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 You and the Law Goal The goal of this class is for the student to become more aware of his or her legal environment. We will be working together to examine legal issues that both make the news and also impact your lives. Our examination of these issues will be objective and not one sided. Classroom participation will be extremely important. If you don't help out with examples and questions of your own, we will end up with a lecture format, and I'm sure most of you would prefer not to have that happen. Evaluation You will be evaluated through several methods. The first method will be through chapter and unit tests. These tests will be over material we cover in class and material assigned as homework. You will not be allowed to use your notes on these tests. The tests will feature both multiple choice and short essay type questions. The second form of evaluation will be through presentations and short papers. Classroom participation is vital for this class to work well. With this in mind, the third area you will be evaluated in is your contribution to the class discussions. Each of these areas will be more thoroughly explained in class. Grading Scale A 93-100 A- 90-93 B 87-89 B 83-86 B- 80-82 C 77-79 C 73-76 C- 70-72 D 67-69 D 63-66 F 0-62 Educational Materials We will be using many different forms of educational materials. Our main resource will be our textbook. Other sources will be used when available. For the most part our course of study will follow the assigned text. However, whatever extra materials we bring into the class will be fair game to put on the test. Topics Our topics will be extremely diverse. If at any time you feel the material is offensive let me know. We will adjust the material for you, or the class as a whole, as the need arises. Care will be taken to assure that the topics and discussion are presented openly and fairly. If you have any questions anytime about what we cover in class, let me know. Mr. Phillips
Mr. Phillips' Room Rules (Also known as 12 rules to make our lives together easier.) Remember the golden rule; treat others as you would have them treat you. 1. Raise your hand to ask a question. 2. Go to the bathroom before you get into the room. Excessive bathroom requests will count as tardies. I know an emergency may come up. You have no more than two before they count as tardies. 3. You are only allowed to be late 2 times per semester. Every time you are late after the second time, you will have 5 points taken off of your classroom participation grade; after all, you can't participate if you are not here. Those points could be the difference between passing and failing. You will also be assigned an unexcused absence on each third tardy in accordance with the school policy. Be on time. 4. Class starts at the bell. When class starts I expect you to be in your seat and quiet; ready to go. 5. Your work is due on the due date. That is why I give a due date. If it is late I will deduct a lot of points for each day it is late (usually 50% of the points possible), if I take it at all. Excuses are fine to try, but they will not work. 6. You will be expected to follow all of the school rules in this classroom. I don't care if "none of the other teachers follow that rule". I do follow that rule. 7. I will not put up with harassment of other students. You will treat your fellow students with respect, or you will not be in here. 8. You will never give a substitute teacher a hard time. If a substitute has to write down your name for any reason, you will get two detentions in the office; that easy. Please be nice to our subs, they have a hard job. 9. If by the end of the quarter you are missing a large assignment you will not get credit for the class until you finish the assignment. You may get 0 points for it due to late charges, but it will be completed, and done to the best of your ability, or you will not receive a grade. 10. Class is not finished until the bell rings. Do not get up and head for the door. 11. You only have as many days to make up work after you are absent as you were absent. For example, if you are absent one day, whatever was due on that day is now due the first day you are back; you miss a quiz, you take it the first day you are back. If you miss two days, what ever was due on the first day you were absent is due on the first day you are back. It is your responsibility to find out what you missed and turn it in. Don't try to turn in work later than the due date and claim it is OK because you were absent. It is up to you to come to me about what you missed. If your excuse is a pink unexcused slip, your work will not be allowed to be made up. 12. Do not cheat. I know this seems obvious, and most of you would never do this. However, each year I end up with one or two students who copy off the internet without giving credit (plagiarism), or who just plain look on someone else's paper. Please don't try this. It makes me feel bad to flunk you. If you do cheat you will receive a 0 for the assignment. You will also receive a second 0 of the same weight for an assignment all of your own. I will also contact your parents and let them know what you did. For all of our sakes, please don't do it.
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