Summary of Events:
Assignment Assigned Due Date Word Limit
1. Case Summary Thurs 17 Aug Sat 19 Aug 11:59 p.m. 500 words
Week 1 Week 1
(1/2 week) Electronic Submission
2. Closed Thurs 24 Aug Sat 2 Sept 11:59 p.m. 1,000 words
Memorandum I Week 2 Week 3
Electronic Submission
(1 ½ weeks)
3. Closed Mon 11 Sept Sat 23 Sept 11:59 p.m. 1,000 words
Memorandum II Week 5 Week 6
Electronic Submission
(2 weeks)
Week 7 - Tort Mid-Semester Test*
4. Library Research Mon 9 Oct Thurs 19 Oct 10:00 a.m. N/a
Questions Week 8 Week 9
(1 ½ weeks) Student Counter
5. Tort Mid-Semester TBA TBA N/a
Test*
6. Research Memo Week of Mon 9 Oct
& Binder Week 8
--Group Research Presentations Mon 6 Nov N/a
(4 weeks) Week 12
--Research Memorandum, Soft Copy Sat 11 Nov 11:59 p.m. 2,000
(5 weeks) Week 12
Electronic Submission
--Research Binders Mon 13 Nov 9:00 a.m. 2,000
(5 weeks) Week 13 (Research Student Counter Memo; no word limit
Mark all Binders with LAWR TG # on Binder)
*Hand your Tort Mid-Semester Test to your LAWR tutor for additional feedback as soon as you have reviewed the marked copy from your Torts tutor.
Method of assessment and grades:
Grades for LAWR are based solely on continuous assessment; there is no final examination. Grades for Semester 1 of LAWR are calculated as follows:
Closed Memorandum I 10 %
Closed Memorandum II 25 %
Oral Presentation 15 %
Research Memorandum & Binder 25 %
Class Participation 25 %
Class Participation:
Class participation is essential in order to understand and acquire the skills taught in LAWR, and this is reflected in the grade percentage breakdown. In LAWR, class participation means quite a bit more than just showing up for class. Students are expected to participate actively in class by doing the assigned reading and other preparation, volunteering answers to matters of discussion, and asking questions that add to class discussion. The class participation grade is based on a student’s in-class performance as well as several LAWR assignments that do not appear separately above.
Some things to note regarding written assignments:
1. Word Limits:
All papers must comply with the word limit by stating the paper’s actual word count on the paper and by not going over the word limit. Word limits are necessary in order to learn to write concisely, and they are taken very seriously in order to evaluate all students fairly. Instructors have the discretion to down grade papers that either do not contain a word count or that go over the word limit by one or more words. Instructors may also hand back the paper or treat it as late, with attendant deductions for every day the paper continues to be late. Check with your instructor to determine what the instructor’s particular policy is regarding word limits.
Please put the final word count on the top right hand corner of your first page. Other formatting requirements may be added so be sure to check with your instructor.
Please note that although students will need to edit most papers carefully to come within the word limit, no student is required to write up to the word limit. The actual word count of any paper depends on the issues raised and the material covered. Good papers are succinct. Start to develop judgment in this area.
2. Due Dates:
Most written assignments this semester are due via electronic filing NLT the relevant Saturday at 11:59 p.m. Electronic filing can be done either by uploading your assignment to the appropriate IVLE site or via an email attachment to your instructor, so check with your instructor to make sure you have complied with the instructor’s particular preferences and directions. You may of course turn in your assignment prior to the due date. Keep in mind that a hard copy assignment turned into the Student Counter on Monday, unaccompanied by a timely electronic filing on the due date, will be considered late, and that some instructors will not accept hard copies at all. Some assignments, however—the assignments incorporating hard copy documents—may be due at a different time or place. Check your syllabus and assignment instructions carefully to make sure that you submit an assignment on time and in the correct way. It will be very frustrating to work hard on an assignment and have it down graded because it is late. Late papers will be down graded ½ grade for every day they are late after the time and date deadline, e.g., from B to B-.
Follow your instructor’s directions about where to place identifying information such as your name or matriculation number, TG number and contact number. Format your papers in Microsoft Word. No footnotes are allowed; all case citations and other references should be incorporated into the main text (check Carswell for details). Please use at least 12-point character size and double-space the lines of text. Leave large enough margins so that your instructor has room to make comments.
If you believe you require an extension, check with the personnel in the administrative office of the Law School for the appropriate form. You will need to fill out the form, explain and document your reasons, and submit it with the relevant supporting documentation to the Course Convenor via the Student Counter. Individual instructors do not grant extensions.