Course Title: The Legal System
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term1 2013
Course Code: JUST5155
Course Title: The Legal System
School: 360T Education
Campus: City Campus
Program: C3203 - Certificate III in General Education for Adults
Course Contact : Baia Tsakouridou
Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4488
Course Contact Email:baia.tsakouridou@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
Duncan Box
Nominal Hours: 20
Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.
Pre-requisites and Co-requisites
None
Course Description
This module aims to familiarise students with the Australian legal system and provides the knowledge and skills required to access various aspects of the Australian legal system.
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
VBQM481 The Legal System |
Element: |
1 Describe the main features of the Australian legal system |
Performance Criteria: |
1.1 Identify the main differences between civil and criminal law |
Element: |
2 Describe the process of accessing legal representation |
Performance Criteria: |
2.1 Identify key features of the system of legal representation
|
Learning Outcomes
The required outcomes described in this unit relate directly to the Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF)
http://www.deewr.gov.au/SKILLS/PROGRAMS/LITANDNUM/ACSF/Pages/default.aspx
They contribute directly to the achievement of ACSF indicators of competence at Level Five (Reading and Writing).
Details of Learning Activities
This competency will cover basic skills in online research.
You will:
- develop the ability to source and read legal information
- interpret information on the processes of the courts and justice system
- research and identify sources of legal support in the community
- Resource implications
Teaching Schedule
Week | EMPL5869 Evaluate design portfolio VBQU155 |
GEDU5326 Engage in a range of texts Learning VBQU157 |
GEDU5334 Create complex texts Learning VBQU161 |
GEDU5355 Investigating current issues VBQM484 |
GEDU5254C Conduct online research BSBEBUS401A |
JUST5155 The legal system VBQM481 |
1 | Investigate current legal issues Tutorial Ongoing assessment |
Sentence structure Summary |
Investigate current legal issues Tutorial Ongoing assessment |
research skills | Investigate current legal issues Tutorial Ongoing assessment |
|
2 | Investigate current legal issues Tutorial Ongoing assessment |
Paragraph Structure | Investigate current legal issues Tutorial Ongoing assessment |
Investigate current legal issues Tutorial Ongoing assessment |
||
3 | Careers fair | Investigate current legal issues Tutorial Ongoing assessment |
Unity coherence paragraph structure | Investigate current legal issues Tutorial Ongoing assessment |
Investigate current legal issues Tutorial Ongoing assessment |
|
4 | Study goals, education pathway assessment introduced | Investigate current legal issues Tutorial Ongoing assessment |
Paraphrasing Referencing |
Investigate current legal issues Tutorial Ongoing assessment |
Database research Library task | Investigate current legal issues Tutorial Ongoing assessment |
5 | read, notetaking strategies Synthesis |
Summarising
Essay skills Collaborative project Exposition essay Assessment task intro
|
Formatting Research Referencing |
|||
6 | read, notetaking strategies Brainstorm |
Research |
||||
7 | Individual essay topic |
Research Referencing |
||||
8 | Essay Plan submitted | Research Referencing |
||||
9 | read, notetaking strategies Brainstorm |
essay Draft Proofreading |
Justice Journal assessment due | |||
10 | read, notetaking strategies Brainstorm |
submit Exposition Essay Literature Review introduced |
Research Referencing |
|||
11 | Literature review | Oral presentation
Prep |
Research Referencing |
Legal System Researh Report | ||
12 | read, notetaking strategies Brainstorm |
Argumentative essay skills assessment task introduced | Oral presentation
Prep |
Research Referencing |
Legal System Researh Report | |
13 | read, notetaking strategies Brainstorm |
Essay skills Brainstorm |
Oral Presentation assessment | Legal System Researh Report | ||
14 | Essay skills Brainstorm |
Legal System Researh Report | Legal System Researh Report | |||
15 | Exam skills | Exam skills | Exam skills | |||
16 | Essay due | |||||
17 | Course feedback | Course feedback | Course feedback | Course feedback | Course feedback | Course feedback |
**The teaching schedule maybe subject to change. Students will be advised via Blackboard and in class should changes occur.
