The Supreme Court

Fall, 2006

Opinion Grade Sheet

(Specific comments are written on the opinion itself. This is intended as a general evaluation of the opinion.)

Name of Student _____________________________

Grade __________

I. Substance of Opinion (35 percent of grade) (includes logic of basic arguments, development of arguments, and appropriateness of arguments in an opinion by the United States Supreme Court).

II. Use of Authority (20 percent of grade) (includes use of authority to support arguments relied on in the opinion and to distinguish rejected arguments).

III. Organization of Opinion (15 percent of grade).

IV. Writing Style (20 percent of grade) (includes tone of opinion, grammar, sentence structure, transitions between paragraphs, conclusions of paragraphs and arguments, fluidity and grace in the use of language, and appropriateness of word choices).

V. Miscellaneous (10 percent of grade) (includes citation form and all other aspects of the opinion).