Finalized on: 08 August 2022

UNIVERSITY OF CEBU
SCHOOL OF LAW
First Semester (August 2022 to December 2022)

Course Syllabus

I. COURSE NUMBER : M 111

II. COURSE TITLE : Introduction to Law (with Legal English)

III. PROFESSOR : Atty. Kara Mae M. Noveda

IV. COURSE DESCRIPTION :

The course intends to give first-year (1L) students an overview and context of the study of law—its different branches and other basic information which would enable
them to better navigate their subjects. This same course will likewise provide the 1Ls with a review on the elements of the English grammar and mentoring on the proper
usage of clear, accurate English in everyday legal and business situations. The coursework also serves as an initiation to the elements of effective and persuasive legal
writing.

V. COURSE PREREQUISITES :

None

VI. COURSE CREDIT : Two (2) Units

VII. GENERAL OBJECTIVES :

(a) Be informed of the history and context on the sources and application of law in the Philippines,
(b) Understand English legal language as it appears in contemporary written and oral contexts,
(c) Develop precision, effectivity, and clarity in legal writing, and,
(d) Appreciate the nuances of legal English and its importance to the legal profession.

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VIII. TEACHING FORMAT/METHOD :

This course will utilize a blended learning model. This entails a combination of in-person instruction techniques, teacher-led online modules, and self-paced learning.
Students may participate in a combination of independent study, small group learning, and whole-class instruction, BOTH online and in-person. The professor has pre-
determined the alternating schedules of online and in-person classes (see schedule below). In other words, classes will be conducted EITHER online or in-person (no hybrid
arrangements), in adherence to the posted schedule.

IX. SCHEDULE/FLOW OF CLASSES : The early part of the semester will be heavy on mostly preparatory and review lectures.
Modules will then be imparted. Most of them will have a counterpart assessment activity.
Lectures usually run for less than an hour, whether online or in-person. The rest of the period is designated for self-paced reading.
Please also take note that MOST writing activities/quizzes will be conducted in-person.
X. COURSE OUTLINE :

WEEK ACTIVITY
Weeks 1 and 2 : In-Person Intro to the course and house rules
(August 15-19 and 22-26) Lecture and Activity: Preparations for the Study of Law
-Initiation to the Different Learning Models (Study of Law)
-Developing study and presentation techniques (oral and written)
-Honing speed reading skills
-Basic legal research tools

Week 3 to 4: Online Lectures on: Preliminary Concepts in Law (History and Kinds of Laws)
(August 29-September 2 and September 5-8) -Sources and Application of Law

*August 31 and September 9 are public holidays.

Weeks 5 to 6: In-person
(September 12-16* and 19-23) Lectures on: Overview on Persons and Family Relations, Law on Property, Special Contracts, Remedial Law, and Special
Civil Actions (and their functions)
*Although designated in the academic calendar as
Pre-Lims week, I will not hold any pre-lim exams.

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Weeks 7 to 8: Online Review on Basic Grammar Rules in the Context of Legal English
(September 26-30 and October 3-7) (Articles, Prepositions, Voice, Subject-Verb Agreement, Tenses)

Week 9: In-person MIDTERM EXAMINATION

(October 10-14)

Weeks 10 to 11: In-person OR* online Module 1: Learning Plain English

(October 17-21 and October 24-28)
*I will inform the class, two weeks ahead of
schedule, whether I can conduct in-person classes
or not.
Assigned readings on Plain English:
1. Plain English Movement by Carl Felsenfeld
2. Schiess, Wayne, What Plain English Really Is. Scribes Journal of Legal Writing, Vol. 9, p. 43, 2003-2004, Available
at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1329051
Writing assignment No. 1

Week 12: No classes/Return midterm papers November 1 and 2 are designated school holidays. I will not hold classes for the rest of the week. But I will return your
and/or grades papers and inform you of your grade (private message).

(October 31 to November 4)

Weeks 13 to 14: In-person Module 2: Basic Standards of Legal Writing

(November 7-11*and 14-18) Module 3: Elements of Good Writing Style

* Although designated in the academic calendar as Writing assignment No. 2

Semi-Finals week, I will not hold any semi-final
exams.

Weeks 15 and 16: Online/In-person Module 5: Non-Linear and Linear Outlining

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(November 21-25 and November 28-30, December

1 and 2) Writing assignment No. 3

Weeks 17: In-person Mentoring Session (One-on-one with the student)

(December 5-7, 9)

*December 8 is a public holiday but I would like to

hold a special online session (with designated
breakout rooms to ensure privacy).

Week 18: In-person FINAL EXAMINATION

(December 12-17)

XI. EVALUATIVE MEASURES :

1. The workshop-modular model allows time for direct instruction, but also allows the lecturer to assess, monitor, and provide feedback during the apportioned individual
work or composition period.

2. On the Legal English component—individual writing exercises will gauge the working knowledge of the student on grammar rules. They will also be an effective way
to develop good composition skills.

XII. COURSE REQUIREMENTS :

The grade of the students will be based on the following distribution:

Writing Exercises and Class Participation 60%

Midterm Exam 20%
Final Exam 20%
TOTAL 100%

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The grading system of the UC College of Law is as follows:

Final Grade Equivalent Indication

95-100 1.0 Excellent
90-94 1.5-1.1 Very Good
80-89 2.5-1.6 Good
76-79 2.9-2.6 Fair
75 3.0 Passing
74 and below 5.0 Failure
DR Dropped
NG No Grade
W Official Withdrawn
NA Not Attending from the Start

*Special Note: Since the components of writing exercises and final exam are not obviously available during the computation of the midterm grade. The midterm grades
released sometime in late October 2022 will likely be based on your performance during the midterm examination. The final grade, however, will be a reflection of the
above criteria.

XIII. REFERENCE MATERIALS :

Mandatory Reading: Legal Writing: A Competency-Based Approach (2018 Edition) by Gil Marvel P. Tabucanon and David A. Mockon

Supplemental Reading: Introduction to Law by Judge Recaredo P. Barte

Legal Writing Plain and Simple: A Practical Guide for Law Students and Beginning Lawyers by Arvin Antonio Ortiz
Legal English: Second Edition by Rupert Haigh
Legal Writing in Plain English by Bryan A. Garner
Plain English for Lawyers by Richard C. Wydick
Dreyer’s English by Benjamin Dreyer

XIV. CONTACT DETAILS :

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You may reach your professor by email: knoveda@uc.edu.ph