Pellissippi State Technical Community College
Master Syllabus
LAW IN SOCIETY
LAW 1020
Class Hours: 3.0 Instructor:
Laboratory Hours: 0.0 Office No.:
Credit Hours: 3.0 Phone No.:
Date Revised: August 2006 E-mail:
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 actors 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. Students must have completed, or be enrolled in, or be eligible to be enrolled in ENGL 1010.

Prerequisites:  None

Textbooks and Other Supplies:
Textbooks:
  1. Peltason, J.W., Corwin & Peltason's Undertanding the Constitution, (15th Ed.) (Harcourt Brace, 2000)
  2. Quinn, Daniel, Ishmael (Bantam, 1992) (Paperback)
Other Required Supplies:    ProfPak - TBA
I.      WEEK/TOPIC BASIS:
WEEK TOPIC
1 Introduction to Legal Reasoning; Case of the Speluncean explorers; Assignment of Supreme Court Justice Reports
2 The Framers; U. S. Constitution; Federalism; Marbury v. Madison; U. S. Supreme Court; Selection Process; Caseload; Decisions
3 Justice Reports
4 Crime and Punishment: Psychology and the Legal System; Search and Seizure; Exclusionary Rule
5 Insanity Defense; Eyewitnesses; Police; Death Penalty; Consensual Crimes
6 Consensual Crimes; Field Trip
7 Freedom of Religion; Freedom of Speech; Freedom of Press and Assembly
8 Second Amendment and Gun Control
9 Discrimination; Women
10 Privacy; Juvenile Offenders
11 Affirmative Action; Lawyers and Litigation; Juries; Jury Nullification
12 Glamour Law
13-14 Presentation of Research Papers
15 Final Examination
II.     COURSE OBJECTIVES:
  1. Demonstrate a complete and thorough understanding of legal ethics. I, III
  2. Demonstrate an adequate understanding of the processes by which officials (judges, jurors, lawyers, law enforcement agents, etc.) reach legal decisions. I, II, III, IV
  3. Identify basic constitutional principles which shape and limit legal processes. I, II, III, IV
  4. Exhibit a complete and thorough understanding of the adversary system. I, II, III, IV
  5. Demonstrate an adequate understanding of how political, cultural and economic factors affect the way legal institutions function. II, III, IV
  6. Exhibit an adequate understanding of how social and economic factors affect outcomes in adversarial dispute resolution. I, II, III
  7. Demonstrate an adequate understanding of how the adversarial system shapes lawyering processes and legal ethics. II, III, IV
  8. 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
  9. Demonstrate an awareness of the discretionary power officials wield in interpreting, applying, and enforcing the law. I, II, III
  10. Acquire enhanced understanding of legal terminology. I, II, IV
  11. Demonstrate an adequate understanding of what “rights” are guaranteed to individuals by the U. S. Constitution. I, II, III, IV
  12. Identify constitutional principles which protect autonomy and privacy. I, II, III
  13. Demonstrate an adequate understanding of the many attitudes which may affect verdicts and sentencing decisions. I, II, III, IV
  14. Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the importance of analyzing contradictory opinions and reaching a conclusion based on facts rather than assumptions. I, II, III, IV, V
III.     INSTRUCTIONAL PROCESSES:
The student will:
  1. Practice elements of the work ethic such as professionalism, preparedness, punctuality, honesty, cooperation, dependability, contribution, effectiveness, good manners, etc. Active Learning Strategy, Transitional Strategy

  2. Refine their reading skills and expand their legal vocabularies through completion of weekly guided reading exercises that allows them to communicate more effectively with lawyers and legal professionals. Communication Outcome, Active Learning Strategy, Transitional Outcome

  3. Strengthen their analytical skills by locating court cases and statutes in the ERC and on Westlaw to determine the application of the rules of law to specific facts. Communication 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. Communication Outcome, Transitional Strategy, Active Learning Strategy

  5. Participate in extensive discussion exercises. Communication Outcome, Transitional Strategy, Active Learning Strategy

  6. View video tapes of various positions taken regarding jury nullification, death penalty, insanity defense, abortion, gun control, etc. to stimulate an objective analytic process which is vital in a law office. Communication Outcome, Transitional Strategy, Social/Behavioral Sciences 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. Communication Outcome, Technological Literacy Outcome, Transitional Strategy, Active Learning Strategy
IV.     EXPECTATIONS FOR STUDENT PERFORMANCE:
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, M, N)
  3. Distinguish stated rationales from unstated factors affecting judicial decision-making. (A, B, C, E, H, I, M, N)
  4. Analyze the impact of social trends on the process of stare decisis. (B, E, F, H, I, M, N)
  5. Compare and contrast methods for broader community participation in the legal process. (B, C, E, F, H, M)
  6. Explain the doctrine of jury nullification. (B, C, J, E, F, H, M)
  7. Write an objective research paper containing opposing views. (C, E, F, H, I, M)
  8. Make a detailed accurate presentation on the Justices of the U. S. and TN Supreme Courts. (B, E, F, H, I)
  9. Write a well-reasoned essay on an assigned topic citing to the U. S. Constitution. (C, J, K, N)
  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, J, K, L, M, N)
  11. Explain opposing views of the exclusionary rule. (B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N)
  12. Explain opposing views to the need for affirmative action. (B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N)
  13. Explain opposing views to the decision in Roe v. Wade. (B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N)
  14. Explain opposing interpretations of 2nd Amendment. (B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N)
  15. Participate in healthy debates of current issues using facts and logic on which to base an opinion. (A, B, E, F, J, K, L, M, N)
V.      EVALUATION:
  1. Testing Procedures:
    A full explanation of student evaluation will be presented by the Instructor's Supplementary Syllabus the first week of class.

  2. Laboratory Expectations:   N/A

  3. Field Work:   Students are expected to attend a class tour of the Knox County Jail.

  4. Other Evaluation Methods:
    1. Class participation, group work, and homework will also comprise the final grade for the course. The instructor will provide full details the first week of class via a syllabus supplement.
    2. All tests and papers will be graded for spelling and English usage in addition to content and format.
    3. Any student encountering academic difficulty during the term is strongly encouraged to meet with the instructor to discuss options and solutions.

  5. Grading Scale:
    A 93-100
    B+ 88- 92
    B 83- 87
    C+ 78- 82
    C 73- 77
    D 65- 72
    F 64 and below
VI.       POLICIES:
  1. 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. [NOTE: No differentiation is noted for excused/unexcused absences. These will be treated as an absence.]

  2. Academic Dishonesty:
    Plagiarism, cheating, and other forms of academic dishonesty are prohibited. Students guilty of academic misconduct, either directly or indirectly through participation or assistance, are immediately responsible to the instructor of the class. In addition to other possible disciplinary sanctions which may be imposed through the regular Pellissippi State procedures as a result of academic misconduct, the instructor has the authority to assign an F or a zero for the exercise or examination or to assign an F in the course.

  3. Computer Usage Guidelines:
    College-owned or –operated computing resources are provided for use by students of Pellissippi State. All students are responsible for the usage of Pellissippi State's computing resources in an effective, efficient, ethical and lawful manner.

  4. Late Work:
    Late papers will not be accepted nor will make-up tests be given without specific approval of the instructor.