PARA C101 - Introduction to Paralegal Studies
Dawn J. Ward, J.D. , Professor of Paralegal Studies - Cerro Coso Community College
Welcome
Hello Class,
Welcome everyone! I am Professor Dawn J. Ward. This is your overview of information about the course. Review the video in this section for quick hello from. to see what we will be doing in class this semester and how to navigate around our Canvas course. Once you have finished the video scroll down for more course information.
Remember you must attend the first night of class or you will be dropped. Our first day of class is June 6th. The online course will open for you on June 3rd. You must log into the course before 8:00pm, June 6th or you will be dropped from the course.
You can access Canvas through your "inside" portal or kccd.instructure.com and use your college email and password to enter.
I look forward to getting to know all of you better.
Respectfully,
Professor Ward
How the course works
This is a 8-week course. This is summer session for it is about half the length of a normal semester. You have the same amount of work, but is condensed and at a faster pace.
This class does not meet regularly as a group. Your learning will be conducted asynchronously (which means "not live") in Canvas.
You will learn in a community with your peers. This is not a self-paced course.
You must log into your Canvas courses before 8:00p.m. the first day of class (Tuesday, January 18th) so you are not dropped. You will need to log into each individual course, by clicking on the course name to complete the official check-in to remain enrolled in your course(s) and this course.
This class is organized into one-week modules that begin on Mondays and end on Sunday. All due dates are Thursdays or Sundays except for Final exam week which ends sooner.
Each module contains readings and lecture videos, discussion board, assignments and sometimes a quiz.
Review the video in this section for a further welcome, how to navigate around the course, and what to do when you first log in.
How can you contact me
I can be reached the following ways:
Office Hours: TBD - contact me if you want or need to meet.
Office LRC 724 (2nd floor of the Library)
Phone: 760-384-6236 ( (This is summer term so I will not be in my office on a regular basis. Contact me via email or inbox. Contact me via email or inbox.)
Email: dawn.ward@cerrocoso.edu or Canvas Course Inbox
In course: Ask the Instructor (forum available within the course)
I will respond as soon as possible. I will be in and out of the office on the other days, so if you leave a voice mail it may take time some time to receive and respond. If you do not leave a voice mail, I cannot call you back. Please state your name and course name within any email and/or voicemail (phone number too) especially if you are in more than one course. I will respond to email within 24-48 hours except on the weekend (Friday through Sunday) and holidays. Weekday emails sent after 4:00p.m. may not be seen until the next day. Please be mindful of the time changes as well if you are from out of state.The best and fasted way to reach me is through our Canvas Inbox.
Please email me regarding any personal information or questions. If you have a general question about the class or assignment, feel free to post to the "Ask" forum for me or your fellow classmates forum available in the course.
If you need technical assistance with your course, feel free to email me and I will help as I can. Depending on the problem or what you need help with my assistance may include directing you to Canvas or Cerro Coso IT help desk for further assistance.
Teaching Philosophy
I believe that every person should be given a chance to learn and excel at their dreams. I believe you can achieve those goals through lifelong learning through literacy. You should have the skills to not only read and write, but also comprehend, analyze, and use what you learn. That literacy is not just for schooling, but a whole life process. We never stop learning.
As a teacher, I hope to help you all reach those dreams. It is part of our duties as teachers to help our students achieve their own personal best. Every students is a unique individual with their own talents and we can help them use those talents to achieve their goals. Some students will struggling with their studies and assist them the best way that we can. Other students will breeze through their studies. This is all particular to your own individual self. Everyone learns differently.
You should receive not only my grading rubric but also the proper constructive criticism or praise to let you know why you received the grade you achieved. This is how the I hope to teach you, the students, to learn, grow, and excel at your studies.
My job as a teacher is to not only to give you, the students, the necessary information to pass the course, but to also give you my best everyday so that they can be the best at what they are striving to become. Learning is a lifelong process, we can and should give them the skills to continue learning well beyond their days in the classroom. You should be ready to work and join the workforce by the end of your studies.
Faculty and Student Expectations
What you can expect from me as a student:
1) If you call me or send on email through the college email or Canvas Inbox
Phone Calls and office hours:
Summer 2022 my office hours or on a scheduling basis. Contact me to schedule if you want to meet to discuss any work via ZOOM. I will not be in my office on a regular basis. The best way to contact me will be via Canvas inbox over the summer term. You may leave a phone message, but I will not be checking on a regular basis. If you do not leave a voice mail, I cannot call you back. Please state your name and course name within any email and/or voicemail (phone number too) especially if you are in more than one course. I may also be able to meet before or after class with prior scheduling on some days.
