| Volume I, Chapter §4.1 Legal Terminology |
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Laying a Foundation
Introduction
Terminology. BORING, but this is information that must be mastered.
The thirty or so pages dedicated here will not only provide the student with a strong basic legal vocabulary, but also with a sturdy understanding of both civil and criminal processes in the American judicial system. A couple of hints:
The first time you study this material, just read it.
In other words. Do not study it. Do not take notes. Read it as you would a story or novel.
The second time you study it, take notes.
On your own paper, make notes regarding the terms, and attempt to place them in a context or order that makes sense to you. You may want to try making questions for yourself as you go along (also providing the answers) so that you will have an additional study tool when you're finished. Consider using index cards or creating them online using a free site such as www.flashcardmachine.com.
The third time you study it, just read the story.
Try not to use the definitions provided. See whether the terms now make sense to you. Make a note of the terms you have to look up, and re-study those. Repeat this process until you can read the story all the way through with no assistance from the definitions. By then you will own it.
By the way, the story about the owl and the bat is true!
