2008 SPRING SEMESTER
BUSINESS LAW- BUS 18 (4 units)
M5:30-8:30
(506)
Prof: Mo Hassan, MBA
Chair- Business, Accounting & Real Estate Dept
OFFICE: 505A
PHONE: (831) 479-6276
OFFICE HOURS: MW 10:30-11:10/12:30-1:30pm, M 5:00-5:30 or by appointment
E-MAIL: mohassan@cabrillo.edu
or molatte4u@hotmail.com
Web Site: http://www.cabrillo.edu/~mhassan
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course provides a general introduction to the principles and practices of business law. Many aspects of business law will be covered including: The American Legal System, Business Ethics, Civil and Criminal Law, Contract Law, Torts, Anti trust laws and organization structures. This course will incorporate current events, news and social/legal changes into the class material.
COURSE PREREQUISIT: Eligibility for English 100
REQUIRED TEXT:
Business
Law Today (The Essentials) by Miller and Jentz. Seventh Ed. Thomson-West
Publishing Co. Highly Suggested
METHODOLOGY:
This
course will consist of three units of lectures, classroom discussions, debates
and case assignments. Other materials such as videos, outside reading, and
continuous updates on current political, business and legal issues will also be
included in this course. Group work and class discussions will be emphasized. Be prepared to participate in class and group
discussions. In-class assignments/quizzes
pertaining to current chapter material will be given on random basis. Out of
class work, assignments, and group work is required in this course. You will be
receiving one credit unit for out of class projects and group assignments. This is a transferable four unit class.
ATTENDANCE:
Regular
and prompt attendance is required in this class, just as it is in the business
community. **Students who are absent
will miss class participation, attendance, and assignment points.
Your attendance is crucial to your success in this
course. You will be considered absent if you show up following roll call
(usually within the first fifteen minutes). You will be penalized a letter
grade for any four unexcused absences during the semester. Please do not disturb
the class by coming late or leaving before the class is dismissed. All excuses
must be obtained from the professor prior to the missed class period. Please exercise proper etiquette!
NEWS: It is very essential to
the success of this course and the enhancement of your learning experience that
you participate in providing news and updates on current news, law violations,
and current court cases as they are being reported in the major papers. Be
Informed! The first five to ten minutes of each class will be devoted to NEWS
updates: Good sources for NEWS Radio 88.90, 91.90 TV: Ch 9, 10 PBS, and BBC
6-8pm. Newspapers,
NEWS
PRESENTATION: You pick NEWS pertaining to class and chapter
discussions. Present a 3-4 minute oral report in class, and submit a typed
summary of your report (see Article Summary assignment for more details). Your
presentation should be focused on informing the class about your news, relation
to class material and reasons why you chose it. Also be prepared to answer
questions about your report. Your
Article Summary assignment grade consists of five points for oral presentation
and ten points for typed report. Both must be presented on the due date you
have been assigned.
MAKE-UP POLICY:
There
will be no make-ups of any kind. All assignments and exams must be taken at the time
and date they are scheduled. Only
excused students (excused by the professor) can turn in late assignments. The
excuses are given only in emergency conditions and all excuses must be obtained
from the professor prior to the assignment due date.
ASSIGNMENTS:
All assignments must be professionally completed and turned in on the due date. The assignments must be typed. Late or un-typed assignments will not be accepted. Plan ahead!
Information is provided in
this course for educational purposes only and should not be interpreted as
legal advice.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Exams
3@100 pts 300 54.5%
Homework
(HMK) 3 @ 15 45 8 %
Group
or Individual Ex/Quiz(in class) 65 12%
Case/Topic
Debates 2 @ 30 60 11%
Article
Summaries/News presentation (2) 30 5.5%
Court
Visit Application Paper 20 3.5%
Participation
& Attendance 30 5.5%
Total 550 points 100%
GRADING CRITERIA
493-550 A 90-100%
438-492 B 80-89%
383-437 C 70-79%
(Credit)
330-382 D 60-69%
BELOW
330 F BELOW 60%
WITHDRWAL POLICY:
Last day to withdraw and Not
receive a grade of "W" is 3/8//08. Students withdrawing after March
8 will risk receiving an "F" for the course. The professor has the
discretion to grant a grade of “NC” (No Credit) or "F" to those
withdrawing after the mentioned date unless an official withdrawal is made by
the student. Students maybe dropped from class for being consistently absent
without an excuse. However, dropping a course remains the student’s own
responsibility. Last Day for
Credit/No Credit option is March 15, 2008. Credit will only be given to those
who earn 70% or higher grade.
