BUSINESS
LAW 265 - Legal Environment of Business
http://www.cbe.uidaho.edu/wegman
Course Syllabus
Spring Semester, 2008
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Legal Environment of Business is an
introductory survey course in American law.
Emphasis is placed on business transactions of individuals and
businesses. The course is divided into
three segments: the first covers
contracts; the second covers the legal environment; the third covers
property. The course is taught using a
lecture method of instruction.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
There are three learning objectives for
this course:
1.
Learn basic legal rules. This
will provide an understanding of our legal system, and the student’s rights and
obligations within that system.
2.
Learn basic legal terminology.
This will enable the student to communicate with an attorney and to
understand legal documents.
3.
Improve critical thinking. This
will be accomplished through the logical application of legal rules to fact
situations in order to solve problems.
The assessment of these learning
objectives will be accomplished by an analysis of student responses to exam
questions that address these three learning objectives.
EXAMS AND GRADES
Exam questions are drawn from the
lectures, the text and this syllabus. The
grading system has been designed to be as simple, transparent and consistent as
possible: There are two mid-term exams and a final exam. Each exam counts one third towards your
grade. All exams are comprehensive,
covering all the material studied up to the date of that exam.
The traditional cut-offs for letter
grades are used: 90 for A, 80 for B, 70
for C. The cut-off for D is 58. Please
note that this is a computerized grading system; there are no exceptions or
“extra-credit” projects. Your grade will be based exclusively on your exam scores.
All exam scores are weighted equally, regardless of whether they are
earlier or later scores. Some students
will just barely qualify for a higher grade and some will just barely miss the
higher grade. This can be frustrating
but it is unavoidable with fixed
cut-offs between letter grades. Please
note that final letter grades are based on
performance only, not on how hard or how long the student worked. This policy provides the greatest degree of
transparency and consistency. It assures
that all students are treated exactly the same. To assure the highest grade possible,
faithfully follow the guidelines in the section below titled “How to Succeed in
this Course”.
Each exam will be curved to a class
average (median) of 80%. If, for example,
the class average is 77, then 3 points will be added to all scores in order to bring
the class average up to 80. Your exam scores, adjusted for the curve, will
inform you of your progress in the course.
In addition, there is a “practice exam”, which does not count towards your
grade but which will familiarize you with the testing format and will give you
early feedback regarding your progress in the course.
Important: Please bring two #2 pencils to all exams, as they
are machine-graded. All midterm exams
are given in the evening, at 7:00 p.m.
Conflict exams are provider per “conflict exams” below.
Important: You must use
your
CONFLICT EXAMS
Because
of the large number of students in this class, a formal procedure is used for
those seeking to take an exam at a time other than the scheduled
time. If you have a conflict with the scheduled exam time, please
go to my website www.cbe.uidaho.edu/wegman and download the form titled “Application for
conflict exam”. Fill out the information requested and turn in the form
at the end of class one week before the day of the scheduled exam.
We will end class a few minutes early on that day, and hold a meeting with all
those requesting a conflict time, in order to find a time when all students can
take the conflict exam. Conflict exam times will always be before
the scheduled time, as after the scheduled exam is given, the exam and its answer
key are published on the web. Typically the conflict time will be during
the morning or afternoon of the day of the exam.
IMPORTANT: HOW TO SUCCEED IN
THIS COURSE
1. You should read the assigned material before you come to class, not
after. It is impossible to gain full
advantage of the lecture if you do not have some familiarity with the material
already. The lecture does not merely
repeat the text, but expands on it, explains it, and shows how it is useful. Some lectures cover material that is not
discussed in the text. Exam questions
may be based on such material. You will enjoy the lectures more, and benefit
more from them, if you are already familiar with the topic area. Exam questions are taken from the text and
also from class lectures and discussions. Cramming is not advisable. The many legal rules will confuse you if you
attempt to learn them all at once.
2. Download and print the lecture outlines before coming to class. This will alert you to the issues we will discuss and it will facilitate your note-taking.
3. Note-taking: I recommend taking no notes or few notes during class. If you like to take detailed notes, take them after class while listening to the recorded audio of the lecture. The reason for not taking notes is that you will benefit most by listening carefully and thinking about the lecture/discussion as it takes place. A question might occur to you that could then lead to a useful discussion. You can use your printed lecture outline to underline, circle, or add a few words. The purpose of the in-class lecture/discussion is to provide you with insight and understanding. The material itself is well covered by the textbook; no need to replicate the text, which you have already purchased at considerable expense.
