Before Week 1 (Due Before January 12th)
Complete this deliverable by visiting the Before We Begin page at ShannonWeb. These deliverables must be completed even if you join the course after the first day of class.
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Review the entire Syllabus, including Review This First, Deliverables, Schedule, calendar, and Course Policies.
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Set up your Teams profile
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Complete the “Introduce Yourself” post in the Teams #introduction channel
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Complete the “Learning Contract” post in the Teams #learning-contract channel
- Review Use of Artificial Intelligence and GenAI policy
- Register for access to OpenAI
- Register for access to Perplexity
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Purchase the required text (see Required Course Text)
Week 1, Class 1
Before Class (Wednesday):
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Review the entire Syllabus, including Review This First, Deliverables, Schedule, calendar, and Course Policies
During Class (Wednesday):
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Introduction to the course
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Review current events
Week 2, Class 2
Before Class (Wednesday):
- Read/Watch the following in sufficient depth that you can participate in an informed discussion, and you can use these sources throughout the course
- Review Use of Artificial Intelligence and GenAI policy
- Register for access to OpenAI
- Register for access to Perplexity
During Class (Wednesday):
- Overview of Generative AI, Prompt Engineering, Ethics, and Use of Generative AI
Deliverable(s):
- Begin development of your Success Plan and Ideas Essay
Week 3, Classes 3 & 4
Before Class:
- Read and prepare the cases and materials in Chapter 1, Law and Legal Reasoning, which establishes a foundation by introducing key terminology and concepts students will use throughout the course. The following objectives are addressed in this chapter: Identify the areas of law that affect business decision-making, identify the sources of American law, describe the common law tradition of the American legal system, compare various schools of legal thought, explain how laws can be classified, identify primary sources of law, and describe methods for researching the law.
- Read and prepare the cases and materials in Chapter 3, Ethics in Business, which examines the relationship between law and ethics. It presents issues in determining businesses’ ethical responsibilities and provides students with a framework for analyzing and making ethical decisions. The following objectives are addressed in this chapter: Explain the relationship between law and ethics, describe various ethical principles and philosophies, identify sources of ethical issues in business decision-making, apply the IDDR framework to make an ethical business decision, and explain how business ethics vary based on geographic location worldwide.
During Class:
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Discuss the cases and materials in Chapter 1, Law and Legal Reasoning, and Chapter 3, Ethics in Business
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Review current events
Deliverable(s):
- Please continue working on your Success Plan and Ideas Essay.
- The W3 Quiz covers the information in Chapters 1 and 3. It will be available in Canvas > Modules > Chapter Quizzes on Friday, January 31st, at 8 a.m. ET and will close on Saturday, February 1st, at 8 a.m. ET.
Weeks 4 & 5, Classes 5, 6, 7, & 8
Before Class:
- Read and prepare the cases and materials in Chapter 2, Business and the Constitution, which introduces students to constitutional law and helps them develop a rudimentary understanding of the government’s right to establish laws, regulations, and rules, when and how government actions can violate citizens’ rights, and what if anything, is unique to businesses. The following objectives are addressed in this chapter: identify the constitutional powers of the government, describe how the Bill of Rights impacts business operations, explain individuals’ rights to due process and equal protection, and identify statutory and constitutional rights to privacy.
- Read and prepare the cases and materials in Chapter 23, Administrative Agencies, which examines the role and powers of administrative agencies. The following objectives are addressed in this chapter: explain the practical significance of administrative agencies, describe the powers held by administrative agencies, describe the process and procedures that administrative agencies must follow to carry out their tasks, explain judicial deference to an agency’s decision, and list ways government agencies can be held publicly accountable.
- Listen to the Civic Stories: Breaking Down the Constitution podcast episodes.
- Listen to the Regulation Nation: Understanding the Administrative State podcast episodes.
- Read and prepare to discuss
- Constitution of the United States of America
- “A Primer on the United States Supreme Court: An Indispensable Party in Creating a Legal Cannon, Hunter, Shannon, and Lozada
- “Constitutional Perspectives in a Regulatory Environment: Reasonable Regulation or Regulation “Gone Amok”?” Hunter and Shannon
- “The “Big Five” Decisions of the United States Supreme Court from June 2022: Ten Days of Consequences for the United States Supreme Court and the American People“, Hunter, Shannon, and Lozada
During Class:
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Discuss the cases and materials in Chapter 2, Business and the Constitution, and Chapter 23, Administrative Agencies
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Review the Constitution of the United States of America
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Review current events
Deliverable(s):
- Success Plan due Sunday Before 9:18p
- The W5 quiz covers the information in Chapters 2 and 23. It will be available on Friday, February 14th, at 8 a.m. ET and will close on Saturday, February 15th, at 8 a.m. ET.
