INSTRUCTIONS Don’t freak out when you see the length of the assignment document! It is over 30 pages, but the reason it is so long is because all of the informa?on you will need to complete the assignment is included (including full, unedited court opinions). You will no?ce that the court opinions provided are real Illinois court decisions from past exculpatory clause cases and, as such, they are not edited like the cases in our textbook. One of the reasons for this assignment is to give you prac?ce reading and understanding actual, full-length court opinions. I don’t think they are too hard to follow, but they aren’t the “easiest” reading. No?ce how courts cite to and use precedents in their opinions. The cases in our book usually edit out cita?ons so I wanted you to see how courts actually write. 2) The assignment is to answer the short-answer ques?ons on page 3. Please be sure to answer EACH PART of EACH QUESTION. Many of the numbered ques?ons include mul?ple parts so make sure you address each part in your answers. 1 Number your answers to correspond to the ques?on numbers. Please do not write your answers in the form of one long essay. 2 There is no minimum length for your answers. Some ques?ons will have longer answers than others. If I ask for specific informa?on, then your answer will be shorter than if I ask you to make an argument on behalf of one of the par?es involved in the case. Answers requiring you make an argument will likely be longer, as you win
📋 Assignment Overview
📝 Requirements for Your Answers
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Answer every part of every question.
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Some questions have multiple parts (a, b, c, etc.) — you must address all parts.
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Number your answers so they match the question numbers.
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Use short-answer format.
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No minimum word count.
⚖️ What to Expect in the Cases
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These are real legal opinions, not edited like textbook cases.
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Expect:
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Purpose: To give you practice understanding actual legal writing and how courts apply precedent.
✅ Tips for Success
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Read the facts, issue, reasoning, and conclusion for each case.
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Highlight or note:
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When answering questions:
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Be clear, concise, and specific
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If you must make an argument, use facts + legal reasoning to support it
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