MOOT COURT BRIEF GRADING SHEET
Student:______________________________
Argument Section(s)
Drafted:______________________
INITIAL SECTIONS (40 points possible):
Cover (3):
Correct color (1 pt); Proper caption, bound at the left (1 pt)
_______
Identifies team #, students’ names, sections drafted (1 pt)
_______
Questions Presented (3):
Presented in correct order per U.S. S.Ct. Rules (1st) (1 pt)
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___
Describes issues in proper Supreme Court style (Chap. 3 and lecture) (0-2 pts)
Notes:
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Table of Contents (3):
Presented in correct order per U.S. S.Ct. Rules (2nd) (1 pt)
_______
Listing for Argument section w/ full headings for subsections (0-2 pts)
_______
Notes:
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Table of Authorities (3):
Presented in correct order per U.S. S.Ct. Rules (3rd) (1 pt)
_______
Separates Cases, Statutes, Legislative History, Secondary Sources (0-2 pts)
Notes:
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Opinions Below (3):
Presented in correct order per U.S. S.Ct. Rules (4th) (1 pt)
_______
Gives citation (1 pt); References record pages where opinion is found (1 pt)
Constitutional and Statutory Sections (3):
Presented in correct order per U.S. S.Ct. Rules (5th) (1 pt)
_______
Quotes const. & stat. sections or cites them w/ ref. to full text in Appdx. (2 pts)
Statement of the Case (10):
Presented in correct order per U.S. S.Ct. Rules (6th) (1 pt)
_______
Properly describes facts, proceedings below w/o legal argument (0-5 pts)
_______
Section is slanted in favor of client, but not outrageously biased (0-4 pts)
_______
Notes:
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Summary of the Argument (10):
Presented in correct order per U.S. S.Ct. Rules (7th) (1 pt)
_______
Properly summarizes arguments in concise manner (0-5 pts)
_______
Section is strong and punchy, and makes best points clearly and directly (0-4 pts)______
Notes:
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Conclusion (2):
Appears last (1 pt); requests relief properly (1 pt)
SUBTOTAL for INITIAL SECTIONS:
_______
__________
ARGUMENT SECTION (60 points possible):
Use of Facts to further arguments (0-10 pts)
_______
Use of Cases and Statutory Authorities - each point is well researched and
supported with proper authority; demonstrates knowledge of controlling vs.
persuasive authority (0-10 pts)
_______
Use of Legislative History and secondary interpretive authorities (0-5 pts)
_______
Organization - logical, coherent; uses IRAC or TREAT format; proper division
of argument into main issues and sub-issues (0-10 pts)
_______
Persuasiveness and Advocacy - presents arguments in compelling and convincing
manner; best points are emphasized; weak points are explained, defused (0-15
pts)
Anticipates Opponent’s positions and provides counter-analysis (0-5 pts)
_______
Public Policy - identifies and explains how arguments further public policies (0-5
pts)
Notes:
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SUBTOTAL for ARGUMENT SECTION:
TOTAL for INITIAL SECTIONS +ARGUMENT SECTION:
__________
__________
PENALTY DEDUCTIONS:
Citation Errors (-0.5 pts for each error; max -5 pts)
_______
Format Errors: 2.0 spacing, 12 pt. font, 1" margins, 25/40 page limit (-0.5 pts/page;
max -5 pts)
Grammar, Spelling Errors, Typos (-0.5 pts for each error; max -3 pts)
_______
Late Penalty (-5 pts per 24 hour period late)
_______
TOTAL POINTS (out of 100):__________
FINAL GRADE:__________