Email or Inbox:
I will respond to email within 24-48 hours except on the weekend (Friday through Sunday) and holidays. Weekday emails sent after 4:00p.m. may not be seen until the next day. Please be mindful of the time changes as well if you are from out of state. Canvas inbox may receive the quickest turn around response within these parameters.
2) Grading
If you ever have questions regarding status or submissions or concerns with where you stand overall, please ask.
Timely Posting of Grades:
I will try to have all assignments graded the week after they are due. Sometime this is not possible and it may take longer. Grading shall be no more that two assignments behind, meaning you could have two assignments that are awaiting grades at one time. I will catch up as soon as possible. You will be given your score and comments within the submission box and annotations on written assignments.
Refer to this link within the Canvas Community to see how to view your graded assignments. I will also post this as a reminder through an upcoming announcement. There are also lots of other helpful student guides within the Canvas Community.
Late Assignments:
No late submissions are allowed for discussion boards, assignments, or exams and quizzes. All assignments must be submitted on time. The court requires you to be on time and so do I, this is good practice for making deadlines. I do however allow exceptions for a verified emergency or prearranged approval work/extra-curricular travel for assignments. You have all week to complete your work so plan accordingly and don't wait until the last minute; check in on Mondays to see what needs to be completed and do a little bit every day.
3) Discussion Boards
Grading:
I will timely grade discussion boards. I will provide detailed feedback on the grades the first two-three weeks of class. After that point, I will only comment regarding the need for deductions.
My posts and replies:
I will also endeavor to reply to half the class each week on a rotating basis to participate in the discussions with you. Even if I am unable to reply, I will still be monitoring the boards and moderating.
Along with what is contained in the syllabus, this is what I expect from you:
1) Contact me
There are multiple points of contact with me. You can call, email, or Canvas Inbox me. You can come in person to office hours or set up a virtual meeting through ConferNowZoom video chat or via phone. If you need help with anything, please contact me. I don't know what is going on unless you tell me. I am willing to work with you as I can to help you succeed, but I also need you to reach out or return contact for that help. I will get back to you as soon as possible. Remember I am not in my office every day to check for messages so email may be best contact outside office hours.
If you need help with accessibility questions or have a contract with the college regarding accessibility, please let me know so that we can work together to ensure a smooth process through the class. Or if you are just struggling with something and think you might need help, please contact me and I would be happy to work with you and get you to the right person for assessment.
2) Assignments
You are expected to submit all assignments, discussion boards, and exams/quizzes on time. This is important to your grade, but also fellow classmates. As mentioned, in the syllabus I do not allow late work except for verified emergency or prearranged work/extracurricular travel.
Here is a helpful Canvas Guide on how to submit your assignments.
3) Discussion Boards
You are expected to promptly post your initial discussion post by every Thursday and reply to two classmates by every Sunday. This is not only important to your grade, but also courteous to fellow classmates. They need someone to "discuss" with and participate with.
Be respectful and courteous to your classmates within the boards. We do not all have the same backgrounds or beliefs and neither will the clients or attorneys you work with, so use these boards as not just "work" but communication skill development. Think about what you would say in person, or if you were texting, or instant messaging. However, proper spelling and grammar is required.
See the "A note about discussion boards" page for more information.
4) Check in every Monday to see what needs to be done.
The modules are open early. I expect you to check in on Monday and see what needs to be accomplished each week. Some weeks are heavier or lighter depending on the subject matter we are covering. Some assignments generally take more time because you are learning several things at once each week. Pace yourself and set a strict schedule to get everything done. "Everything" means everything posted within that week. Acquiring these time management skills now will help you not only with class, but also in your work as a paralegal to meet court and other deadlines.
5) Writing Expectations:
You are expected to submit college level written work. This means proper spelling and grammar applies to everything submitted in class. Everything means all assignments, discussion board posts and replies, written communications, and exams/quizzes. Part of your grade includes spelling/grammar. Use proper spellcheck tools and proof read your work before hitting "submit". Sometimes writing your discussion boards in Word can help catch mistakes as well.
You are learning the material to work as a paralegal and this includes proper written communications. A well written document is a reflection of you, your attention to detail, and your overall level of commitment and competence. Myself and later the attorney, judge, and client will be looking at your work. Start the trend for well written work now.
Active Participation and Attendance Policies
The Cerro Coso Community College Catalog now includes the following statement about participation and attendance. Please read the following insert very carefully, noticing my emphases:
Regular active participation is expected of all students enrolled in the college. Students not actively participating may be dropped from the course: specifically,
A student shall be dropped by the instructor for lack of active participation prior to the census (20%) date and any time up to the 60% date when the student is not actively participating.
