CINXE.COM
Quick Start - Study Aids - Dickinson Law Library at Penn State Dickinson Law
<!DOCTYPE html><html lang="en"><head><meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=Edge" /><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><title>Quick Start - Study Aids - Dickinson Law Library at Penn State Dickinson Law</title><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0"><meta name="robots" content="noarchive" /><!-- favicon.twig --> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="180x180" href="//d2jv02qf7xgjwx.cloudfront.net/apps/common/favicon/apple-touch-icon.png"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="32x32" href="//d2jv02qf7xgjwx.cloudfront.net/apps/common/favicon/favicon-32x32.png"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="16x16" href="//d2jv02qf7xgjwx.cloudfront.net/apps/common/favicon/favicon-16x16.png"> <link rel="manifest" href="//d2jv02qf7xgjwx.cloudfront.net/apps/common/favicon/site.webmanifest"> <link rel="mask-icon" href="//d2jv02qf7xgjwx.cloudfront.net/apps/common/favicon/safari-pinned-tab.svg" color="#5bbad5"> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="//d2jv02qf7xgjwx.cloudfront.net/apps/common/favicon/favicon.ico"> <meta name="msapplication-TileColor" content="#ffc40d"> <meta name="msapplication-config" content="//d2jv02qf7xgjwx.cloudfront.net/apps/common/favicon/browserconfig.xml"> <meta name="theme-color" content="#ffffff"> <!-- !favicon.twig --> <!-- public_metadata.twig --> <!-- auto generated dublin core metadata --> <meta name="DC.Title" content="Dickinson Law Library: Study Aids: Quick Start"/> <meta name="DC.Creator" content="Laura Ax-Fultz"/> <meta name="DC.Subject" content="Law Library Services"/> <meta name="DC.Description" content=""/> <meta name="DC.Publishers" content="Penn State Dickinson Law"/> <meta name="DC.Rights" content="Copyright Penn State Dickinson Law 2025"/> <meta name="DC.Language" content="en"/> <meta name="DC.Identifier" content="https://psudickinsonlaw.libguides.com/studyaids/quickstart"/> <meta name="DC.Date.Created" content="Aug 24, 2018"/> <meta name="DC.Date.Modified" content="Aug 14, 2024"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Dickinson Law Library: Study Aids: Quick Start"> <meta property="og:description" content="Dickinson Law Library: Study Aids: Quick Start"> <meta property="og:type" content="website"> <meta property="og:url" content="https://psudickinsonlaw.libguides.com/studyaids/quickstart"> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"> <meta name="twitter:site" content="@springshare"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://static-assets-us.libguides.com/web/jquery/css/jquery-ui.min.css?2691" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="https://netdna.bootstrapcdn.com/font-awesome/4.7.0/css/font-awesome.min.css"/> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://static-assets-us.libguides.com/web/slick-1.8.1/slick/slick.css"><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://static-assets-us.libguides.com/web/slick-1.8.1/slick/slick-theme.css"><link rel="stylesheet" href="https://static-assets-us.libguides.com/web/css3.15.3/lg-public.min.css" /><script type="text/javascript" src="https://static-assets-us.libguides.com/web/jquery/js/1.12.4_jquery.min.js"></script><script> jQuery(document).ready(function () { jQuery(".dropdown-toggle").on("click",function(e){ jQuery(this).siblings("ul.s-lg-subtab-ul.dropdown-menu").toggle(); }) }); </script> <script src="//code.jquery.com/ui/1.13.2/jquery-ui.min.js"></script> <script> jQuery.ui || document.write('<script src="https://static-assets-us.libguides.com/web/jquery/js/jquery-ui.min.js?2691">\x3C/script>'); </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://static-assets-us.libguides.com/web/js3.15.3/lg-public.min.js"></script><style>/** bootstrap_tab_css.twig **/ #s-lg-tabs-container .nav-tabs > li > a, #s-lg-tabs-container .nav-tabs > li > button, #s-lg-tabs-container .nav-pills > li > a, #s-lg-tabs-container .nav-pills > li > button { border: 1px solid transparent; -webkit-border-radius: 0; -moz-border-radius: 0; border-radius: 0; background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #264971; font-weight: bold; padding: 4px 15px; } #s-lg-tabs-container .nav-tabs { border-bottom: 0; } #s-lg-tabs-container .nav-tabs > li#s-lg-admin-tab-add > a { -webkit-border-radius: 4px 4px 0 0; -moz-border-radius: 4px 4px 0 0; border-radius: 4px 4px 0 0; } #s-lg-tabs-container .nav-tabs > li > a:hover, #s-lg-tabs-container .nav-tabs > li > button:hover, #s-lg-tabs-container .nav-pills > li > a:hover, #s-lg-tabs-container .nav-pills > li > button:hover { border: 1px solid transparent; -webkit-border-radius: 0; -moz-border-radius: 0; border-radius: 0; background-color: #264971; color: #ffffff; } #s-lg-tabs-container .nav-tabs > .active > a, #s-lg-tabs-container .nav-tabs > .active > button, #s-lg-tabs-container .nav-pills > .active > a, #s-lg-tabs-container .nav-pills > .active > button { color: #ffffff; cursor: default; background-color: #264971; border: 1px solid transparent; -webkit-border-radius: 0; -moz-border-radius: 0; border-radius: 0; border-bottom-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; } #s-lg-tabs-container .nav-tabs > .active > .s-lg-subtab-ul > .active > a, #s-lg-tabs-container .nav-tabs > .active > .s-lg-subtab-ul > .active > button { color: #ffffff; cursor: default; background-color: #264971; border-bottom-color: transparent; } #s-lg-tabs-container .nav-tabs > .active > a:hover, #s-lg-tabs-container .nav-pills > .active > a:hover, #s-lg-tabs-container .nav-tabs > .active > button:hover, #s-lg-tabs-container .nav-pills > .active > button:hover { color: #ffffff; cursor: pointer; background-color: #264971; border: 1px solid transparent; -webkit-border-radius: 0; -moz-border-radius: 0; border-radius: 0; border-bottom-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; } #s-lg-tabs-container .nav .dropdown-toggle .caret { border-top-color: #e1e1e1; } #s-lg-tabs-container .nav-tabs button.dropdown-toggle .caret { margin-left: 2px; margin-top: -3px; } #s-lg-tabs-container .nav-tabs > li > a.s-lg-tab-drop { border-radius: 0; padding: 4px 6px 4px 3px; border-left: 1px solid transparent; } #s-lg-tabs-container .nav-tabs > li > button.s-lg-tab-drop { border-radius: 0; padding: 4px 6px 0px 3px; border-left: 1px solid transparent; margin-right: 2px; } #s-lg-tabs-container .nav-tabs > li > a.s-lg-tab-drop:hover { border-radius: 0; border-left: 1px solid #bbb; padding: 4px 6px 4px 3px; } #s-lg-tabs-container .nav-tabs > li > button.s-lg-tab-drop:hover { border-radius: 0; border-left: 1px solid #bbb; padding: 4px 6px 0px 3px; } #s-lg-tabs-container .nav-tabs > li > a.s-lg-tab-top-link, #s-lg-tabs-container .nav-tabs > li > a.s-lg-tab-top-link:hover, #s-lg-tabs-container .nav-tabs > li > button.s-lg-tab-top-link, #s-lg-tabs-container .nav-tabs > li > button.s-lg-tab-top-link:hover { border-radius: 0; font-weight: bold; padding: 4px 5px 4px 10px; } .nav-tabs > li > a.s-lg-tab-top-link, .nav-tabs > li > button.s-lg-tab-top-link { margin-right: 0px; } #s-lg-tabs-container .nav-pills > li > a.s-lg-tab-drop, #s-lg-tabs-container .nav-pills > li > button.s-lg-tab-drop { border-radius: 0; padding: 4px 8px 4px 8px; border-left: 1px solid transparent; position: absolute; right: 0; } #s-lg-tabs-container .nav-pills > li > a.s-lg-tab-drop:hover, #s-lg-tabs-container .nav-pills > li > button.s-lg-tab-drop:hover { border-radius: 0; border-left: 1px solid #bbb; padding: 4px 8px 4px 8px; } #s-lg-tabs-container .nav-pills > li > a.s-lg-tab-top-link, #s-lg-tabs-container .nav-pills > li > a.s-lg-tab-top-link:hover, #s-lg-tabs-container .nav-pills > li > button.s-lg-tab-top-link, #s-lg-tabs-container .nav-pills > li > button.s-lg-tab-top-link:hover { width: 100%; float: left; border-radius: 0; font-weight: bold; padding: 