Term 1 (September – November)
What is Law? History of Law, Law making, Constitution, Charter of Rights and Freedom, Human Rights (208 marks)
Chapter 1: Law and Society
Chapter 2: Classifying Law
Chapter 3: Government and Statute Law
Chapter 4: Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
Chapter 5: Human Rights
A. Class Discussions and debates are based on current events and your readings. See rubric: Discussion and Debate. 48 marks
B. Individual assignments
- Write an essay in which you explain why you want to study law. Be thoughtful and imaginative. Try to impress me and show me what your interests are and how you go about things. About 300-400 words, typed and double-spaced. 24 marks. See rubric: Essay. Due: end of second week.
- Create a poster that displays your understanding about law and justice and the structure of law. Poster should be 11 by 17 on blank paper and should contain both images and words. Be succinct in your words. Do not clutter your poster but make sure the information on the poster is clear, meaningful and informative so that someone who has no idea about law can instantly grasp what you are trying to show. 24 marks. See rubric: Poster. Due: End of September.
- Choose a section from the Charter of Rights and Freedoms that is of interest to you and discuss this section in as much detail as possible. Make sure you focus on terms and their meaning and give examples that thoroughly illustrate your sense of delimiting these terms. Use the Charter of Rights and Freedoms Digest for reference. This should be between 700 and 1000 words. 24 marks. See rubric: Legal analysis/IRAC. Due: Mid-October.
- Using the Human Rights Reporter, choose a case of interest to you, read it and summarize it. Identify the facts, the issues, the rule, and apply the rule to this case and draw appropriate conclusions. Use this story to draw a series of cartoon frames to illustrate what happened in the story and make suggestions of how people should act in order to avoid problems like this in the future. Use your cartoon to teach the class about the complaint process as it applied to your scenario. 24 marks. See rubric: Legal Analysis/IRAC. Due: Mid-November.
C. Group Assignment: Do the Charter Challenge 24 marks. See rubric: Case Study/ Project. Due: Mid-October.
D. Review: Quizzes, Tests, Individual. See rubric: Evidence of knowledge and define terminology. 40 marks
Term 2 (November – February)
Criminal Law (232 marks)
Chapter 6: The Nature of Crime
Chapter 7: The Criminal Court System
Chapter 8: Investigation and Arrest
Chapter 9: Criminal Offences
Chapter 10: Defences for the Accused
Chapter 11: Sentencing and the Correctional System
Chapter 12: Criminal Law and Young People
A. Class Discussions and debates are based on current events and your readings. See rubric: Discussion and Debate. 48 marks
B. Individual Assignments
1. Pick a criminal offence listed in the Canadian Criminal Code and develop a credible story in which you provide some background leading up to the offence. This story may be imaginary or real, or it may be based on a judicial decision found in the judge’s decision data bank of either the Provincial or Supreme Court of British Columbia. Make sure you provide details that provide a hook for the ensuing police investigation, witness testimony, the laying of charges and the arraignment and trial. This is a substantial assignment and should be done in parts which are handed in to your teacher for discussion and clarification. Your package should also include physical evidence. See rubric Essay/ Poster. 24 marks.
2. Trial description of your scenario in #1. See rubric: Essay/ Poster. 24 marks.
3. IRAC of #1 and #2. See rubric: IRAC. 24 marks
4. Judicial Decision. IRAC. See rubric: IRAC. 24 marks
C. Group Assignment: Choose a criminal-law-related topic and prepare a class presentation in which you use text and visuals to outline an issue and attempt to convince the audience to buy into your point of view. Be prepared to run a class discussion on the subject. For topics, see me. See rubric: Case Study: 24 marks
D. Review: Quizzes, Tests, Individual. See rubric: Evidence of knowledge and define terminology. 40 marks
E. Mock Trial: See rubric: 24 marks
Term 3 (March – May)
Civil Litigation, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Out-of-court settlements, civil wrongs, contracts and breach of contract, family matters (232 marks)
Chapter 13: Understanding Civil Procedures
Chapter 14: Negligence and Torts
Chapter 15: Intentional Torts
Chapter 18: Forming a Contract
Chapter 19: Contract Remedies and Consumer Protection
Chapter 16: Marriage
Chapter 17: Family Matters
- Class Discussions and debates are based on current events and your readings. See rubric: Discussion and Debate. 48 marks
- Individual assignments:
- Choose a court decision and discuss the outcome. See rubric: Essay. 24 marks.
- Find a dispute in tort, contract, or family law and create a poster that identifies the parties, the facts of the dispute, the issue(s) and outlines both analysis and conclusion. See rubric: Essay/ Poster. 24 marks.
- IRAC Study. Pick at least two judicial decisions and break them down into IRAC format. See rubric: IRAC. 48 marks.
- Group Assignment. Create a scenario that leads to litigation using either tort, contract, or family law as your starting point. Provide detailed background, discussion of the issue(s), rules, analysis and conclusion. Present to the class and lead a class discussion on points of discrepancy. Make sure that the work each member has contributed is clearly identified. See rubric: Case Study. 24 marks for the group, 24 marks for the individual.
D. Review: Quizzes, Tests, Individual. See rubric: Evidence of knowledge and define terminology. 40 marks
