Business Law I Syllabus for 2020-2021
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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 ResourcesStudent Resources Website

Department Expectations

Occupational License Disclaimer

Notice to Students enrolled in an educational program for preparation of issuance of certain occupational licenses:

Students enrolled in an educational program in preparation for obtaining certain occupational licenses are potentially ineligible for such license if the student has been convicted of an offense. For further information, please contact:

Melodie Graves
Justice Involved Advocate
Student Service Center 117
mgraves24@actx.edu
806-371-5995
Make appointment at https://melodiegraves.youcanbook.me

You can also contact the Legal Clinic, or the faculty member in charge of the educational program that you seek to enroll in. The further information you will receive will include notification to you of your right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the licensing authority in order to clarify your particular situation.

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

Online Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

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

ISBN 978-1-305-96727-4 (NO ACCESS CODE IN THE HARD COVER BOOK - DIGITAL COPY REQUIRED from Cengage to take the chapter quizzes with Mind Tap)

Supplies

3 Ring Binder OPTIONAL 

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 try to respond to student email within 24 hours, including weekends and holidays if emailed to my work email at prawlins@rawlinslegal.com. Otherwise, please call my law office at 480-626-2388.

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 via phone or video conference 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) - 45%

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

Current Events/News - COVID-19 & Ethics/Law (2) - 10%

Corporate Social Responsibility Movie & Paper (1) - 30%

Grading Criteria:

90-100 = A

80-89 = B

70-79 = C

60-69 = D

Below 60 = F

32 Chapter Quizzes (45%): (Administered using Mind Tap) *Must Have Digital Access Code to Take Quizzes 

• •           There will be 4 MindTap 10 Question Multiple Choice and True/False Quizzes due each week.

  •           Chapter Quizzes are one hour and open book

  •           It is your responsibility to complete each assignment by the due date.

  •           MindTap assignments are due generally almost every Monday night by 11:59 P.M. except the first four chapter quizzes the first week and Also the last 4 chapter quizzes the last week of class, according to the Calendar below unless otherwise specified.  

  •           There will be NO Quiz Deadline Extensions given. However, I will waive the three lowest quiz scores to account for the fact that sometime life happens. 

•     If your computer crashes or you have technical difficulties (I strongly encourage that you take a screen shot of the problem), email me immediately, and I will decide on a case-by-case basis the appropriate solution. I may have to refer you to technical support. I highly recommend using Firefox as your browser. If you consistently have technical problems, I will insist you complete these assignments in one of AC’s computer labs.

Syllabus Test (5 %)

10 Questions Multiple Choice and True/False test with questions from the Course Syllabus. You will be given one hour to complete the test and can take it up to three times.  

• Syllabus Quiz Due Monday, March 29th, 2021 at 11:59 PM

Tort Wars You Tube Video Assignment and Quiz (10%) 

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, so do not wait until the last moment. Due by Saturday, May 1st, 2021 by 11:59 PM

Current Events/News - COVID-19 related Ethics/Law (10%) - Due Dates See Assignment Calendar Below

• You will be expected to select and read two (2) current events/news articles about Ethical and/or Legal problems in business as related to/caused by the current COVID-19/Corona Virus epidemic.
• Then for each article you will be required to write a short analysis  (1-2 pages) answering the following:

1. What is the summary of the article (facts/background)?
2. What is the ethical/legal problem? 
3. Is their a solution offered in the article?
4. Will the issue/problem affect you? If so, how? If not, why?  
5. How do you think the problem should be solved?

• The articles will be due the second (2nd) and fourth (4th) week of the semester on Saturday at 11:59 PM (See Calendar)
• The weeks that the current event/news articles are assigned you will be required to send me via Blackboard your written analysis and either a copy of the article or link to it by the listed Saturdays at 11:59 PM as noted on the blackboard assignment and in your syllabus calendar. Note/Hint: Review the Course Description above in the Syllabus for additional themes and guidance when selecting articles and doing your analysis.  

 

Corporate Social Responsibility Paper (30%):  

•        You will be required to find and watch a movie that addresses how a business was socially responsible or socially irresponsible. You will then write a 4-6 page double spaced page paper over your selected movie. Further detailed instruction will be provided by the 2nd week of class, including a non-exhaustive list of possible movies.  A Rubric wll be posted on Blackboard that will list my expectations and how I will grade this assignment.  I suggest getting start early on this assignment and not waiting until the last week. Also, feel free to email me if you want me if you want me okay a a movie not on the list. This will be due the last week of class by Wednesday, May 12th by 11:59 PM. 

 

Attendance

Since this is an online class, your attendance each week will be the completion of your quizzes and assignments. You generally have 4 quizzes due each week in addition to your other assignments. This is a quick eight (8) week course so you better get busy now and stay busy until the last week of school in May. That is the nature of an online course. You are allowed to work ahead. I will be monitoring your progress throughout and will answer any questions you have about the material. PLEASE ask me questions about the material and remember Cc me or email directly me at prawlins@rawlinslegal.com for quicker response times. 

Calendar

Additional Information

SPRING 2021 8 Week Course - Important Dates

Mar 22 Mar 29	Classes Begin  Census Day
Apr 2- 4	Easter Holiday AC Closed
May 4	Last Day to Withdraw
May 12 May 14	Social Responsibility Paper Due Final Grades Due