Research & Writing I

1. Welcome! Research & Writing I PAR 111 - Introduction Mike Brigner, J.D.

2. Why Are We Here? • Unsolicited comment from a recent Sinclair Paralegal Program graduate: “I have now graduated, and also got married this past June. I also am working for Attorney ____ as a Paralegal. I must admit that the job is more fascinating than I could have ever imagined.”

3. Advice from Your Classmates • I would advise students who take this course in the future that: • Pay close attention to use of the library • Sometimes it gets hectic in the LRC with everyone wanting the same books • Be ready; take your time!

4. Advice from Your Classmates • Allow plenty of time for each activity and the exam • Do not put off assignments • Continually work on projects; don’t wait till the last day to work on it • You do a lot of research that is very beneficial in learning legal resources

5. Lexis ID Number URGENT! • By the end of first week of class • If you do not already have a Lexis ID# for this school year (through next August 31) • You must go to Sinclair Tartan Bookstore to purchase ID ($44) • Lexis ID is mandatory If no Lexis ID, you will be administratively withdrawn from all LAP classes

6. Your Professor for This Course • Mike Brigner • Teaching at SCC since late ’70’s • Former News Reporter, Judge • National Domestic Violence Consultant & Trainer • Author of 100+ Legal Articles • Would Rather be on a Bicycle

7. Reaching Me • Office: Room 5348 • PAR Office: 5141 • Mailbox: 5141 (NOT under door of office!) • ADVICE: Appointment is recommended, usually in CIL instead of office

8. Reaching Me • Voice Mail: 512-2950 (leave date & time!) • Discussion Board • E-mail through My.Sinclair • ADVICE: E-mail is recommended over phone call

9. Read Your Syllabus • Contact Info • Key Dates • Websites, & Other Resources • Grading & Expectations • Class Procedures & Policies • Course Outline • All Assignments & Due Dates

10. More Syllabus • Text • Other Resources • Website Resources • Grading • Quizzes • Class Procedures & Policies • Extra Credit

11. Basis of Grade • 7 Projects35 points each • Project #8 Long Memo 100 points • Quizzes (2 x 10 points) 20 points • Final Exam(Library) 75 points • Amicus30 points • Timeslips30 points • Notebook with corrected Projects 20 pts.

12. Basis of Grade • 7 Projects35 points each • Sources of the Law • Finding the Law • More Finding the Law • Shepard’s Online • Lexis & Web Research • Legal Letters • Short Memo

13. You get credit for same work 3 times! Must include CORRECTED versions of Projects #1 through #7 Will be graded while you wait at last class Worth 20 points Requirements of Notebook: a) separate binder b) includes ONLY corrected versions (no correction marks) c) of all of your graded Projects d) tabbed in correct order Class Notebooks (SeeSpecial Assignments Handout)

14. Amicus/Timeslips (See Special Assignments Handout) • Amicus: Record all of your Assignments/Activities as To-Do's – WITH DETAILS • Record all of your class meeting time and other meetings as Appointments • This will be worth up to 30 points

15. Amicus/Timeslips (See Special Assignments Handout) • Timeslips: Keep time for all of the work you do for this class – WITH DETAILS • Record your time in the Timeslips program • Record your expenses, too - MANDATORY • Record AS YOU GO – at least WEEKLY • NO advance entry (unethical) • This will be worth up to 30 points • Entries must follow STANDARDS FOR AMICUS (handed out in training)

16. Amicus/Timeslips (See Special Assignments Handout) • TRAINING: Look for message on Discussion Board. • Entries must follow STANDARDS FOR AMICUS • (Standards are handed out in training)

17. Amicus/Timeslips (See Special Assignments Handout) • NAMES • Timekeeper Name: Always the same: YOU • Client Name: “Marian Dewey” • NAMING SYSTEM FOR CLIENT • Client First Name = Marian • Middle Name = Your First Initial + Last Name • Client Last Name = Dewey • MY NAME = Marian MBrigner Dewey

