Let Cool and Bon Appétit. by Timothy

Let Cool and Bon Appétit. by Timothy - May 2016 Scholarship Essay

Study methods are only as good as the time you put into them. That being said I have found two methods that are the most beneficial for taking final exams, especially in Law School: first, is reduction and the second is doing hypothetical questions. Others may say that the best method is to pace yourself, use flashcards or even reread the whole textbook. Excluding the last one, I am inclined to agree that studying over an extended period of time in short bursts with the assistance of snippets of notes could be helpful, but not everyone has the time or the resources to use such methods.
Studying is like cooking, specifically when making consommé and bouillon. Final exams are usually, if not always, cumulative, which means, in simple terms, there is “tons” of information that an instructor, teacher, professor or doctor can place on an exam. Additionally, your instructor can choose from a myriad of different question types: hypothetical questions, essay, short answer, multiple choice, matching, true or false, etc. It is a smart idea to know how your instructor tests before you decide on a study method.
When studying for finals I find that the first step is to “reduce.” In cooking terms, reduction means to boil down so as to condense and strengthen the flavor of whatever soup or sauce you are making. Studying works essentially the same way; you first collect all your ingredients (your class notes and documents) and you throw them into a big pot (a table will do) and you slowly boil down and skim off whatever fat collects (remove the less useful or unneeded information) and when it starts to condense, you turn off the heat and put a lid on it (put aside your studying and rest a bit). Then, after letting it sit, come back and you should have a nice consommé or bouillon (brief/summarized document of useful information). Remember to not eat the whole soup in one sitting; it is best to spoon the soup into small serving bowls to get the full flavor of the dish (study a little at a time) and Bon Appétit. The only down side, however, to this cooking method is the time required, but if you put in the time to do it right, you will get an excellent dish to enjoy before the main course (final exam).
The second method I use to study, although truly only relevant to law school exams, is to do hypothetical questions (hypos). Hypos, as the name suggests, are questions which were created with a particular topic in mind. Similar to fact-pattern essay questions, law school hypothetical questions usually contain a long series of facts and/or a “made-up” statute that is then followed by a question or questions. These questions can take the form of general issue spotters, specific legal brief/memo questions or even outlined arguments. The point of doing hypothetical questions is to have hands-on practice with potential questions and the class notes. Similar to take practice SAT or LSAT, doing hypos helps you realize where your weaknesses lie. Personally, I have trouble with the time variable so I have to be very conscious of that and have to take the exam under as close to exam conditions as I can.
Although, it may seem as if I am rambling or scatterbrained, there is a method to my madness. Be it “Reduction” or “doing hypos,” the best method I have found is to work with the information and facts in order to when the time comes “serve your instructor the best dish you can.” Too thick (complex) and your professor may chock (be confused), too thin (brief) and your professor will be left unsatisfied (feel that your analysis is too weak). You have to write the “Goldilocks” of papers (just enough information not to be confusing or empty/brief). I have heard many different analogies and methods to studying, but I believe that if you can do either, if not both, of these two methods you will give yourself one of the best chances of success possible.