Frederick Community College LA104 - Contracts Fall 2011
Class begins: 8/22/11	Class ends: 12/10/11	Last Day to Withdraw: 11/2/11

Instructor Information:
Name: Dr. Tracy R. Parker	Office: H229
E-mail: tparker@frederick.edu	Phone Number: 301-624-2819
Contact Hours: Office Hours: Daytime: Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:00-11:00am Weekend/Evening: (by appointment only) Saturdays-before (8:00am) or after class 8/27-10/15; and Wednesdays- (9:15-10:00pm) on 8/24, 9/21, 10/12, 11/2, and 12/7.	Campus Mail Box #: 290

Course Information:
Credits: 3
On-campus Meetings: (There are no required on campus meetings. Optional in-class session may be offered.)	On-campus Exams: (1)
Prerequisites: EN 50A and EN 52 or ESL 95	Corequisites:

Course Description:

This course covers the fundamental principles of contract law; the manner in which contracts are formed; the elements of a valid contract; the rights and obligations of various parties to a contract, as well as the rights of third parties; and available remedies when a contract is breached.

Core Learning Outcomes:

Upon completion of this course students will demonstrate

1. Identify the elements of a valid contract

2. Define the duties and obligations of the parties

3. Describe remedies that are available when contracts are breached and the steps that must be taken to invoke those remedies

4. Utilize a checklist to gather necessary information to prepare a basic contract

5. Draft a basic contract using samples or form books Interpret and analyze basic contracts

Instructional Methods:

Guided Study

Group Discussion

Practical Exercises (Inquiry-Based Assignments)

Lecture (optional in-class sessions as determined by the instructor)

 How is this course organized:

LA104-Contracts online is not a self-paced course. Assignments are posted on Mondays by 5pm. Each assignment week begins on Monday at 5pm and ends the following Monday at 4:30pm. You are responsible for checking Blackboard and your FCC-email regularly (at least a few times a week). If you have questions regarding the organization of the course, you are responsible for contacting the instructor.

Text(s) and Course Materials:

Basic Contract Law for Paralegals, Helewitz, 5^th Ed.

Progress Report:

Students will receive some form of written assessment of their progress in the course no later than the sixth week of a fifteen week semester or one-third of the instructional time for shorter sessions.

You will have an opportunity to evaluate your progress in this course and decide if you need to make any adjustments including but not limited to additional study, tutoring, a conference with instructor or withdrawing from the class.

Evaluation Methods:

Tests / Papers / Projects	Point Value	Final Grade Scale
Mid-term Exam	100 points	A=90-100%
Final Exam	100 points	B=80-89%
Contract	100 points	C=70-79%
		D=60-69%
		F=59% or below

If the graded performance for online assignments differs significantly from the grade average for proctored assignments, the instructor reserves the right to administer additional tests.

Student Services

A variety of services are available to assist students in succeeding at FCC. Students can learn more about these services by visiting the Student Services web page: http://www.frederick.edu/student_services/index.aspx.

Students with disabilities who are in need of accommodations or who have questions related to disabilities services should contact the Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) office at 301-846-2408. Students can learn more about these services by visiting the Services for Students with Disabilities web page: http://www.frederick.edu/student_services/disability.aspx.

Participation Policy:

You are required to login as directed and check the weekly assignment folders. This course requires students’ participation in all learning activities. You are expected to be engaged in all aspects of this course.

All evaluated work is due on the dates specified. A late assignment will be penalized by 50% of the total possible points. You should note that this is better than earning a zero on the assignment. The instructor will allow a make-up exam if the exam is missed due to a serious illness, emergency, religious holiday, or participation in an official college function. A make-up exam must be taken within 7 calendar days. Failure to meet the make-up exam deadline will result in a 0% on the exam.

Email Policy: With the exception of MOL students, all FCC students will receive and are expected to use their FCC email address for correspondence with faculty and staff at the college. Students can establish and access their FCC email accounts at https://myfcc.frederick.edu. Email is an instructional tool essential to student-instructor and student-student communication. In the Blackboard environment by default, your email address is available to all students in this course.

However, students are permitted to use email addresses of other students in this course only for the purpose and the duration of this course.

The instructor can be expected to respond to regular student email inquiries (grades, posted assignments, and tests excluded) within the time frame of 24 to 48 hours.

Academic Integrity: Work in this course is subject to the provisions of the FCC Code of Academic Integrity. Plagiarism in any form will not be tolerated. As a student, it is your job to practice academic honesty at ALL times. Make sure that all sources, particularly Internet sources, get proper credit for quotations, paraphrases, and ideas. More information about this and the Student Conduct Code are available at http://www.frederick.edu/student_services/studentpolicies.aspx

You must send your Academic Integrity Pledge to the instructor. The form is available at http://courses.frederick.edu/_utilities/regform.htm

Topical Outline

Week	SUBJECT	CONTENT
Week 1	General Introduction; Overview of Contracts	Ch. 1: Contract Defined; Basic Requirements; Classification of Contracts
Week 2	Offer	Ch. 2: Defined; Objective Intent; Communication; Definite Terms; Essential Terms; Sample Clauses
Week 3	Acceptance	Ch. 3: Defined; Mirror Image Rule; Silence as Acceptance; Who May Accept; Method of Acceptance; Termination of the Ability to Accept; Sample Clauses
Week 4	Consideration	Ch. 4: Defined; Benefit Conferred; Detriment Incurred; What is not Consideration; Promissory Estoppel; Special Agreements; Sample Clauses
Week 5	Capacity; Legality of Subject Matter	Ch. 5: Defined; Age; Mental Capacity; Alcohol and Drugs; Legality of Subject Matter; Statutes and Public Policy
Week 6	Mid-Term	Mid-Term
Week 7	Defenses to Enforcement	Ch. 6: Contractual Intent defined; Fraud and Misrepresentation; Duress; Mistake
Week 8	Statute of Frauds	Ch. 7: Defined; Applicable Contracts; Writing Requirements; Signature; Parole Evidence Rule
Week 9	Third-Party Contracts	Ch. 9: Assignment; Delegation; Third Party Beneficiary Contracts (Intended and Incidental)
Week 10	Performance and Discharge of Obligations	Ch. 7: Covenants; Conditions; and Ch. 10 Methods of Discharge
Week 11	Uniform Commercial Code	Ch. 8: Overview; Basic Guidelines; Article II, Sales; Article IX, Secured Transactions
Week 12	Remedies	Ch. 11: Compensatory, Punitive, Consequential, Liquidated Damages; Equitable Remedies
Week 13	Document Preparation Generally	Gather information to prepare a basic contract; Review Sample Contracts
Week 14	Draft Contract	Gather information to prepare a basic contract; Review Sample Contracts
Week 15	Final Exam	Final Exam

Last Day to Withdraw from this Course	November 2, 2011
Inclement Weather Meeting Dates- both must be included in the topical outline	December 12-13, 2011

NOTE: All assignments for this course are posted in the weekly Assignment Folders in Blackboard. If you notice a difference between the Blackboard Assignment Folder and the Topical Outline, then you are to follow the Blackboard Assignment Folder. Online courses follow the Academic Calendar for school closing.