INTRODUCTION TO LAW - LGLA
1311
I.
Course Description: The course provides
an overview of the law and the legal system. Topics include legal concepts, procedures, terminology and current
issues in law.
II.
Required Texts/Materials:
A. Required Purchase: (1) Carper,
et al. Understanding the Law (3rd ed.).
B. Recommended
(1) Black's Law Dictionary
III.
SCANs Competencies:
The SCANs Competencies that will be developed
in this Course are listed on
IV.
Instructional Methodology:
This is a lecture course in which students are expected to prepare
for and respond to questions related to the assigned material.
V.
Course Rationale:
This course is designed to provide
the student with an introduction to the law and our legal system. The course is available to non-majors and to
students just beginning the ACC Legal Assistant Program.
VI.
Course Outcomes:
The Student Learning Outcomes for this
course are listed on Attachment B.
VII.
Course Evaluation System:
Your
Final Letter Grade
The maximum
number of points available in the course is one hundred (100). Your final letter grade for this course will
be the sum of (A) your total Exam Points and (B) your total remaining Attendance
Grant Points.
88 exam points. There will be four 22-point exams offered during the semester. (Total possible Exam Points=88)
12 ATTENDANCE GRANT POINTS. You are hereby awarded by grant a total of twelve (12) points to be counted toward your final letter grade. Each absence from class will result in the subtraction of four (4) Attendance Grant Points. After your third absence, no Attendance Grant Points will remain, and your final letter grade will reflect total Exam Points only.
Absences
and Missed Exams
ABSENCES. The courtesy of your attendance is a
requirement for the maximum benefit from this course. It is your sole and affirmative obligation to demonstrate class
attendance and to adequately accommodate for the consequences of each missed
class period.
MISSED
EXAMS. Except as otherwise provided
by these rules, the first time you are absent for an offered exam,
the Exam Points for that exam will be assigned a score equal to the
lowest score of the other exams you have taken during the semester.
In addition, that absence will result in the subtraction of four (4) Attendance
Grant Points. Each subsequent missed exam will
be assigned a score of zero (0), and four (4) Attendance Grant Points
will be subtracted from your total.
Option to Decline One Exam. In your sole discretion, you may decline to participate in any one exam. That exam will be assigned a score equal to the lowest of the other exams taken during the semester, but no Attendance Grant Points will be subtracted from your total.
VIII. Course Policies:
a.
Preparation
for Class
The student will be expected to have read and absorbed
all of the material assigned for a particular class session.
b. Scholastic Dishonesty
Acts prohibited by the college for which discipline
may be administered include scholastic dishonesty, including but not limited
to cheating on an exam or quiz, plagiarizing, and unauthorized collaboration
with another in preparing outside work. Academic work submitted by students shall be the result of their
thought, research or self-expression. Academic
work is defined as, but not limited to tests, quizzes, whether taken electronically
or on paper; projects, either individual or group, classroom presentation,
and homework.
c. Academic Freedom
Each student
is expected to participate in class. In any classroom situation that includes
discussion and critical thinking, there are bound to be differing viewpoints.
Students may not only disagree with each other on occasion, but the students
and instructor may also find that they have disparate views. It is expected
that these differences will enhance the class and create an atmosphere where
students and instructor alike will be encouraged to think and learn. Accordingly,
rest assured that no student’s grade will be adversely affected by any beliefs
or ideas expressed in class.
d. Student Discipline
In the event, a student acts in such a way as to significantly interfere with or disrupt the learning atmosphere of the classroom, the instructor may direct the student to leave the class and may take other measures as appropriate. See the ACC Student Handbook either in hardcopy or on the web: http://www3.austin.cc.tx.us/evpcss/handbk/toc.htm
e. Office of Students with Disabilities
Each ACC campus offers support services for students
with documented physical or psychological disabilities. Students with disabilities must request reasonable
accommodations through the Office for Student with Disabilities on the campus
where they expect to take the majority of their classes. Students are encouraged to do this three weeks
before the start of the semester.
