Course Syllabus
HR 5793 - Social Change and the Law
Faculty Contact Information
Course Details
For a list of course activities, scroll to the bottom of this page.
Course Description
The class will learn central issues found when exploring social justice as seen in various areas of law. We will begin with a discussion of the general framework of law and how to research cases but also how to track legislation as it is being formulated. Then we will explore different areas of law where rich examples of human relations and social justice can be seen including but not limited to constitutional law, health law, housing law, criminal law, immigration law, and employment law.
Along the way, we will discuss the intricacies of interactions between the human actors seen in legal arenas including but not limited to: lawyers, judges, petitioners, plaintiffs, respondents, defendants, and government officials. We will also explore the social justice and human relations strategies and techniques most often employed by these human actors in these arenas and analyze their effectiveness by hearing from a variety of guest speaker that have experience in their respective fields.
Course Materials
All the reading materials and vidoes for this course will be available in each module. There will not be a textbook required for this course.
Grades
| Activity | Description | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Introductory Discussion Post | To be completed before class, post and comment on other posts | 15 |
| Participation | Live Session attendance/participation (10 points for each class) | 70 |
| Guest Speaker Questions | Post two questions for each guest speaker (6 at 10 points each) | 60 |
| Academic Integrity Quiz | Understanding expectations in the classroom | 20 |
| Case Brief | Written assignment consisting of briefing a legal case of your choice (5 pts for each component) | 35 |
| Social Change in Media Assignment | Written assignment based upon the documentary film assigned | 100 |
| Midterm Exam | Written assignment that explains a scenario (or multiple) of social change as seen through the lens of a topic of law covered in the first half of the semester | 100 |
| Final Exam | Written assignment based on a scenario of social change as seen through the lens of an area of law covered in the second half of the semester | 100 |
| Total | 500 |
Scale
| Percentage of Points | Letter Grade |
|---|---|
| 90–100% | A |
| 80–89% | B |
| 70–79% | C |
| 60–69% | D |
| Below 60% | F |
Course Components
Introductory Discussion Post
Getting to know each other better will not only make the class more enjoyable, but will also increase participation in our live sessions. Be sure to answer the questions in the discussion post, but also read the posts from your classmates and comment on at least one other post.
Participation in Live Sessions
Active participation includes relevant in-class discussion, Live Session attendance (or making up the session if unable to attend), and respectful relations among your colleagues.
Note: All assigned readings and videos must be completed prior to the class meeting. Class discussion will be based on the reading, and informed participation in discussion is expected. Additional reading material may be assigned in class. Class discussion will be based on the Socratic method, often utilized in a law school setting.
Academic Integrity Quiz
I have often found that students who do not have experience with the standards and expectations of academic integrity at the University of Oklahoma are more likely to make easily avoidable mistakes that can result in grade reductions, failing the entire course, and even reports to the Office of Academic Integrity Programs. To avoid this scenario and to make sure you are clear on the standards of Academic Integrity at this University, all students will be required to complete the Academic Integrity quiz available on Canvas. I also strongly suggest you review the following resources on avoiding plagiarism, as it is the most common type of academic misconduct, both intentional and unintentional at OU:
Case Brief
For this assignment, you will learn how to brief a legal case. You will be taught, in-class, how to brief a case and you will be expected to utilize such teachings in briefing a case on your own. A rubric and further instructions will be provided and discussed in class.
Guest Speakers
We will have 6 guest speakers that will join our class for the last thirty minutes of each class. The speakers’ bios will be posted on the course Canvas page for the week of their visit. Students will review the bios and submit two questions for the upcoming speaker on the Canvas page in a discussion post. These questions must be submitted by 11:59pm on the Sunday before the speaker visits our class or the announced deadline. All discussion posts will be found in the module for that week.
Social Change in Media Assignment
In order to better understand historical and current issues found in human relations through the lens of law, you will watch an instructor-approved documentary or film on your own time, outside of the classroom setting. While major motion picture are permitted, they must be based on a true story. You will be expected to write a 4-5 page paper on your observations of the film as it relates to affecting social change. Please be sure to get instructor approval before watching your documentary! A list of examples can be found here.
Core Portion (5 elements)
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- Select a character portrayed in media (film or documentary) that inspires you and explain why you selected them.
- Explain what motivated your selected character to attempt to affect social change.
- Identify the greatest barriers the character encountered when attempting to achieve the desired change.
- Identify the tools and/or strategies the character used to affect the desired change.
- Summarize the social change that came from this character and their courage to affect change.
