Research

1
Research Writing I
Welcome!

• 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 dont 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withdrawn from all LAP classes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 70s
• 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

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Reaching Me

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

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Read Your Syllabus

• Contact Info
• Key Dates
• Websites, Other Resources
• Grading Expectations
• Class Procedures Policies
• Course Outline
• All Assignments Due Dates

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More Syllabus

• Text
• Other Resources
• Website Resources
• Grading
• Quizzes
• Class Procedures Policies
• Extra Credit

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Basis of Grade

• 7 Projects 35 points each
• Project 8 Long Memo 100 points
• Quizzes (2 x 10 points) 20 points
• Final Exam (Library) 75 points
• Amicus 30 points
• Timeslips 30 points
• Notebook with corrected Projects 20 pts.

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Basis of Grade

• 7 Projects 35 points each
• Sources of the Law
• Finding the Law
• More Finding the Law
• Shepards Online
• Lexis Web Research
• Legal Letters
• Short Memo

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Class Notebooks (SeeSpecial Assignments Handout)

• 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

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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

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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)

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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)

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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

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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

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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

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Class Procedures Policies
Follow Quality Standards in all PAR work Expectation Letter-Perfect Work You work for the law firm of S, B, B D
You must participate fully in group work Late assignments cost you 10 No handwritten assignments
Attendance mandatory, or lose 10 pts/ea Complete cover page mandatory BLANK SCREEN ZONE!
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

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One Word
Details
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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

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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
• Dont loan out your disks, or leave them around
  for others to borrow

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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

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• LOG-ON IN 14-114
• Name stu-14-par
• Password ltnonegt
• Domain SCCA-NT
• LOG-ON IN 14-306E
• Name

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• http//my.sinclair.edu

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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

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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

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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?

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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 others work) we
  help each other learn. This includes answering
  each others questions on the Discussion Board.
  If everyone is stumped, I will add suggestions.

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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

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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.