4px 15px 4px 15px; } /** !bootstrap_tab_css.twig **/ .s-lib-box {border-color: #e9e9e9; border-width: 2px; box-shadow: 0 8px 6px -6px #AAAAAA; border-radius: 0; background-color: #ffffff; } .s-lib-box-std .s-lib-box-title {background-color: #e9e9e9; background-image: none;color: #444444; border-bottom: 2px solid #e9e9e9; } .s-lib-box .s-lib-box-title {background-color: #e9e9e9; background-image: none;color: #444444; border-bottom: 2px solid #e9e9e9; border-radius: 0; } .s-lib-box .s-lg-box-footer { border-radius: 0; }</style><style type="text/css"> body { color: #2E3E74; font-family: Open Sans, Verdana; font-size: 14px; } #s-lg-guide-description { font: medium Open Sans, Verdana; } div#s-lg-guide-desc-container.pad-top-med { padding-left: 30px; } span#s-lg-guide-description { padding-left: 0px; } a:focus { color: #3300cc; } .s-lib-box { border-radius: 0px; } .s-lib-box { box-shadow: 0 0 0 0; } .s-lib-box .s-lib-box-title { font-size: 22px; } .s-lg-boxnav li.list-group-item:only-child { display: none; } #s-lg-profile-help-div { display:none !important; } #s-lg-sb-experts-div { display:none !important; } div.s-lg-book-prop-isbn { display: none; } div.s-lg-book-prop-pubdate {display: none; } div.s-lib-featured-profile-image { max-width:170px; max-height:170px; width: auto; height: auto; } div.s-lib-profile-image.s-lib-profile-div.s-lib-profile-center.s-lib-profile-image { text-align:left; } #s-lib-profile-div s-lib-profile-center s-lib-profile-image { width:170px; height:170px; } .innerbox_3 a { font-weight: bold; font-size: 14px; } div.s-lib-box-content li a { font-size: 16px; } a.btn.btn-info.s-lg-hp-btn-section { background: #4568A0; } .label { display: none; } i.fa.fa-bookmark.fa-lg { display: none; } .space { margin-left: 2.5em; } <!-- Number of views - hide? span.pad-left-med.hitst { display: none; } --> @media print { p a:after { content: " (" attr(href) ")"; font-size: 80%; } #s-lib-banner { display: none; } #s-lg-guide-search-box { display: none; } #s-lib-bc { display: none; } #s-lg-box-2109006-container { display: none; } #s-lg-box-2109026-container { display: none; } #s-lg-box-2109016-container { display: none; } #s-lib-profile { display: none; } } ul.s-lg-link-list {list-style-type: none; } div.s-lg-file-desc.s-lg-link-desc { text-indent: 150px; } </style><style> div:empty { display: none; } </style><script> var springStats = springStats || {}; springStats.saConfig = springStats.saConfig || { site_id: 341, tracking_parameters: {"_st_guide_id":864680,"_st_page_id":6201142,"_st_site_id":341}, tracking_server_host: "libguides-proc.springyaws.com" }; </script> <script src="https://static-assets-us.libguides.com/web/js/sa.min.js?3116"></script> <script> springSpace.Common = springSpace.Common || { }; springSpace.Common.constant = { PROCESSING: { ACTION_DISPLAY_POLL: 159 } }; springSpace.Common.baseURL = "https://psudickinsonlaw.libguides.com/"; handleScroll=function() { if (false) { var target_elt = "#s-lg-page-section-6201142"; jQuery("html, body").animate({ scrollTop: jQuery(target_elt).offset().top }, 750); if (jQuery(this).scrollTop() > 220) { jQuery("#s-lib-scroll-top").fadeIn(750); } } } </script> <script> // Enable tooltips. jQuery(function () { try { springSpace.UI.initPopOvers(); jQuery(".az-bs-tooltip").tooltip(); } catch (e) { } }); jQuery(document).ready(function () { springSpace.springTrack.trackPage({_st_type_id: '1',_st_guide_id: '864680',_st_page_id: '6201142'}); }); jQuery(document).ready(function() { handleScroll(); }); </script></head><!-- Guides MASTER Template -- TOP NAVIGATION --> <!-- DO NOT REMOVE --> <!