Week 6, Class 9
Before Class:
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Read and prepare the cases and materials in Chapter 4, Courts and Alternative Dispute Resolution, which provides students with the structural framework for the United States Government, including examining the powers given to each branch via the U.S. Constitution. The chapter also covers alternatives to litigation, such as negotiation, mediation, and arbitration. This chapter addresses the following objectives: explain the judiciary’s role in government, describe the basic requirements to bring a lawsuit, identify the differences between state and federal court systems, describe methods of alternative dispute resolution, and compare domestic and international dispute resolution methods.
During Class:
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Discuss the cases and materials in Chapter 4, Courts and Alternative Dispute Resolution
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Review current events
Deliverable(s):
- Ideas Essay due Thursday Before 11:53p
Week 6, Class 10
Before Class:
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Read and prepare the cases and materials in Chapter 12, Formation of Traditional and E-Contracts, introducing students to contract formation, performance, and enforceability terms.
During Class:
- Discuss the cases and materials in Chapter 12, Formation of Traditional and E-Contracts, which introduces students to contract formation, performance, and enforceability terms. The following objectives are addressed in this chapter: understand the fundamental concepts of contract law and explain the agreement process from offer through acceptance and termination, compare electronic contracts with paper contracts, list the requirements for valid consideration, identify who has contractual capacity and when a person may enforce contracts without capacity, identify when a contract is illegal and distinguish between void and voidable, list the types of contracts that require writing, distinguish between assignments and delegations and identify the associated rights and duties.
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Review current events
Deliverable(s):
- Prompt Engineering Exercise Due Saturday Before 8:41p
Week 7, Classes 11 & 12
Before Class:
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Read and prepare the cases and materials in Chapter 13. Contract Performance, Breach, and Remedies explores the various ways contracts are performed and discharged and the remedies that will be available in the event of a breach. The following objectives are addressed in this chapter: determine whether contracts are unenforceable due to lack of voluntary consent, determine whether a contract has been discharged by performance, agreement, or by operation of law, distinguish between the damages for a breach of contract action, compare the various equitable remedies and when they should be used, describe how damages may be limited through contract provisions.
During Class:
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Discuss the cases and materials in Chapter 13. Contract Performance, Breach, and Remedies
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Review current events
Deliverable(s):
- The W7 quiz covers the information in Chapters 12 and 13. It will be available on Friday, February 28th, at 8 a.m. ET and will close on Saturday, March 1st, at 8 a.m. ET.
Week 8, Spring Break | No Classes
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Read and prepare the cases and materials in Chapter 19, Agency Relationships, which introduces the concept of agency, explains how agencies are formed and explores the duties owed by agents and principals to each other. The chapter further reviews liability in an agency relationship for both torts and contracts. Finally, it examines ways in which an agency relationship can be terminated. The following objectives are addressed in this chapter: compare employer-employee and employer–independent contractor relationships; describe how agency relationships can be formed; explain agents’ and principals’ duties, rights, and remedies; distinguish between express, implied, and apparent authority and ratification; describe the liability for contracts formed by agents; compare ways to terminate an agency relationship.
During Class:
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Discuss the cases and materials in Chapter 19, Agency Relationships
- Review current events
Week 10, Classes 15 & 16
Before Class:
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Read and prepare the cases and materials in Chapter 16. Small Businesses and Franchises explores entrepreneurial business forms. First, it examines the benefits and drawbacks of sole proprietorships. Finally, the chapter covers the basic concepts of partnerships and how they are formed and terminated. This chapter addresses the following objectives: describe the general considerations for small businesses, list the advantages and disadvantages of sole proprietorship businesses, and explain the formation and termination of partnerships.
During Class:
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Discuss the cases and materials in Chapter 16. Small Businesses and Franchises
- Review current events
Deliverable(s):
- TID Initial Response due Saturday Before 11p
- The W10 quiz covers the information in Chapters 16 and 19. It will be available on Friday, March 21st, at 8 a.m. ET and will close on Saturday, March 22nd, at 8 a.m. ET.
Week 11, Classes 17 & 18
Before Class:
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Read and prepare the cases and materials in Chapter 17, Limited Liability Business Forms, examines the nature and protections of a limited liability company, compares its management options, discusses its termination process, and distinguishes between the various types of partnerships.
During Class:
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Discuss the cases and materials in Chapter 17, Limited Liability Business Forms
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Review current events
Week 12, Classes 19 & 20
Before Class:
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Read and prepare the cases and materials in Chapter 18, Corporations, which explores the formation of a corporation and the duties of its directors, officers, and shareholders. The following objectives are addressed in this chapter: distinguish between the various types of corporations, describe the process of incorporation and the powers it confers, explain when a court can pierce the corporate veil, describe the role, duties, and liabilities of directors and officers in a corporation, identify the rights, duties, and liabilities of shareholders in a corporation, compare the primary business forms regarding creation and termination processes, management structures, and liability.