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Reflection Portion
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- Having seen the leader in action and conducting the preceding analysis, identify what specific tools or strategies utilized by your identified character that you plan to utilize along your own social change journey.
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Grading Rubric and Format for the Social Change in Media assignment, Midterm, and Final:
Format for all written assignments:
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- Title Page - Name and Assignment only
- 12 pt Times New Roman
- Double-Spaced
- 1-in margins
- 4 to 5 pages in length
- APA citation - Guidance can be found here.
- Submitted in the .doc or .docx format on the Canvas page.
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Grading Rubric for the Social Change in Media Assignment
|
|
Format |
Core |
Reflection |
Clarity of Writing |
|
100% (Exemplary) |
Fulfills all requirements set forward for assignment. |
Addresses all topics set forward for assignment. |
The reflection is thorough, insightful, and connected to the identified character. |
Writing is clear, concise, and free of typographical errors. |
|
75% (Proficient) |
1-2 element of the format guide is not met. |
1-2 elements set forward are not addressed. |
The reflection is identifiable, but lacks clear descriptions and connections to your personal journey. |
One area of assignment lacks clarity and/or absences of typographical errors. |
|
50% (Developing) |
More than two element of the format guide is not met. |
More than two elements set forward are not addressed. |
Tools and/or strategies are identified, but no connection to the personal journey is made. |
More than one area of assignment lacks clarity and/or absences of typographical errors. |
|
0% (Support Needed) |
Format guidelines were disregarded. |
No assignment is submitted. |
No reflection is submitted. |
Assignment needs vast revision. |
Midterm Exam
For this assignment, you will prepare a 6-page paper in APA format that explains a scenario (or multiple scenarios) of social change as seen through the lens of a topic of law (or multiple topics of law) covered in this class up to the point in time of the midterm exam.
Final Exam
Students will repeat the process of the midterm exam but will write a 6-page paper based on a scenario (or multiple scenarios) of social change as seen through the lens of an area of law (or multiple areas of law) covered in the second half of the semester, covered after the midterm exam. All requirements of the paper will remain the same as the midterm exam.
RUBRIC FOR MIDTERM AND FINAL COMING SOON
Course Policies
Communication
If you need to contact me, please e-mail me directly at breea@ou.edu. Canvas messaging is unreliable, please only use OU email for communication with me. I will do my best to respond within 24 hours, 48 hours max. Please note that work-life balance is very important to me, and I make an effort to avoid checking e-mail on the weekends if at all possible.
How will we address each other? My pronouns are she/her/hers. In terms of titles, perhaps I am old school in this thinking but unless we've gotten our nails done together or you've had dinner at my home, calling me by first name is inappropriate. I am fortunate to have many titles for you to choose from, but Ms. Clark works just fine. If you go by a name other than the one listed in Canvas, please tell me how you prefer to be addressed. Additionally, if I mispronounce your name, do not hesitate to correct me. Respecting another's preferred pronouns, titles, and pronunciations is an easy way to show respect to your colleagues and is something I take very seriously.
Feedback
You can expect feedback and grades on all activities and assignments within one week of the due date of the activity or assignment.
Late Policy
All graded assignments must be completed by the assigned due date. Any extensions of assignment due dates due to university-excused absences or for personal reasons (sickness, family emergency, etc.) must be arranged prior to the assigned due date.
To reward those that have actually read this syllabus and all of its policies, if you send me an email by 11:59pm on Monday, May 13th and tell me a changemaker or activist you admire and why, I will give you 5 extra credit points.
Plagiarism
You will find the standard statement on plagiarism and academic integrity below. At this point in your educational career, I am confident you have read both many times, and I am sure you are aware that these incredibly important rules and guidelines are in place to protect the value of your investment in your education as well as to safeguard the integrity of your degree. What you may not be aware of is the fact that I started my career at the University of Oklahoma helping to build what you know to be the Office of Academic Integrity Programs. While academic integrity is something we should all be passionate about, it is something that has literally defined my professional career. I cannot urge you enough to take your responsibility of knowing the rules seriously, because I can assure you that I do. Don't insult me by cheating. Don't disrespect yourself and your colleagues by cheating. If you have questions about something, ask before you submit your work. I am always happy to help clarify these rules, but "act now and ask for forgiveness later" is not a philosophy I abide by in my classroom.
Plagiarism is the most common form of academic misconduct at OU. There is basically 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.
University Academic Policies and Student Support
Access the University Academic Policies Document.
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|