AMERICAN COURT SYSTEM
Course: POLS 3113
Credit hours: 3
Instructor: Dr. Gary Rutledge
Office: 303 (Prep. Hall)
Phone: 918-343-7800
E-mail: rutledge@garyrutledge.com
Website: http://www.garyrutledge.com
IMPORTANT! RETAIN THIS SYLLABUS FOR REFERENCE THROUGHOUT THE SEMESTER.
COURSE
DESCRIPTION
This course will examine the development and politics of the American
court system, with a focus on the public’s impact on the courts and the
court’s impact on the public. The course will also focus on the
definitions and processes of criminal law, and students will explore the
connections between policy choice and policy implementation. Each
student will empirically investigate the reality of the American court
system as evolved from the U.S. Constitution, statutory law, judge-made
law, and common law.
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Course learning
objectives
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Supported Program Goals To develop a level of competence in the core discipline(s) of the social sciences to allow for further inquiry and study. |
How Evaluated Through class discussions, written web assignments, quizzes, written case studies, multiple choice final exams. |
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To develop a critical appreciation of the interdisciplinary dimensions of public administration. |
To prepare students to function successfully in a society that is heading toward globalization and becoming more culturally diverse |
Through class discussions, on-line case studies, and written web assignments. |
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Understand
controversial issues that have profound implications for the way
men and women perceive themselves. |
To equip students with the academic skills necessary to successfully address increasingly complex, multidisciplinary problems in the social sciences. |
Through class discussions, on-line case studies, and written web assignments. |
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Work collaboratively with other students. |
To equip students with the academic skills necessary to successfully address increasingly complex, multidisciplinary problems in the social sciences. |
Through class discussions, and collaborative on-line case studies. |
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Express ideas orally, in writing, and online |
To equip students with the academic skills necessary to successfully address increasingly complex, multidisciplinary problems in the social sciences. |
Through class discussions, on-line case studies, weekly journal notebook, and written web assignments. |
PREREQUISITES
College-level Reading and Writing skills will be required for successful
completion of this course. Basic computer skills, such as the ability to
handle e-mail, a search engine, and a word processor will be essential.
Students should have completed American federal Government POLS-1113
prior to taking this course.
TEXT AND
OTHER MATERIALS
Neubauer, David, E. America's Courts and the Criminal Justice System.
Ninth Edition, Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth.
ISBN: 0-534-62892-3
INSTRUCTORS
WEBSITE and INTERACTIVE WORK SCHEDULE
The heart of the Website is an interactive Work Schedule and its
calendar. The calendar contains a weekly schedule of work with
appropriate links to learning tools in the Website. Weekly Quizzes, Case
Briefs, and Chapter Wrap-ups, are submitted directly into the Website on
or before the due dates shown on the Work Schedule Calendar.
METHOD OF
EVALUATION
The grading scale is 100-90=A, 89-80=B, 79-70=C, 69-0=F. Grades will
accumulate from a combination of written chapter wrap-ups, multiple
choice chapter quizzes, on-line case briefs, multiple choice midterm,
and multiple choice final exam.
FINAL SCORE
TO BE DETERMINED AS FOLLOWS
Unit Quizzes: 15%
Chapter Wrap-ups: 30%
Case Briefs: 30%
Participation/Attendance: 10% (1 absences = 100, 2 absences = 50, 3
absences = 0, perfect attendance = 5 extra points credit)
Mid-Term Quiz: 5%
Final Quiz: 10%
CHAPTER WRAP-UPS
Short written essay assignments are due at the end of each unit/subject
of work. These short essay assignments will be submitted directed to the
Gary Rutledge Learning site (GRLS) with links provided in the GRLS Work
Schedule. Web Assignments less than the required length will have one
letter grade deducted.
UNIT QUIZZES
Short multiple-choice quizzes are due at the end of each unit/subject of
work. These quizzes will be taken on-line and require the use of an ID
number and username.
FINAL MULTIPLE
CHOICE EXAM
A comprehensive final exam of approximately 50 multiple choice questions
will be given. All questions will come from the questions in the
Practice Tests and will cover all course material.
ATTENDANCE
Good attendance is essential in a class of this nature and will be
checked at each class meeting. Every class meeting includes case study
discussions. Student participation includes being familiar with each
case and participating in the discussion of it. Poor attendance must be
reported to Registrar, Dean of Student Services, Financial Aid office,
and Veterans Services. A passing grade will be unlikely where
absenteeism exceeds 25%. After any absence, the student is
responsible for obtaining any class assignments and lecture notes from a
classmate.
LATE ASSIGNMENTS
A deduction of one letter grade may be assessed to any work submitted
late. Work will not be accepted after two weeks from due date.
PLAGIARISM
Plagiarism is the representation of the words or ideas of another as
one’s own, including: direct quotation without both attribution and
indication that the material is being directly quoted; e.g. quotation
marks; paraphrase without attribution; paraphrase with or without
attribution where the wording of the original remains substantially
intact and is represented as the author’s own; expression in one’s own
words, but without attribution, of ideas, arguments, lines of reasoning,
facts, processes, or other products of the intellect where such material
is learned from the work of another and is not part of the general fund
of common knowledge.
AMERICANS WITH
DISABILITIES ACT
Rogers State University is committed to providing students with
disabilities equal access to educational programs and services. Any
student who has a disability that he or she believes will require some
form of academic accommodation must inform the professor of such need
during or immediately following the first class attended. Before any
educational accommodation can be provided, it is the responsibility of
each student to prove eligibility for assistance by registering for
services through Student Affairs.
Students needing more information about Student Disability Services should contact the office of Student Development at 918-343-7707.
WITHDRAWAL
It is hoped that no one will have to withdraw: however, if unforeseen
circumstances force a student to withdraw from the course, the student
should initiate an official withdraw through the registrar's office. Do
not just quick submitting work. Without an official withdrawal an "F"
will be the only result. Non-performance does not constitute official
withdrawal.
CHANGE OF STUDENT
INFORMATION
Notify your college registrar and your instructor immediately if any of
your student data should change such as your address, telephone number.
E-mail address. This information must be accurate for proper and timely
communications.
CHANGE OF SYLLABUS
INFORMATION
At the instructor's discretion procedures and policy are subject to
change at any time.