During Class:
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Discuss the cases and materials in Chapter 18, Corporations
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Review current events
Deliverable(s):
Week 13, Classes 21 & 22
Before Class:
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Read and prepare the cases and materials in Chapter 20, Employment Law, which explores the numerous statutes and administrative agency regulations governing the workplace. (Note that the distinction made under agency law between employee and independent contractor status is essential here. The employment laws discussed in the text apply only to the employer-employee relationship; they do not apply to independent contractors). The following objectives are addressed in this chapter: define employment at will, describe laws related to wages, hours, and layoffs, list the duties and obligations of employers under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), describe the provisions of the occupational safety and health act (OSHA) and identify the privacy rights of employees.
- Read and prepare to discuss “The Civil Rights Act of 1964: Beyond Race to Employment Discrimination Based on Sex: The ‘Three Letter Word’ That Has Continued to Vex Society and The United States Supreme Court” by Shannon and Hunter.
During Class:
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Discuss the cases and materials in Chapter 20, Employment Law
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Review current events
Week 14, Classes 23 & 24
Before Class:
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Read and prepare the cases and materials in Chapter 21. Employment Discrimination explores concepts related to the employer-employee relationship, especially discriminatory practices. This chapter addresses the following objectives: describe the protections of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, identify laws that protect against discrimination based on age, disability, and military status, list potential defenses to a discrimination claim, and describe the equal protection issues related to affirmative action.
- Read and prepare to discuss
- “A Fresh Look at an Old Problem: Age Discrimination in Employment: Is There a Demographic and Political Trap?” Hunter, Shannon, and Amoroso
- “Employment Discrimination Based on Age: Part II: Applying the ADEA in Employment Scenarios: Discrimination, Idle Chatter, or Something Else?“ Hunter, Shannon, and Amoroso
During Class:
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Discuss the cases and materials in Chapter 21, Employment Discrimination
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Review current events
Week 15, Class 26
Monday: No Class | Easter Monday
Before Class (Wednesday):
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Read and prepare the cases and materials in Chapter 8. Intellectual Property Rights introduces students to intellectual property through patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets. Students will also learn about the federal and international protections provided to various types of intellectual property through statutes and treaties. The following objectives are addressed in this chapter: explain how trademarks protect intellectual property and how infringement is determined; explain how patent law protects intellectual property and determines infringement; explain how copyright law protects intellectual property and determines infringement; describe how trade secrets differ from other types of intellectual property, identify and describe the provisions of the various international agreements related to intellectual property.
During Class (Wednesday):
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Discuss the cases and materials in Chapter 8. Intellectual Property Rights
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Review current events
Deliverable(s):
- The W15 quiz covers the information in Chapters 20 and 21. It will be available on Friday, April 25th, at 8 a.m. ET and will close on Saturday, April 26th, at 8 a.m. ET.
Week 16, Classes 27 & 28
Before Class:
- Conclude our discussion of the cases and materials in Chapter 8. Intellectual Property Rights
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Read and prepare the cases and materials in Chapter 9, Internet Law, Social Media, and Privacy, which explores how intellectual property rights apply online and covers how other types of law (such as contract and constitutional law) relate to online environments. The following objectives are addressed in this chapter: describe the regulations that apply to various torts in an online environment, compare threats to intellectual property infringement online instead of in the physical world, explain how information on social media can be accessed and used during investigations and litigation, describe internet service providers’ role in litigating online defamation, identify other torts that arise from online conduct, analyze when a user has a reasonable expectation of privacy online.
- Read and prepare to discuss
- “Distributor vs. Publisher vs. Provider: That Is The High-Tech Question: But is an Extension of Liability the Answer?” Hunter, Jr., Lozada. and Shannon
- “Post Quon: An Analysis of the Evolution of New Media and the Employment Relationship” Shannon and O’Sullivan-Gavin
During Class:
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Discuss the cases and materials in Chapter 9, Internet Law, Social Media, and Privacy
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Review current events
Deliverable(s):
- Success Assessment due Sunday Before 4:23a
- The W16 quiz covers the information in Chapters 8 and 9. It will be available on Friday, May 2nd, at 8 a.m. ET and will close on Saturday, May 3rd, at 8 a.m. ET.
Week 17, Class 29
Deliverable(s):
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Course Wrap
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Discuss the Final Exam. The final exam will be a writing assignment requiring each student to define, interpret, and analyze a topic or topics related to the course materials. Details TBA