CLASS EVALUATIONS
(optional):
In
order to continuously improve the quality of instruction and deliver the best
service to you, your ideas, suggestions, opinions, and concerns are welcomed at
all time. However, you are asked to turn
in a typed evaluation once a semester to insure and improve quality. Your comments are due at mid term or before
last exam. I appreciate your
participation in improving the quality of education. It is your choice whether to include your
name or not on the evaluations.
·
This syllabus is intended to
be a guideline for students. Typographical
and any obvious errors are not binding.
·
The instructor has
discretion to change the syllabus at any time to fit Cabrillo requirements.
·
CLASS POLICY (Please observe
at all times).
·
No eating or snacking is
allowed in classroom. Absolutely NOT!
·
No "ON" beepers or
cellular phones in the classroom. TURN THEM OFF Please!
·
No napping or casual talking
during lectures. If you want to sleep or chat, go to a café!
·
Late arrivals use back door
quietly. Respect others learning experience.
·
No shoes on chairs or tables
pleas! No one likes to sit on somebody else’s mess!
·
Respect the class, don’t be
disruptive! Your disruption is others’ agitation!
·
Plagiarism in tests,
assignments or cases will result in a zero grade for that test or assignment or
case. Copying other’s work is considered plagiarism and is not acceptable
or gradeable.
No eating, shoes on tables
or chairs or napping is allowed in the classroom. Drinks are allowed but you are responsible
for your own mess. No “On” Cell Phones/Pagers during class.
This course and professor comply with
“I encourage students
with disabilities, including “invisible” disabilities such as chronic diseases,
learning, and psychological disabilities, to explain their needs and
appropriate accommodations to the professor during office hours. Please bring a verification of your
disability from the Learning Skills or DSP&S offices and a counselor or
specialist’s recommendations for accommodating your needs.” If you have a
disability that requires accommodations for this class, please contact the
Learning Skills Program at 479-6220 (for students with learning disabilities
and attention deficit disorder) or Disabled Student Services at 479-6379, to
make arrangements as soon as possible."
You
are encouraged to discuss any issues regarding the class or your grade with me.
Please visit me in my office during office hours or make an appointment after
class. Class performance and grades can be discussed on individual basis in my
office. I encourage you to take advantage of my office hours when needed.
Best
of Luck
M.
Hassan
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Spring 2008-TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
M -5:30-8:40
|
February
11 |
Monday |
Introduction
& Orientation |
|
18 |
|
No
Class/ |
|
25 |
|
Ch
1, 2 |
|
March
3 |
|
Ch
3, Ch 4 video (Unconstitutional) |
|
10 |
|
Ch 5, Ch 6 (Criminal
Defenses Video ) HMK I Due (Case 3-2pg 109 & 5-3 pg 167) (Debate topics due) |
|
17 |
|
Exam I (Ch 1-6) + (Debate
topics/team discussion) |
|
24 |
|
Spring
Break – No Class - Enjoy |
|
31 |
|
Ch
7 & 8 |
|
April
7 |
|
Ch 9, 10, (HMK II Due Case
7-4 pg 234, 8-3 pg 269) |
|
14 |
|
Ch 13, video (Strict
Liability) + (Article Summary II Due) |
|
21 |
|
Exam II (Ch 7-10 & 13)
+ Debate I & II (teams meeting) |
|
28 |
|
Debate
I & Ch 18 ( |
|
May
5 |
|
Ch
20 & Ch 21 (video report due) |
|
12 |
|
Debate
II & Ch 22 (Court visit report
due) |
|
19 |
|
Ch 22 (HMK III Due Case
20-8 pg 639 & 21-3 pg 670) |
|
June 2 |
5:30 pm |
Exam III (Ch 18, 20-22) |
THE ABOVE SCHEDULE IS TENTATIVE AND MAY CHANGE AT ANYTIME BY THE PROFESSOR. CHANGES MAY OCCUR DUE TO CLASS COMPREHENSION, ETC. PRIOR NOTICE WILL BE PROVIDED PRIOR TO ANY CHANGES. YOUR COOPERATION IN MEETING CLASS OBJECTIVES IS APPRECIATED.