f. Course Calendar
The Course Calendar is a separate document that
you will have received along with this syllabus.
g. Testing Center
General use of the testing center is not available
to students in this course; however, should you have occasion to use an ACC
testing center, be sure to first review the Testing Center Guidelines available
either in the testing center or on the web under “Students” at:
http://www2.austin.cc.tx.us/testctr/
h. Student Services
A Student Services Handout is attached for your
review.
i. Instructional Services
An Instructional Services Handout is attached for
your review
INTRODUCTION TO LAW – LGLA
1311
SCANS Competencies
Students in this Course
will be expected to use or achieve the following Competencies
Resources
1.l. Allocates Time: Allocates time between
coursework/work/family/friends.
Interpersonal
2.1. Participates as a Member of a Team:
Works cooperatively with others on joint assignments.
2.2. Teaches Others: Explains concepts in
class.
2.5.
Negotiates: Works toward an agreement
on the validity of exam questions.
2.6. Works with Cultural
Diversity: Works well with men and women and with a variety of ethnic,
social, or educational backgrounds in the context of the class..
Information
3.1. Acquires and Evaluates
Information: Extracts crucial legal issues from court cases.
3.2. Organizes and Maintains
Information: Takes notes on assigned material for use in class.
3.3. Interprets and
Communicates Information: Evaluates assigned material and explains it
to the class.
3.4. Uses Computers
to Process Information: Employs computers to process course notes and
to obtain, analyze and brief court cases.
Technology
5.2. Applies Technology
to Task: Understands the overall intent and the proper procedures for
setting up and using computers and their programs.
Basic Skills
6.1. Reading: Locates, understands, and
interprets written information in
the text and assigned court cases.
6.2.
Writing: Communicates thoughts,
ideas, information, and messages effectively in writing.
6.5.
Listening: Receives, attends to,
interprets, and responds to verbal messages during class lectures and discussions.
6.6. Speaking: Organizes ideas and effectively
communicates thoughts when being questioned in class and during class discussions.
Thinking Skills
7.1. Creative Thinking: Uses imagination
freely, combines ideas in new ways, when discussing hypothetical problems..
7.2.
Decision Making: Chooses the best alternative
in multiple choice questions.
7.3. Problem Solving: Recognizes that problems
in hypothetical situations and identifies possible solutions.
7.5.
Knowing How to Learn: Finds the important information
in class discussions and texts and consolidates the information into a useable
format.
7.6. Reasoning: Identifies the crucial issue
in a court case and recognizes the potential application of the rule in the
case to other cases with similar facts and circumstances.
Personal Qualities
8.1.
Responsibility. Exerts a high level of
effort and perseverance in effectively preparing for class and class discussions.
8.4. Self-Management: Motivates self through
goal achievement; exhibits self-control and responds to feedback unemotionally
and non-defensively, is a "self-starter."
8.5. Integrity/Honesty: Can be trusted to
accomplish her/his own work without excessive involvement of other students.
LGLA 1311
Attachment
b: Learning Outcomes
With diligent application of class
discussion to the materials provided, each student is expected to achieve
the objectives set out below. In addition,
please note that the student is expected to recognize and explain those legal
terms employed by the text and the instructor.
Chapter 1. Introduction to Law
Chapter 2. Our Constitution
Chapter 4. Using the Legal System
Chapter 5. Administrative Law.
Chapter 6. Crimes: Public Wrongs.
Chapter 7. Torts: Private Wrongs
Chapter 8. Contracts: Enforceable Agreements
Chapter 9. Family Law
Chapter 10. Owning and Operating Motor Vehicles.
Chapter 11. Renters and Landlords
Chapter 12. Home Ownership
Chapter 13. Employee and Employer Rights and Duties.
Chapter 14. Wills, Trusts and Probate