Course Syllabus
LSO 6512 - Oil and Gas Law
Faculty Contact Information
Course Details
For a list of course activities, scroll to the bottom of this page.
Course Prerequisites
None
Course Materials
Lowe, John. Oil and Gas Law in a Nutshell (7th Edition). (2019). St. Paul, MN: West Academic Publishing. ISBN-13 9781640201156, ISBN-10 1640201157
Grades
Breakdown
| Activity | Description | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Quizzes | Short answer-based quizzes | 34% |
| Discussions | Weekly discussion prompts requiring an initial response and response to a peer. | 9% |
| Essays | Written assignment where students analyze in 500 words or less an issue or issues raised in an essay prompt | 20% |
| Final Exam | Short answer-based exam | 37% |
| Total | 100% |
Scale
| Points | Letter Grade | Percentage of Points |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | A+ | 100%-97.0% |
| 11 | A | 96.99%-93.0% |
| 10 | A- | 92.99%-90% |
| 9 | B+ | 89.99%-83.0% |
| 8 | B | 86.99%-83.0% |
| 7 | B- | 82.99%-80.0% |
| 6 | C+ | 79.99%-77.0% |
| 5 | C | 76.99%-73.0% |
| 4 | C- | 72.99%-70.0% |
| 3 | D+ | 69.99%-67.0% |
| 2 | D | 66.99%-63.0% |
| 1 | D- | 62.99%-60.0% |
| 0 | F | Below 60.0% |
Course Components
Quizzes
The quizzes will contain short answer questions generally acceptable of a single, discrete correct answer. These will be graded on the basis of accuracy and completeness of answer. No partial credit is available for a question; all answers are either correct or incorrect in their entirety unless otherwise specified.
Discussions
Students will be expected to:
- Post a response to a discussion prompt, which will be worth 10 points
- A student’s initial response on a discussion question is expected to consist of 1-2 paragraphs that:
- Make a distinct, identifiable, and meritorious contribution to the discussion
- Is responsive to the prompt and relevant to the material covered in the module,
- Fully explains the student’s reasoning in a cogent, logical, and complete manner,
- Explicitly grounds the response in the material covered in the module.
- A student’s initial response on a discussion question is expected to consist of 1-2 paragraphs that:
- Post a reply or comment to another student’s response, which will be worth 5 points.
- The student’s reply or comment to another student’s response is expected to consist of approximately 1 paragraph that either:
- Provides additional or alternative support to the substance of the response that is grounded in the material covered in the module,
- Or provides a reasoned basis for disagreement with the substance of the response that is grounded in the material covered in the module.
- The student’s reply or comment to another student’s response is expected to consist of approximately 1 paragraph that either:
Note: Replies and comments that are disrespectful or otherwise unprofessional will receive no points.
Essays
For these written assignments, you will be expected to analyze in 500 words or less an issue or issues raised in an essay prompt. Essay responses must be typewritten.
Essays are expected to:
- Be responsive to the prompt,
- Provide a succinct conclusion to the question(s) or issue(s) raised,
- Furnish a recommendation for action if requested,
- Support all conclusions and recommendations with clear, cogent, and logical reasoning,
- Draw on and expressly reference the material covered in the module for support.
Final Exam
The final exam will consist of short answer questions generally acceptable of a single, discrete correct answer. This will be graded on the basis of accuracy and completeness of answer. No partial credit is available for a question; all answers are either correct or incorrect in their entirety unless otherwise specified.
Course Policies
Communication
You are welcome to contact me when need be. I prefer to be reached either via email at schremmer@ou.edu or on my office phone line, 405-325-3823. I will respond with reasonable promptness under the circumstances, depending on the timing and urgency of the request. I am a lawyer and lawyers do not let emails grow stale.
Feedback
I will also provide grading and feedback on assignments with reasonable promptness, generally aiming to do so within one week of your completing an assignment.
Late Policy
Do not turn any assigned work in late. I reserve the right to reduce the grade on any late assignment up to and including rejecting the assignment altogether. As a general matter, I will reduce the grade on a late assignment by 50%, but circumstances might justify a deviation from this general rule.
Plagiarism and Use of Advanced AI
Plagiarism is the most common form of academic misconduct at OU. There is no college-level assignment that can be satisfactorily completed by copying. OU's basic assumption about writing is that all written assignments show the student's own understanding in the student's own words. That means all writing assignments, in class or out, are assumed to be composed entirely of words generated (not simply found) by the student, except where words written by someone else are specifically marked as such with proper citation. Including other people's words in your paper is helpful when you do it honestly and correctly. When you don't, it's plagiarism.
For more information about plagiarism, watch this video and then take this short course offered by University Libraries.
Furthermore, in this course it is impermissible to use ideas or specific language obtained from an advanced AI machine (such as ChatGPT, but not exclusive to ChatGPT) without disclosure of this fact or proper attribution to the machine that generated the words or ideas.
Accordingly, if you use language or ideas generated by any such AI machine, you must:
- attribute the language or idea to the AI machine and
- disclose to me the reason you used the AI machine to generate the language or ideas instead of coming up with them on your own.
University Academic Policies and Student Support
Land Acknowledgement
Long before the University of Oklahoma was established, the land on which the University now resides was the traditional home of the “Hasinais” Caddo Nation and “Kirikirʔi:s” Wichita & Affiliated Tribes.
We acknowledge this territory once also served as a hunting ground, trade exchange point, and migration route for the Apache, Comanche, Kiowa and Osage nations. Today, 39 tribal nations dwell in the state of Oklahoma as a result of settler and colonial policies that were designed to assimilate Native people.