4.
I recommend that you form a study
group of 4-6 students. For
maximum effectiveness you should meet once
a week and each member should bring several multiple choice questions to
the meeting. Your testing of each other,
and the discussions that will follow, are the best method of study. The next best method is to answer the problem
questions at the end of each chapter. Do
not let your study group become a “test-preparation group” that meets only
before exams.
5.
When preparing for exams, I suggest that you review at least five of the
old exams, and use them as a
“radar screen” to detect areas of
weakness. Many students do not use the old exams to
maximum benefit. If they miss a question
they merely look at the answer key and move on.
Instead, when you miss a question on an old exam, this is telling you
that your knowledge of that topic area is weak.
You should review that topic area until you are confident that you would
have no trouble with another question from that topic area. If you do this 10 times, you have improved
your knowledge in 10 areas. If you do
this 50 times, you have improved your knowledge in 50 areas. By following this suggestion you will focus
your study time on the topic areas that need it most.
There is a danger that I have observed
some students falling prey to. Sometimes
a student will see a question on a new exam that seems to resemble a question
from an old test. That student might
remember the old correct answer and choose a similar one on the new test. However the question might not be the same
and so the answer is probably not the same either. When taking a new test, do not try to relate
a new question to old questions that you recall. Treat each new question entirely on its own
merits. If you understand the material
that the question is testing, that will lead you to the correct answer.
6. Prepare a vocabulary list. Understanding
basic legal terminology is necessary in order to communicate effectively with
your lawyer and also in order to understand legal documents. Accordingly,
each exam will have several questions which are definition-based. In
order to master the legal terminology necessary I strongly urge you to compose your own vocabulary list of legal
terms. Do not simply copy the definition given in the text; instead,
write out your own understanding of the term. This will cause you to
think about the term and the issue involved, and your own definition will be
far more meaningful to you. Before exams, a review of your vocabulary list will help your
performance on the exam.
7. Do not wait until two weeks
before the final exam to ask for help if you are not doing well. The
practice exam is your first performance feedback. If your score on that
exam is not up to your expectations, please see me and we will discuss study
methods that will improve your scores, and more important, your understanding.
The earlier you take corrective
action the better. Remember, your letter
grade in this course is based exclusively on your exam scores. Please note that original Scantron forms are
not kept beyond 30 days, so if you have a question regarding your grade, please
notify the instructor before then.
8.
If you receive a very low score on exam #1 you should consider dropping
the course and taking it at a later time.
This is because each exam is weighted equally, so even if you make a
dramatic improvement in performance on exam #2 and the final exam, your low
score on exam #1 could prevent you from earning the grade you aspire to.
9.
Warning: It
is easy to develop a false sense of security about the material in this course,
and then to do poorly on the exams. This
is because the material may appear simple on the surface, but actually it is
complex. The only way to penetrate
beneath the illusion of simplicity is to work with the material by
making up test questions, taking mock examinations, answering the problem
questions at the end of each chapter, and discussing the material with your
study group.
EMAILS TO THE CLASS
I communicate with the class through batch emails. These emails contain important information about exams, scheduling and other matters. They are sent to students' vandal mail email addresses. If you normally use a different email provider, you should periodically also check your vandal mail account for this important information.
ADDITIONAL STUDY MATERIALS
I have placed several B. Law textbooks
by other authors with the University Library reserve desk. If a topic area seems difficult to master, it
may help to read another explanation and other examples. I have also posted the answers to the end-of-chapter
"Questions and Problem Cases" on my website. Solving these problems and then checking the posted
answers is very helpful. Also, many past
exams are available on my web site. None
of these additional study materials are required, but they are all
helpful.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY
Law uses language with great precision.
Freshmen and students whose first
language is not English often experience great hardship in understanding and
using the fine distinctions inherent in precise use of English. Therefore, if you have any doubts about your
English language proficiency it is recommended that you postpone taking
this course until you develop greater language proficiency.
WEB SITE
A web site is maintained for this
course. Go to http://www.cbe.uidaho.edu/wegman. This site contains lecture outlines, and
links to an extensive test bank of past exams with answer keys. It also provides current articles of interest
and useful links to other legal resources.
INSTRUCTOR
Jerry Wegman, Associate
Professor
Office: Albertson 312
Phone: 885-7342
Office Hours: Wednesday 9:30-11:30 and 2:00-5:00; and by
appointment.