-- BEGIN: CUSTOM HEAD GUIDES JS/CSS --> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="//s3.amazonaws.com/libapps/sites/341/include/style.css"> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="//s3.amazonaws.com/libapps/sites/341/include/style-mobile.css"> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="//s3.amazonaws.com/libapps/sites/341/include/system.menus.css"> <link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Julius+Sans+One" rel="stylesheet"> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="//libapps.s3.amazonaws.com/sites/341/include/all.css"> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="//libapps.s3.amazonaws.com/sites/341/include/fontawesome.css"> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="//libapps.s3.amazonaws.com/sites/341/include/font-awesome.min.css"> <script type="text/javascript" src="//s3.amazonaws.com/libapps/sites/341/include/jquery-1.10.2.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//s3.amazonaws.com/libapps/sites/341/include/modernizr.custom.js"></script> <script> $(document).ready(function(){ $( "ul.nav > li.active > a.active > span" ).before( "<i class='fa fa-chevron-right' aria-hidden='true' style='margin:5px;'></i>" ); }); </script> <style> body, body.s-lib-public-body { background-color: #dddddd; font-family: Open sans, Verdana; font-size: 14px; color: #2E3E74; } .container { width: 1170px; margin: auto; } div.s-lg-guide-list-info { display: none; } .pad-top-med { padding-top: 0px; } .row { margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; background-color: #ffffff; } #page_wrapper { width: 100%; max-width: 1170px; margin: 0 auto; } .s-lib-side-borders { background-color: #ffffff; box-shadow: 0px 15px 10px 2px #858585; border-left: 0; border-right: 0; padding-right: -15px; } .s-lib-box { background-color: #ffffff; color: #2E3E74; border: 0px; border-radius: 0px; box-shadow: none !important; } div.s-lib-box-content li a { font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; } .fa-chevron-right:before { content: "\f054"; } .s-lib-box .s-lib-box-title { background-color: #ffffff; color: #7B438C; border-bottom: 1px solid #cccccc; border-radius: 0; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 700; padding: 0px 0px 6px 6px; } .s-lg-tabs-side.s-lg-boxnav.list-group-item { padding-top: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 4px; background-color: #ffffff; color: #7B438C; font-weight: bold; } .list-group-item { position: relative; display: block; padding: 10px 15px; margin-bottom: -1px; background-color: #fff; border: none; } .s-lg-boxnav li.list-group-item:only-child { display: none; } li.list-group-item a:hover { color: #2E3E74; text-decoration: none; } /* Subpage Dropdown Menu */ ul.s-lg-subtab-ul.dropdown-menu { background-color: #ffffff; } /* Doesn't work */ #s-lg-tabs-container ul.s-lg-subtab-ul>li>a:hover, #s-lg-tabs-container ul.s-lg-subtab-ul>li>a:focus { background-color: #EAEAEA; } img { max-width: 100%; height: auto; margin-top: 20px; } /* Law Library Title */ h1 { font-style: normal; font-size: 38px; font-family: 'Julius Sans One', sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; padding: 10px 10px 10px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 40px; } /* Column Navigation Menu Headers */ h2 { margin-bottom: 10px; font-size: 20px; line-height: 38px; color: #7B438C; font-weight: bold; } /* Law Library Title */ #s-lg-guide-name { font-size: 25px; font-family: Vartik, Verdana; font-weight: bold; color: #003366; vertical-align: center; padding-top: 30px; } h1#s-lg-guide-name { padding-top: 15px; padding-left: 30px; text-transform: capitalize; } #s-lg-guide-description { padding-left: 30px; } div#s-lg-guide-search-box { padding-top: 20px; margin-right: 30px; } /* HR Line Separator */ hr { border: 0; height: 0; border-top: 1px solid rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); border-bottom: 1px solid rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3); margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; } header { background-color: #7B438C; font-weight: bold; text-align: center; height: 60px; line-height: 60px; color: #ffffff; } /* Navigation Bar */ nav { height: 48px; } nav ul { padding: 0; display: flex; justify-content: space-around; list-style-type: