How to Answer Essay Questions for the Bar Exams and Law School in the Philippines / Tagalog Version

Summary

Bacon Palacio's video offers valuable tips for acing essay-type questions in law school and the Philippine bar exams. Key advice includes reading questions before facts, using active voice, staying on topic, and keeping answers concise. The four-paragraph method is highlighted for structured responses: stating the answer, providing legal basis, applying it to facts, and concluding. The video also discusses issue spotting for open-ended questions and tailoring answers to question weight. Palacio recommends 'Bar Blues' as a reference and invites viewers to engage with the content.

Takeaways

• 📘 The Philippine bar exam requires a well-presented answer, emphasizing the importance of appearance and organization in responses.
• 🔍 Read the essay question ('call') before the facts to better sort the relevant information needed to answer the problem.
• 📝 Use the active voice in answers to make them more direct and clear.
• 🚫 Avoid straying from the subject matter when answering, and do not use the Rules of Court for Civil Law problems unless applicable.
• 📉 Keep answers concise to avoid examiner annoyance with lengthy responses.
• 👍 Engage with the content by liking, sharing, and subscribing to support the channel and receive more topnotch tips.
• 🖊️ Handwriting is crucial; practice writing key codal provisions for better exam performance.
• 📑 The four paragraph method is recommended for essay type questions to ensure an organized and logical presentation.
• 📝 In the first paragraph, directly answer the question and restate the call to clearly communicate your position to the examiner.
• 📚 Place the legal basis in the second paragraph without citing exact legal provisions or case titles to maintain focus.
• 🔑 Apply the legal basis to the problem's facts in the third paragraph, using terms like 'Here,' or 'In this case,' for clarity.
• 🔚 Conclude with a restatement of your position from the first paragraph, summarizing the conclusion in the fourth paragraph.

Q & A

What is the key to succeeding in the Philippine bar exam according to the video?

The key to succeeding in the Philippine bar exam is the presentation of a good answer, where the appearance of the answer matters and it should be short, simple, and direct to the point.

What is the first practical tip given for answering the Philippine bar exam?

The first practical tip is to read the question or 'call' before reading the facts of the problem, and to answer each call one at a time to avoid confusion.

Why is using the active voice recommended when answering the bar exam?

Using the active voice is recommended because it makes the answer clearer and more direct, even though the presenter admits to struggling with this habit.

What should be avoided when answering a Civil Law problem in the Philippine bar exam?

One should avoid using the Rules of Court to answer a Civil Law problem, even if the Rules apply to it, and should not leave the scope of the subject.

Why are long-winded answers discouraged in the Philippine bar exams?

Long-winded answers are discouraged because examiners are annoyed by them, as they prefer concise and to-the-point responses.

What is the purpose of the four paragraph method for essay type questions in the Philippine bar exams?

The purpose of the four paragraph method is to help present an organized and logical answer to essay type hypothetical questions in the Philippine bar exams.

What should be included in the first paragraph when using the four paragraph method?

In the first paragraph, one should categorically answer the question and re-state the call, providing a clear and direct response to the examiner.

What is advised against when citing legal provisions in the second paragraph of the four paragraph method?

One should not cite exact provisions of law or case titles, but rather provide a general reference to the legal basis, such as 'The Law on Contract states that...'.

How should the third paragraph of the four paragraph method apply the legal basis to the facts of the problem?

In the third paragraph, one should apply the legal basis to the facts of the problem using terms like 'Here,' or 'In this case,' and by incorporating the key terms of the legal basis.

What is the recommended approach for answering open-ended essay questions in the Philippine bar exam?

For open-ended essay questions, one should first spot the issues, which are anything being contested by the parties, and then apply the four-paragraph method to answer the issue in an orderly and logical manner.

What book is recommended for those planning to take the bar exam next year?

The book 'Bar Blues or everything you want to know about the new bar exams but are too busy to ask,' by Tanya Katrina A. Lat, Maria Gracia R. Gomez, and Marilyn S. Manait is highly recommended.