Course Syllabus
PLS 60, Legal Calendaring
Section 8252 - Course Syllabus
Course Description
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
Student Learning Objectives
Class Meetings: Asynchronous and Online
All course material and activities will be offered strictly asynchronously and online, meaning that students may access new course materials on Canvas anytime after a new module is posted. Each Monday, typically by noon, a new course module will be posted. Students will have a full week (typically until the following Sunday evening at midnight) to complete weekly assignments.
Instructor Contact
Laura Pedicini
Email: lpedicini@santarosa.edu
Phone: 415-854-1423 (texting is acceptable) - Please text me or email in advance to request a call.
Office Hours: Arranged as needed and requested. I am happy to arrange time for a telephone or video call as needed and requested.
I typically respond to emails within 24 hours on weekdays and 48 hours on weekends.
Course Web Site
Students will use the Canvas course web site for assignment instructions, submitting assignments, viewing classmate's work, sharing resources, and viewing grades.
Textbook
We will be using the January 2021 edition of LITIGATION BY THE NUMBERS®
by Julie A. Goren, Esq.; Lawdable Press
818.787.9799
info@litigationbythenumbers.com
***Specific details regarding how to purchase the textbook will be provided to students via email. Please wait until you receive the email from me before purchasing the material.
You will be able to purchase and download the textbook online, for immediate review. In addition, you will be provided with a link to download a course video. The total cost for course materials is $98.00. The same materials are typically used in SRJC's Civil LItigationclass. Note that there is not a used option, or a rental option, available, and students must purchase the 2021 edition. Thank you.
Required Software
You will need the following software for this course.
- Adobe Reader
- Word
- VLC Media Player (to play the Litigation by the Numbers Video) Details for how to download the video are provided at the time of purchase.
Important Dates
Day Class Begins: June 14, 2021
Day Class Ends: July 11, 2021
Last Day to Drop with a 'W' symbol: 6/27/21
Dropping the Class
If you decide to discontinue this course, it is your responsibility to officially drop it to avoid getting no refund (after 10% of course length), a W symbol (after 20%), or a grade (after 60%). Also, for several consecutive, unexplained absences, the instructor may drop a student.
Instructor Announcements and Q&A Forum
The instructor will post announcements on the “Instructor Announcements” page in Canvas throughout the semester. Canvas notifies students according to their preferred Notification Preferences as soon as the instructor creates an Announcement. A “Q&A Forum” is also on Canvas to ask for assistance of your classmates, or to engage classmates in discussions that extend beyond the course content.
To ask questions of your instructor, please email your instructor directly. Please do not post instructor questions on the Q&A Forum; this Forum is for student discussions only. You are encouraged to post questions and develop your own community that serves as a place to discuss questions about paralegal practice and the legal world more generally.
Attendance
Students who do not log-in to an online class after the second day of the semester will be dropped from the class. It is strongly advised that if you need to miss more than one class/homework deadline in a row that you contact your instructor directly to avoid being dropped from the class.
Late Policy
All assignments are due at midnight PST on the due date. A late submission will receive a 20% penalty. Submissions more than one week late are not accepted without prior arrangement. Late work will not be graded unless student sends instructor an email with URL for late work.
There will be at least two quizzes and a final exam. There will not be a midterm. The material comes from the textbook, online class discussions, and supplemental materials. If any quiz or exam is missed, and communication with the instructor regarding the absence did not occur in advance of the exam, a zero will be recorded as the score. It is your responsibility to take the online exams by the due date.
Grading Policy
Visit the “Grades” in Canvas to keep track of your grades.
Grades will be assigned as follows:
A |
90% |
90 points or more |
---|---|---|
B |
80% |
80 - 89 points |
C |
70% |
70-79 points |
D |
60% |
60-69 points |
If taking Pass/No Pass you need at least 70% of the total class points and complete the midterm exam and the final exam to pass the class.
Standards of Conduct
Students who register in SRJC classes are required to abide by the SRJC Student Conduct Standards. Violation of the Standards is basis for referral to the Vice President of Student Services or dismissal from class or from the College. See the Student Code of Conduct page.
Collaborating on or copying of tests or homework in whole or in part will be considered an act of academic dishonesty and result in a grade of 0 for that test or assignment. I encourage students to share information and ideas, but not their work. See these links on Plagiarism:
SRJC Writing Center Lessons on avoiding plagiarism
SRJC's policy on Academic Integrity
Other Important Policies and Practices
Avoid Plagiarism Like the, er, Plague
Although most students have likely heard about plagiarism during their years of schooling, it still is prevalent-even in higher education.
The video below reviews what plagiarism is and how not to do it.
Netiquette, or Why Is It Harder to Be Polite Online?
Netiquette refers to using common courtesy in online communication. All members of the class are expected to follow netiquette in all course communications. Use these guidelines:
- Use capital letters sparingly. THEY LOOK LIKE SHOUTING.
- Forward emails only with a writer's permission.
- Be considerate of others' feelings and use language carefully.
- Cite all quotations, references, and sources (otherwise, it is plagiarism).
- Use humor carefully. It is hard to "read" tone; sometimes humor can be misread as criticism or personal attack. Feel free to use emoticons like :) for a smiley face to let others know you are being humorous.
- Use complete sentences and standard English grammar to compose posts. Write in proper paragraphs. Review work before submitting it.
- Text speak, such as "ur" for "your" or "ru" for "are you" etc., is only acceptable when texting.
Special Needs
Students with disabilities who believe they need accommodations in this class are encouraged to contact Disability Resources (527-4278), as soon as possible to better ensure such accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion.