Syllabus
LONE STAR COLLEGE - MONTGOMERY
Course Title
BUSINESS LAW I
Course Number
2301-41002
Course
Description
3 CREDITS (2 HRS. LEC.) PRINCIPLES OF LAW WHICH FOR THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR
BUSINESS ACTIVITY. INCLUDES APPLICABLE STATUTES, TORTS, CONTRACTS, PERSONAL AND
REAL PROPERTY, WILLS AND TRUSTS AND CONSUMER LAW. (2201015124) PREREQUISITES:
ENGL 0305 OR ENGL 0326 AND, OR HIGHER LEVEL COURSE (ENGL 1301), OR PLACEMENT BY
TESTING.
Credit Hours
3 Credit Hours
Prerequisites
NONE
Semester and
Year
Spring 2009
Instructor
Information:
WILLIAM A. PRESTON, JR., J.D.
Dean and/or
Department chair
contact
information
REBECCA GUSTAMANTE
Spring 2009
936-537-3865 (CELL)
Dean of Instruction
936 – 273 – 7321
Building F, Room 339
Office Hours
8:30 AM UNTIL 9:50 AM, Tu./Thur.
There are several options for contacting me. I will reply to you within ONE BUSINESS DAY.
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Course Discussion Area – DURING CLASS OR OFFICE HOURS. (10:00 UNTIL 11:00, AM
Tu./Thur. For any general questions regarding the coursework.
Course Email – For any confidential matters, such as your grades.
Course Chat – Times will be arranged based on student input.
Instructor Phone Number– 936-537-3865 (CELL). This is my daytime phone number. I
can usually be reached there AT ANY TIME or you can leave a voicemail.
email: instructor@lonestar.edu – For emergency situations where you cannot contact
me via the course discussion area or the course email.
Learning
Outcomes
In completing this course, you will be introduced to:
 The history of American law and jurisprudence;
 Fundamental legal terms and concepts;
 Court procedure and Alternative Disputes Resolution;
 Tort law;
 Product liability;
 Agency and Employment:
 Business Organizations:
 Real and personal property;
 Insurance;
 Professional Liability;
 Ethics;
In completing the course you will develop the skill to:
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Spring 2009
Identify: Issues and law;
Make: application of law to facts;
Reach: conclusion as to outcome;
Anticipate legal problems.
Required
Materials

Clarkson, Miller, Jentz, and Cross, West’s Business Law (11th Edition).
Evaluation
ATTENDANCE EXPECTATIONS
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Because this course emphasizes the development of critical thinking skills, participation in
the class discussions and activities is crucial.
THE INSTRUCTOR WILL NOT DROP A STUDENT from the class for absences. THE STUDENT
IS RESPONSABLE for formally withdrawing should they choose to drop the class. A
student who does not complete the course but fails to drop the class by the withdrawal
date (April 6, 2009) will receive a grade of Zero (0) on all uncompleted exams and Zero (0)
credits for all uncompleted class assignments. Their final grade will then be computed
under the formula set out in EVALUATION (STUDENT GRADE) (infra), and SPRING 2008
CREDIT SCHEDULE, pg. 12.
Exams are based on the material covered in class as well as the assigned reading material.
Therefore attendance, attention, class participation, taking notes, and personal study are
crucial to your success.
EVALUATION (STUDENT GRADE)

The student's grade for the semester is based on the written examinations and class
participation. (See 2. and 3. [infra]).