Email: wegman@uidaho.edu
When sending
email, please include “B. Law” in the subject line, to avoid deletion as spam.
TEXT
LAW FOR BUSINESS, 9th Edition, 2006 by
Barnes, Dworkin and Richards
ATHLETIC AND
FIELD TRIPS
If you are
scheduled to be out of town during a scheduled exam, please see me two weeks
before the exam.
I will arrange
to have your faculty supervisor administer your exam on the road.
SUMMER SESSION ONLINE COURSE
This course is available as an online
course during the early summer session, which runs the first four weeks of the
summer break. It is a “pure” online
course in that all work, including exams, is done online and from any location. There is no need to be in
CLASSROOM DECORUM
Students
deserve respect from teachers, students should be considerate of each other,
and teachers deserve respect from students.
In order to help bring this about, and to provide the best learning
environment for students, the following rules of decorum will be observed in
this class:
1. Turn
off audible cell phones and pagers.
2. The
last row of seats closest to the doors will be kept empty for late
arriving students.
“Late arriving” means arriving after the lecture has begun.
3. If
you come to class late, please take a seat in the last row; this minimizes
disturbance.
Move to the center of the row, to make it
easier for students arriving after you.
4. Students should not engage in extended conversations while in
class. This disturbs other students
and it distracts the instructor.
Business Law 265 - Class Schedule and Readings
Spring 2008
I. Contracts
Class
1
Nature of Contracts,
Class
2
Offers,
Class 3 Acceptances,
Class 4 Consideration Ch. 11
Class 5
Capacity,
Class 6
Voluntary
Class 7
Illegality,
Class 8
Oral/Written Contracts,
Class 9
Third Parties,
Class
10 Performance
and Remedies,
II. Legal Environment
Class
11
Dispute
Class 12 Criminal Law, Ch. 5
Class 13 Negligence, Ch. 7
Class 14 Employment Law, Ch. 24
Class 15 Business Organizations, Ch. 25
Class 16 Antitrust, Ch. 44
III. Property
Class 17 Personal Property and Bailments, Ch. 32
Class 18 Real Property, Ch. 33
Class 19 Real Property, Ch. 33
Class 20 Real Property Transactions (no reading assignment)
Class 21 Landlord-Tenant, Ch. 34
Spring 2008
Business Law 265 - Academic
Calendar
|
January |
10 |
Introduction to the
course. |
|
|
15 |
Class 1 |
|
|
17 |
Class 2 |
|
|
22 |
Class 3 |
|
|
24 |
Practice Exam (during class period) |
|
|
29 |
No Class; compensation for evening exam time |
|
|
31 |
Class 4 |
|
February |
5 |
Class 5 |
|
|
7 |
No Class; compensation for evening exam time |
|
|
12 |
Class 6 |
|
|
14 |
Class 7 |
|
|
19 |
Class 8 |
|
|
21 |
Class 9 |
|
|
26 |
Review for Exam #1; Exam 1,
7:00 PM |
|
|
28 |
Class 10 |
|
March |
4 |
Class 11 |
|
|
6 |
No Class; compensation for
evening exam time |
|
|
11 |
Spring Break |
|
|
13 |
Spring Break |
|
|
18 |
No Class; compensation for
evening exam time |
|
|
20 |
Class 12 |
|
|
25 |
Class 13 |
|
|
27 |
Class 14 |
|
April |
1 |
Class 15 |
|
|
3 |
Class 16 |
|
|
8 |
Review for Exam #2; Exam 2, 7:00 PM |
|
|
10 |
Class 17 |
|
|
15 |
Class 18 |
|
|
17 |
Class 19 |
|
|
22 |
Class 20 |
| 23 | Exam #3, 7:00 PM | |
|
|
24 |
No Class; compensation for
evening exam time |
|
|
29 |
Class 21 (optional) |
|
May |
1 |
No Class; compensation for
evening exam time |
|
|
9 |
Discussion in lieu of final exam, 7:30 AM |
EXAMS:
Exam #1: February 26, Tuesday evening, 7:00 p.m. Ag. Sciences Auditorium
Exam #2: April 8, Tuesday evening, 7:00 p.m. Ag. Sciences Auditorium
Exam #3: April 23, Wednesday evening, 7:00 p.m. Ag. Sciences Auditorium