ASSIGNMENTS
Below, there are five assignments that are listed in detail for your convenience.
Celebrated Case Assignment #1 (Non-Supreme Court) – 25 points (9/11)
For this assignment, you are to choose a celebrated case that captured media and national attention in the United States in the last 100 years. There are hundreds of these cases, so do not just pick the obvious few. These celebrated cases were in the spotlight, splattered all over the front pages of newspapers and the top story on the nightly news. Once you have chosen a case, you are to write a brief summary about the case and why it was important. In your summary, you should include the facts of the case (summarized of course), the outcome of the case, and why the case was important. In addition, you should think about including a discussion regarding the media attention given to the case. Make sure that this case is a non-Supreme Court case. The assignment should be two pages typed, is worth 25 points, and is due on Monday, September 11.
Celebrated Case Assignment #2 (Supreme Court) – 25 points (12/1)
This assignment is much like your first celebrated case assignment. However, for this assignment, the case you choose should be a Supreme Court case (it may be a little more challenging but there are still plenty of high-profile Supreme Court cases). You will be completing this assignment in the same fashion as the first. This assignment should be two pages typed, is worth 25 points, and is due on Friday, December 1.
Obscure Case Assignment – 25 points (11/1)
The assignment is similar to your celebrated case assignments. However, instead of choosing a celebrated case, you will be choosing an obscure case that has striking appeal to you (for whichever reason you choose) but is relatively unheard of. You will be completing this assignment in the same fashion as your celebrated case assignments. In addition however, you should include why this case was interesting to you and why you chose it. This assignment should be two pages typed, is worth 25 points, and is due on Wednesday, November 1.
In addition, for the three case assignments, each student will be placed into a randomly generated group. One third of class will briefly discuss their case for celebrated case assignment #1, one third of the class will briefly discuss their case for celebrated case assignment #2, and one third of the class will briefly discuss their case for the obscure case assignment. When discussing your case, it can be done from your seat in the class. All you need to do is briefly mention the name of the case, the facts surrounding the case, and the outcome. You should have an understanding of the case though, as there may be follow-up questions from the Instructor or fellow classmates. Be prepared. The discussion part will consist of one half of your grade for the assignment.
Video #1 Questions – 10 points (9/29)
We will be watching the A&E Documentary, “Why Michael Jackson Won.” This documentary looks at the summer 2005 child molestation case of Michael Jackson. Before we begin viewing the video, you will be given approximately 10 questions to answer as you watch. You will turn these questions in at the conclusion of the video. This will be worth 10 points.
Video #2 Questions – 15 points (10/27)
We will be watching a special program on eyewitness testimony. This video looks at the usage of eyewitness testimony in various court cases. The video specifically looks at how powerful eyewitness testimony can be despite how inaccurate it sometimes is. Before we begin viewing the video, you will be given approximately 10 questions to answer as you watch. You will turn these questions in at the conclusion of the video. This will be worth 15 points.