Outline Etiquette

Dear Freaked-Out Law Student:

I understand that the task of outlining a class can seem overwhelming, even if you have attended on a semi-regular basis and have done at least some of the reading. If you haven't attended class, or did but spent your entire time playing computer games instead of taking notes, or have never opened your text book, I can see how you might feel completely lost.

But you might want to reconsider your request for someone else's outline.

Consider finding outlines on the internets or even just using your syllabus and case notes. It's true, anyway, that someone else's outline isn't going to do you that much good, anyway.

That said, if you're going to ask for an outline, at least ask someone you know and not someone who's little more than a complete stranger. It is a tad presumptuous. Or have some kind of reason for why you're special. Or at least throw in a bribe!

Love and hugs,

Citations

Comments

[Mel Woods]

Nice. Someone I barely knew once asked for my notes from the entire semester, just sending them alone would probably waste a half-hour of my time. I also turned down a request for my outline last semester from an acquaintance and she got super bitchy about it.

[jeanne]

How truly bizarre. The only people that have ever asked for my outlines are classmates I know well. I can't imagine asking a relative strange for an outline or an entire semester of notes!

[PT-LawMom]

That is so odd. Why would someone ask someone they don't know for an outline? What worked for you might not work for them! I just used my syllabus as a guide to make headers, threw in info from my notes and case briefs and then filled in the gaps with the help of two commercial outlines. I also found two model charts online that I adapted with my own info. They need to be a bit more resourceful, I'd say!

[Citations]

Yeah, one of the reasons it's a bad idea to request outlines from just anyone is that the flip side of the etiquette is that it's bad form--or sometimes seen as bad form--to refuse.

PT-LawMom, you do exactly what I do. In exams I've found class notes to be the most helpful thing anyway. Every prof wants to hear their own words of wisdom (?) quoted back to them.