Special Topic

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Web Page: http://facstaff.bloomu.edu/ldavi2

Special Topics 98.498 (3 credit hours) – This seminar course focuses on a special topic that is of particular importance in the law or field of legal studies. This course will focus on the United States Supreme Court, its members, its history, cases the court is scheduled to hear this term, and the nomination and confirmation process. Students will be able to visit the Court and hear oral arguments.

Weekly readings will be assigned and made available to students either electronically or in the library. Students may be asked to locate readings or resources using their own research skills. Students are required to print (if not disseminated in class), compile and bring to class all assigned readings. This course compilation will be handed into toward the end of semester, but returned to students in advance of the final exam. There is no assigned textbook for the course.

Students are expected to act with academic integrity inside and outside of the classroom, and will be penalized for failing to do so. The penalty is at my discretion and may include a failing grade for the course or request that the student voluntarily withdraw from the course. Examples of conduct lacking academic integrity include plagiarism, fabrication and cheating on exams or pretests. Additional examples are listed in “The Pilot” and under “Academic Policies” at http://www.bloomu.edu/. A copy of Bloomsburg University's Policy on Academic Integrity is available on the opening page of the course website. Please note that Bloomsburg University's Academic Integrity Policy defines plagiarism as "Submitting material that in part or whole is not one's own work without attributing those same portions to their correct source" (emphasis added). Students who are unsure whether an act may violate the academic integrity policy should consult me before engaging in the act.

Attendance
Regular attendance is expected, and necessary to understand the course material. Late assignments, and make up exams will be allowed only for the reasons stated in Policies, Rules, and Procedures of the University #3506 found below. A student must provide official documentation for an absence only if the student is requesting to make up a class assignment or exam. There is no need to provide documentation or contact me regarding other absences.

PRP 3506 - Class Attendance

Regular classroom attendance is expected of all students. However, a student will be afforded reasonable assistance by a faculty member when class work is missed as a result of extenuating circumstances beyond the student's control, such as but not limited to:

1. Personal illness

2. Death or critical illness in the immediate family

3. Participation in a college-sponsored co-curricular activity (Mutually satisfactory arrangements for assistance must be made by the student when the activity is announced.)

Instructors are encouraged to use their professional judgment in deciding the legitimacy of each case and may request the student to provide official documentation to verify the reasons for the absence.

The instructor is not required to give makeup examinations or review other class work missed as a result of unauthorized absences other than those authorized by this policy.

A faculty member, with departmental approval, may adopt a reasonable alternative policy if class members are provided that policy in writing during the first week of classes.

Ø An assignment turned in late will receive half credit. No assignment will be accepted if it is 2 or more days late.

Clear and concise communication skills are important to professional success. I will consider the clarity and quality of your writing when grading exams and assignments, and responding to email. Specifically, be sure to:

· Use active not passive verbs. For example, “The jury acquitted the defendant”. NOT “The defendant was acquitted by the jury”.

I will stop reading an assignment when more than five of these errors appear on any one page of an assignment, or more than ten in the entire document. If your paper is returned, you have two days to resubmit the paper. Resubmitted papers are eligible for a maximum of 89% of the points originally attributed to the assignment (i.e. 178 points. The maximum grade you could get would be a B).

The most effective method you can use to insure meeting these standards is to proof read your work, and edit it accordingly - twice. Dictionaries and writing guides are indispensable tools. Another method to make sure your written work is comprehensible is to ask someone else to review your final draft. Often fresh, objective eyes can identify problems you have missed. Spelling and grammar checks on your computer are also useful tools, but should never be relied on as your only means of proofreading. Finally, the University Writing Center is available to help you. Information about the Writing Center is available at http://departments.bloomu.edu/english/index.htm

Email – please adhere to the principles of basic English grammar when contacting me via email.

understand the and the nomination and confirmation process of new justices, and;

Dates are approximate and will be revised as the semester proceed and we what happens with Justice Rehnquist. Check the course web page for changes in the schedule.

August 30^th Introduction: basic review of the federal and state judicial systems, the role of United States Supreme Court (the Court), its Constitutional origin, and its membership.

September 6^thMarbury v. Madison and the power of judicial review. Begin discussion of the confirmation process.

October 4^thBIG WEEK! COURT OPENS FOR THE NEW TERM! REVIEW OF CASES ON THE DOCKET!

Best wishes for a productive and meaningful semester. Please see me as early in the semester as possible regarding any questions or problems you are having regarding the course.