Principles of Law
Syllabus – Spring 2012
Contact Instructor
Adam Koester, Business Office, Room A119
Office Hours: 8:26am-9:20am, before or after school, or by appointment
Email:
School Phone: 656-7100 x20119 (Business Office)
Textbook
Adamson, John. Law for Business and Personal Use, 16th Edition.Mason, OH: Thomson Learning, 2004.
Course Description
Business of Law is offered to familiarize students with basic rules of law and the legal vocabulary for court systems, crimes and torts, law and society, rights and duties of a citizen, contracts, and employment rights.
Topics to Be Covered
(Subject to change as opportunities warrant)
Unit 1 Fundamentals of Law
Chapter 1Our Laws
Chapter 2Ethics and Our Law
Unit 2 History of Law
Chapter 3Constitutional Rights
Chapter 4the Court System
Unit 3Criminal and Personal Injury Law
Chapter 5Our Criminal Laws
Chapter 6Personal Injury Laws
Unit 4Elements of Contract Law
Chapter 7Offer and Acceptance
Chapter 8Genuine Agreement
Unit 5Additional Elements of Contracts
Chapter 9Mutual Consideration
Chapter 10Law of Capacity
Unit 6Contract Legality
Chapter 11Legality of Contracts
Chapter 12Written Contracts
Unit 7Employment Law
Chapter 29Employment Discrimination
Chapter 30Employee Injuries
Unit 8Agency
Chapter 25Creation of Agency
Chapter 26Operation of Agency
Unit 9Agency, Employment, and You
Chapter 27Employment Contracts
Chapter 28Unions
Unit 10Property Laws
Chapter 19Property
Chapter 20Bailments
Unit 11Property Occupation
Chapter 21Real Property
Chapter 22Renting Realty
Unit 12Risk and Tax Mitigation
Chapter 23Insuring Your Future
Chapter 24Wills, Estates, and Trusts
Unit 13Business Organization Law
Chapter 31 Forms of Business Organization
Chapter 32 Creating, Running, and Terminating a
Corporation
Chapter 33Forms of Organization for Small Business
Chapter 34Government Regulation of Business
Unit 14Contracts of Sales
Chapter 15Sales Contracts
Chapter 16Ownership and Risk of Loss in Sales
Contracts
Chapter 17Consumer Protection
Chapter 18Legal Consideration in Marriage
and Divorce
Unit 15Contract Enforcement
Chapter 13Contractual Duties
Chapter 14How Courts Enforce Contracts
Unit 16Commercial Paper
Chapter 35Commercial Paper
Chapter 36Negotiability and Negotiation of Paper
Chapter 37Rights of Holders of Commercial Paper
Unit 17Debt
Chapter 38Secured and Unsecured Credit Obligations
Chapter 39Debtors, Creditors, and Bankruptcy
Grades
Grading Scale: / Course Grades:90 – 100 / A / Unit Tests/Quizzes / 40%
80 – 89 / B / Quarter Project / 25%
70 – 79 / C / Articles / 20%
60 – 69 / D / Assignments / 15%
0 – 59 / F
Class attendance and participation are a factor in every aspect of your grade.
The comprehensive semester final will be 20% of your overall semester grade.
Class Supplies
Students must have a two-pocket folder for handouts, a notebook for assignments and notes, and a pen or pencil in class each day. Textbooks will be needed every day; therefore students should have them with them when they come to class. Students are responsible for lost or damaged books. The replacement cost for lost or damaged books is $50.00. Treat your text with care!
Student Handbook Clarification
Grades for unexcused absences, truancy, and suspension will be adjusted according to the Student Handbook. Where deference is given to the teacher 50% credit will be given. There will be no student notification of the grade adjustment once I have been notified of your indiscretion.
There will be in-class assignments in this course. If you are present and do not have your book that day you may turn in your assignment late the next day for 50% credit. You will not be permitted to use someone else’s book while they are using it.
As with any absence, it is YOUR responsibility to find out what you missed and what you need to do to make up any missed material. Not being magically told when you walk into class is no excuse. If you are absent on a day we review you will not be given an additional day to study. You will take the test on the test date.
Other rules from the student handbook
Not all people are in agreement as to what words are considered profanity. The classroom teacher shall determine what is and is not acceptable in the classroom. If you are in doubt about the use of a word or phrase, chances are it is inappropriate (Student Handbook 6.01).
Classroom expectations
We are here to learn, from the beginning of class until the end of class.Tardiness will be recorded and disciplinary action will be applied according to the Student Handbook. Written passes will be required for late admission into class. Therefore, you are expected to be in your seat and ready to learn when class is scheduled to begin, and you are expected to continue learning until the teacher dismisses you. Do NOT leave your seat until dismissed.
In Principals of Law, some of our learning activities involve moving around the room, talking with classmates, and using varied materials for exploring topics of study. For this type of learning to be successful, your cooperation and participation are required. I guarantee that if you work respectfully with your classmates and me you will be satisfied with the outcome of your experience in this class.
Due dates
Due dates are not flexible whatsoever. If you are going to be absent, turn in work on or before that date.In the unlikely event that a due date is flexible, I will let you know when the assignment is made. Please do not ask for exceptions unless you have encountered a real, unavoidable, and verifiable emergency situation. (You will learn a lot about deadlines, due dates, and the real world in this class.) Additionally, no additional time will be given for your printer’s sudden inability to function at home.
Computer use
Students MAY NOT use the computers in this classroom for anything other than work for this course. Under normal conditions, computer use is prohibited and may not be turned on without expressed permission of the instructor.
When the computers are allowed on for instructional purposes, there are some additional guidelines that must be followed. Use of personal email at school is prohibited per school rules. Along similar lines, neithersocial networking sites (i.e. Facebook, Myspace, xanga, etc) nor Instant Messagingare permitted under any circumstances at any time. Failure to comply will result in a non-negotiable zero on the assignment and potential disciplinary action.
Food/drink in the computer lab is prohibited at all times. If any is found, it will be thrown away. No exceptions (including water) will be made.
EHS has the ability to open the following file extensions for word processing: doc, docx, txt. If you do homework that you need to refer to in class please make sure you save it as one of these formats or you will be unable to open it. No additional time will be given because you failed to comply with this restriction.
Guest speakers
Respectful behavior is expected when anyone speaks to the class. This includes classmates, the instructor or substitute teacher, and guest speakers. Do not lay your head down. Do not converse with other students while someone is addressing the class. Give your attention to the speaker. Raise your hand to ask questions or to make observations.
Academic dishonesty
While it can be tempting to take someone else’s work and call it your own, this practice should be avoided at all costs.The first occurrence of academic dishonesty in my class results in a non-negotiable zero on the assignment, and in the case of any assignment worth 20 points or more, involves a discipline referral and a call to parents. Any subsequent instances of academic dishonesty, regardless of point value of the assignment, will result in a non-negotiable zero, discipline referral, and call to parents.
Giving answers to another student is treated in the same manner as taking answers from another student.
Need for Assistance
If you have any condition, such as a physical or learning disability, for which you need extra assistance, please see me immediately. If you have already met with Special Services, please provide me with information regarding your special needs as soon as possible so that appropriate accommodations can be made.