introduction to paralegal studies - chesapeake...
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INTRODUCTION TO PARALEGAL STUDIES PLG 101 Issue #
Course Description and Objectives
What’s in this syllabus
Course Description and Objective 1
Textbook 1
Prof. Attitude and Attendance 1
Absences 2
Course Goals 2
Why Take This Course 2
Assignments 3
Turn It In 3
Course Grades and Letter Grades 3
In Class Presentment 3
Academic Dishonesty 4
Emergency Management Plan 5
Accommodations 5
Time Expectations 5
Cell Phones and Electronic Device 5
Introduction to Paralegal
Studies PLG 101
Fall 2014
Monday 6:30-9:15
Humanities H102
TEXT BOOK
Course Description: This course will cover the role and function of the paralegal profession. The topics studied include paralegal responsibility, ethics, research, structure of the legal system, including federal and state courts, legislatures, and administrative agencies. Basic procedures in civil and criminal cases are studied. 3 CREDITS
Introduction to the Law
By WALSTON-DUNHAM
EDITION: 6TH
Professional Attitude and Attendance
People who work in the legal profession are expected to display a
professional attitude. As this class is to prepare you for a legal
career, 5% of your grade will be professional attitude as a college
student. This grade will be based on classroom participation,
attendance, being on time and staying until the end of class, as well as
participation in group discussions, focus on classroom lectures, and
evading the temptation to pull out your phone during class. Students
are responsible for reading the course material prior to class and
should be prepared to discuss the material the day of lecture.
INTRODUCTION TO PARALEGAL STUDIES PLG 101 | Issue # 2
COURSE GOALS
Provide a general understanding of the paralegal role in the legal profession.
Develop foundational knowledge of the U.S. government and court system.
Learn how to read and brief a legal case.
Gain a basic understanding of each area of the law.
Hone basic analytical skills and critical understanding of legal concepts.
Absences: Please do not miss class. Class is not only wonderful, but you are
paying for it. You will get the most out of the class by showing up. If you miss a class, you are responsible for getting any notes from Canvas and a classmate. If an assignment or reading material is distributed on
a night you miss class, it is your responsibility to check Canvas and download anything you missed. If an assignment is due in a class that you have missed and your absence is excused, you are responsible for turning in your assignment the following day and any documentation
regarding your absence. If your absence is unexcused, your assignment will be graded accordingly.
Excused Absences: It is the student’s responsibility to inform the instructor prior to class that they will not be there and why via e-mail.
An excused absence is based on the following:
• Illness with documentation of illness from a health care professional provided the following class.
• Death of a family member with documentation of a funeral card provided the following class.
Unexcused Absences: Everything Else
Why Take This Course?
Chances are you are here because you have some interest in the law. You may be interested in pursuing a career as a paralegal. You may have a long term goal of going to law school. This course will give you a broad overview of many different areas of the law. More importantly this course will challenge your way of thinking so you begin to analyze and look at things differently. This course will introduce you to “thinking like a lawyer”.
INTRODUCTION TO PARALEGAL STUDIES PLG 101 | Issue # 3
Assignments will be posted on canvas and must be turned in through Canvas.
*Late assignments will be docked 10% per twenty four hour period, so by 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, 10% off, 6:30 p.m. Friday, 20% points off, etc. You will receive credit when it is received via Canvas.
Course Grades:
Assignments 15%
Test I 15%
Test II 15%
Final Exam (cumulative) 20%
In Class Case Presentment 5%
Court Observation Exercise and
Presentation 10%
Appellate Assignment 5%
Attend & Prof. 5%
Quizzes 10%
Letter Grades:
90-100% = A
80-90% = B
70-80% = C
60-70% = D
<60% = F
Cases, or case summaries, will distributed to students throughout the semester. All students are expected to read the cases. Two will be assigned to each case with one student will be assigned the role of the defendant, the other the State. Each will be called upon to answer questions about the facts of the case, their argument, the reasoning of the court, and the ultimate ruling. Points will be assigned based on the student’s
level of preparedness, ability to answer questions, and understanding of the legal argument. Depending on how quickly we get through the material each student may have the ability to present multiple cases. If you have an unexcused absence on the day you are assigned to present a case you will be awarded zero points.
TURNITIN
All assignments will be checked through turnitin. Turn it in is a software that checks for plagiarism. There is an option for students to check their own work for originality and students are encouraged to use this tool.
