Business Law I Syllabus for 2016-2017
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Instructor Information

Office Hours

Phone or Skype (pace.rawlins1) by appointment

Course Information

Recording Policy

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As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. Amarillo College offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus by calling the AC Counseling Center at 806-371-5900. The AC Counseling Center website is https://www.actx.edu/counseling/ . Also, if you are in need of social services (affordable housing, utilities, transportation, food, clothing, childcare, medical/dental/vision, legal), please call the AC Advocacy & Resource Center at 806-371-5439. The AC Advocacy & Resource Center website is https://www.actx.edu/arc

Amarillo College Tutoring for Success Policy:

Administrative Drop Policy

Students who do not attend class on or prior to the census date will be administratively dropped. Effective Fall, 2016

Student Withdrawal Procedures

Students who wish to withdraw from a class must:

  • consult with their instructor to obtain a signed academic withdrawal request form to submit to the AskAC department for processing
  • consult with the financial aid office if receiving financial aid
  • consult with the Veterans Benefit Coordinator if receiving veteran benefits
  • consult with their academic advisor to determine how withdrawing may affect their enrollment in future semesters
    • NOTE:  The Texas Education Code stipulates that students attending Texas institutions of higher education for the first time fall 2007 and later may not withdraw from more than six courses during their academic career, including courses from which transfer students have withdrawn at other Texas institutions of higher education. (Senate Bill 1231) Rule 4.10.

Privacy Statement

The Amarillo College Privacy Policy is found at https://www.actx.edu/-amarillo-college-privacy-notice , and applies to all Amarillo College students.  If you have questions about this privacy statement or you believe that your personal information has been released without your consent, send email to humanresources@actx.edu .

Course

BUSI-2301-004 Business Law I

Prerequisites

Course Description

The course provides the student with foundational information about the U.S. legal system and dispute resolution, and their impact on business. The major content areas will include general principles of law, the relationship of business and the U.S. Constitution, state and federal legal systems, the relationship between law and ethics, contracts, sales, torts, agency law, intellectual property and business law in the global context.

Student Resources Student Resources Website

Department Expectations

Occupational License Disclaimer

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

Online Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Business Law: The First Course--Summarized-Case Edition by Roger LeRoy Miller

ISBN 978-1-305-08785-9

Supplies

Student Performance

  • To learn the basic forms of business organizations;
  • To learn pertinent legal terminology;
  • To apply such terminology to legal topics relevant to business;
  • To understand the foundations of legal systems;
  • To understand the foundations contract law; and
  • To develop critical thinking for solving business law problems.

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

I. Students and teachers have obligations to each other.

II. What I expect from students:

You will treat everyone in the class with the respect due all human beings.

You will do the work outlined in the syllabus on time.

You will not plagiarize or otherwise steal the work of others.

You will accept the consequences – good and bad – of your actions.

III. What students can expect from me:

I will treat you with the respect due all human beings.

I will treat you as an individual.

I will not discriminate against you on the basis of your identity or your viewpoints.

I will manage the class in a professional manner.

I will respond to student email within 24 hours, including weekends and holidays.

I will pursue the maximum punishment for plagiarism, cheating, and other violations of academic integrity.

I will keep careful records of your performance and progress.

I will make myself available to you for help and am willing to discuss anything even tangentially related to this class, college, law school, or the legal profession.

I will respect the fact that you have lives and commitments outside college, but I do not consider those to be excuses for not being prepared.

If I am notified in advance, I will make every reasonable effort to accommodate particular situations that may arise in your life.

I will make every reasonable effort to accommodate sudden, unexpected, extraordinary situations that are impossible for you to notify me about in advance.

I will maintain confidentiality concerning your performance.

I will provide you with professional support and write recommendations for you, if appropriate.

I will be honest with you.

Your grade will reflect the quality of your work and nothing else.