The University of Oklahoma recognizes the historical connection our university has with its indigenous community. We acknowledge, honor and respect the diverse Indigenous peoples connected to this land. We fully recognize, support and advocate for the sovereign rights of all of Oklahoma’s 39 tribal nations. This acknowledgment is aligned with our university’s core value of creating a diverse and inclusive community. It is an institutional responsibility to recognize and acknowledge the people, culture and history that make up our entire OU Community.
Course Catalog
Search the OU Course Catalog.
Student Handbook
Please familiarize yourself with the OU Student Rights and Responsibilities Code.
Student Support Services
OU offers a variety of services to support students. For more information, please refer to the Student Support Module in your Orientation course.
Online Library
Access digital materials and other resources at OU Libraries.
Copyright Statement and Privacy Information
Sessions of this course may be recorded or live-streamed. These recordings are the intellectual property of the individual faculty member and may not be shared or reproduced without the explicit, written consent of the faculty member. In addition, the privacy rights of others such as students, guest lecturers, and providers of copyrighted material displayed in the recording may be of concern. Students may not share any course recordings with individuals not enrolled in the class or upload them to any other online environment.
Academic Integrity
As a member of the OU community, it is your responsibility to protect your educational investment by knowing and following the rules. The Student Code is available from the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs and is contained in the Student's Guide to Academic Integrity.
Academic honesty is incredibly important in this course. Cheating is strictly prohibited at the University of Oklahoma because it devalues the degree you are working hard to get. Should you know of someone else engaging in academic misconduct, please report it to your instructor or directly to the Office of Academic Integrity. Your instructor has a professional obligation to report academic misconduct.
In addition to the course conduct policies outlined by your professor in the Course Syllabus in the online classroom, please review the Graduate Student Handbook.
Religious Observance
It is the policy of the University to excuse the absences of students that result from religious observances and to reschedule examinations and additional required classwork that may fall on religious holidays, without penalty. [See Faculty Handbook 3.15.2].
Reasonable Accommodation for Disabilities
The Accessibility and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) is committed to supporting students with disabilities to ensure that they can enjoy equal access to all components of their education. This includes your academics, housing, and community events. Please review OU's Accessibility Policy.
If you are experiencing a disability or a mental/medical health condition that has a significant impact on one or more life functions, you can receive accommodations to provide equal access. Possible disabilities include but are not limited to learning disabilities, AD(H)D, mental health, and chronic health. Additionally, we support students with temporary medical conditions (broken wrist, shoulder surgery, etc.) and pregnancy.
To discuss potential accommodations, please contact the ADRC at 730 College Avenue, (phone) 405-325-3852, or adrc@ou.edu.
Title IX Resources
For any concerns regarding gender-based discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, stalking, or intimate partner violence, the University offers a variety of resources, including advocates on-call 24/7, counseling services, mutual no-contact orders, scheduling adjustments, and disciplinary sanctions against the perpetrator. To learn more or to report an incident, please contact the Institutional Equity Office (M-F, from 8-5, at 405-325-3546) or OU Advocates (available 24/7 at 405-615-0013).
Adjustments for Pregnancy/Childbirth-Related Issues
Should you need modifications or adjustments to your course requirements because of documented pregnancy-related or childbirth-related issues, please contact your instructor as soon as possible to discuss your options. Generally, modifications will be made where medically necessary and similar in scope to accommodations based on temporary disability. Learn more about the rights of pregnant and parenting students by consulting the FAQ sheets provided by the Institutional Equity Office.
Mental Health Support Services
If you are experiencing any mental health issues that are impacting your academic performance, counseling is available at the University Counseling Center (UCC). The Center is located on the second floor of the Goddard Health Center, at 620 Elm Rm. 201, Norman, OK 73019. To schedule an appointment, call 405-325-2911. For more information, please visit the University Counseling Center.
Final Exam Preparation Period
Pre-finals week will be defined as the seven calendar days before the first day of finals. Faculty may cover new course material throughout this week. For specific provisions of the policy please refer to OU's Final Exam Preparation Period policy.
Required Policies for Students On Campus
Emergency Protocol
During an emergency, there are official university procedures that will maximize your safety.
Severe Weather: If you receive an OU Alert to seek refuge or hear a tornado siren that signals severe weather:
- Look for severe weather refuge location maps located inside most OU buildings near the entrances
- Seek refuge inside a building. Do not leave one building to seek shelter in another building that you deem safer. If outside, get into the nearest building.
- Go to the building’s severe weather refuge location. If you do not know where that is, go to the lowest level possible and seek refuge in the innermost room. Avoid outside doors and windows.
- Get in, Get Down, Cover Up.
- Wait for official notice to resume normal activities.
Additional information about severe weather preparedness is available through the Department of Campus Safety's Emergency Management Division.
OU-Norman Campus: Tornado Refuge Protocol
Severe Weather Preparedness Video
Armed Subject/Campus Intruder
If you receive an OU Alert to shelter-in-place due to an active shooter or armed intruder situation or you hear what you perceive to be gunshots:
- Avoid: If you believe you can get out of the area without encountering the armed individual, move quickly towards the nearest building exit, move away from the building, and call 911.
- Deny: If you cannot flee, move to an area that can be locked or barricaded, turn off lights, silence devices, spread out, and formulate a plan of attack if the shooter enters the room.
- Defend: As a last resort fight to defend yourself. For more information, visit:
OU's Emergency Preparedness site
Shots Fire on Campus Procedure
Fire Alarm/General Emergency
If you receive an OU Alert that there is danger inside or near the building, or the fire alarm inside the building activates:
- Leave the building. Do not use the elevators.
- Know at least two building exits.
- Assist those who may need help.
- Proceed to the emergency assembly area.
- Once safely outside, Notify first responders of anyone who may still be inside the building due to mobility issues.
- Wait for official notice before attempting to re-enter the building.
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|