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We will rely on this course outline, e-mail, the online classroom, and other web-based tools to complete this course. All course content can be accessed from within the cjcampus classroom.

At the completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1. Define terminology common to the judicial system.
2. Define and explain the concept of political jurisprudence.
3. Describe the forces that affect the U.S. judicial system.
4. Describe the various roles of jurors, judges, and other judicial decisionmakers.
5. Define the range of extra-legal factors active in the judicial process.

Neubauer, D. and Meinhold, S. (2007). Judicial Process: Law, Courts, and Politics in the United States. Wadsworth Publishing.

• Textbook Companion Site

Other readings as assigned.

This class will participate in the design of the "Online Encyclopedia of Criminal Justice." This assignment is completed in several steps, including individual and group efforts, with related assignments due throughout the term. Each student is expected to substantially revise one essay included in the encyclopedia. Plagiarism rules apply. These articles must be written in a formal style, similar to that used in research papers, including citations (in APA format) and links to related online material. More information will provided in class and at the cjencyclopedia site. This is a group assignments and you will be graded for your paper as well as your efforts to help others improve their submissions.

At the end of the course, the sum of your journal entries, essay exams, and cjencyclopedia entry should document your thoughts about "Judicial Decisionmaking" and related issues covered in this course. A "portfolio" assignments is posted in the "exam week" section of the online classroom. Use this space to enter your final thoughts about this course. These comments, in addition to journal entries, essay exams, your cjencyclopedia entry, and other written assignments completed throughout the semester provide documentation regarding your thoughts about the issues covered in this course. I will review all journals and other submissions and enter a portfolio grade in this area.

Don't assume that the portfolio grade will be the same as you are used to earning on your journals, or an average of previous scores. Some of you will have barely met minimum requirements, while others have exceeded these requirements with each assignment. This effort is rewarded, or not, as I enter grades for your final portfolios.

Participation and Engagement (-10%)

This course will be better if you talk more and I talk less. I prefer not to dominate online discussions, so each of you will need to remain active throughout the course. You all have interesting ideas and viewpoints and we learn more by sharing and trying to understand various views. You are expected to be active in the online classroom at least 3 days per week. This will require a bit more self discipline than some of you are used to, so plan accordingly.

Note that this criteria includes participation and engagement. While we may be able to assess participation through a simple count of discussion posts, we are also interested in active engagement throughout the course. Engagement is demonstrated by remaining active each week, submitting assignments on time, joining discussions at the beginning of each week, and helping each other create a vibrant learning environment.

Notice that the score for this item is a negative. A certain level of participation is assumed. That level of participation is expected and not included in the grade. Those that fail to reach that level will lose points.

Deadlines are not suggestions. All written material will rapidly lose points in the days following the due date. Zero points will be awarded for missed assignments.

ADA

Any student with a documented disability needing academic adjustments is requested to speak directly to Disability Support Services and the instructor, as early in the semester (preferably within the first week) as possible. All discussions will remain confidential. Please contact Disability Support Services, DF Lowry Building, 910-521-6695. Please see http://www.uncp.edu/dss/ for more information.

Class withdrawal is your responsibility. If you disappear, we will wonder where you are. However, we will not drop you from the class. Withdrawals should follow University procedure. The student is responsible for obtaining all necessary signatures on drop slips.

A very high price can be paid when you are caught cheating. Too high to risk. All written material must be your own composition. Appropriate credit must be given for sources used in developing your ideas and arguments. Provide appropriate citations. It is easy to see when large sections of text have been lifted from other Web pages. This is quite easy to verify as well.

It is not appropriate to submit work that was originally completed for another course.

NOTE: The penalties for engaging in any of these acts of academic misconduct will be determined on a case-by-case basis, but will follow general university guidelines as to severity.

Classroom climate is not solely the Professor's responsibility. We encourage each of you to engage in conversation on any issue. The University is a place for free speech, limited through individual choice. These choices may be altered with awareness of the real or potential reaction of others. However, you should not be intimidated into keeping quiet. We do not condone racist, sexist, homophobic, or other hateful speech. You are all adults, capable of understanding generally accepted rules of conduct and modifying your behavior in an effort to comply with these social or legal expectations. You are responsible for your behavior.

If grades are made available online, be advised that if there is any error the grade you receive from the registrar is your official grade. Grade changes will be made only in cases of data or computation error. Please do not ask, beg, or otherwise attempt to change a properly computed grade.

This course outline is intended to define much of what will happen throughout this course. Changes are possible. Any changes will be clearly presented to the class and will often include class discussion. Changes will apply to all students enrolled in this course, without regard to whether they were involved in the discussion.