Grading Criteria

Grading:

Syllabus Test (1) – 5%

Chapter Quizzes (32) - 85%

Tort Wars Video Assignment and Quiz (1)  - 10%

Grading Criteria:

90-100 = A

80-89 = B

70-79 = C

60-69 = D

Below 60 = F

Quizzes:

  • There will be 4 Chapter Quizzes due each Monday by 11:45 p.m.
  • Each Quiz will be 10 Multi-choice Questions from the corresponding Chapter.
  • You will have 1 hour to complete each Quiz.
  • You only have 1 attempt at each Quiz.
  • You must complete the Quiz once you open it. You cannot start a Quiz, exit out and come back. Once you exit the Quiz, your grade will be submitted as is.
  • The Quizzes are all available for you to take as soon as you are ready.
  • There will be NO make-up quizzes given under any circumstances. If you do not complete the quiz by the due date, you will receive a ZERO.
  • If your computer crashes or you have technical difficulties, email me immediately, and I will decide on a case-by-case basis the appropriate solution. I highly recommend using Firefox as your browser. If you consistently have technical problems, I will insist you take the quizzes at one of AC’s computer labs.
  • LAST WEEK OF CLASS, there are 4 Chapter Quizzes due by Wednesday, May 8th by 11:59 p.m. You do not have a Final Exam, but you must complete these 4 Quizzes.
  • 4 quizzes are due every Monday night by 11:59 p.m. (according to the Calendar), with the exception of the final week, when the Quizzes are due by Thursday 5/11 night at 11:45 p.m. 

Syllabus Test – Due Monday March 25th, 2017 at 11:59 PM

10 Question Multiple Choice and True/False test with question from the Course Syllabus. You will be given one hour to complete the test. You can take this quiz twice if needed.

Tort Wars You Tube Video Assignment and Quiz (1) 

You have 1 Assignment:

  1. Watch the 9 part Mark Lanier Tort Wars You Tube Video and answer 10 multiple choice questions (10%) – I recommend that you take notes while watching to video to use during the quiz. There is a 1 hour time limit on the quiz, but you can take the quiz twice if needed so do not wait until the last moment. Due April 10, 2017 by 11:59 PM

Attendance

Since this is an online class, your attendance each week will be the completion of your quizzes. You generally have 4 Quizzes due each week, so you better get busy now and stay busy until mid May. That is the nature of an online course. I will be monitoring your progress throughout and will answer any questions you have about the material. PLEASE ask me questions about the material.

Calendar

 

SPRING 2017 8 Week Course

WEEK

DATES

READING FOR WEEK

ASSIGNMENTS / ACTIVITIES

1

Mar 20 – Mar 27

*Mar 20th 1st Day of Class

Class Syllabus and Introductions

UNIT ONE: The Legal Environment of Business

Chapter 1: Law and Legal Reasoning (approx. p 1-25)

Chapter 2: Courts and Alternative Dispute Resolution (p. 26-46)

Chapter 3: Court Procedure (p. 47-68)

Chapter 4: Business and the Constitution (p. 69-87) 

Syllabus Test (DUE 3/25)

Quiz - Chapter 1 (Due: 3/27)

Quiz - Chapter 2 (Due: 3/27)

Quiz - Chapter 3 (Due: 3/27)

Quiz - Chapter 4 (Due: 3/27)

2

Mar 27 – Apr 3

Chapter 5: Business Ethics (p. 88 - 107)

UNIT TWO: Torts and Crimes

Chapter 6: Torts (p. 110-129)

Chapter 7: Strict Liability and Products Liability (p. 131 – 143)

*Assignment – Watch Mark Lanier Tort Wars You Tube Video and Answer 10 Questions

Chapter 8: Intellectual Property Rights (p. 144-162)

Quiz - Chapter 5 (Due: 4/3)

Quiz - Chapter 6 (Due: 4/3)

Quiz - Chapter 7 (Due: 4/3)

Quiz - Chapter 8 (Due: 4/3)

3

Apr 3 – Apr 10

Chapter 9: Internet Law, Social Media, and Privacy (p. 163 - 177)

