Identifying the elements of a case note
There are some common elements to most case notes (which you would have noticed if you read through a few): a summary of the facts and the reasoning in the case (also called the ratio), and an analysis of the judgment’s implications. In this section, we will call these elements the case summary and the case analysis.
The case summary will generally encompass everything that is not the analysis – that is, the facts, procedural history, and the explanation of the ratio (reasoning).
The case analysis is an essay that uses the case as a springboard for your original ideas regarding the impact or significance of the case. As such, it is generally desirable to follow the rules for writing essays.
Remember that the structure of the case note is flexible, so your instructions may not align neatly with the case summary and case analysis division introduced here. This will be explored in more detail in the reading and writing strategies section of this resource.
Consider the following example to learn more about the case summary section and how to write it.
NoteThe purpose of this resource is to demonstrate a possible approach to case notes. DO NOT use the example paper as a model for your own assignment. |
NoteThis sample is provided to give suggestions about what you might include in your assessment and how it could be structured. This sample is also not perfect. Always follow the assessments instructions provided in your unit's assessment information to ensure you are addressing the assessment criteria. |
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