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MASTER SYLLABUS |
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LAW 1020 |
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| Class Hours: 3.0 | Credit Hours: 3.0 | ||||||||
| Laboratory Hours: 0.0 | Date Revised: Spring 00 | ||||||||
| Catalog Course Description: | |||||||||
| Law as a process through which social problems are addressed in the United States. Introduction to the Constitution, and to its interpretation by the Supreme Court in case law. Exploration of factors affecting decisions of lawmakers, both legislative and administrative, and of law enforcement agencies. Introduction to the adversarial system. | |||||||||
| Entry Level Standards: | |||||||||
| College-level competencies in logic, reading, and English are required. | |||||||||
| Prerequisites: | |||||||||
| None | |||||||||
| Textbook(s) and Other Reference Materials Basic to the Course: | |||||||||
| Textbooks:
Walker, Thomas G. & Lee Epstein, The Supreme Court of the United States: An Introduction (St. Martin's Press, 1993) Woodward, Bob & Scott Armstrong, The Brethren (New York: Avon Books, 1979) (Paperback) Peltason, J.W., Corwin & Peltason's Understanding the Constitution, (14th Ed.) (Harcourt Brace, 1997). Other Required Supplies: ProfPak for LAW 1020, available at Graphic Creations, 1809 Lake Avenue (522-6221) |
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| I. Week/Unit/Topic Basis: | |||||||||
| Week | Topic | ||||||||
| 1 | Introduction to legal reasoning: Case of the Speluncean explorers; Assignment of U. S. Supreme Court Justice reports | ||||||||
| 2 | The framers; U. S. Constitution; federalism Marbury v. Madison | ||||||||
| 3 | U. S. Supreme Court; selection process | ||||||||
| 4 | Caseload; decisions | ||||||||
| 5 | Supreme Court Justices Reports | ||||||||
| 6 | Independent judiciary; search and seizure; rights of the accused | ||||||||
| 7 | Rights of the accused; crime and punishment; death penalty | ||||||||
| 8 | Police; eyewitnesses;
insanity defense
Field Trip to the Knox County Jail |
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| 9 | Freedom of religion; freedom of speech; freedom of press and assembly; Assignment of Research Paper | ||||||||
| 10 | Second Amendment and
gun control
Case Essay |
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| 11 | Discrimination; affirmative action | ||||||||
| 12 | Special groups; right to privacy; cloning; lawyers and litigation | ||||||||
| 13 | Jury nullification; The Brethren test assigned | ||||||||
| 14 | Glamour law; the rights
explosion;
Research Paper Due |
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| 15 | Efforts to curb the Court; Supreme Court's Policies and Role | ||||||||
| 16 | Final Examination | ||||||||
| II. Course Objectives*: | |||||||||
| A. | Demonstrate a complete and thorough understanding of legal ethics and the adversary system. I, III | ||||||||
| B. | Demonstrate an adequate understanding of the processes by which officials (judges, jurors, lawyers, law enforcement agents, etc.) reach legal decisions. I, II, III, IV | ||||||||
| C. | Identify basic constitutional principles which shape and limit legal processes. I, II, III, IV | ||||||||
| D. | Demonstrate an adequate understanding of how political, cultural and economic factors affect the way legal institutions function. II, III, IV | ||||||||
| E. | Exhibit an adequate understanding of how social and economic factors affect outcomes in adversarial dispute resolution. I, II, III | ||||||||
| F. | Demonstrate an adequate understanding of how partisan politics, economics, social concerns, public approval influence appointment of U. S. Supreme Court Justices. I, II, III, IV, V | ||||||||
| G. | Acquire enhanced understanding of legal terminology. I, II, IV | ||||||||
| H. | Demonstrate an adequate understanding of what "rights" are guaranteed to individuals by the U. S. Constitution. I, II, III, IV | ||||||||
| I. | Demonstrate an adequate understanding of the many attitudes which may affect verdicts and sentencing decisions. I, II, III, IV | ||||||||
| *Roman numerals after course objectives reference goals of the Business and Computer Technologies department. | |||||||||
| III. Instructional Processes*: | |||||||||
| Students will: | |||||||||
| 1. | Practice elements of the work ethic such as professionalism, preparedness, punctuality, honesty, cooperation, dependability, contribution, effectiveness, good manners, etc. Personal Development Outcome, Cultural Diversity and Social Development Outcome, Transitional Strategy | ||||||||
| 2. | Refine reading skills and expand legal vocabularies through completion of weekly guided reading exercises that allows more effective communication with lawyers and legal professionals. Communication Outcome, Transitional Strategy | ||||||||
| 3. | Strengthen analytical skills by locating court cases and statutes in the Educational Resource Center and on Westlaw to determine the application of the rules of law to specific facts. Information Literacy Outcome, Problem Solving and Decision Making Outcome, Technological Literacy Outcome, Transitional Strategy, Active Learning Strategy | ||||||||
| 4. | Examine ethical issues related to legal representation, unauthorized practice of law, confidentiality, duty of legal professional to provide legal services, etc. Cultural Diversity and Social Adaptation Outcome, Transitional Strategy, Active Learning Strategy | ||||||||
