July 2003 August 2003 September 2003 October 2003 November 2003 December 2003 January 2004 February 2004 March 2004 April 2004 May 2004 June 2004 July 2004 August 2004 September 2004 October 2004 November 2004 December 2004 January 2005 September 2005

 
Read Between the Outlines

I. In law school, we prepare for exams by making what are known as “outlines.”

A. An outline is basically a student-created summary of a discrete area of the law, usually ranging anywhere from 25 to 50 pages.

B. It may sound innocent, but I can assure you that evil lurks in those roman numerals and bullets—an evil more sinister than most law students are willing to admit.

C. I am here to tell you that an outline is not a mere study aid. It is nothing less than a physical manifestation of the fundamental malevolence that pervades law school.

II. After all, an outline is just that: an outline.

A. The outline is not concerned with:

1. Our emotions;

2. Our absorption of the material; or

3. Our precious “love of learning.”

B. The outline is a cold collection of rules and issues and tiny case summaries. It is completely:

1. Sterile; and

2. Devoid of all

i. Passion;

ii. Fire; and/or

iii. Feeling.

III. And yet, sadly, it is this lifeless mass that aids us on exams. Why?

A. Because law school exams are just as soulless as the outlines we frantically create in order to tackle them.

1. They care not about our so-called “understanding” of the issues.

2. They care not about our:

i. Opinions;

ii. Visceral responses; or

iii. Mild/fleeting inclinations toward ethics and morality.

B. Their only desire is that we write what the professors want to see. And what do they want to see?

1. The outline*

2. As applied, of course, to the “witty” facts that they so graciously provide.

* See numerals I and II, supra. Alternate defining terms include: "putrid carcass" and "collection of meatless, soulless rules."

Exam season is upon us, and I feel dead inside. I am a shell—no, make that an outline—of my former self.

Note: Please excuse the poor formatting. Blogger does not seem to recognize indentations. Blogger does its best not to aid in the evils of outline creation. Blogger has a soul.

posted by Bekah at 9:23 AM :: |