none; } nav li a { color: #fff; font-size: 16px; } nav li a:hover { color: #EAEAEA; text-decoration: none; } .link { color: #FFFFFF; } /* Custom Footer */ .container-fluid { padding-right: 15px; padding-left: 15px; padding-top: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; } footer { font-size: 12px; font-color: #555555; background: #f5f5f5; text-align: center; border-top: 1px solid #bbb; border-top-width: 1px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(187, 187, 187); } fa { display: inline-block; font: normal normal normal 14px/1 FontAwesome; font-size: inherit; text-rendering: auto; } .fa-lg { font-size: 25px; line-height: .75em; vertical-align: -15%; } .fa-twitter:before { content: "\f099"; } .fa-facebook-f:before, .fa-facebook:before { content: "\f09a"; } .library-footer_social_span { color: #7B438C; } div.library-footer_social_div { padding-bottom: 4px; } .footer-library_fdlp-div_img { width: 100px; } </style> <!-- END: CUSTOM HEAD GUIDES JS/CSS --> <body class="s-lg-guide-body"> <div id="s-lg-guide-tabs-title-bar" class="container s-lib-side-borders"></div> <div id="s-lg-tabs-container" class="container s-lib-side-borders pad-top-med"> <div id="s-lg-guide-tabs"> <!-- BEGIN: PAGE HEADER --> <div id="s-lib-banner" class="container s-lib-banner-public" > <img src="https://libapps.s3.amazonaws.com/customers/330/images/LibGuides_Site_Banner.png" usemap="#headermap" class="img-responsive"> <map name="headermap"> <area shape="rect" coords="0,0,300,100" alt="Dickinson Law" href="https://dickinsonlaw.psu.edu/"> <area shape="rect" coords="890,0,1170,40" alt="Montague Law Library" href="https://psudickinsonlaw.libguides.com/"> <area shape="rect" coords="900,50,1170,90" alt="Dickinson Law Library email" href="mailto:DickinsonLawLib@psu.edu"> </map> </div> <!-- END: PAGE HEADER --> <!-- BEGIN: CONTENT --> <div class="row"> <!-- BEGIN: LIBRARY TOP NAVIGATION MENU --> <header> <div id="page_wrapper"> <nav> <ul> <li class="dropdown"> <a href="#" class="dropdown-toggle" data-toggle="dropdown" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false">ABOUT<span class="caret"></span></a> <ul class="dropdown-menu"> <li><a href="https://psudickinsonlaw.libguides.com/about/welcome">Welcome</a></li> <li><a href="https://psudickinsonlaw.libguides.com/about/hours">Hours</a></li> <li><a href="https://psudickinsonlaw.libguides.com/about/directory">Law Library Faculty and Staff</a></li> <li><a href="https://psudickinsonlaw.libguides.com/about/collections">Collections</a></li> <li><a href="https://psudickinsonlaw.libguides.com/about/mission">Mission & Objectives</a></li> <li><a href="https://psudickinsonlaw.libguides.com/lawlibraryhistory/home">History</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="dropdown"> <a href="#" class="dropdown-toggle" data-toggle="dropdown" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false">USING THE LAW LIBRARY<span class="caret"></span></a> <ul class="dropdown-menu"> <li><a href="https://psudickinsonlaw.libguides.com/usingthelawlibrary/hours">Hours</a></li> <li><a href="https://psudickinsonlaw.libguides.com/userguidelines">User Guidelines</a></li> <li><a href="https://psudickinsonlaw.libguides.com/usingthelawlibrary/librarymaps">Library Maps</a></li> <li><a href="https://libraries.psu.edu/policies/ul-ad28%20" title="">Safety and Well-Being of Children in the Law Library</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="dropdown"> <a href="#" class="dropdown-toggle" data-toggle="dropdown" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false">RESEARCH<span class="caret"></span></a> <ul class="dropdown-menu"> <li><a href="https://psudickinsonlaw.libguides.com/researchresources">Research Resources</a></li> <li><a href="https://psudickinsonlaw.libguides.com/az.php">Law Databases A - Z</a></li> <li><a href="https://psudickinsonlaw.libguides.com/lawresearchguides">Law Research Guides</a></li> <li><a href="https://catalog.libraries.psu.edu/">Search