1.
Class Attendance
Class attendance is crucial. Students who are chronically tardy and/of absent are generally
unable to grasp the material and do poorly on exams. However, class attendance will NOT be
used to lower your numerical grade.
2.
EXAMINATIONS:
1) There will be three examinations.
2) Exams will be prepared by the instructor and
given in the classroom during
scheduled class time. Test elements include definitions; fill in the blank(s), multiple
choice, true/false and essay type questions. Essay questions will be given a higher
numerical value toward the exam grade. The point value of the exam questions will
be noted on the exam. Ninety percent of the average of the three test scores, plus
the points earned on your case presentations (written and oral), [see CLASS
PARTICIPATION, #3, below], will constitute your final course grade. Missed exams
that are not promptly made up will receive a grade of Zero (0).
Spring 2009
3. CLASS PARTICIPATION:
3) Oral presentations with the written briefs of assigned cases will account for 10
percent of your final grade. Each oral presentation and brief will have a numerical
value of 10 points. The average of all the case presentation scores (The total of all
case presentation scores divided by the number of assigned case presentations) will
account for 10 percent of your final grade. Each assigned presentation NOT prepared
and given when due will receive “0” points. For example, if you are assigned 10 case
presentations during the term and you fail to present two of these assignments, your
class participation points would be 8 (8 presented cases x 10 =80 divided by 10 =8). If
90% of the average of your written exams is 73 your final grade will be 73 + 8 = 81.
Assignments
FINAL GRADE
T The final course grade will be based on 90% of the average of the three test scores plus
popoints earned by case presentations. All exams are from memory. No outside materials,
bobooks, notes, or other reference materials) may be used.
UNIT I
Chapters 1 – 5. Legal Environment of Business and Ethics.
Chapters 6 – 7. Torts.
Chapter 23 (Unit 4 – 6, Pages 468 – 476)
Chapter 8. Intellectual Property.
Chapter 51. Professional Liability and Accountability.
UNIT II
Chapters 10 – 18. Contracts.
Chapters 31 – 32. Agency
Chapter 33. Employment and Labor.
Chapter 34. Employment Discrimination
Spring 2009
UNIT III
Chapters 35 – 41. Business Forms.
Chapter 47. Personal Property. (Pages 940 – 951).
Chapter 48. Real Property and Landlord – Tenant Relationships
Chapter 49. Insurance.
Final letter grades will be assigned in the following manner:
Letter Grade
Assignment
Classroom
Behavior
90 - 100 (A)
80 - 89 (B)
70 - 79 (C)
60 - 69 (D)
59 and below (F)
WITH REGARD TO CLASS DECORUM, any student engaging in conduct that disturbs the
class will, after the second such incident, be dropped from the class. Disruptive conduct is
any non-subject matter conduct that requires the instructor to interrupt the class to correct.
Such conduct is distracting to all students and interferes with their ability to concentrate.
The Lone Star College Catalog [Student Conduct, Section 562.01d] states, “Disruptive activity
that hinders other students’ learning or deters an instructor from effective teaching will not be
tolerated under any circumstances.”
Withdrawal
Policy
See Spring 2009 Credit Schedule, Refunding Information, page 12.
Syllabus Change
While every attempt has been made to prepare this syllabus and class schedule in final form,
it will be the instructor's prerogative to make any changes as may be deemed necessary in
order to meet the learning outcomes of the course. Students will be notified in writing of any
change.
Certificate/Degree
Plan
Degree plans for programs offered at LSC - M0NTGOMERY can be located in the Lone Star
College catalog or on the LSC - MOMTGOMERY web site at:
http://www.myrecords.lonestar.edu/
Academic
Lone Star College Academic Integrity Policy: The Fall 2008 CREDIT SCHEDULE, at page 5
Spring 2009
Integrity
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY, STATES: “The district upholds the core values of learning honesty,
respect, fairness, and accountability. We promote the importance of personal and academic
honesty. We embrace the belief that all learners – students, faculty, staff, and administrators
– will act with integrity and honesty and must produce their own work and give appropriate
credit to the work of others. No fabrication of sources, cheating, or unauthorized
collaboration is permitted on any work submitted within the district.
Consequences for academic dishonesty to be determined by the professor, or the professor
and the academic dean, or the professor and chief student services officer may include but
are not limited to:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Having additional class requirements imposed.
Receiving a grade of zero or “F” for and exam or assignment.
Receiving a grade of “F” for the course.
Being withdrawn from the course or program.
Being expelled from the college.
Software Piracy:
Law strictly prohibits unauthorized copying of software purchased by LSC - MONTGOMERY
for use in laboratories. LSC - MONTGOMERY administration will take appropriate disciplinary
action against anyone violating copyright laws.
Computer Virus
Protection:
Computer viruses are, unfortunately, a fact of life. Using the diskettes on more than one
computer creates the possibility of infecting computers and diskettes with a computer virus.
This exposes the computers of the campus, your personal computer, and any others you may
be using to potentially damaging viruses. The campus has aggressive anti-virus procedures in
place to protect its computers, but cannot guarantee that a virus might not temporarily infect
one of its machines. It is your responsibility to protect all computers under your control and use
and ensure that each diskette you use, whenever or wherever you use it, has been scanned
with anti-virus software. Since new viruses arise continually, your anti-virus software must be
kept current. And, since no anti-virus software will find every virus, keeping copies of data
(backups) is extremely important.
Equal Opportunity
Statement:
See Lone Star College catalog or go to http://www.lonestar.edu
Spring 2009
ADA Statement
See Lone Star College catalog or go to http://www.lonestar.edu
Advising
For additional assistance or more information on degree plans or future courses that LSC MONTGOMERY may offer, please contact one of the following:
Course Schedule
SEMESTER DROP DATE, the semester drop date is, April 6, 2009. This is the last day
you may drop and receive a “W” for the course.
FINAL EXAM will be given the week of May 5, 2009 from 8:00 AM to 9:50 AM. The exam
will be given in Building . Room
, the regular classroom. The final exam will cover only
the material covered in unit three.
HOLIDAYS:
January 19, 2009, M.L. King holiday.
February 19, 2009, College system conference day.
March 12-15, Mid-semester break.
April 10-12, Spring holiday.
Spring 2009