By the end of the semester, the student will be able to:

• understand the different methods of legal reasoning
• understand the different sources of law
• understand the basic principles of laws affecting businesses
• recognize and identify situations where such laws may be applicable
• apply the appropriate rule of law to a given fact situation
• apply the methods of legal reasoning to support an argument in support of a specific outcome to a given fact situation

Students are advised that cheating and plagiarism are not tolerated at St. Gregory’s University. Students are expected to abide by the University's academic regulations and policy and are responsible for awareness of the University's definition of these activities. The consequences of violating the academic honesty standard may include a grade of "0" on the assignment/exam, a grade of "F" in the course, and, possibly, expulsion from the University.

Jentz, et. al., West’s Business Law, Alternate Edition 7^th ed., U.S.A., West, 1999. ISBN 0-324-00086-3

The course will be conducted primarily by lecture, however, class discussion of particular cases is encouraged. In addition to the primary text, I will occasionally provide handouts from time to time of current cases in order to illustrate different aspects of business law being studied. I encourage you to ask questions and participate in class discussions.

Attendance: As noted above, attendance and participation during class hours is expected and counts toward the student’s final grade. Any student missing more than two (2) regularly scheduled classes will begin to have points deducted from his/her cumulative points earned during the course of the semester which could result in the student’s grade being for the course being lowered by one (1) letter grade.

Exams: There will be three (3) exams including the final exam given during the semester. Each exam will cover 4-5 chapters and will include questions derived from the text, lectures, and any additional material that may be distributed during class. The tests will consist of a mixture of true/false, multiple choice, and short answer. These exams will be worth 125 points each. NO MAKE UP EXAMINATIONS are permitted unless you have an actual emergency, e.g., hospitalization, death of an immediate loved-one, etc. The makeup examination (given due to bona fide emergencies only) will be a rigorous essay examination.

Writing Assignments: There will be two (2) writing assignments required. The first writing assignment will require the student to brief an assigned case and be prepared to present the brief during class. The second writing assignment will be a legal analysis of a factual situation provided by the professor. Again, the student must be prepared to present their analysis to the class. Each of the writing assignments will be worth 50 points each.

Grading Scale:

1. All opinions expressed in class are solely those of the Instructor and do not represent the views of St. Gregory’s College.
2. All papers, problems, and exams will be retained by the Instructor. If you want a copy of your paper or problem solutions, make a copy prior to submittal.
3. If you desire early notification of your final grade, you may leave a self-addressed, stamped envelope with me at your final exam.