Legal Definitions - scope note

A scope note is a brief, explanatory statement that accompanies a topic, subject heading, or section title. Its purpose is to clearly define the boundaries of the content covered under that specific heading, indicating what information is included and, just as importantly, what related information is intentionally excluded. Often, a scope note will also direct the reader to other relevant sections or topics where the excluded material can be found. This helps users quickly determine if a particular heading contains the information they are looking for, saving them time and guiding them to the most appropriate resources.

Here are a few examples to illustrate the concept of a scope note:

• Example 1: A Comprehensive Online Encyclopedia

  Imagine you are using a large online encyclopedia to research energy sources.

  • Topic:"Renewable Energy Technologies"
  • Scope Note: "This section provides an overview of technologies that harness energy from naturally replenishing sources, such as solar panels, wind turbines, hydroelectric dams, and geothermal systems. It covers their operational principles, environmental benefits, and economic viability. Discussions of nuclear power generation and the extraction and use of fossil fuels are excluded from this section; please refer to 'Nuclear Energy' and 'Fossil Fuels and Their Impact' for information on those topics."
  • How it illustrates the term: This scope note clearly defines what "Renewable Energy Technologies" encompasses (solar, wind, hydro, geothermal) and explicitly states what related topics (nuclear and fossil fuels) are *not* covered, directing the user to alternative sections for that information.

• Example 2: A Software User Manual

  Consider a detailed user manual for a complex data analysis software.

  • Section Title:"Advanced Data Visualization Techniques"
  • Scope Note: "This chapter focuses on creating sophisticated graphical representations of data using custom scripts, interactive dashboards, and 3D modeling tools within the software. It covers advanced chart types, animation, and data storytelling. Basic chart creation (e.g., bar graphs, pie charts) and standard report generation are not covered here; these topics are detailed in the 'Getting Started with Data Reporting' chapter."
  • How it illustrates the term: The scope note specifies the advanced visualization methods included in the chapter while explicitly excluding basic chart creation, guiding users who need fundamental information to a different, more appropriate section of the manual.

• Example 3: A University Course Catalog

  When reviewing course descriptions in a university's academic catalog.

  • Course Title:"Introduction to Constitutional Law: U.S. Federal System"
  • Scope Note: "This course provides an foundational examination of the structure and powers of the U.S. federal government as established by the Constitution, focusing on the separation of powers, federalism, and judicial review. Key Supreme Court cases illustrating these principles will be analyzed. It does not delve into specific individual rights and liberties (e.g., freedom of speech, due process), which are covered in depth in 'Constitutional Law II: Rights and Liberties.'"
  • How it illustrates the term: This scope note clarifies that the course focuses on the *structure* of the federal system, explicitly stating that individual rights are *not* the primary focus and directing students interested in those topics to a subsequent course.