Online Business Law II (BUSI-132) Course Syllabus
Patricia L. Estabrook
e-mail: pestabro@raritanval.edu
Please do not use the above Outlook e-mail address unless the WebCT e-mail within the course is not functioning.
SPECIAL ASPECTS OF ONLINE BUSINESS LAW II
Please read this syllabus carefully and also study the Course Calendar (accessible from the Homepage) so that you can see at the outset what is expected from you - and conversely, what you can expect from the course
Like most online students, you have probably taken Online Business Law II rather than the traditional classroom version because the online mode of delivery allows you freedom from being in a specific place at a definite time. It is true that you can study at any time and at any place that you find convenient and that flexibility will, of course, save you time. However, the online format does not in any way decrease the time that must be spent studying, doing course assignments, and preparing for tests and exams.
Arguably, an online course is a more difficult one for many students because the very flexibility that makes it a desirable alternative is also the aspect which requires that each student be sufficiently independent and have enough initiative to complete assignments, participate in online class discussions, and keep pace with the calendar of assignments/tests set forth by the instructor. It can be fatal for a student to fall behind. If you are the kind of person who thrives in an atmosphere where no one is constantly reminding you of deadlines and test dates, then an online course is the one for you!
On the other hand, if you don't prepare for class unless you believe that the instructor will be calling on you; if you must not only have a deadline for handing in assignments, but need constant reminders; if you can't express yourself in writing (as you must do when e-mail is a major course component); if you must have much of the textbook explained to you - then you are not a candidate for an online course.
Class discussions will be conducted as Topics (Check the Course Calendar, accessible via the Homepage, to see the schedule). Participation is mandatory and, as noted elsewhere in the syllabus, will constitute 10% of the final grade. Where you might have been able to sit silently in a traditionally taught classroom course for the entire semester without penalty, that will not be the case in an online course. You are expected to participate in the discussions on a regular basis. The computer and I will note the number and quality of student postings.
Class discussions will center on hypotheticals or other legal questions chosen to elucidate or clarify legal principles examined in the assigned chapters, as well as current legal issues, such as timely United Supreme Court decisions. I will participate in the discussions some of the time - but again - this aspect of the course, as all others, is student driven. You are expected to initiate the discussion and to drive it - to stimulate each other. I will jump in to focus, direct, challenge, as well as to answer some tough questions! Don't forget - chances are that we will not all be online at the same time. Since communications in the forum will NOT be in real time, you can fell free topost messages whenever it is convenient to do so.
If you already know how to send/receive e-mail and how to navigate through an online course, you probably have both the mindset and requisite abilities to taket\ this course. If you have not already read Getting Started (accesible via the Homepage), please do so now so that you can familiarize yourself with the course icons.
The next step will be to spend the first couple of class days on the Orientation (see Course Calendar accessible via the Homepage) which will allow you to better familiarize yourself with the course icons and other course tools.
Since e-mail withn WebCT is the primary mode of instructor-student communication, please check your e-mail daily so that you don't miss class announcements. And e-mail me with any questions that you may have. All student e-mails are responded to in a timely manner..
CATALOG COURSE DESCRIPTION
Continues the study of Business Law, and deals with real estate, wills and estates, commercial paper, personal property, bailments, sales, and introduction to partnerships and corporations.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
The primary goal of Business Law II is to familiarize the student with major principles in the area of property, bailments, sales and commercial paper, with particular emphasis on the Uniform Commercial Code. A secondary objective is to hone students’ analytic skills and to improve their mental discipline.
TEXTBOOK
Clarkson, et al., West’s Business Law, Text, Cases, Legal, Ethical, International, E-Commerce Environment, Thomson-Southwestern Publishing Co., Tenth Ed., 2006.
Our text is a combination hornbook and casebook, i.e., the authors have not only set forth and explained principles of law - but have also included actual cases which illustrate the applicability of these rules of law to specific fact situations. Although heavily edited, these cases are interesting to read and will also expose you to the court's rationale in a given case.
Some of the chapters in the text conclude with a special section called Law on the Web. These sections describe – and provide Internet addresses for – resources available on the Internet relating to topics covered in the chapters. Finally, West's Business Law Home Page can be accessed at http://www.westbuslaw.com.
OUTLINE OF TOPICS TO BE COVERED
Agency
(If you did not cover Chapter 31: Agency Formation and Duties in your Business Law I course, please read that chapter before beginning Chapter 32.)
