Have you written a good succinct abstract with a decent dash of preliminary research? An abstract should include all of the major components of your paper, including an introduction, thesis, analysis, discussion, and conclusion.  Tickle your readers’ curiosity and leave them wanting a taste for more.

Is your thesis well sprinkled with research?  “Your thesis is what you decide to say about your topic; it is your position, argument, solution, and defense of that position, argument, or solution.” (Jessica L. Clark and Kristen E. Murray, Scholarly Writing: Ideas, Examples, and Execution 20 (2d. 2012))

Instead of a mad dash at the end of the semester to start your AWR research, take a stroll to your library’s Getting Started on Your AWR Workshop (Tue Feb. 12 from Noon to 1pm in Room 1337).  Writers will explorer the pre-research process and setting personal research deadlines.  Learn to identify research sources in order to narrow down topics and determine whether a chosen topic is practical with enough accessible, available research. 

And remember, you are always welcome to stop by the Legal Research Help Desk for assistance locating primary and secondary sources to substantiate your thesis.

One of the best things about the first day of classes is so far no one has earned any not so good grades for the Spring 2013 semester.  And everyone can take a hard look at her or himself and ask that age old important question. “Did [I]spend time on practice questions throughout the semester?”

Read more of Prof. Jarmon’s tips in Evaluating Your Study Habits, Student Lawyer (Jan. 2013) http://www.americanbar.org/publications/student_lawyer/2012-13/jan/study_habits.html

And don’t forget everyone is invited to attend the Study Aids Workshop and learn the tricks of the trade for using your library’s Academic Success Collection and Westlaw electronic study aids.

Study Aids Workshop --- Feb 5 at Noon in the 13th floor Teaching Lab, room 1337.

Yvette

Constitutional?  Argue among yourselves.

See the proposed bill that will require high school students to take an oath to receive their diploma.  It is available at the Arizona State Legislature website.  Click the link below:

http://www.azleg.gov//FormatDocument.asp?inDoc=/legtext/51leg/1r/bills/hb2467p.htm&Session_ID=110 

The politicians introducing the bill are Representatives Thorpe, Borrelli, Seel, Shope, Smith: Dial, Livingston, Senator Crandell.

morguefile.com

Lance Armstrong’s wealth is estimated to be $100 million but after his confession in Oprah’s interview that will probably need to be recalculated. Read more about the real and potential lawsuits involving Armstrong in this NPR article.

Interested in learning more about Lance Armstrong’s legal woes and his career?  Take a look at ProQuest eLibrary for news articles, transcripts, and pictures. Don’t forget that WestlawNext and Lexis  also have legal and general news files.  Or, for assistance finding other authoritative news sources stop by the Legal Research Help Desk.

Image Source (morguefile.com)

Law school is all about studying. Reading and studying.

This article from Time magazine caught my eye, as it discusses the best learning techniques for retaining information. Surprisingly, reading and highlighting are mentioned as not being as effective as using flashcards! The article goes on to explain how taking practice tests and using flashcards are great because, "[r]esearch shows that the mere act of calling information to mind strengthens that knowledge and aids in future retrieval."

Image from Morguefile.com