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

duncan.box@rmit.edu.au
 

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
1.2 Identify the rights and responsibilities of the police in Australia
1.3 Outline the main features of the court system and the role of each court
1.4 Identify methods of punishment in Australia
 

Element:

2 Describe the process of accessing legal representation

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Identify key features of the system of legal representation
2.2 Locate legal resources
2.3 Identify the costs of accessing the legal system

 

 


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
Referencing
 

 
 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