HMK= Homework due
date, Cases are located at end of each chapter, i.e. 1-8 is a case at end of
Ch1
Exam Reviews maybe found online @
http://www.Cabrillo.cc.ca.us/~mhassan/page12.html
HOMEWORK
ASSIGNMENT FORMAT (CASES) (you must follow this procedure and format to receive a grade).
3@ 15pts ea.
ISSUE: In this section, you need
to state the primary issues or questions of the case. What are you being asked
to determine? What is the issue of the case that you will be addressing? It is
important to state the correct issues because the following two sections will
depend on the ISSUE section. Often, the issue section is stated as part of the
case. A brief description and statements
of the case should be sufficient. (1 pt)
DECISION/JUDGMENT: In this section, you are
to make a judgmental decision based on your reading material, knowledge of the
subject, class discussions, and overall comprehension of the case. Your
decision needs to be stated clearly in few sentences. This section is important
as it is the heart of the case, however, your support and reasoning for your
decision may provide sufficient and acceptable justification. It is important
to rely on your readings, notes, and class discussions. (2 pts)
REASONS/SUPPORT: This is a crucial section.
Here you should provide ample support to your DECISION/Judgment. Your support
should come from the laws, procedures, and policies discussed in the book. The support should provide the reasoning and
answering the WHY question for your DECISION/Judgment
It
is essential to read the chapters prior to performing the homework. I encourage
all of you to ask me questions. (4pts)
Total
points for each homework is 15, you receive 1pt for turning it on time,
professionally typed (spell checked), with appropriate format and STAPLED.
Partial credit will be given to those who provide sufficient/educated
REASONS/SUPPORT to their DECISION! Homework is graded on the basis of legal
analysis and application of chapter material. Be Thorough and refer to the book
in your response.
ALL
HOMEWORKS MUST BE TYPED/ STAPLED! ALL HOMEWORK IS DUE ON DUE DATES ONLY. Not typed or Not Stapled Will not be accepted,
no exception.
Court Visit Application Paper (20
pts)
The purpose of this assignment is to
familiarize and expose you to the
You may visit a court hearing at the Santa Cruz
Court House on any day during the semester (on your own time). You must provide
the following: 1) dept # /(court #), date,
judge’s name, summary of hearing or trial, purpose of hearing, discussion of
proceedings, crimes being tried, procedures observed, and laws addressed. 2) Incorporate
course subjects and chapters discussed during the semester. Be specific in
relating your visit to subjects covered in Bus Law class and/or book. 3) opinion/reflection of the visit, and
observation in relation to what you have learned in the Bus Law class. Report should be 2-3 pages (double spaced)
and spell checked. I suggest you make your visit after March 17. You may turn
in your repot anytime after March 17. Final Due Date for Report is May 12, 2008
No Late assignments or make
ups will be accepted during the semester. Thank you.
News
Article Summaries (2 @
15pts)
The purpose of the article summaries is to bring "real world" examples to the classroom. The example must relate to the subjects or chapters discussed in the class in a direct or indirect fashion. The articles should be as current as possible and reflect a major news, event, action, or development. The article may relate to local, national or international issues. Choose only articles of substance with contributions or attributions to class material and discussions.
The summaries must be spell checked and typed. They must be turned-in in a professional manner. No whiteout or marks on the papers. The summaries must be attached to a copy of the article (stapled) with name and class name and section (MW, T TH etc.) on the front page. ALL MUST BE TYPED & STAPLED!
Summaries:
Select an article from the Wall Street Journal online or paper, NY Times, Business Week online or paper, or
search the Internet for business periodicals. You may also select an article
from a credible journal, website or magazine (no tabloids, or unofficial
websites please). Other suggestions: NY
TIMES,
Summaries can
be 2-3 pages . Make sure you address the requirements above. Keep it to the
point. This assignment is worth 15 pts
each, 10 pts for written report and 5pts for oral presentation (for the first
summary report), second report will be worth 15pts.
No Late assignments or make ups will be accepted during the semester
If you have any questions or need further details, don’t hesitate to contact or see me. Good Luck!
BUS LAW – MW – Spring 2008
Please detach and turn in next class.
This is to certify that you
have read and understood the above syllabus/contract and requirements of this
course. Any changes to this contract can only be assigned by the professor of
the course.
I acknowledge and accept the
policies and requirements of BUS 18 class and fully understand the consequences
of not following them.
Name:
___________________________. Date:
______________
Signature:
___________________________Class Time: _____________________