Open AccessTHE NATURE AND CORRELATES OF LAW SCHOOL ESSAY GRADES 1
Author(s) -
Linn Robert L.,
Klein Stephen P.,
Hart Frederick M.
Publication year - 1970
Publication title -
ets research bulletin series
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2333-8504
pISSN - 0424-6144
DOI - 10.1002/j.2333-8504.1970.tb00173.x
Subject(s) - jargon , minor (academic) , handwriting , set (abstract data type) , law , psychology , composition (language) , legal writing , mathematics education , linguistics , political science , legal research , philosophy , computer science , programming language
The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between a number, of characteristics of a set of essays to the grades assigned to them. The essays were written by 79 law students from 16 law schools who answered a common question as part of their regular final exam in Contracts. High grades on the essay were found to be related to identifying and writing on major rather than minor issues, arguing both sides of an issue while pushing strongly for a particular conclusion, and using legal jargon. Poor handwriting and composition errors were related to low scores.