the Catalog</a></li> <li><a href="https://psudickinsonlaw.libguides.com/lawstudentsguide">Law Students</a></li> <li><a href="https://psudickinsonlaw.libguides.com/DSLFacultyServices">Law Faculty</a></li> <li><a href="https://psudickinsonlaw.libguides.com/AdjunctFacultyServices">Adjunct Faculty</a></li> <li><a href="https://psudickinsonlaw.libguides.com/alumnivisitor">Alumni and Visitors</a></li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="https://ideas.dickinsonlaw.psu.edu/" title="">DICKINSON LAW IDEAS</a></li> <li><a href="http://sites.psu.edu/keepingitbrief/" title=""><i>Keeping It Brief!</i> BLOG</a></li> </ul> </nav> </div> </header> </div> <!-- END: LIBRARY TOP NAVIGATION MENU --> <!-- BEGIN: GUIDE HEADER --> <div id="s-lg-guide-header" class="container s-lib-header s-lib-side-borders" style="box-shadow: none; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <div class="pull-right"> <div id="s-lg-guide-header-search"> <div id="s-lg-guide-search-box"> <form role="search" id="s-lg-guide-search-form" action="https://psudickinsonlaw.libguides.com/srch.php" method="GET"> <div class="input-group input-group-sm"> <input type="text" id="s-lg-guide-search-terms" name="q" class="form-control" maxlength="260" placeholder="Search this Guide"> <label class="sr-only" for="s-lg-guide-search-terms">Search this Guide</label><input type="hidden" name="guide_id" value="864680" /><span class="input-group-btn"><button class="btn btn-default" type="submit">Search</button></span></div></form></div> </div> </div> <div id="s-lg-guide-header-info"> <h1 id="s-lg-guide-name">Study Aids</h1> <div id="s-lg-guide-desc-container" class="pad-top-med"> <span id="s-lg-guide-description"></span> </div> </div> </div> <!-- END: GUIDE HEADER --> <!-- BEGIN: CONTENT AREA --> <div id="s-lg-guide-tabs-title-bar" class="container s-lib-side-borders"> </div> <div id="s-lg-tabs-container" class="container s-lib-side-borders pad-top-med"> <div id="s-lg-guide-tabs"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-3 s-lg-tabs-side pad-bottom-med"> <ul class="nav nav-pills nav-stacked"><li class="active"><a title="" class="active" href="https://psudickinsonlaw.libguides.com/studyaids/quickstart" ><span>Quick Start</span></a><ul class="list-group s-lg-boxnav"><li class="list-group-item"><a href="#s-lg-box-21529152">About Study Aids</a></li><li class="list-group-item"><a href="#s-lg-box-21544705">Types of Study Aids</a></li></ul></li><li class=""><a title="" class="" href="https://psudickinsonlaw.libguides.com/studyaids/online" ><span>Online Study Aids</span></a></li> </ul> <div class="s-lg-row margin-top-med"><div id="s-lg-col-0"><div class="s-lg-col-boxes"></div></div></div> </div> <div class="col-md-9"> <div class="s-lg-tab-content"> <div id="s-lg-guide-main" class="tab-pane active"> <div class="row s-lg-row"><div id="s-lg-col-1" class="col-md-12"><div class="s-lg-col-boxes"><div id="s-lg-box-wrapper-25252467" class="s-lg-box-wrapper-25252467"><div id="s-lg-box-21529152-container" class="s-lib-box-container"> <div id="s-lg-box-21529152" class="s-lib-box s-lib-box-std"> <h2 class="s-lib-box-title">About Study Aids</h2><div id="s-lg-box-collapse-21529152" > <div class="s-lib-box-content"> <div id="s-lg-content-48445677" class=" clearfix"> <p>Study aids are materials, other than your casebook, that help explain and outline the law. Study aids include explanatory material like nutshells and hornbooks, commercial outlines, case summaries, flashcards, audio tapes and more.</p> <p><strong>Study aids are meant to supplement, not take the place of, the work that you are already doing in your courses. </strong></p> <p>Study aids can help by:</p> <ul> <li style="box-sizing: border-box;">providing a useful overview of a confusing subject area,</li> <li style="box-sizing: border-box;">identifying the rule of law from a group of cases,</li> <li style="box-sizing: border-box;">helping to double check your understanding of material,</li> <li style="box-sizing: border-box;">offering an alternative explanation or examples that allow a student to make sense of difficult material.