Public Land & Resources Law Review
Write-On Evaluation 2007

This write-on evaluation will normally be all that is considered during the selection process.  

Remember, the case note must be your own work, and you may not receive any editorial input from other people.   The Honor Code applies.

Analysis

_____/5            Does the case note contain original analysis supported by case law, general trends (local or national), or logical inferences?  

_____/5            Does the case note comment on potential problems, solutions or future applications of the court's decision?

_____/5            Is the note analysis detailed, thorough and well-reasoned?

_____/5            Does the note contain creative or unique insights and thoughtfulness?

_____/5            Does the analysis demonstrate an understanding of or ability to interpret the case?

_____/5            Does the analysis compare and contrast with a lot of relevant precedent?   If not, does it use the precedent to support its own logical conclusion?

_____/30 (Total Analysis Score)

 

Writing Style

_____/5            Was the casenote persuasive?

_____/5            Did the note sway me to the other side or strongly reinforce my inclinations?

_____/5            Is the writing engaging, articulate, eloquent, while also precise and conscious of the need to avoid 'elegant variation' for legal terms that should remain consistent?

_____/5            Does the note provide a clear transition to prepare for the next major point?

_____/5            Is the note a product of a good writer?

_____/25 (Total Writing Style)

 

Research

_____/2            Does the case note exhibit original research (beyond the court's reasoning) of case law or legislative history surrounding the issue?

_____/2            Is the research in the note sufficient to support the conclusion reached?

_____/2            Did the author just re-explain the analysis of the case, or did they also explain the important dispositive precedents, and look at the briefs and tell us what the parties argued?

_____/2            Does the author support their point(s) with examples from a variety of sources (i.e., case law, statute, legislative history/minutes, treatises, law reviews, etc.)?

____/2              Are the sources used appropriate and authoritative?  

_____/10 (Total Research Score)

 

Structure

_____/2            Is the note cleanly organized with an introduction, background, analysis/contrast, and conclusion?

_____/2            Does the case note accurately explain the court’s reasoning (how the court arrived at its holding)?

_____/2            Does the case note accurately explains the court's holding?

_____/2            Does the case note exhibit original research (beyond the court's reasoning) and an accurate description of case law or legislative history surrounding the issue (i.e., background)?

_____/2            Does the note flow logically from one section to the next?

_____/10 (Total Structure Score)

 

Grammar and Citation Form

_____/ 5           Does the note use proper spelling and grammar?  

_____/5            Does the note use proper citation format?  

_____/5            Are the sentences constructed as simply as possible and with proper structure?  

_____/15 (Total Grammar and Citation Score)

 

Miscellaneous

_____/2            Is it a good note?

_____/2            Does the casenote flow to a clearly supported conclusion?

_____/2            Did the writer understand the law?

_____/2            Do they stay with a theme to which the details contribute in building a coherent picture?

_____/2            Does the conclusion echo the writer's thesis?

_____/10 or more (Total Miscellaneous Score)

 

_____/100 (TOTAL SCORE)