LWSO201
Introduction to Legal Studies
Summer 2008
TR 18:00-20:45; PF110

 

 

Instructor:	CGK Atkins
Office Location:	SS346
Office Phone:	403 210 9433
E-Mail:	catkins@ucalgary.ca
Web Page:
Office Hours:	TBA; by appointment

Additional Information

Course Description

This is an introductory course in the Law and Society Program (Faculty of Communication and Culture). It provides the student with both a theoretical and practical framework with which to examine foundational texts in the field of socio-legal studies.  After examining essential concepts we will progress toward the end of the course to examine specific issues within Canadian law.  

We will examine a variety of texts from a number of historical periods. These texts will help us analyze cultural and social influences in the formation of law and politics and society in general and, Canadian legal culture, specifically.

Objectives of the Course

By the end of the course the student should be equipped with critical and analytical skills with which she or he can approach a wide variety of materials.  This will allow the student to begin to grasp the manner in which law, politics and culture interpenetrate one another and, the manner in which Canadian law is formed and re-formed across time.

Textbooks and Readings:

Edmund Burke. Reflections on the Revolution in France. (Ed. J.G.A. Pocock) Hackett Publishing.

Canada: Constitution Act 1867-1982.

John Locke. Second Treatise of Government (ed. C.B. Macpherson), Hackett Publishing.
Plato. The Trial and Death of Socrates. (tr. G.M.A. Grube), Hackett Publishing

William Shakespeare. The Merchant of Venice. Oxford University Press.

Readings posted on Blackboard.

Non-Required but Highly Recommended Tools 



Formatting/style manuals available in the bookstore. Chicago, MLA, or APA are acceptable.

Note that a consistent and accurate formatting style is fundamental to the writing components of this course. 
Funk and Wagnalls Canadian College Dictionary. Toronto: Fitzhenry and Whiteside; Oxford English Dictionary (latest editions).

Chapman, Robert L., ed. The Original Roget's International Thesaurus, fifth edition. New York: Harper Collins, 1992.

Globe and Mail; The New York Times; The Economist; Albert Views; The Walrus; Macleans

Assignments and Evaluation

It is the student's responsibility to keep a copy of each submitted assignment.

Short paper (25 %): 5-7 pages - DUE 17 July 2008   (Plato & Shakespeare)

In-class essay/test (35%) - 31 July 2008 (Locke & Burke & Cdn Constitution)

Take Home Final Exam (40 %) - 12 -14 Aug 2008

[The take home final will be posted on Blackboard at the end of class on 12 August 2008.  Students must hand in the take home final to my office, at the end of class on 14 August 2008.]

Students are expected to use ONLY the required texts and readings in their assignments.  Any use of the internet will be treated as plagiarism.

ALL ASSIGNMENTS MUST USE PROPER CITATIONS AND HAVE BIBLIOGRAPHIES.

All assignments must be completed in order to receive a passing mark.

Note: Please hand in your essays directly to your tutor or instructor if possible. If it is not possible to do so, a daytime drop box is available in SS110; a date stamp is provided for your use. A night drop box is also available for after-hours submission. Assignments will be removed the following morning, stamped with the previous day's date, and placed in the instructor's mailbox.

Registrar-scheduled Final Examination:  NO

Please note: If your class is held in the evening, the Registrar's Office will make every attempt to schedule the final exam during the evening; however, there is NO guarantee that the exam will NOT be scheduled during the day.

Policy for Late Assignments

Assignments submitted after the deadline may be penalized with the loss of a grade (e.g.: A- to B+) for each day late.

Writing Skills Statement

Faculty policy directs that all written assignments (including, although to a lesser extent, written exam responses) will be assessed at least partly on writing skills. For details see www.comcul.ucalgary.ca/info. Writing skills include not only surface correctness (grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, etc) but also general clarity and organization. Research papers must be properly documented.

If you need help with your writing, you may use the Writing Centre.  Visit the website for more details: www.efwr.ucalgary.ca

Grading System

The following grading system is used in the Faculty of Communication and Culture:

A+ (96-100); A (92-95); A- (86-91); B+ (81-85); B (77-80); B- (71-76);
C+ (65-70); C (62-64); C- (59-61); D+ (55-58); D (50-54); F (0-49)

 

Plagiarism

Using any source whatsoever without clearly documenting it is a serious academic offense. Consequences include failure on the assignment, failure in the course and possibly suspension or expulsion from the university.

You must document not only direct quotations but also paraphrases and ideas where they appear in your text. A reference list at the end is insufficient by itself. Readers must be able to tell exactly where your words and ideas end and other people's words and ideas begin. This includes assignments submitted in non-traditional formats such as Web pages or visual media, and material taken from such sources.

Please consult your instructor or the Writing Centre (SS 106, efwr.ucalgary.ca) if you have any questions regarding how to document sources.

Students with Disabilities

If you are a student with a disability who may require academic accommodation, it is your responsibility to register with the Disability Resource Centre (220-8237) and discuss your needs with your instructor no later than fourteen (14) days after the start of the course.

Students' Union

For details about the current Students' Union contacts for the Faculty of Communication and Culture see www.comcul.ucalgary.ca/su

"SAFEWALK" Program -- 220-5333

Campus Security will escort individuals day or night -- call 220-5333 for assistance. Use any campus phone, emergency phone or the yellow phone located at most parking lot booths.

Ethics

Whenever you perform research with human participants (i.e. surveys, interviews, observation) as part of your university studies, you are responsible for following university research ethics guidelines.  Your instructor must review and approve of your research plans and supervise your research.  For more information about your research ethics responsibilities, see

The Faculty of Communication and Culture Research Ethics site: http://www.comcul.ucalgary.ca/ethics

or the University of Calgary Research Ethics site: http://www.ucalgary.ca/research/compliance/ethics/info/undergrad/

Schedule of Lectures and Readings

3 Jul 2008                          Course Orientation, Introductory Lecture; Plato TD of S, Euthyphro

8 Jul  2008                          Plato, TD of S, Apology, Crito, Phaedo

10 Jul 2008                          Shakespeare M of V FILM

15 Jul 2008                          Shakespeare, lecture & discussion

17 Jul 2008                            Locke, Second Treatise of Government; SHORT PAPER DUE

22 July 2008                          Locke, Second Treatise of Government; Burke Reflections

24 July 2008                          Burke, Reflections  lecture & discussion

29 July 2008                          Burke, Reflections  & Locke, 2^nd Treatise, Canadian Constitution Act 1867-1982

31 July 2008                         IN CLASS ESSAY/TEST

 5 Aug 2008                        Blackboard Readings; ; NFB Film: Democracy on Trial

 7 Aug 2008                      Blackboard Readings

12 Aug 2008                     Blackboard readings; TAKE HOME HANDED OUT ON BLACKBOARD at the END of class

14 Aug 2008                           TAKE HOME HANDED IN  20:45 at Prof. CGK Atkins' office: SS346.