Map the parties and promises
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The idea in everyday life
Identify who is agreeing, what each side must do, what result is promised, and which documents are included.
Rewrite the agreement as people, actions, money, dates, conditions, and consequences.
One step at a time.
Use the sample or information you have permission to use. Keep your work as you go. You can pause between steps.
- 1
Confirm legal names, contact details, product or service, start and end dates, delivery, scope, quality promises, eligibility, and every incorporated document or link.
- 2
For each side, list what they must do and what they can choose or change. Note anything that depends on the other side acting first. Find what counts as accepting the agreement and completing the work.
- 3
Mark undefined, conflicting, blank, oral, or externally linked terms and request clarification in writing before agreeing.
See how it works.
Lee finds that installation is sold by a separate company and asks who is responsible if it is delayed or damaged.
Did you cover these?
- Your work includes a plain-language agreement map showing parties, documents, promises, duties, conditions, change rights, and unknowns.
- Check this common mistake: Reading only the bold offer and assuming the salesperson's explanation overrides the signed or clicked terms.
- A neutral reader can tell exactly who must do what, by when, and which documents control the deal.
What to finish
A plain-language agreement map showing parties, documents, promises, duties, conditions, change rights, and unknowns.
Watch for this
Reading only the bold offer and assuming the salesperson's explanation overrides the signed or clicked terms.
How can I tell I understand it?
A neutral reader can tell exactly who must do what, by when, and which documents control the deal.
Quick knowledge check
Answer all 3 questions. Get at least 2 right and the lesson completes automatically.
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Answer all 3 questions above and get at least 2 right. You can review the explanations and try again.
Go to the knowledge checkOptional course overview video
How to Review a Contract: 8 Key Terms
From ContractsCounsel. Watch here or open it on YouTube .
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