Based on the objectives of the course:
- All course materials are available online on this course website. You do not need to buy any additional materials.
- Regular announcements will be made on STUDIP with links to the website or other events of interest in and around the area.
- Each course builds on principals from prior courses. Regular attendance is highly recommended.
- Class participation is also highly recommended.
- In American-style legal education, students learn from one another just as much as they learn from the instructor.
- It is very important that you participate and share your views, your doubts, or your questions.
- Feel free to share comparative ideas relevant to class discussion.
- Feel free to challenge or question ideas, with the aim of developing the topic of discussion.
- Mutual respect, freedom of expression and belief, and gender and racial equality are very important norms in this classroom. It is very important that students feel free to express any sincerely held opinions. It is equally important that students do so while displaying mutual respect, at all levels.
- There will be two to three course surveys. Please try and fill out these surveys so that the instructor can adjust the teaching style and/or content based on your feedback.
- Please do not hesitate to get in touch with the instructor with any questions or comments.
- For detailed information on grading, please visit this page.
- Intellectual understanding and engagement form the essence of this class. Students should be engaged with the broader concepts that the class touches upon.
- By engagement, I mean that students should make an effort to understand the legal concepts and should try to think about how class discussions apply to real-world issues. If you can demonstrate such understanding and engagement through classroom participation, your final exam, and/or your written work, you will do very well.
- Class participation through regular attendance: This will give you 10% extra-credit from the second session onwards. Since the class is rather large, I will ask you to state your name so that I can mark down your participation.
- Ultimately, the extra credit for participation will be distributed on a comparative scale. Students who have been the most active in the development of class discussions will receive the highest number of additional credits.
- Class participation through participation in the American Constitution Society:
- Students can get up to 25% extra credit for participating in the establishment and organization of the student group.
- Students receive a full 25% for joining the board and up to 50% for any outstanding practical work that demonstrates exceptional understanding of the U.S. legal system.
- Students can receive up to 10% extra credit for attending events or meetings. There will be a sign-up sheet at each meeting. Students who sign in, attend and participate in these events will receive extra credit. The percentage of extra-credit depends upon how many events are organized by the student group during the year.
- If, for example, the student group organizes two events, then students will receive an additional 5% credit for attending each event.
Informed Citizens. Accountable Power. 