</li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div></div><div id="s-lg-box-wrapper-25270484" class="s-lg-box-wrapper-25270484"><div id="s-lg-box-21544705-container" class="s-lib-box-container"> <div id="s-lg-box-21544705" class="s-lib-box s-lib-box-std"> <h2 class="s-lib-box-title">Types of Study Aids</h2><div id="s-lg-box-collapse-21544705" > <div class="s-lib-box-content"> <div id="s-lg-content-48484750" class=" clearfix"> <p>Law school study aids are intended to assist students in accomplishing specific ends like extracting the rule from a particular case, getting a broad overview of a topic, or practicing exam questions. Below is a brief overview of the types of study aids that are available, with examples of each type. (This list is not exhaustive.)</p> <p><strong>Explanations of the Law</strong>: These series provide explanations of legal concepts and black letter law, with useful background information. They tend to be more detailed than most outlines or narrative study guides. The amount of detail varies with each publication. Examples of this type of study aid include:</p> <ul> <li>Concepts and Insights</li> <li>Concise Hornbooks</li> <li>Hornbooks</li> <li>Law in a Nutshell</li> <li>Understanding series</li> </ul> <p><strong>Problem-Based Study Aids</strong>: These titles include problems/questions and model answers relating to the area of law being discussed. These study aids usually include essay and multiple choice questions and/or hypotheticals followed by explanations. Examples include:</p> <ul> <li>Acing series</li> <li>Black Letter Outlines</li> <li>Examples and Explanations</li> <li>Exam Pro</li> </ul> <p><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Case Briefs</span>: Often referred to as "canned" briefs, case briefs summarize the law, facts and analysis of the cases students are assigned from course casebooks. Many track the actual casebooks themselves. <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"> Canned briefs are <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">not </em>a substitute for reading assigned cases. </span> They should only be used to test one's understanding or to extract a rule if needed. Examples of canned briefs include:</p> <ul> <li style="box-sizing: border-box;">Casebriefs</li> <li style="box-sizing: border-box;">High Court Case Summaries</li> </ul> <p style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Commercial Outlines</span>: Commercial outlines focus on black letter law and legal rules. They often include exam tips and sample questions. Examples include:</p> <ul> <li style="box-sizing: border-box;">Black Letter series</li> <li style="box-sizing: border-box;">Emanuel Law Outlines</li> <li style="box-sizing: border-box;">Gilbert Law Summaries</li> </ul> <p><span class="_powernotes_1728608276738008851" style="opacity: 1; transition-property: opacity; transition-delay: 100ms; transition-duration: 1ms;"></span></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div></div></div></div></div> </div> </div> <ul id="s-lg-page-prevnext" class="pager s-lib-hide"><li class="previous"></li><li class="next"><a href="https://psudickinsonlaw.libguides.com/studyaids/online"><strong>Next:</strong> Online Study Aids >></a></li></ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> <!-- END: CONTENT AREA--> <!