CCJ 3038 LAW AND SOCIETY COURSE SYLLABUS SUMMER 2008

Instructors: Lora Levett, Ph.D. Lonn Lanza-Kaduce, J.D., Ph.D. Heather Stewart, B.A., B.S. Course Meets: MTWRF 2nd Period Classroom: LIT 0113 Instructor's Office: Walker Hall 205 By appointment Phone: 392-1025 ext. 205 e-mail: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] Link to WebCT: http://lss.at.ufl.edu/ ****NOTE: When sending emails, please include the subject 'CCJ 3038.' I generally will respond to email during email office hours. Emails that contain the aforementioned subject will receive speedier replies compared to those that do not**** Readings: Readings will be assigned during class and posted online. Readings will be assigned from both the required text and from selected articles (posted online). Required Texts Bonsignore, et. al., Before the Law (Eighth Edition) Other Readings Articles discussed in class and assigned online. Course Description and Objectives This course introduces students to the scholarly study of law from a multidisciplinary, liberal arts perspective. We will explore the interaction between the law and society, exploring how law shapes society, and in turn, how does society affect law. At the end of the course, my goal is for you to think critically about legal ideas, institutions, processes, and practices. Note: This is not a course on the content of the law. Instead, it is a course designed to help you critically evaluate the interaction between the law and the society in which it operates. Course Evaluation Exams Three exams will be administered. The first exam will be on May 23, the second exam will be on June 6, and the third exam will be on June 19. The exams consist of 50 multiple choice questions. Each exam is worth 30% of your grade. You are responsible for bringing a pencil on exam days. The exams will cover all topics discussed up to the date of the exam including readings from the text, lectures, and in-class activities. The final exam is non-cumulative. Note that even though the readings from the text may not be covered in class, you are still responsible for knowing this material! You will an entire class period to complete each exam. You should not arrive late. Late arrivals will not be given any extra time to complete the exam, and by arriving late, you are disrupting the concentration of your classmates. Make up exams will be scheduled during the instructor or TA’s office hours. This is the only time that I will offer makeup exams, no exceptions. It is your responsibility to contact me in advance to gain permission to take a makeup. If you have not done so, there will be no make-up exam available for you to take. Makeup exams will not be the same as regularly scheduled exams. Attendance and Participation Regular attendance is strongly encouraged. A part of your grade is your participation in class and group activities. Your participation will be determined by random attendance throughout the semester (usually in the form of an in-class writing assignment or group project). Lack of attendance and participation assignments and group projects cannot be made up at a later date. You have a bit of leeway on this portion of your grade – you get three “freebees” that will be dropped at the end of the semester. This is to account for legitimate reasons for missing class – i.e., illness, doctor’s appointments, etc. That is, the only time you should be missing class is when you have a legitimate, document-able reason. These participation assignments are worth 10% of your final grade. You are responsible for getting any notes and/or class assignments from your fellow classmates should you need to miss class. Those who fail to attend class will not be given a mini-makeup lecture by the instructor or the teaching assistant. As students, you must take the responsibility for learning the material covered in class should you miss class.

Academic Honesty Policy Cheating is not acceptable or tolerated in this course, or at the University of Florida. On all work submitted, the following statement is implied: “On my honor, I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid in doing this assignment.” For more on Academic Honesty guidelines, please see the Student Guide at www.dso.ufl.edu/stg/ Instances of cheating, plagiarism and any other form of academic misconduct will be prosecuted according to the procedures adopted by the University of Florida. I will not accept as an excuse that you were unaware that your behavior constituted plagiarism. Therefore, I highly recommend that you familiarize yourself with the concept of plagiarism and that you approach me if you have any questions. Grading (as a percentage of the final grade): Grades will be determined from your grades on a combination of exams and assignments: Exam One 30 % Exam Two 30 % Exam Three 30 % Participation 10 % Final Grades will be determined on the following percentage scale: A: 100-90; B+: 89.99-87; B: 86.99-80; C+: 79.99-77; C: 76.99-70; D+: 69.99-67; D: 66.99-60; F: =<59.99 NOTE: I do not round grades, so please do not ask. Make Ups I understand that sometimes one’s personal life interferes with one’s ability to attend an exam, turn in a paper, attend class, etc. If you have a legitimate reason for missing an assignment or exam (e.g., documented illness, death in the family) and can provide documentation, you will be allowed to make-up what you missed IF you contact me immediately before or after the exam, due date, or class meeting time (within 48 hours) you will be missing (e.g., don’t come to me two weeks later and ask for a make-up unless you have been in a coma for the intervening two weeks). Your make up exam will be scheduled in the office hours held by your instructor, and the make up exam will not be the same as the exam given to the class (questions and format will change). Classroom Behavior Students are expected to behave appropriately during class. This class is meant to be an enriching, enjoyable learning experience for all of you; disrupting the class results in depriving your fellow classmates and yourself of this experience. The instructor is the final arbiter of what behavior is appropriate and inappropriate. However, you may use the following principle to guide your classroom behavior: Your behavior should not be disruptive or distracting to the instructor or your classmates. This principle will help you determine appropriate classroom behaviors. This following list is not exhaustive.

