LEGAL ENVIRONMENT 380

FALL 2006

TEXTBOOK: Required: Miller and Cross, The Legal and E-Commerce Environment Today, Fourth Edition (West/Thompson Learning.)

 CHAPTERS (Covered in Sequence):

            Ch 01 – The Legal and International Foundations

            Ch.05 – Constitutional Authority to Regulate Business

            Ch 08 – Torts and Cyber Torts

            Ch 11 – Contract Formation

            Ch 21 – Land-Use Control and Real Property

GETTING HELP: Please let me know if you would like some help. You may also call the number listed above. If I am not available to answer the phone, please leave a voice mail (Return calls must be local number.) Also, I can be reached by email at the above address. If you send an email message, I will do my best to respond within 24 hours.

STUDY METHOD: Proper study begins with reading in your textbook the materials to be covered in the next class, being in class every day, paying attention, and taking good notes. Reading before coming to class will enable you to understand the lectures and to take better notes. Major emphasis should be placed on rewriting your notes, and isolating the important rules of law and details from your notes and the textbook. You will be tested on your knowledge of specific detail and rules, and on how they relate to each other. The questions on all examinations will be over materials covered in the book, and over materials covered in the lecture. A substantial portion of each examination will involve material available only from the lecture, and a substantial portion will involve material available only from the book. As a Rule of Thumb, students should study this course at least 6 hours per week, plus additional study for each examination.

EXAMINATIONS: There will be 5 Chapter Exams, approximately 50 points each, one following each of the above chapters. The format will include True and False, Multiple Choice, Completion, and Definitions. All examinations will be given to the entire class at one time during one scheduled period. Do not ask to be given a special examination at any other time for any reason.

UNANNOUNCED QUIZZES: You are subject to unannounced quizzes at any time. There will be no make-up for any quiz missed.

GRADING SCALE: Letter grades for each examination, quiz, and for the term, will be determined according to the following percentages:

A – 90%; BA – 85%; B – 80%, CB – 75%, C -- 70%, DC -- 65%, D -- 60%

ATTENDANCE: You are expected to attend every class. Students will sit in seats assigned in alphabetical order, and attendance will be taken each class. If you come to class after attendance has been taken, it is your responsibility to see that the absence is removed at the end of that class. Quizzes will be used to encourage attendance.

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITY: An important objective of this course is to help students understand that they are expected to meet their responsibilities, including class attendance and studying. I will not accept lame excuses for irresponsibility. If you intend to cut classes, or to not pay attention in class and take good notes, or to put in a minimum time studying, please withdraw from the course now. I can be your best friend or your worst enemy regarding grades. It’s your choice. The Grading Scale, above, is a minimum guarantee, but I reserve the right to modify final grades to higher grades. Attendance is the most important factor.

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY: You are responsible for making yourself aware of and understanding the policies and procedures in the Undergraduate Catalog (pp. 271-272) or the Graduate Catalogue (pp. 24-26) that pertain to Academic Integrity. These policies include cheating, fabrication, falsification and forgery, multiple submission, plagiarism, complicity and computer misuse. If there is reason to believe you have been involved in academic dishonesty, you will be referred to the Office of Student Conduct.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: (1) Do I provide a study guide? Answer: NO. (2) Do I grade on the curve? Answer: NO.