| 5. | Participate in extensive discussion exercises. Communication Outcome, Problem Solving and Decision Making Outcome, Active Learning Strategy | ||||||||
| 6. | View video tapes of various positions regarding jury nullification, death penalty, insanity defense, abortion, gun control, etc. to stimulate an objective analytic process which is vital in a law office. Problem Solving and Decision Making Outcome, Transitional Strategy, Information Literacy Outcome, Cultural Diversity and Social Adaptation Outcome, Active Learning Strategy | ||||||||
| 7. | Develop investigative skills using the Internet, library, and other resources to find relevant information for writing a report on an assigned topic. Problem Solving and Decision Making Outcome, Information Literacy Outcome, Technological Literacy Outcome, Transitional Strategy, Active Learning Strategy | ||||||||
| *Strategies and outcomes listed after instructional processes reference Pellissippi State’s goals for strengthening general education knowledge and skills, connecting coursework to experiences beyond the classroom, and encouraging students to take active and responsible roles in the educational process. | |||||||||
| IV. Expectations for Student Performance*: | |||||||||
| Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to: | |||||||||
| 1. | Recognize and avoid acts that constitute unethical behavior. A | ||||||||
| 2. | Critique popularly held notions about the structure and function of the American legal system. A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I | ||||||||
| 3. | Distinguish stated rationales from unstated factors affecting judicial decision-making. A, B, C, E, F, H, I | ||||||||
| 4. | Analyze the impact of social trends on the process of stare decisis. B, E, F, H, I | ||||||||
| 5. | Compare and contrast methods for broader community participation in the legal process. B, C, E, F, H | ||||||||
| 6. | Explain the doctrine of jury nullification. B, C, , E, F, H | ||||||||
| 7. | Write an objective research paper containing opposing views. C, E, F, H, I | ||||||||
| 8. | Make a detailed accurate presentation on the Justices of the U. S. Supreme Court. B, E, F, H, I | ||||||||
| 9. | Write a well-reasoned essay on an assigned topic citing to the U. S. Constitution. C, | ||||||||
| 10. | Participate in teams to analyze various legal, social and ethical concerns that face today's society. B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I | ||||||||
| 11. | Explain opposing views of the exclusionary rule. B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I | ||||||||
| 12. | Explain opposing views to the need for affirmative action. B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I | ||||||||
| 13. | Explain opposing views to the decision in Roe v. Wade. B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I | ||||||||
| 14. | Explain opposing interpretations of 2nd Amendment. B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I | ||||||||
| 15. | Participate in healthy debates of current issues using facts and logic on which to base an opinion. A, B, E, F | ||||||||
| *Letters after performance expectations reference the course objectives listed above. | |||||||||
| V. Evaluation: | |||||||||
| A. Testing Procedures: 40% of grade | |||||||||
| There will be three tests, one of which will be take-home. | |||||||||
| B. Laboratory Expectations: | |||||||||
| N/A | |||||||||
| C. Field Work: 30% of grade | |||||||||
| Research
Paper and Presentation. Students will write a research paper
on an assigned topic, which will also be presented
orally. (15%)
Essay and Presentation. Students will work as a team to research an assigned topic and present orally to the class. (15%) |
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| D. Other Evaluation Methods: 30% of grade | |||||||||
| Essay.
Students will write an in-class essay on an assigned topic based on readings
and activities. (15%)
All tests and papers will be graded for spelling and English usage in addition to content and format. Late papers will not be accepted. No make-up tests will be given unless the instructor has been notified and excused the student's absence. Participation. Considerable emphasis is placed on participation. Students are expected to read the assigned materials and be prepared to discuss issues presented. Quality of participation is worth more than quantity. Participation counts 15% of the final grade Students are partially evaluated on the basis of in-class projects requiring use of the stated skills. Class participation is important and will be considered in the final grade. Any student encountering academic difficulty during the term is strongly encouraged to meet with the instructor to discuss options and solutions. |
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| E. Grading Scale: | |||||||||
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A 93-100
B+ 88- 92 B 83- 87 C+ 78- 82 C 73- 77 D 65- 72 F 64 and below |
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| VI. Policies: | |||||||||
| A. Attendance Policy: | |||||||||
| Pellissippi State Technical Community College expects students to attend all scheduled instructional activities. As a minimum, students in all courses must be present for at least 75 percent of their scheduled class and laboratory meetings in order to receive credit for the course. | |||||||||
| B. Academic Dishonesty: | |||||||||
| Cheating of any type will not be tolerated and will become an automatic zero on that paper or test. Repetition of cheating will result in an "F" for the final grade. | |||||||||