1. Chapter 32: Liability to Third Parties and Termination
Domestic and International Sales Law
1. Chapter 20: The Formation of Sales and Lease Contract (Omit Section 5)
Timed Test #1 - Chapters 32 and 20
Property
1. Chapter 47: Personal Property and Bailments
2. Chapter 48: Real Property and Landlord-Tenant Relationships
Timed Test #2 - Chapters 47 and 48
Special Topics
1. Chapter 50: Wills, Trusts, and Elder Law
Negotiable Instruments
1. Chapter 24: The Function and Creation of Negotiable Instruments
Timed Test #3 - Chapters 50 and 24
2. Chapter 25: Transferability and Holder in Due Course
3. Chapter 26: Liability, Defenses, and Discharge (in part)
Timed Test #4 - Chapters 25 and 26
Business Organizations (optional)
1. Chapter 36: Partnerships and Limited Liability Partnerships
2. Chapter 38: Corporations - Formation and Financing
Timed Test #5 - Chapters 36 and 38
WRITTEN/ORAL ASSIGNMENTS
1. Selected End of Chapter Case Questions (Case Problems). These are basically hypotheticals, usually based on real cases, that are set forth at the end of each chapter. Four problems are assigned for each chapter studied. The assignment is in the "Homework" section of each Lesson. See Course Calendar for respective due dates. E-mail to instructor either as Microsoft WORD attachments or by typing answers into the e-mail directly).
The papers will be graded E (Excellent, grade equivalent of 95), S+ (Very Good, grade equivalent of 89), S (Satisfactory, grade equivalent of 75), S- (Just O.K., grade equivalent of 70), U (Unsatisfactory, grade equivalent of 60), 0 (Not Submitted, grade equivalent of 50) - rough equivalencies of A, B, C, D, F.
At the end of the semester, the average of the homework grades will be taken and will constitute 10% of your final grade.
No submissions of homework assignments will be accepted after the due date.
Suggested responses will be e-mailed by the instructor after the homework assignments have been corrected, graded, and returned to students.
2. Discussion Participation: Students are required to participate in the scheduled discussions. See Course Calendar for dates of topics/hypotheticals covered. The grade for Topics participation will be based on number and quality of postings. Postings of little or no substantive value will not count. Nor will multiple postings which do not move the discussion forward. The entire semester's Topics participation will be reflected in one Topics grade which will be given at the end of the semester when the final grades are figured.
The Topics grade will constitute 10% of the final grade.
Please note that the day after each Timed Test closes, the Topics area for that unit of study will close. The next unit's Topic area will then open and will remain open until the test for that unit closes.
3. Timed Tests: There will be a 50 question objective timed test at the end of the following chapters:
Chapters 32 and 20 (Test #1)
Chapters 47 and 48(Test #2)
Chapters 50 and 24 (Test #3)
Chapters 25 and 26 (Test #4)
Chapters 36 and 38 (Test #5)
The last test (#5) will be the Final Exam.
Each test will be weighted equally. Numerical grades will be given.
At the end of the semester, the average of these numerical grades will constitute 80% of your final grade.
All timed tests will be administered, graded, and recorded within WebCT. It will not be possible to view each question marked incorrect. However, if you wish to review your test, you may e-mail me within 2 days of taking the test to arrange a mutually convenient time when you can review that test with me on the phone.
PASSWORDS
Please note that this course is passworded. It is your responsibility to change your password at the times that the MIS Department has determined. If you do not do so, you will be automatically locked out of the course until you contact the MIS Department to reopen the course for you. If you are locked out on the last day that a test is open, you will be prevented from taking the test.
GRADING PROCEDURES/FINAL GRADES
Final grades will be ascertained in the following way:
End of Chapter Questions - 10%
Topics Participation/Substantive Contributions - 10%
Timed Tests - 80%
The numerical equivalencies are set forth above so that you know how the grades will be averaged at the end of the semester. For example, the grade of a student who has a test averge of 80, a homework average of S, and a Topics average of S+ would be calculated by adding 80% of 80, 10% of 75, and 10% of 89,for a final grade of 80.4, or a B.
If a plus grade is given, it will indicate that the student has achieved a numerical average of 88 or better in the case of a B+, or a 78 or better in the case of a C+. Numerical averages below those numbers will not be awarded plus grades in this course.
SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS
I encourage you to utilize the resources offered by the CD-ROM because it highlights important concepts and terminology and provides a framework for organizing your studying. The combination of the text, the CD-ROM, and the PowerPoint presentations will provide you with a comprehensive learning experience.