This unit of competency is taught within an integrated program. The assessment tasks have been put in bold to match the unit of competency. The assessment tasks will also cover other units within the course as indicated on this grid.
Teaching Schedule: This course will be delivered weekly. The times will be outlined in the program delivery plans which are updated each week.
Your program is made up of:
• Orientation
• Learning activities
• Mid semester review
• Guest speakers
• Exit review
All students will be inducted. The induction includes
• Program Guide & Student Diary
• Student Rights and Responsibilities
• Explore RMIT ( an orientation to the university and its services)
• Orientation to RMIT Libraries (library tour & on line catalogue introduction)
• RMIT Online Systems Information Session
Library Orientation & an RMIT Online Systems Information Session will be scheduled during the first two weeks of your program. Information about student services, rights and responsibilities is contained in your student diary.
Program Dates: Mon 18 February – Fri 21 June 2013
Term Break: Fri 29 March – Fri 5 April 2013
Public holidays: Mon 11 March (Labour Day), Fri 29 March (Good Friday),Thur 25 April (ANZAC Day), Mon 10 June 2013 (Queen’s Birthday)
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
References
Other Resources
There are no set texts in this course, but it is recommended that you bring:
• English-English dictionary (we ask that you do not use a translation dictionary)
• Thesaurus
• Display folder with plastic sleeves
• Highlighter pens
• Notebook or loose leaf paper
• Headphones (use your own or they can be purchased from the Carlton Library very cheaply)
• USB (Memory stick)
Overview of Assessment
Learning Activities
This unit is part of Certificate III in General Education for Adults which is an integrated program. This means that you will study this unit with several other units on the same day. Your program consists of Face to Face teaching and Directed Study. Your program will have a minimum of 8 hours Directed Study per week. You are not required to attend to complete Directed Study, however you are expected to complete all work given and will at times be required to show evidence that the work has been completed in this unit. This is a very important part of your program and we ask that you do 4-5 hours on your non attendance day and at least 1 hour each evening to cover all the units in the program. An outline of your Directed Study is published each week in the Weekly Program Delivery Plan.
.This unit is clustered with BSBEBUS401A Conduct online research and covers in part the reading and writing macro skills addressed in the whole certificate
READING
You are encouraged to read a wide range of texts relevant to the study context. You will:
- source and read legal information
- interpret information on the processes of the courts and justice system
- research nad identify sources of legal support in the community
In a variety of writing activities, you will improve your sentence structure and learn how to use different writing styles. You will:
• take notes from a range of complex texts
• reflect on issues and your own learning
• learn about research strategies
The revision of important grammatical structures will be incorporated into each activity.
Assessment Tasks
Assessment will take place throughout the course.Your work is assessed on a competent (CA)/not yet competent (NYC) basis.
You will be given written feedback on all assessment tasks. There will be individual and group projects completed both in and out of class.
Assessment is ongoing and its purpose is to develop your skills. You will be given assistance in redrafting and editing written assessment tasks because developing your ability to identify and correct your own mistakes is an important part of the learning process. It is important that you read the specific elements each assessment task addresses on the cover sheet for each task. At the time of setting assessments you will be given clear guidelines about which course, elements and performance criteria you will need to meet in order to successfully complete the task. Submission dates & deadlines will also be clearly explained.
Assessment tasks:
Summative assessments:
Research for:
Academic Essay Exposition
Academic essay: Argumentative
Literature Review
Reflective Journal
Short answer questions (Exam techniques)
Formative assessments: ongoing observations, summaries and review of student work
Assessment Matrix
Each assessment cover sheet clearly outlines the competencies being addressed in the task in relation to performance criteria. The sum of assessment tasks will cover all units and their elements over a range of occasions. You will be given opportunities to demonstrate competency in a variety of ways throughout the program. You are encouraged to discuss any problems or concerns with your teacher or student co-ordinator. An assessment matrix will be available on myRMIT.
Course Overview: Access Course Overview