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REVIEW STRATEGIES

By Mary Doolan Coonabarabran High School

One of the most useful ways for students to assess their understanding of this focus study on Crime is to answer the key questions listed on page 47 of the Legal Studies syllabus. From reviewing past HSC papers students would be aware that these key questions often form the basis for HSC questions.

Further, students should use the syllabus dot points as a checkpoint to make sure that they have developed an understanding of ALL aspects of course content. This content must be considered by students in the context of the six THEMES of the Legal Studies HSC course:

1. Justice law and society
2. Culture, values and ethics
3. Continuity and change
4. Legal processes and institutions
5. Conflict and cooperation
6. Effectiveness of the legal system

A good memory may be enough for students to answer the first five questions in the crime structured response HSC question as these tend to be factual in nature (although there is no guarantee that this will always be the case). Latter questions however, require students to demonstrate depth of understanding through for example, making judgements about the effectiveness of various aspects of criminal law. The key questions will assist students in applying their content knowledge to analysis style questions.

In terms of judging the effectiveness of the criminal law in providing justice for the individual (both victim and accused) and society, students MUST be very familiar with the effectiveness criteria outlined in the syllabus for individuals. Students can use the mnemonics PAREE for the individual and BROL for society.

Students MUST also be very familiar with relevant syllabus OUTCOMES. As with Content, these outcomes should be a check list students use to monitor their understanding and skills, to seek assistance from their teacher and/or do further study and revision if there are areas of ‘weakness’.

Finally, as stressed above under Principal Focus (and as prescribed in the syllabus) the main focus of student understanding for crime should be on:

1. Gaining an understanding of criminal LEGAL PROCESSES AND INSTITUTIONS; and
2. Gaining an understanding of the TENSION BETWEEN COMMUNITY INTERESTS AND INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS V FREEDOMS in the context of crime.

To aid this process, students need to be ACTIVE. Get on top of syllabus terminology and stay up to date with new development in Criminal Law. Read the newspaper, watch the news, get online and see what is happening.

Be informed, enjoy and Good Luck!