Assignments
In Class Presentment
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INTRODUCTION TO PARALEGAL STUDIES PLG 101 | Issue # 4
Academic misconduct is
prohibited and may result in
disciplinary action. Attempts to
commit acts of academic
dishonesty or encouraging or
assisting others to commit such
acts are prohibited and may be
punished to the same extent as if
one had committed the prohibited
behavior.
Definition: Academic dishonesty
includes, but is not limited to, the
following:
1. Cheating on examinations
2. Plagiarism, the representing
of another’s ideas or writing as
one’s own, including but not
limited to:
a. Presenting all or part of
another person’s work as
something one has written;
b. Paraphrasing or
summarizing another’s
writing without proper
acknowledgement;
c. Representing another’s
artistic or technical work or
creation as one’s own.
3. Willingly collaborating with
others in any of the above
action(s) which result(s) in
work being submitted which is
not the student’s own.
4. Stealing examinations,
falsifying academic records,
and other such offenses.
5. Submitting work previously
presented in another course
without permission of the
instructor.
6. Unauthorized duplication of
computer software.
7. Unauthorized use of
copyrighted or published
material.
Disciplinary Action: If, based on
substantial evidence, a student is
deemed guilty of academic
dishonesty, the college may
initiate disciplinary action as
follows:
1. The student may be required to
repeat the assignment or the
examination.
2. The student may be given a
failing grade for the assignment or
the examination.
3. The student may be given a
failing grade for the course.
4. The student may be suspended
or dismissed from the college.
Bottom Line: Plagiarism and
cheating have no place in a
community of scholars. Have the
confidence in yourself to give
your original best.
FAMOUS CHEATERS
Charles Ponzi
Charles Ponzi promised clients a 50% profit within 45 days, or 100% profit within 90 days, by buying discounted postal reply coupons in other countries and redeeming them at face value in the United States as a form of arbitrage. In reality, Ponzi was paying early investors using the investments of later investors. This type of scheme is now known as a "Ponzi scheme". His scheme ran for over a year before it collapsed, costing his "investors" $20 million
Bernard Madoff Bernie Madoff, 71, was sentenced to 150 years in prison after admitting to scamming thousands of investors out of billions of dollars in a Ponzi Scheme.
Academic Dishonesty
November 17, 2014
Last day to drop a course with a "W" grade,
including fall interim. Last day to change a course
from credit to audit.
INTRODUCTION TO PARALEGAL STUDIES PLG 101 | Issue # 5
In the event that Chesapeake College needs to close for an extended period of time due to a flu pandemic, severe weather event or other emergency situation, consideration will be given to the timing and duration of the closure as follows:
1. Closure during the semester for up to one week – there will be an opportunity to make up work missed without significant alteration to the semester calendar.
2. Closure extending beyond one week (or in situations where classes are cancelled on the same days/evenings over multiple weeks) – the College may extend the length of the semester. Depending on the timing of the closure, scheduled breaks, end of semester dates, and/or the processing of final grades might be impacted.
Students can acquire information about closures on the College website or by calling 410-822-5400 or 410-228-4360. Chesapeake College courses held at off campus sites will follow the protocol of the host facility.
Accommodations Students with Disabilities seeking services or accommodations through Chesapeake College must disclose the need for these services or accommodations to the Office of Disability Services. Given sufficient notice and proper documentation, the College will provide reasonable accommodations, auxiliary aids, and related services required by persons with disabilities to allow access to our programs and services, if it is not an undue burden to do so. Students requiring accommodations are urged to submit requests at least 14 days in advance of the need to use them. To be eligible for academic accommodations through Chesapeake College, a student must have a documented disability as defined by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 or the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. For information on eligibility, contact: Judy Gordon Developmental Studies Case Manager/ADA Coordinator [email protected]. Phone: (410) 827-5805 FAX: (410)827-5233.
Time Expectations
Students are expected to do a minimum of two hours of work outside of class for every hour in class. Some assignments may require more time.
Cell Phones and Electronic Devices
Cell phones can be very disruptive during class but I understand there are emergency situations where somebody may need to make contact with a student. Accordingly, cell phones should be off or on vibrate during class. This is for emergencies only and if it becomes disruptive cell phones may be banned from class all together. Texting during class is not acceptable. If a cell phone goes off during class for a call or text thereby disrupting the educational environment, the offending owner will beg forgiveness from his or her colleagues by buying a dozen donuts, pizza or other acceptable treat for the next time the class meets. Cell phones must be off and inactive during tests.
Emergency Management Plan
INTRODUCTION TO PARALEGAL STUDIES PLG 101 | Issue # 6