This text introduces the key concepts in the legal field of Contracts in a fresh light, while presenting the topics in a straightforward and comprehensive manner. The pedagogy of the book applies three goals:

Learning Outcomes

• Critical thinking
• Vocabulary building
• Skill development
• Issues analysis
• Writing practices

Relevance of Topics Without Sacrificing Theory

• Ethical challenges
• Current law practices
• Technology application

Practical Application

• Real-world exercises
• Portfolio creation
• Team exercises

Chapter Objectives introduce the concepts students should understand after reading each chapter as well as provide brief summaries describing the material to be covered.

Surf’s Up! focuses on the increasing use of technology and the Internet, using relevant Web sites and giving students real-world experience with technology.

Eye on Ethics raises legitimate ethical questions and situations attorneys and paralegals often face. Students are asked to reference rules governing these issues and make a decision.

Spot the Issue introduces a hypothetical situation, with example documents, asking students to think critically about identifying or solving the legal issue at hand. Applicable cases are often provided to give students a hint.

Team Activity Exercises present hypothetical scenarios using questions to provoke discussion among the students, in class or in an outside team assignment, about various areas of contract law.

Research This! engages students to research cases in their jurisdiction that answer a hypothetical scenario, reinforcing the critical skills of independent research.

Chapter Summary provides a quick review of the key concepts presented in the chapter.

Key Terms used throughout the chapters are defined in the margin and provided as a list at the end of each chapter. A common set of definitions is used consistently across the McGraw-Hill paralegal titles.

Review Questions, including Multiple Choice, “Explain Yourself,” and “Faulty Phrases,” emphasize critical thinking and problem solving skills as they relate to contract law. The multiple choice questions ask students to choose the best answer and explain the reasoning. “Explain Yourself” questions consist of sentence completion and answering questions with short explanations. “Faulty Phrases” requires students to rewrite all false statements with a brief fact pattern illustrating the answer.

Portfolio Assignment “Write Away” exercises give students the opportunity to draft a mock contract piece by piece in each chapter, drawing on the concepts as they are presented. At the end of the text, students will have experience compiling their own, full contract.

Case In Point presents real cases at the end of each chapter, connecting students to real-world examples and documents that further develop the information presented in the chapter.

Crossword puzzles at the end of each part utilize the key terms and definitions to help students become more familiar using their legal vocabulary.