CITATION MADE SIMPLE
An easy, effective guide for learning legal citation
Approach To Citation Made Simple
The approach for making Citation Made Simple as helpful as possible includes the following:
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Style: It is written in a relaxed, concise style that is comfortable and easy to read.
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Step-by-step: It is written in very short chapters so students can focus on one narrow topic at a time.
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Explanations: It explains the reasons for the rules so students understand that they are helpful and logical, not arbitrary.
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Examples: It includes many examples to make each rule concrete.
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Emphasis: It emphasizes (1) what rules are especially important and (2) what rules are commonly missed.
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Order: It explains the rules in a logical order, grouping related rules together and addressing them in the order that writers would need to apply them.
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Memos and briefs: It focuses on the rules for research memos and court briefs written for professors, partners, or judges. While it notes the differences when citing in an academic article, the book primarily focuses on the rules for memos and briefs, which 1Ls need to learn first.
Approach To Citation Made Simple - Practice Book
The approach for making the Citation Made Simple Practice Book as helpful as possible includes the following:
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Connected: The Practice Book is keyed to Citation Made Simple (the main book). After covering certain topics, Citation Made Simple points readers to the corresponding exercises in this Practice Book.
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Length: It uses short exercise sets that students can complete efficiently, giving students enough opportunity to practice and learn without it feeling tedious.
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Simplicity: The exercises are straightforward, simple, and efficient. No question is intended to trick students or test obscure rules that rarely apply. Instead, each exercise focuses on the rules legal writers need to know and will use often.
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Step-by-step: The exercise sets are scaffolded so most focus on one narrow topic. For example, one set focuses on what words to omit from a case name, the next set focuses on what words to abbreviate in the case name, etc., before later sets eventually build to full case citations.
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Answers and explanations: Part Two provides answers and explanations so that every exercise set helps students learn. Students can get immediate feedback by checking their answers and reading the explanations.
Approach To the Online Materials
The approach for making the Citation Made Simple Online Materials as helpful as possible includes the following:
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Connected: 40 videos and 12 quizzes are organized by topic in a way that mirrors the Parts and chapters of the Citation Made Simple book, allowing students to read topics in the book and easily find the corresponding video in the online materials.
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Videos: Professional videos provide an engaging way for students to review citation rules and topics--especially helpful for audio-visual learners. The videos emphasize important points and common mistakes with step-by-step examples. The videos average 5 minutes, allowing for sufficient depth-of-coverage while students can quickly review topics. The book and videos, especially when used in tandem, allow professors to fully flip classroom instruction on citation.
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Quizzes: Multiple-choice quizzes help students learn by ensuring they understood the rules for a particular topic. The quizzes are designed to be instructional by providing answers, explanations, tips, and points of emphasis for each question immediately after a student answers.
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Engaging: The quizzes require active participation and the videos use animation, graphics, narration, and music for an engaging learning experience.
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Certificate of Completion: Students receive a Certificate of Completion when they view all videos and complete each quiz. Students can skip videos for topics they already understand well, but students must score an 80% on each quiz (retakes allowed) to receive the certificate. Some professors require students to submit their certificate before the semester ends.
Hear what legal writing professors are saying about
Citation Made Simple!
"Citation Made Simple provides a clear path to learning legal citation. Readers will refer to this book again and again. This book should be on every law student’s desk and on every lawyer’s bookcase."
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Anne Ralph
Professor & Associate Dean of Academic Affairs
The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law
"An invaluable resource for law students, this guide demystifies legal citation . . . in a practical and approachable way."
David Cleveland
Director of Legal Research and Writing; Clinical Professor of Law
University of Minnesota Law School
"Students will love how Citation Made Simple cuts to the chase and translates tedious Bluebook rules into bite-sized, accessible chapters and practice exercises."
Lara Freed
Clinical Professor of Law
Cornell Law School
"A lifeline for students and a boon for busy professors. This book conquers the nemesis of law school's first year. Brilliant!"
Linda Edwards
E.L. Cord Foundation Professor of Law, Emerita
UNLV William S. Boyd School of Law
"Citation Made Simple lives up to its name! Short chapters with clear, direct writing make an intimidating undertaking inviting. In logical, easy-to-follow steps, it builds—and provides practice for—the foundational citation skills all students need. In doing so, it eases a burden for students and professors alike."
Joan Rocklin
Clinical Professor
University of Oregon Law School
"Citation Made Simple provides a user-friendly guide to navigating the challenging Bluebook rules. With tailored exercises that build incrementally, Citation Made Simple teaches students the essential language of legal citation."
Cecilia Silver
Director of Legal Research and Writing
Lecturer in Law; Senior Research Scholar in Law
Yale Law School
"Citation Made Simple will increase student confidence and skill with legal citation. With easy-to-use materials, focused descriptions, meaningful examples, and quick reference charts, it teaches how to properly cite legal sources and helps students understand the value of learning this skill."
Karen Sneddon
Dean and Professor of Law
Mercer University School of Law
"Citation Made Simple is a valuable resource for 1Ls learning citation and a terrific reference for more experienced students and lawyers wanting a quick refresher on key citation concepts. The book's plain language approach and step-by-step approach is fantastic."
John Strange
Professor of Legal Research and Writing
University of Wisconsin Law School
"​Professor Carpenter’s book embraces mistakes as part of the learning process, distinguishes between minor and major mistakes encourages students, reinforces the message that learning citation is important, and reassures law students that they can do it."
Michelle Cue
Co-Director: Legal Analysis, Research & Commc'n
Professor of Legal Practice
DePaul University College of Law
