DEPARTMENT: Technology
COURSE NUMBER: 685
COURSE TITLE: Criminal, Business, Finance & Law
Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks Strands Met:
ENGLISH: ORAL PRESENTATIONS
SOCIAL STUDIES: ECONOMICS / US GOVERNMENT
E.6.5 Compare and contrast credit, savings, and investment services available to the consumer
from financial institutions.
E.6.7 Formulate a credit plan for purchasing a major item such as a car or home, comparing different interest rates.
USG.1.5 Explain how the rule of law, embodied in a constitution, limits government to protect the rights of individuals.
USG.1.6 Explain how a constitutional democracy provides majority rule with equal protection for the rights of individuals, including those in the minority, through limited government and the rule of law.
USG.3.4 Explain the functions of the courts of law in the governments of the United States and the state of Massachusetts with emphasis on the principles of judicial review and an independent judiciary.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course provides students with an introduction to business law, personal law, and finance. With this knowledge, students are equipped with 21st Century skills in each of these areas to apply to college and the workplace. The concepts of business and personal ethics and decision making are covered in relation to crimes and our court system. Case studies based on actual crimes are used to convey elements of law and trial procedures.
METHODS USED: This course is designed to allow students to be full participants in the learning process. It addresses all types of learning styles and emphasizes the concepts of peer editing, presentation skills, and collaborative learning. Group activities, projects, and chapter tests are given to assess student’s skills. A textbook is supplied as a reference and curriculum integrated projects and online websites are assigned to relate the usefulness of the course to other disciplines within the curriculum.
MULTIMEDIA RESOURCES: Clips from YouTube, TeacherTube, HistoryChannel, PBS Online, Frontline, People’s Court Case Videos are used for real time, current events.
MATERIALS: There is a textbook, student workbook, and handouts associated with this course. In addition, students will use the Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Power Point programs to display financial data and present business and law information to the class.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS: Students are expected to complete all class projects and assignments on a timely basis. There will be homework assignments, case studies, presentations, projects, discussions, quizzes and tests. Taking notes is required.
EVALUATION AND GRADING: Evaluation is based on projects, assignments, class participation, presentations, tests, and homework completed.
INSTRUCTIONAL OBJECTIVES: Upon completion of this course, students will:
· Develop a sense of how to peer review and edit in a group setting
· Enhance their presentation skills by demonstrating their projects
· Develop collaborative learning skills
· Explain the concept of ethics and how it relates to morals and laws
· Analyze the nature of a crime and how crimes affect society
· Learn about everyday personal finances
· Understand what contracts mean in business and personal life
COMPUTERIZED FINANCE AND LAW SYLLABUS
SEMESTER I
I. Overview
a. Class expectations / Justice Journal for note taking
b. Course description
II. Ethics and Laws (Chapter 1)
a. Defining ethics: how are ethical decisions made?
b. Sources of law: how ethics and law differ
c. Importance of law
d. Relationship between ethics and law
e. Primary sources of American law
Objective: Students will be able to identify ethics and its relationship to laws in society
Assessment: Various projects, workbook tasks, class activities, and chapter test
III. The Court System (Chapter 2)
a. Dual Courts: structure of federal and state courts
b. Trial Procedures
c. Juvenile offenders and how they are treated in court
d. Steps of civil and criminal lawsuits
e. Rights of an individual
Objective: Students will understand the American court system, trial procedures, civil vs. criminal trials, and individual’s rights in society.
IV. Criminal Law (Chapter 3)
a. What is a crime?
b. Particular types of crimes
c. Elements of a crime
d. Common defenses to crimes
e. Crimes against people vs. property
f. Current events / history and analysis of famous trials and crimes
g. The death penalty controversy
Objective: Students will be able to identify the elements of a crime, types of crimes, and what are the types of punishments for crimes committed.
V. The Law of Torts (Chapter 4)
a. Intentional torts
b. Negligence and strict liability
Objective: Students will be able to identify crimes of tort with negligence and strict liability.
VI. Contracts (Chapter 5)
a. Six elements required for a contract
b. When and how a contract comes into existence
c. Offer and acceptance
d. How an offer can be ended
Objective: Students will understand how to create a valid contract, what elements to look for, and what offer and acceptance means. They will also know how to end a contract.
VII. Genuine Agreement (Chapter 6)
a. Fraud and misrepresentation
b. Mistake, duress, and influence
c. Difference between unilateral and bilateral mistakes
d. Difference between duress and undue influence
e. Difference between misrepresentation and fraud
Objective: Students will understand how fraud, undue influence, and misrepresentation affect contract agreements.
MIDTERM: Alternative Assessment – Test given on chapters 1-6 approximately 40-50 minutes. Power Point Presentations on a given topic is assigned two weeks prior to exam. Students must present their slide show to the class.
SEMESTER II
VIII. Owning a Vehicle (Chapter 16)
a. Acquiring
b. Types of laws pertaining to cars
c. Buy or lease?
d. Precautions to take when buying or leasing a car
e. Motor vehicle Insurance
f. How to finance a car
Objective: Students will understand how to acquire a car, financing, and laws pertaining to each.
IX. Borrowing Money and Buying on Credit (Chapter 22)
a. What is Credit?
b. Credit Protection
c. How to borrow money
d. Federal laws affecting credit
e. Managing your Debts
Objective: Students will understand the pros and cons of credit cards, bad credit and how to manage debts.
X. Marriage (Chapter 31)
a. Formalities: rights and duties in a marriage contract
b. Purpose of a premarital agreement
c. Laws: difference between common law marriage and ceremonial
d. Prohibited marriages by law
Objectives: Students will understand marriage laws and contracts.
XI. Ending a Marriage (Chapter 32)
a. Ending as marriage
b. Divorce settlement
c. Divorce vs. annulment
d. Grounds for a divorce
e. Property distribution
f. Child custody issues
Objectives: Students will understand how to end a marriage and settlement issues.
FINAL EXAM