Fun with the Redbook
Citations
Professor HC's pet Peeves
What's wrong with this sentence?
Confetti
100
These rules will help you determine what is wrong in this sentence: "Congress shall make no law ... abridging the freedom of speech..."
What are Redbook Rules 1.43-1.45? These rules explain the proper use of ellipsis. There should be spaces between each dot and a fourth dot indicating a period at the end of the sentence. ("Congress shall make no law . . . abridging the freedom of speech . . . .")
100
The rule that indicates why the case name for Sheldon Robers versus the State of Texas is "Robers v. State" and not "Robers v. Texas"
What is ALWD rule 12.2(h)
100
The appropriate times to capitalize "court."
When referring to: 1) The United States Supreme Court; 2) the highest tribunal in the jurisdiction whose laws govern the outcome, such as a state supreme court; and 3) the court you are addressing. (Redbook Rule 2.12)
100
"I am herewith returning the stipulation to dismiss in the above entitled matter; the same being duly executed by me."
What is using legalese?
100
The correct way to organize the discussion portion of a legal memorandum.
What is CREAC or CRuPAC?
200
The error in this sentence and the corresponding Redbook rule to help you identify the error: If the parties had agreed upon a specified method of making the determination, they could have used whatever rent figure emerged.
What is a buried verb or nominalization and Redbook rule 10.43. (Correct: "If the parties had determined an agreed-upon method for calculating the rent, they could have used whatever figure emerged.") There are actually many different ways to rewrite this sentence that will "unbury" the verb. The point is to recognize the nominalization and correct it.
200
The short form of the case Dempsey v. State, 277 Md. 134, 355 A.2d 455 (1976) if the immediately preceding cite was to this case and you are citing to the first page of the opinion.
What is Id. at 134, 355 A.2d at 455.
200
Professor HC said "I really hate it when you do this", but what she meant was "I will fail you if you do this".
What is an example of placing periods and commas outside the quotation marks? (She won't actually fail you but will be really, really frustrated!)
200
“There is a considerable range of expertise demonstrated by the spam senders.”
What is using the passive voice? (Correct form would be "The spam senders demonstrate a considerable range of expertise.”)
200
This should be at the beginning of every paragraph.
What is a topic sentence?
300
The error in this sentence and the corresponding redbook rule that helps you identify it: Its generally generally accepted that the court exceeded it's authority.
What is confusion of "it's" and "its" and Redbook Rule 7.13 or 12.3 (troublesome words)?
300
This Rule and Appendix explains how to properly cite an Arizona statute.
What is ALWD Rule 14.4 and Appendix 1?
300
The error in this sentence: No one in their right mind would pay so much for that computer.
What is using "their" as a singular pronoun?
300
The termites had a startling affect on the piano.
What is confusion of "affect" and "effect"?
300
2 Transitions: One that indicates to the reader that you are highlighting similarities between two cases and one that indicates that you are signaling difference.
What are "similarly" or "likewise" and "in contrast"? (Note: other transitions will be accepted if approved by Professor HC and Courtney). This link is helpful: http://www.elc.byu.edu/classes/buck/w_garden/classes/buck/transitions.html
400
How to discuss a table belonging to the Cortez family and the corresponding redbook rule.
What is "the Cortezes' table" and Redbook Rule 7.11.
400
The correct full citation for Section 48.20.022 of the Revised Code of Washington Annotated with a copyright date of 2010.
What is "Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 48.20.022 (West 2010)."?
400
“We were invited by our neighbors to attend their party.”
What is using passive voice? (Correct would be: "“Our neighbors invited us to attend their party.”)
400
In analyzing the court's decisions in the four most recent cases raising the issue of the scope of the right to privacy.
What is a sentence fragment?
400
This is a great way to ensure that you have an organizationally sound memo and strong paragraphing. (HINT: Courtney discussed it with each of you in your individual meetings.)
What is Reverse Outlining?
500
The error in this sentence and the corresponding Redbook rule: Having served for 15 years in prison, the court should release Olson.
What are dangling/misplaced modifiers and Redbook Rule 10.29(c)?
500
The correct abbreviated case name for Associated General Contractors of California, Incorporated, versus the City of San Francisco and the rule and appendix that explain how.
What is "Associated Gen. Contractors of Cal., Inc. v. City of S.F." and ALWD Rule 12.2(i) and Appendix 3.
500
The error in this sentence: Mexican officials acknowledge they lack sufficient information.
What is impermissibly omitting the word "that"? (Correct would be "Mexican officials acknowledge that they lack sufficient information." See http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/omitting-that.aspx for a lesson on bridge verbs and when "that" can be omitted.
500
The defendant called the plaintiff in Minnesota, however, he did so at her instigation.
What is a run-on sentence? Either use a semicolon or separate into two complete sentences.
500
The error in this sentence: The forecast calls for light showers, some clearing and morning fog.
What is missing the final comma separating items in a series before the "and"?
M
e
n
u