Unlocking the Bluebook - UMKC School of Law

RoadmapThe BluebookICW

Goals of CitationGive attribution for another’s ideas in yourwork.– In a common law system, demonstrating thatthe idea is not original strengthens yourargument and analysis.– Even novel arguments must be grounded inprecedent.Give your reader a map to that source.Give a great deal of important informationas briefly as possible.

What’s so special about legalcitation?In law, citations don’t just tell your reader whereyou found the ideas.They give the reader valuable information about…– How strong your argument really is (court & date) and– How the cited material relates to your argument(signals).Citations give lots of valuable information inshorthand. This means you don’t have to explainit in longhand.

Enter The Bluebook . . .The shorthand method we use for thisinformation is found in The Bluebook: AUniform System of Citation (18 th ed. 2005).What about the ALWD Citation Manual?

Citations Manuals areReference BooksMight have noticed that The Bluebook isfairly thick with lots of rules.Good news:– We won’t use all of it.– Even the parts we do use won’t need to bememorized.Good lawyers don’t know everything; theyknow where everything is.

Parts of The BluebookIntroductionThe BluepagesRulesTablesIndex

IntroductionGives a general introduction to legalcitationExplains the structure of The Bluebook.For best results, read this before youattempt the first citation exercise.

The BluepagesThe rules in The Bluebook were originallyintended to apply primarily to scholarly works.For practical works, the rules are condensed andmodified slightly in The Bluepages.– This condensing produces a kind of “mini Bluebook.”– The changes are primarily of form rather thansubstance.• For example, typeface, such as italics and large/small caps.Sometimes, the examples accompanying the rulesin the main body don’t match the typeface of therules for The Bluepages. The reason is that theexamples in the main body conform to thescholarly rather than practical work rules.

The BluepagesB5 Cases– B5.1.1 Case Names– B5.1.2 Reporter & Pinpoint Citation– B5.1.3 Court & Year of Decision– B5.2 Short CitesB6 Statutes, Rules, and Regulations– B6.1.1 Federal Statutes– B6.1.2 State Statutes– B6.2 Short Forms

The BluepagesB7 ConstitutionsB8 Books & Other Nonperiodical MaterialsB9 Journal & Newspaper ArticlesB10 Court & Litigation Documents (muchexpanded)– BT.1 Abbreviations for Court Documents(formerly with the back tables)

The BluepagesB12 Block QuotationsB13 Typeface ConventionsBT.2 Jurisdiction-Specific Citations Rules& Style Guides

Rules (more specific thanThe Bluepages)Rules 1-9 cover general information(capitalization, use of signals, block quotes, etc.)used for all types of citation (cases, statutes,periodicals, etc.).Rule 10 covers cases.Rule 11 covers constitutions.Rule 12 covers statutes.Rules 15-17 cover secondary sources such asbooks, periodicals, audio recordings, etc.Rule 18 covers electronic sources.

TablesTables give helpful information about specificareas.Table 1 gives information about each jurisdictionin the United States.– Court structure for each jurisdiction.– Names of courts in that jurisdiction.– Reporters in which those courts’ opinions arepublished.– Statutory compilations for that jurisdiction.Table 6 gives the abbreviations that you will useto shorten case names.

IndexWhat is an index?Bluebook index works like any other index.Color-coded– Black: Information found in text.– Blue: Information found in example.When in doubt, check it out!

Not Exactly Rocket ScienceThe rules aren’t complicated . . .. . . but there are a lot of them!All you need is a method that lets you breakthe rules down and learn them a few at atime.Interactive Citation Workbook/Workstation.– self-directed study– frees up class time for more complex info– frees up professor’s commenting focus formore complex info

Let’s take a look . . .Interactive Citation Workstationicw.lexisnexis.com

Using the ICW:A Step-by-Step Tutorial© 2002-08 Tracy L. McGaugh

InstructionsEach slide that follows contains instructionsat the top.The screen displayed on each slide is whatyou should see after carrying out theinstruction at the top of the page.

Point your browser tohttp://icw.lexisnexis.com.

Notice the tabs across the top ofthe page

Click on the “Instructions” tab;you’ll need to read these before starting

To begin using the ICW, click onthe “Bluebook” tab

Complete the Online Intro Quizbefore starting an exercise

When you click on the link to thequiz, you’ll be asked to sign in.You’ll need an ICWID from LexisNexisThis ID gives youaccess to the ICWonly unless yourprofessor hasspecifically requestedmore access onLexisNexis.

After signing in, complete theOnline Intro Quiz

To begin an exercise, click on the“Bluebook” tab.

When you choose from the list ofexercises, you’ll get general instructions.

Each problem screen contains GENERALINSTRUCTIONS, the PROBLEM, and aSOLUTION BOX.

Type the answer to the problem

Submit the answer to get immediate feedback.This feedback tells you that the user neglectedto italicize the case name.

FeedbackCorrect portions in blue.Incorrect portions in red.Hints to correct the incorrect portions.Use the hints as a checklist to correct the citation –the hints will address everything that could bewrong with that part of the citation, notnecessarily exactly what is wrong.Using the hints is faster and less frustrating thanaimlessly changing the citation and resubmitting.

Using the Italics: Highlight the portion toitalicize and then click the Italic button.

Congratulations, Citation Wizard!

Other FeaturesYou can include symbols by clicking on thesymbol needed below the solution box.You will need to reposition your cursor inthe solution box.You can preview your answer beforesubmitting it by clicking the preview button– especially helpful for long answers in laterexercises.

What happens if it’s not right?The ICW gives you three opportunities todraft the citation correctly.After the third try, the ICW records yourfinal answer and lets you move on toanother citation.

What if my wrong answer looks identicalto the ICW’s wrong answer?Use your cursor and arrow key to gothrough the citation and verify that youhaven’t inserted additional spaces (multiplespaces display as a single space in HTML).Verify that punctuation is only includedwithin the italics if an ICW rule allows it.These are the most common explanations.For others, consult the ICW’s FAQ section.

When you are done with the exercise and want tosubmit your exercise, click “Done.” If you want tocome back, click “Save & Close” instead.

The Completion Certificate

The Completion CertificateWill be automatically available to your professoronline through the ICW site.May also be printed using the “Printable View”link.Will contain a list of your final correct answers, alist of your final incorrect answers, and a list of allattempts on each problem.Will contain statistics on your performance (no.correct, avg. no. of tries per problem, etc.).

If you hit a snag at any time,remember the FAQ tab.

What Happens Next?Enter only your TA’s email to receive thecompletion certificate.Satisfactory completion of all ICWs assigned isrequired to pass Intro. I.Should your score not achieve that level, your TAwill reset the exercise for you to complete again.If you need additional help with ICW, contact yourTA first, then your professor.Citation is all about the details. One space orcomma off will make your answer incorrect.Proofread carefully.