-- BEGIN: PAGE FOOTER --> <div id="s-lib-footer-public" class="s-lib-footer footer container s-lib-side-borders"> <div id="s-lg-guide-header-meta" class="pad-top-sm pad-left-med clearfix"> <ul id="s-lg-guide-header-attributes" class=""> <li id="s-lg-guide-header-updated" class="s-lg-h-separator"> <span class="s-lg-guide-label">Last Updated:</span> <span class="s-lg-text-greyout">Aug 14, 2024 1:47 PM</span> </li> <li id="s-lg-guide-header-url" class="s-lg-h-separator"> <span class="s-lg-guide-label">URL:</span> <span class="s-lg-text-greyout">https://psudickinsonlaw.libguides.com/studyaids</span> </li> <li id="s-lg-guide-print-url"> <a href="javascript: window.print();"><i class="fa fa-print" aria-hidden="true" title="Print Page"></i> Print Page</a> </li> </ul> <div id="s-lib-footer-login-link" class="pull-right pad-right-med"> <a href="https://law-psu.libapps.com/libapps/login.php?site_id=341&target64=L2xpYmd1aWRlcy9hZG1pbl9jLnBocD9nPTg2NDY4MCZwPTYyMDExNDI=">Login to LibApps</a> </div> </div> <div class="pad-bottom-sm clearfix"> <div id="s-lg-guide-header-subjects" class="pad-top-sm pad-left-med pad-right-med pull-left"> <span class="s-lg-guide-label">Subjects: </span><span class="s-lg-small bold"><a href="https://psudickinsonlaw.libguides.com/sb.php?subject_id=1082">Law Library Services</a></span> </div> <div id="s-lg-guide-header-tags" class="pad-top-sm pad-left-med"> <span class="s-lg-guide-label">Tags: </span><span class="s-lg-small bold"><a href="https://psudickinsonlaw.libguides.com/srch.php?tag=Hornbooks&default_lg=1">Hornbooks</a>, <a href="https://psudickinsonlaw.libguides.com/srch.php?tag=Nutshells&default_lg=1">Nutshells</a>, <a href="https://psudickinsonlaw.libguides.com/srch.php?tag=Study+Aids&default_lg=1">Study Aids</a>, <a href="https://psudickinsonlaw.libguides.com/srch.php?tag=Study+Guides&default_lg=1">Study Guides</a></span> </div> </div> </div> <!-- END: PAGE FOOTER --> <div id="s-lib-alert" title=""> <div id="s-lib-alert-content"></div> </div> <div id="s-lib-popover-title" class="hide"> <span class="text-info"><strong>title</strong></span> <button type="button" id="popclose" class="close" onclick="jQuery('.s-lib-popover').popover('hide')">×</button> </div> <div id="s-lib-popover-content" class="hide"><i class="fa fa-refresh fa-spin"></i> Loading... <button class="btn btn-default btn-sm popclose" type="button">Close</button> </div> <div id="s-lib-scroll-top" title="Back to Top"> <span class="fa-stack fa-lg"> <i class="fa fa-square-o fa-stack-2x"></i> <i class="fa fa-angle-double-up fa-stack-1x" style="position:relative; bottom:2px;"></i> </span> </div> <!-- BEGIN: Custom Footer --> <footer id="footer" role="contentinfo" class="container-fluid footer"> <!-- Logo --> <div class="col-xs-4 col-sm-3 col-footer"> <a href="https://dickinsonlaw.psu.edu/"> <img alt="Law Logo footer" class="logo-larger" src="https://libapps.s3.amazonaws.com/customers/330/images/PSU_DSL_CMYK_2C.png" title="Penn State's Dickinson Law Homepage" width="150"></a> </div> <!-- // Logo --> <!-- Address --> <div class="col-xs-4 col-sm-6 col-footer"> <p><b style="font-size: 16px;">Montague Law Library</b><br> 150 S. College Street, Carlisle, PA 17013<br> <b>Phone:</b> 717-240-5267<br> <b>Email:</b> <a href="mailto:DickinsonLawLib@psu.edu">DickinsonLawLib@psu.edu</a></p> </div> <!-- // Address --> <!-- Social Media / FDLP --> <div class="col-xs-4 col-sm-3 col-footer" style="padding-top: 15px;"> <div class="library-footer_social_div"> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DickinsonLawLibrary/" class="library-footer_social_a" title="Dickinson Law Library Facebook page" style="padding-right: 15px;"> <span class="library-footer_social_span fa fa-facebook fa-lg"></span></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/dickinsonlawlib" class="library-footer_social_a" title="Dickinson Law Library Twitter page"> <span class="library-footer_social_span fa fa-twitter fa-lg"></span></a> </div> <div class="footer-library_fdlp-div"> <a href="https://psudickinsonlaw.libguides.com/usgovernmentdocuments"> <img src="https://libapps.s3.amazonaws.com/customers/330/images/fdlp-emblem-logo-text-color.jpg" class="footer-library_fdlp-div_img" alt="Federal Library Depository Program Logo"> </a> </div> </div> <!-- // Social Media / FDLP --> </footer> </div> <!-- END: Custom Footer --> </body></html>