1. Read and understand the case. Show your Analysis and Reasoning and make it clear you understand the material. Be sure to use the concepts of the course to show your reasoning. Summarize the situation. Dedicate at least one heading to each following outline topic:
a. Parties [Identify the plaintiff and the defendant and tell something about them.]
b. Facts [Summarize those facts critical to the outcome of the case.]
c. Procedure [Who brought the appeal? What was the outcome in the lower court(s)?]
d. Issue [Note the central question or questions on which the case turns.]
e. Holding [How did the court resolve the issue(s)? Who won?]
f. Reasoning [Explain the logic that supported the court's decision.]
g. Case Questions [Be sure to address and thoroughly answer each and every case question and each part of each question.]
h. Conclusion [This should summarize the key aspects of the decision and also your recommendations on the court's ruling.]
i. Include citations on the slides and a reference page with your sources. Use APA style citations and references.
2. Do significant research outside of the book and demonstrate that you have in a very obvious way. This refers to research beyond the legal research. This involves something about the parties or other interesting related area. Show something you have discovered about the case, parties, or other important element from your own research. Be sure this is obvious and adds value beyond the legal reasoning of the case.
3. Pay strict attention to quality in terms of substance, form, grammar, and context.
Pick one:
Montgomery v. English
or
Page v. Gulf Coast Motors
An Important Note: Superior papers will cite from a variety of sources (periodicals, journals-- easily accessible through our online library, Internet, textbook, other books, etc.) and will incorporate your personal opinions (if you offer them) based on your research. Mediocre papers will not offer much support for your opinions and will be less persuasive to your audience.
Next, write your paper according to the style guidelines below. Your assignment should be a 1,500-2,500 word APA style paper. It should be completed as a MS Word document, typed in Times New Roman font, and size 12. Your paper should be double-spaced with 1-inch margins all around. Make sure your text is aligned left. Before submission, be sure to perform a spell check and read over your paper carefully for grammatical errors. Double-check that you have properly cited (using APA) all of your borrowed material.
Content: A quality paper will have significant scope and depth of research to support any statements. Relevant illustration or examples are encouraged. A quality paper will employ sound use of reasoning and logic to reinforce conclusions. All required content will be addressed and included in the proper sections.
Organization and Cohesiveness: The logical order of the content will be derived from the assignment. The content will be properly subdivided into sections derived from the outline. In a quality paper, the conclusion will summarize the previously presented content.
Editing: A quality paper will be free of any spelling, punctuation, or grammatical errors. Sentences and paragraphs will be clear, concise, and factually correct.
Documentation & Formatting: A quality paper will include a title page, abstract, proper citations using APA style, and a bibliography. A quality paper will have significant scope and depth of research to support any statements. Relevant illustration or examples are encouraged