1. Come to class on time. Your late entrance is distracting to everyone, especially your instructor. 2. Stay for the entire class period. If you must leave early, sit near the exit and leave as quietly as possible. 3. Turn off beepers and cellular phones prior to coming to class. If you turn your phone on vibrate, make sure that others around you cannot hear it. Above all, do not answer your phone. 4. Talk only when you have been given the floor. Talking with the people next to you is distracting to everyone, especially to me and to the people around you. If you are asking your neighbor a question about the course, it is likely that everyone will benefit if you raise your hand and ask your question of the instructor. I can guarantee that at least one other person in the class is thinking about your same question. Everyone benefits from your curiosity. The only truly stupid question is the question that remains unasked and unanswered (with the exception of “Will this be on the exam?”). 5. Be attentive. You may not realize it but it is distracting to your instructor if you read a newspaper in the back of the classroom or doze off during class. I cannot focus on the information I am trying to convey if I am worried that I am boring you. 6. Be respectful of your instructor, your fellow classmates, and yourself. This includes listening to others’ opinions with the same respect that you would wish to be given when voicing your own opinion. If your instructor finds that you are behaving inappropriately, you will be given one warning. The second instance of inappropriate behavior will result in expulsion from the class for the remainder of the day. If inappropriate behavior continues, further disciplinary action will be taken. Students with Disabilities Students requesting classroom accommodation must first register with the Dean of Students Office. The Dean of Students Office will provide documentation to the student who must then provide this documentation to the Instructor when requesting accommodation. Important Dates and Semester Schedule A proposed semester schedule is attached. We will try to adhere to this schedule. However, we may need to make changes to accommodate guest speakers, etc. If you miss a class, you are responsible for finding out if any dates have been changed. This is a list of the topics we will likely be covering in the class. Readings will be assigned in class, and posted at the beginning of each powerpoint presentation associated with the lecture. You should read the readings before and after the lecture associated with them. The readings I assigned are intentioned to be short to allow you ample opportunity to read them multiple times. In addition to the readings assigned for each class, supplemental readings may be handed out in class or posted on the web. These will be announced in class.

Date Topic Important Event May 12 INTRODUCTION May13 UNIT ONE: 1) Definitions, Legal Systems, Functions and Paradigms 2) Theoretical Perspectives 3) The Law and Official Discretion May 14 UNIT ONE May 15 UNIT ONE May 16 UNIT ONE May 19 UNIT ONE May 20 UNIT ONE May 21 UNIT ONE May 22 UNIT ONE May 23 EXAM ONE EXAM ONE May 26 NO CLASS – SCHOOL HOLIDAY NO CLASS May 27 UNIT TWO: 1) Lawmaking and Precedent 2) Lawyers May 28 UNIT TWO May 29 UNIT TWO May 30 UNIT TWO June 2 UNIT TWO June 3 UNIT TWO June 4 UNIT TWO June 5 UNIT TWO June 6 EXAM TWO EXAM TWO June 9 UNIT THREE: 1) Juries 2) Dispute Resolution: The Adversarial System 3) Dispute Resolution: Mediation June 10 UNIT THREE June 11 UNIT THREE June 12 UNIT THREE June 13 UNIT THREE June 16 UNIT THREE June 17 UNIT THREE June 18 UNIT THREE June 19 EXAM THREE EXAM THREE June 20 NO CLASS NO CLASS *** IMPORTANT NOTE REGARDING EXAM THREE*** Exam three is NON CUMULATIVE, meaning that it will only cover topics covered in class on June 9- 13 and June 16-19. Because the exam is non-cumulative, I will not give separate exams for those of you who have several tests that day.

Administrative Information This syllabus is provided for your information and may change as deemed necessary. You are responsible for learning all the material contained in this syllabus as well as any modifications that are made to the syllabus during class time. All changes to the syllabus will be announced during class time. If you have any questions about the syllabus or course requirements, please feel free to contact me. You can stop by during my office hours, or call or email me. I am looking forward to getting to know you, and I encourage you to stop by or email to discuss ideas, questions, and comments you may have about the class or material. Finally, I have a message for you all, taken from the National Commission on Excellence in Education (1997): To Students: You forfeit your chance for life at its fullest when you with hold your best effort in learning. When you give only the minimum in learning, you receive only the minimum in return. Even with your parents' best example and your teachers' best efforts, in the end it is your work that determines how much and how well you learn. When you work to your full capacity, you can hope to attain the knowledge and skills that will enable you to create your future and control your destiny. If you do not, you will have your future thrust upon you by others. Take hold of your life, apply your gifts and talents, and work with dedication and self-discipline. Have high expectations for yourself, and convert every challenge into an opportunity. It is my hope that you take this course and your years in college as a unique opportunity to expand your mind, enjoy yourself and your capacity to learn, and absorb as much knowledge as you possibly can. Remember, you may never be here again. Get ready for a great semester, and as always: press on!