Course Description:
Law 12 centers its big ideas around understanding ones own legal rights and responsibilities within the context of Canada's legal framework. Knowing how this framework affects our changing cultural morality, worldview and values is written into the curriculum making Law 12 a very exciting class to teach from a Christian perspective which maintains that God is the center of an unchanging moral framework. Law 12 incorporates a lot of role play and debate, students should be prepared to share opinions delve deep into ethical matters and cordially disagree on present day issues which affect society. Law class emphasizes two skills: 1) Oral argumentation, law allows students to formulate ideas and express them in oral arguments using the building blocks of logic and evidence. 2) Discernment, learning law develops judgement skills regarding what is moral and ethical. This is particularly useful skill in a society that seems to avoid judgement at all costs.
Course Goals:
Class Rules:
Grade Breakdown:
Written Assignments ... 30% (3-4 in the year)
Two or three of these will be essays. For sure there will be one short research essay and one opinion essay. Both can go through a single rewrite process if the student hands in the essay prior to the due date. In addition there will be a creative write where the student writes a realistic court drama and one writing assignment where the student reviews the realism in a Hollywood court drama. Late assignments will always be accepted but I might keep you during lunch time or after school if I feel there is little hope of you getting it done at home.
Quizzes ... 15% (3 in the year)
These are small quizzes to test your knowledge on vocab. Multiple choice and a few short answers will be the norm. It will be important to keep notes and an organized binder so that you are prepared for these tests. The homework assignments given are given to help you be ready for these summative tests
Visual Assignments ... 10% (2 in the year)
Normally I have lots of opportunity for visual learners but law is a natural fit with language. However some visual assignments will help ground certain students. Often these assignments, due to time constraints, will be started at school and completed at home. I will give you lots of time, but if you procrastinate and do nothing at home until the day before the due-date you will stress yourself out and not do as well. Late assignments will always be accepted but I might keep you during lunch time or after school if I feel there is little hope of you getting it done at home..
Oral Assignments ... 45% (7 in the year)
Oral assignments include debates, roleplays (unscripted), legal reenactments (scripted) and presentations, there will be group components to some of these grades, working in a team that the teacher chooses is a valuable skill, important to the legal profession and life in general. The expectation is that everyone will be able to speak in front of their peers. Group work will have a separate rubric and peer evaluation portion so I can more fairly assess your work. If you have a problem with this oral requirement and still want to participate in Law12 please talk to me in private and we will see if accommodations can be arranged.
Law 12 centers its big ideas around understanding ones own legal rights and responsibilities within the context of Canada's legal framework. Knowing how this framework affects our changing cultural morality, worldview and values is written into the curriculum making Law 12 a very exciting class to teach from a Christian perspective which maintains that God is the center of an unchanging moral framework. Law 12 incorporates a lot of role play and debate, students should be prepared to share opinions delve deep into ethical matters and cordially disagree on present day issues which affect society. Law class emphasizes two skills: 1) Oral argumentation, law allows students to formulate ideas and express them in oral arguments using the building blocks of logic and evidence. 2) Discernment, learning law develops judgement skills regarding what is moral and ethical. This is particularly useful skill in a society that seems to avoid judgement at all costs.
Course Goals:
- Help students realize how legal philosophy shapes any discussion about what good lawmaking looks like.
- Make students aware that our values, customs, rights and worldview have changed with time. Our laws are a reflection of this evolution.
- Help students understand the tensions between personal rights and the law.
- Allow students first hand experiences roleplaying, lawyers, judges, witnesses, arbiters, jurors, and the accused of various court levels.
- Develop students' ability in argue, discern, and critically think about the logic and evidence presented to them.
Class Rules:
- Talk to each other (not just to me) in a way that is orderly and respectful.
- Listen to each other in a way that validates the speaker.
- Respect our school verbally and physically.
- Recycle and throw garbage away.
- Use technology responsibly.
- Don’t touch stuff that does not belong to you.
- Keep track of your own stuff.
- Talk to me about problems or concerns in private.
- Don't miss a debate day or role-play day. I can't and won't assign a make-up assignment unless I have a legitimate reason. You will simply get zero.
- (Specific to Law 12) Group work is going to be a part of this class. I understand that it is not always 100% fair. Please come to with issues or concerns you see with your group prior to the day before.
- (specific to Law 12) Sometimes I will tell you what you should believe, sometimes I will show you a range of beliefs, and sometimes I am as confused about the issue as anyone and will lack a definitive belief. Please respect when I do not agree with you, please respect when I do not convince others to believe the same as you (or me), and please respect when I admit I don't know enough to make an ethical judgement.
Grade Breakdown:
Written Assignments ... 30% (3-4 in the year)
Two or three of these will be essays. For sure there will be one short research essay and one opinion essay. Both can go through a single rewrite process if the student hands in the essay prior to the due date. In addition there will be a creative write where the student writes a realistic court drama and one writing assignment where the student reviews the realism in a Hollywood court drama. Late assignments will always be accepted but I might keep you during lunch time or after school if I feel there is little hope of you getting it done at home.
Quizzes ... 15% (3 in the year)
These are small quizzes to test your knowledge on vocab. Multiple choice and a few short answers will be the norm. It will be important to keep notes and an organized binder so that you are prepared for these tests. The homework assignments given are given to help you be ready for these summative tests
Visual Assignments ... 10% (2 in the year)
Normally I have lots of opportunity for visual learners but law is a natural fit with language. However some visual assignments will help ground certain students. Often these assignments, due to time constraints, will be started at school and completed at home. I will give you lots of time, but if you procrastinate and do nothing at home until the day before the due-date you will stress yourself out and not do as well. Late assignments will always be accepted but I might keep you during lunch time or after school if I feel there is little hope of you getting it done at home..
Oral Assignments ... 45% (7 in the year)
Oral assignments include debates, roleplays (unscripted), legal reenactments (scripted) and presentations, there will be group components to some of these grades, working in a team that the teacher chooses is a valuable skill, important to the legal profession and life in general. The expectation is that everyone will be able to speak in front of their peers. Group work will have a separate rubric and peer evaluation portion so I can more fairly assess your work. If you have a problem with this oral requirement and still want to participate in Law12 please talk to me in private and we will see if accommodations can be arranged.