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
Struggling with where to start this assignment? Follow this guide to tackle your assignment easily!
📝 Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Understand the Purpose of the Assignment
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The document is long because it includes actual Illinois court opinions, not just summaries.
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You are practicing how to read real court decisions and analyze how courts use precedent.
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Don’t skim—read carefully, especially noting how the court applies past cases to reach decisions.
Step 2: Skim Before Deep Reading
Step 3: Read the Court Opinions Actively
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Read each opinion and highlight or annotate:
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Facts of the case
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Legal issue/question
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Court’s reasoning
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Final ruling
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Note where courts cite precedent (other cases) and how they use those citations to support their decisions.
Step 4: Tackle the Short-Answer Questions One by One
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Start with Question 1 and number your answers to match the question numbers.
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Break each question down into parts (for example, 1a, 1b, 1c) if it has multiple components.
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Answer each part completely and separately. Do not write in essay form.
Step 5: Balance Detail and Brevity
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If the question asks for specific information, keep your answer short and factual.
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If it asks you to make an argument (e.g., defend one side), provide:
Step 6: Review and Edit Before Submitting
📚 Helpful Resources
Use these links to understand how to read court opinions and how to write legal-style answers:
