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REV UP The Freshmen Review Program
How to Answer Essay-Type Questions
(Note: This is not a one-size-fits-all format. This is just a
general guide)
T!es of "ssa #uestions
1. $%je&tive T!e
2. 'ssue-Posing T!e
3. 'ssue-!otting T!e
1. Objective Type
- s* for definitions+ enumerations and distin&tions
- nswer as %rief and &on&ise as !ossi%le Not more than ,
senten&es. ite the legal %asis.
- What is the doctrine of renvoi? (efinition)
o 'n the &ase of znar vs. /ar&ia0
- Enumerate the grounds for the annulment of
marriage("numeration)
o &&ording to rti&le 12 of the Famil ode0
- Distinguish psychological incapacity from insanity
(istin&tion)
o Ps&hologi&al in&a!a&it ma %e distinguished
from insanit as follows:
s to their effe&t on the marriage+ !s&hologi&al
in&a!a&it nullified the marriage+ while insanit
is onl a ground for annulment of marriage.
(se!arate !aragra!hs)
s to the time of their e3isten&e in order to %e a ground to
terminate the marriage+ !s&hologi&a
in&a!a&it must %e &hara&terized % juridi&al
ante&eden&e. $n the other hand+ insanit need
onl affe&t to mental dis!osition of the !art during the
&ele%ration of their marriage.
2. ssue-Posin! Type
- Fa&t-%ased 4uestions- Provide the issue and onl re4uire
the e3aminee to address su&h issue
- 5!otheti&al e3am!le
". ssue-#pottin! Type
- Fa&t-%ased 4uestions
- #uestions whi&h do not e3!ressl !rovide the issue+ and
re4uire the e3aminee to determine the issue
%efore addressing the issue
- 6ou need to s!ot the rea$ issue%efore ou are a%le to
answer
- Justin Bieber was only trying to pull a joke by pointing a toy
gun at Orlando Bloom Believing it was a
real gun! Orlando Bloom killed Justin Bieber as an act of
self"defense #f you were the judge! will you
hold Orlando Bloom liable for the death of Justin Bieber?o
isse&t the #uestion7
'mmediate #uestion: 's $rlando 8loom lia%le for the death of
9ustin 8ie%er
Real #uestion: 's %ista&e o' 'act a valid defense on the
!art of $rlando 8loom
No+ ' will not hold $rland 8loom &riminall lia%le for the
death of 9ustin 8ie%er %e&ause
$rland 8loom was a&ting %ased on mista*e of fa&t. 'n the
&ase of ; vs. h hong+ the
defendant had no reasona%le time and o!!ortunit to as&ertain
the fa&ts. 'n the !resent
&ase+ $rlando 8loom %elieved that the to gun was real and he
was a&ting in self-
defense had the fa&ts %een as he %elieved them to %e.
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Use t(e #)A* +et(o,
- #hort nswer =st!aragra!h
- )egal 8asis ,nd!aragra!h
- A!!li&ation 1rd!aragra!h
- *on&lusion 1rd!aragra!h
$hort %nswer
- ddressed the immediate 4uestion %eing as*ed
- ;se the e&ho method
- #s the petition correct? No+ the !etition is not
&orre&t.
&egal Basis
- tate the law or juris!ruden&e a!!li&a%le to the set of
fa&ts
- ;se !ro!er &itation. ote /o not write t(e artic$e nu%ber
or case tit$e i' you are not 100 sure
t(at it is t(e correct citation
- 'ntrodu&tor terms
o /eneri&:
>;nder the New ivil ode0?
>;nder the law0? >'t is a well-settled ruled that0?
>The u!reme ourt has held that0?
o !e&ifi&:
>rti&le =@ of the New ivil ode !rovides that0?
>'n the &ase of ; vs. h hong+ the u!reme ourt held
that...?
>The u!reme ourt has ruled in the &ase of ui vs. rellano
;niversit that...?
%pplication
- !!l the law to the given set of fa&ts
- /o not assu%e 'acts. Aimit ourselves to the fa&ts given in
the 4uestion.
- Transitional terms
o >5ere...? >'n this &ase...? >'n the &ase at
%ar...? >'n the !ro%lem...?
>8ased on the fa&ts...? >!!ling the laws...?
- 8e &onsistent. ;se the same &on&e!ts or terms that
ou used in our legal %asis.
- llogism:
o orre&t:
ll dogs are mammals
ll mammals have mammar glands
Therefore+ all dogs have mammar glands
o
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E3a%p$e 4 1(' was not a%le to write the fa&ts of the
&ase %ut here are the 4uestions and answers)
- 'mmediate #uestion:
o w&? for >whi&h?+ >%e&.? or >&oz? for
>%e&ause?
o "3am!le of allowa%le a&ronms:
>N? for the >New ivil ode?+ >F? for >Famil ode+
>RP? for >Revised Penal ode?+
>? for >u!reme ourt? 7UT %a&e sure t(at you (ave
in,icate, t(e usa!e o' suc(
acrony% in an ear$ier part o' your e3a%.
- Goi&e and Pers!e&tiveo