Chapter 10: Criminal Law and Cyber Crime (p. 178 - 204)

UNIT THREE: Contracts and E-Contracts

Chapter 11: Nature and Terminology (p. 206 -219)

Chapter 12: Agreement in Traditional and E-Contracts (p. 220-237)

Quiz - Chapter 9 (Due: 4/10)

Quiz - Chapter 10 (Due: 4/10)

Quiz - Chapter 11 (Due: 4/10)

Quiz - Chapter 12 (Due: 4/10)

Mark Lanier Tort War and Multiple Choice Questions (Due: 4/10) 

4

Apr 10 – Apr 17

Chapter 13: Consideration (p.238-248

Chapter 14: Capacity and Legality (p. 249-263)

Chapter 15: Mistakes, Fraud, and Voluntary Consent (p. 264-276)

Chapter 16:  The Writing Requirement and Electronic Records (p. 277- 289)

Quiz- Chapter 13 (Due: 4/17)

Quiz- Chapter 14 (Due: 4/17)

Quiz- Chapter 15 (Due: 4/17)

Quiz- Chapter 16 (Due: 4/17)

 

5

Apr 17 - Apr 24

Chapter 17: Third Party Rights (p. 290-302)

Chapter 18: Performance and Discharge in Traditional E-Contracts (p. 303 – 316)

UNIT FOUR: Domestic and International Sales Contracts

Chapter 19: Breach of Contract and Remedies (p. 317- 340)

Chapter 20: The Formation of Sales and Lease Contracts (p. 342 – 365)

Quiz- Chapter 17 (Due: 4/24)

Quiz- Chapter 18 (Due: 4/24)

Quiz- Chapter 19 (Due: 4/24)

Quiz- Chapter 20 (Due: 4/24)

6

Apr 24 – May 1

Chapter 21: Title, Risk and Insurable Interest (p. 367 – 381)

Chapter 22: Performance and Breach of Sales and Lease Contracts (p. 382- 401)

Chapter 23: Warranties (p. 402 – 414)

Chapter 24: International Law in a Global Economy (p. 415 – 434)

Quiz - Chapter 21 (Due: 5/1)

Quiz - Chapter 22 (Due: 5/1)

Quiz - Chapter 23 (Due: 5/1)

Quiz - Chapter 24 (Due: 5/1)

7

May 1 – May 8

UNIT FIVE: Agency and Employment

Chapter 25: Agency Formation and Duties (p. 436- 449)

Chapter 26: Agency Liability to Third Parties and Termination (p. 450-467)

Chapter 27: Employment, Immigration and Labor Law (p. 468 – 489)

Chapter 28:  Employment Discrimination and Diversity (p. 490 – 510)

Quiz-Chapter 25 (Due: 5/8)

Quiz-Chapter 26 (Due: 5/8)

Quiz-Chapter 27 (Due: 5/8)

Quiz-Chapter 28 (Due: 5/8)

8

May 8 – May 12 *Grades due 5/12

UNIT SIX: Business Organizations

Chapter 29: Sole Proprietorship and Franchises (p. 512 – 523)

Chapter 30: Partnerships and Limited Liability Partnerships  (p. 524 – 542)

Chapter 31: Other Organizational Forms for Small Businesses (p. 543- 559)

Chapter 32: Corporate Formation and Financing (p. 560 – 581)

Quiz-Chapter 29 (Due: 5/11)

Quiz-Chapter 30 (Due: 5/11)

Quiz-Chapter 31 (Due: 5/11)

Quiz-Chapter 32 (Due: 5/11)

 

 

All quizzes are due by the end of day (11:45 PM) each Monday Except the last week (See instructions above).

Additional Information

SPRING 2017 8 Week Course - Important Dates

Mar 13-19

Spring Break AC Closed

Mar 20

First Day of Class

Apr 14 -16

Easter Holiday AC Closed

May 2

Last Day to Withdraw

Syllabus Created on:

01/06/17 3:51 PM

Last Edited on:

03/19/19 11:20 PM