Brilliance in the Basics:
Mastering IRAC for Exam Writing
As midterms are fast approaching, it is probably a good time
to bring up IRAC. Most of your
professors will want you to write your answers in the IRAC format. Here are the basics:
Issue: Spot the correct issue being discussed in the question and
restate it in a sentence or two.
Rule: Recall the appropriate rule and state it in the terms that
your professor requires in order to give you all of the available points. (Some professors like
verbatim rule statements, so ask and see what his or her preference is for each
class).
Analysis: Restate the elements of the rule and why each is
satisfied using the facts from the exam question. Use a highlighter or a pen to note when you
have used each fact. Most facts in the
questions or hypotheticals will be pertinent to the call of the question, so
make sure you try to use all of the facts. You may also be able to use one fact
for multiple elements of one rule.
Conclusion: Use one or two
sentences to answer the call of the question and tell the professor which way
the court would find. Be decisive, avoid
using words like should or may.
Ensure
that each part of IRAC is a separate paragraph. A one sentence paragraph for
the issue is perfectly appropriate for a law school exam. The Analysis part may
take several paragraphs-- use a new paragraph for each element or sub element.
Use
signposts in your exam answer for the professor to easily identify each part of your
answer. Law students commonly use Under,
Here, and Therefore as signposts
to direct the reader to the different portions of the exam answer. Under is for the rule statement; Here
is for the analysis of the facts to the elements of the rule; and Therefore
is for the conclusion statement. The easier you make it for the professor
to read your exam, the more points you will likely get on the exam.
If your
professor has asked that you use the CRAC (Conclusion, Rule, Analysis,
Conclusion) format, it is an easy transition from IRAC. Instead of making an issue statement, just
answer the call of the question first.
You can use the same idea for the conclusion sentences that you need at
the end of your answer.
Remember
that practice makes perfect. Do NOT let the midterm be the first time that you
write an exam answer. Practice at home
under exam timelines so that you are prepared for the actual midterm.
Until next week -
Meggan
As week five approaches, hopefully
everyone is settling into a successful routine and efficiently beginning to get
ready for midterms. Many organizations are beginning to have their first
general body meetings, and I encourage all students to get involved with each
of the organizations that interest them. Have you loved Criminal Law thus far?
The Criminal Law Association will be holding their first general body meeting
on Wednesday, September 23 at 12 pm. There will be pizza during the meeting and
it is your opportunity to learn what being a member of the Criminal Law
Association is all about. 
