Criminal Law Course @ Moritz College of Law

Open thread concerning research assignment, memo comments and grading concerns

As I promised in class this past week, I am creating this post in order to enable and encourage everyone to share comments on the research assignment.  I would be especially eager to hear:

(1) if you learned useful stuff (and liked learning useful stuff) from doing the assignment,

(2) if you liked (and learned useful stuff from) getting a chance to see how your classmates completed the assignment,

(3) if you are especially grumpy that I have not (yet) given any set of memos a check-minus or a check-plus,

(4) if you genuinely believe that any set of memos should have been given a check-minus or a check-plus.

As a matter of improving your educational experience, I care most about your response to matters (1) and (2).  But if the whole grading thing really drives you crazy, please feel free to tell me this via comments to matters (3) and (4).

A place to get the R&W assignment instructions (and to ask questions)

A helpful student reminded me that I have not yet posted the Small Section Research and Writing Assignment instructions in this space. Thus, I have done so via this post. In addition, I both welcome and encourage student to ask any and all questions about the assignment in the comments to this post. I will try to respond to all question either via this blog on live in class.

Download 2010 R&W Assignment Instructions

Welcome back and ... the week(s) ahead

Though I will review in class on Tuesday some of the plans for various class-related tasks, I wanted here to note some of the basics and encourage feedback to make sure we are all on the same basic page administratively:

1.  We will move through the homicide materials efficiently (and should be through the whole unit before the end of the month).  Keep up with the readings, and keep considering how the cases examined would likely be resolved under Ohio and Oliwood law.

2.  I will administer the practice exam again under "real" conditions on Friday afternoon after class and/or at other times based on student interests. 

3.  I will begin discussing the small-section research assignment later this week and "officially" begin the assignment next week.  The major part of the assignment will be due (not later than) Saturday November 6.

4.  I have a pro bono (and completely optional) opportunity for interesting work for any student(s) interested in helping me put together a letter in support of clemency in conjunction with the California case discussed here at my SL&P blog.  Students interesting in this project should let me know of their interest after class or via e-mail (and can start by seeking answers to the questions posed in the linked blog post).

All the research assignment materials (and my apologies)

Sorry for taking extra time today and also for jamming my presentation of the assignment into the final few minute before (and after) the end of class.  To make amends, I am posting here all the research assignment materials ---  not just the background instructions handed out already, but also the rough oral script that I was using to discuss the case.

Download 2008_assignment_instructions.wpd (previously distributed in class)

Download 2008_facts_of_case.wpd (rough oral script with lots of typos)

I will readily answer questions about the assignment in class and at other times, but using the comments to this post might be an especially effective way for students to express concerns or questions about any aspect of the assignment or the facts in play.