'Thinking' in a Deweyan Perspective: The Law School Exam as a Case Study for Thinking in Lawyering

29 Pages Posted: 4 Nov 2011 Last revised: 31 Dec 2012

See all articles by Donald J. Kochan

Donald J. Kochan

Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: November 4, 2011

Abstract

As creatures of thought, we are thinking all the time, but that does not necessarily mean that we are thinking well. Answering the law school exam, like solving any problem, requires that the student exercise thinking in an effective and productive manner. This Article provides some guidance in that pursuit. Using John Dewey’s suspended conclusion concept for effective thinking as an organizing theme, this Article presents one basic set of lessons for thinking through issues that arise regarding the approach to a law school exam. This means that the lessons contained here help exercise thought while taking the exam - to think through the exam approach. The second, more subtle, purpose is to demonstrate that the law school exam can serve as a case study in the effectiveness of certain thinking tools that have much broader application. For that reason, this Article is not your typical “how-to” guide, but instead provides guidance critically and generally applicable to the thinking enterprise itself.

Keywords: law school exams, suspended conclusion, John Dewey, problem solving, pedagogy, critical thinking, law school hypos, judicial review of agency action, thinking, thought processes, show your work, conclusory

Suggested Citation

Kochan, Donald J., 'Thinking' in a Deweyan Perspective: The Law School Exam as a Case Study for Thinking in Lawyering (November 4, 2011). Nevada Law Journal, Vol. 12, Issue 2, 2012, Chapman University Law Research Paper No. 11-30, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1954291 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1954291

Donald J. Kochan (Contact Author)

Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University ( email )

3301 Fairfax Drive
Arlington, VA 22201
United States

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
304
Abstract Views
2,465
Rank
33,770
PlumX Metrics