Read Law Right

Here’s the main points from this series of posts. What additional points did you pick up on? Tell me in the comments.

1. Break the reading down into bite-sized chunks. 30 minutes is a good metric to aim for, but you can be flexible about this.
2. Make sure you know the purpose for reading this particular source. Consult your learning objectives, and upcoming seminar and assignment questions. Ask your tutor or lecturer if you are not sure.
   (A good way to frame the question is, ‘What are the main things you are hoping we’ll get from this reading?)
3. Get comfortable with not reading everything word-for-word. For a new source, read the introduction and conclusion, skim the main headings and read the first sentences of interesting looking paragraphs.
4. Make notes about the structure of the writing. This will help when you return to the most relevant parts to read them more deeply.
5. Aim to identify the main principles, the exceptions to those principles, and any critique or proposed amendments to those principles.
6. Keep a diary/journal of your reading. Spend the final 5 minutes of a reading session jotting down the main points.
7. When you copy out a quotation, place it in quote marks and note the author, title and page number. This will save you so much time if you use the quote in an assignment – you’ll have a ready-made footnote.
8. Consider noting your own opinion about what you’ve read. Was an explanation or argument persuasive? If so why/why not? Again note the publication/page details for a future footnote.
9. Struggling with what to record in your notes? Journal it. Don’t try to be sophisticated. Imagine you are explaining what you’ve just read to someone else. Literally speak it out then transcribe what you said.
10. Really struggling? As if describing to friend: “I just skimmed the intro and conclusion of chapter 1 of ‘Author/Title’. Didn’t make a lot of sense of it. Discusses x, y and z. Seems to make a fuss about y, law isn’t straightforward, arguing for reforms…” and so on. Go back next time and clarify.