18. Easiest Ways to Lose Points • No cover page • Incorrect cover page • Not reading instructions • Not checking My.Sinclair • Single spaced • No spel checkkk & proofreading • Late assignments • Missed classes

19. Time Issues: • Studies show: Attendance is key factor in student success • You must SIGN IN for each class or lose points for that class! • No 15 Minute Rule. If Prof is delayed, use time to work on assignments. • SCC CLOSED on Monday, January 16

20. Class Procedures & Policies

21. Classroom Etiquette • Check out “PAR Library” • Need not ask to be excused • NO typing, printing, playing on PC during class! • No food, drink, or spittoons • This is your law office; keep it neat & organized • Clean up your area at the end of every class

22. One Word Details

23. Protect Your Work • Helping others learn is okay • Doing their work is not • Do not ask for or give copies or disks • Copied work = ? • Failure for user AND donor • Protect your paperwork • Protect your disks

24. Care & Feeding of Disks • “TECH HAPPENS” • Label your disks! • BACK UP! BACK UP!! BACK UP!!! BACK UP!!!! • “The computer ate my homework” is not an acceptable excuse • Don’t loan out your disks, or leave them around for others to “borrow”

25. SAVE YOUR WORK • Save ALL graded papers • Save ALL corrected papers for notebook • Save ALL work electronically • Save ALL corrected work electronically • BACK UP all saved work • YOU WILL NEED THESE for Internship Portfolio, which is required for graduation

26. LOG-ON IN 14-114: • Name: stu-14-par • Password: <none> • Domain: SCCA-NT • LOG-ON IN 14-306E • Name:

27. http://my.sinclair.edu

28. My.Sinclair • This is your main • News & notice source • It is YOUR responsibility to check DAILY • E-MAIL: Personal news to/from Prof • DISCUSSION BOARD: News for class • Updates, corrections, jobs, class cancellations, extra credit, assignment tips • CALENDAR: All due dates, changes in due dates, class locations, free days

29. My.Sinclair • ANNOUNCEMENTS: • From SCC or Prof. • News, alerts appear on your home page • MYGRADES: Shows your absences & grades weekly. Check often. Email prof if you catch any errors. • EXTERNAL LINKS: Helpful links for this course • Lexis, Law Libraries, Ohio Supreme Court, Ohio Revised Code, Montgomery County records, & more

30. Communicating on My.Sinclair • With Professor: • E-mail for private messages (grades, illness) • Use My.Sinclair address only • Discussion Board for EVERYTHING ELSE • Class-related questions go HERE, not in E-mail • ALL Messages Should Begin W/Course # • Example: • Subject: 111.01 Projects, Are You Nuts? • Or: 111.50 Classmates, Are They Nuts?

31. Communicating on My.Sinclair • With other students: • E-mail for private messages • Discussion Board for class info • We Are A Learning Community • Without “cheating” (doing each other’s work) we help each other learn. This includes answering each other’s questions on the Discussion Board. If everyone is stumped, I will add suggestions.

33. Sinclair People Website • All COURSE MATERIALS here • Projects, Forms, PowerPoints • In-Class Exercises, PAR Newsletter • If you want hard copy, print one • Replaces H Drive • http://people.sinclair.edu/mikebrigner/

34. SCC Disability Services Notice • Qualified individuals with disabilities who produce required documentation of their disability & self-identify their need for accommodations are eligible for disability services • (Someone with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities and who, with or without accommodations, can meet the essential requirements for participation in a program) • Students are required to identify their needs & to register with the Sinclair Office of Disability Services in order to be eligible for academic adjustments. All services are based on individual needs. • For more info: http://sinclair.edu/stservices/edu/index.cfm

35. Research & Writing I Concluded Thank you Mike Brigner, J.D. END OF CLASS: (EVERY Class) Clean up classroom; log off computers; check for personal property & computer disks; make sure you have signed in.