A student also shall be dropped by the instructor anytime up to the 60% date when he or she has been absent from or not actively participating in class for the total of two consecutive weeks or fourteen (14) days. Students also may be dropped when non-consecutive absences number the equivalent of two weeks of the course. This means no submitted course work or discussion board participation during this time.
In general, it is the responsibility of the student to be aware of his or her current attendance/participation status. Students who have been absent or not actively participating in a course should notify the instructor of the reason. Notification in no way relieves the students of responsibility for work missed. Students are responsible for officially withdrawing from any course in which they no longer wish to be enrolled. Non-attendance/non-participation does not release the student from this responsibility. The important "drop by" dates are listed below. You can learn how to drop a course by going to the college website.
Remember that it is not enough for students merely to attend/log into the course. You have to actively participate in the class, this means you must engage in the course’s designed learning activities: participate in discussions, submit homework and papers, ask for feedback, etc or you will be dropped. Failure to actively participate for no later than two consecutive weeks or fourteen (14) calendar days will result in your being dropped from the course.
Important Dates for Summer 2022 (please check the online college schedule to confirm the dates below)
Refund Date – June 9, 2022
Last day to drop a full-term class and qualify to request a refund.
Census Date – June 15, 2022
Last day to drop a full-term class without entry on permanent records.
Final Drop Date – July 7, 2022
Last day to drop a full-term class, and a "W" will appear on your transcripts. After this date you will receive an "F" if you do not drop the course before this date and you fail to participate in the course.
It is your responsibility to drop any course you no longer wish to attend and meet any required deadlines. It is not the professor’s responsibility to ensure you are dropped in a timely fashion to meet any deadlines. The professor, me, can drop you before certain dates based upon failure to actively participate, but it is ultimately your responsibility to drop any class you no longer wish to attend.
What will happen on week one?
Week One: Introduction to Litigation and Opening a Client's Case
This course has a bit more work to do on the assignments than some of your other courses. Pay attention to the assignments that are due by the end of the weekly module. Start learning how to maximize your time and setting a plan for completing your assignments along with everything else going on that week. In other words, set a study schedule and stick to it! Remember you will be given more than one assignment at a time when you are working for an attorney, so now is a great time to start managing your projects efficiently to work smarter and not harder.
Below is a how to get prepped for the beginning of class and what we will be covering the first week.
The Textbook:
DeLeo, J. and Walston-Dunham, B. (2020) Introduction to Law. 7th ed. New York: Delmar Cengage Learning. ISBN-10: 1-305-94864-5. ISBN-13: 978-1-305-50874-3.
This is a new textbook for this semester. You need to make sure you have the correct book and edition for class. Check the bookstore for pricing option. The bookstore also price matched. Make sure you order in time for the start of class. You can obtain the book itself of use your Cengage Unlimited subscription to access all materials for all courses using Cengage published materials. Cengage Unlimited offers an e-book and you can contact them about renting a print copy for shipping costs.
By the end of this week, you will be able to:
Distinguish civil litigation from other forms of litigation
Map the structure of the California court system
Outline how cases proceed through the court system
Employ basic factual investigation techniques to gather information for a client's case including documents
Conduct and assist attorneys in conducting client interviews
To successfully complete this module and the first week of class, you will need to:
Log into Canvas before 8:00pm, Monday June 6th so you are not dropped from the course. Log in through your insideCC account or at kccd.instructure.com
Review and read through the Course Information and Orientation Module (CIOM) to learn more about the the class and unlock the next few weekly modules for the course. The CIOM is the located at the top of the module list on the home page or modules page. You must go through the entire CIOM before week one and beyond will unlock for you to access the information contained in those modules.
Post to the discussion forum by 8:00p.m. Tuesday, Monday June 6th and reply to two classmates by Sunday.
Complete the short Orientation Quiz by by 8:00p.m. Tuesday, Monday June 6th
Read the weekly reading assignment (Chapter 1 and 7) and listen to my lecture.
Complete the Chapter One and Two textbook and workbook assignments. Details for the assignments will be provided in the modules.
Helpful links to information at the college
The information here will also be available within the course when it opens. I can provide some help in these areas as well for general help or questions. If I am not sure than I will try to direct you to the right place for help.
Access Programs (this includes CALWorks, Disable Student Programs Services, EOPS, and CARE)
Graduation (when graduating with your A.S. remember to request your Certificate as well you are earned both, be recognized for both)
Military and Veteran's Service Center (for service members and their families)
For anything else, ask and search the college website.
I look forward to seeing you in class!
