INSTRUCTOR CAUTION:   It would be helpful if you have already taken BUS 10, Intro to Business (or a comparable introductory, survey course of business) prior to enrolling in BUS-18A as those studies would have included various components of the business environment --- Technological, Social, Competitive, Economic & Legal, and Global --- that would help put our semester's work into its proper context.  Therefore, if you have not already taken BUS 10, this research project may be a little more difficult for you to complete, but it can still be accomplished quite successfully.  However, while only a catalog "advisory" to BUS-18A, I very strongly recommend that you already have successfully completed ENGL A, Basic Composition and Reading, prior to enrolling in BUS-18A.  ENGL A's review of grammar and usage in conjunction with writing assignments, and inclusion of an introduction to library research skills, will help with this project.  However, an even better preparation (or concurrent enrollment) would be ENGL-01A, Composition and Reading I, as its emphasis on critical readings, scholarly compositions, and research applications are very applicable to not only this project, but the entire class.

BUS-18A Research Project, Spring 2009

The overarching objective of BUS-18A is a study of the legal principles that govern the conduct of business.  Specific topics include ethics;  the sources of law and the judicial process; alternative dispute resolution; business crimes; torts; contracts; consumer protection; real and personal property; bankruptcy; agency, employment, and labor-management relations; and international law. 

Your task over the course of the semester will be to target one of these areas (preferably one that's of particular interest to you), research the topic to elaborate on the text's coverage, and write a comprehensive 5 - 8 page research paper that clarifies the influences, nuances, and evolving trends in that area.  You are to look for issues of significance and identify the possible legal impact, both positive and negative, that might be exerted by this issue on the success and/or profitability of a business.  I strongly recommend that you work with a partner.  Due dates for topic, outline, and final paper will be posted to the Assignment link for your respective class.

 

 

  1. Start by perusing a newspaper, business journal, business magazine, etc.,  for a recent (i.e., dated no earlier than 1/01/09) article of interest that has a business law application (i.e., must relate to business and to law) , e.g.,

    1. an article captioned Victor the Loser in Trademark Lawsuit would provide an avenue into a more general discussion of intellectual property, trademarks, and the FTC. 
    2. an article captioned Treacherous Tool:  Nail guns claiming lives, causing harm would provide the basis for research into the general topics of product liability, workman's compensation, OSHA, etc. 

  2. Next, use EBSCO Host, LexisNexis or some other research database to search out additional research material (at least 3 independent sources, none more than 2 years old) on the same general topic (i.e., you're looking for information on your overall TOPIC, not necessarily the particular INCIDENT your article was written about). 

    1. DO NOT use your textbook as a research source, and DO NOT just regurgitate what we've covered in class. 

    2. Unless Wikipedia provides the absolute best, clearest explanation of your general topic, e.g., intellectual property, do not use it as one of your research sources.
  3. Use a database (e.g., LexisNexis or FindLaw) or a search engine (e.g., Google) to find a court case that relates to and/or establishes a legal precedent for your chosen topic.  

  4. Read and analyze your research, then synthesize your article and related research materials into a coherent summary of the issue(s) being addressed. 

    1. Be sure to look for and discuss trends which may be evolving and/or issues that may or will bring about change in how we do business;
    2. Reach beyond the obvious and write your paper as if you were using it to explain the situation to an employer whose business might be impacted by the situation or a particular court decision, or to expand the knowledge and understanding of a fellow student (or your instructor).  Avoid emotionalism and subjectivity, especially if dealing with an issue for which you have strong emotional feelings.  Be sure to discuss both sides of a controversy (i.e., what would an opponent say?).
    3. Incorporate the case you've found and discuss how it contributes to the topic, i.e., is it still current or does it appear that a new precedent might be forthcoming?
    4. If you're unsure how to structure your paper's layout, a helpful guideline is to organize it either in terms of what Opportunities and Threats the situation presents (for those of you who are familiar with a SWOT analysis from BUS 10), or you may organize it somewhat the way you would when briefing a court case, i.e., in an Issue/Rule/Application/Conclusion (IRAC) framework (which I will teach you in this class).  Neither of these structural formats is required, but these possible options are presented to help you begin "building" your paper if you don't already have a vision of how it should come together.

  1. It's not wrong to use someone else's material; however, if you do (as you inevitably must in any research project), be sure to footnote, footnote, footnote!  Intellectual property rights and ethics are both major focal points in this course and I am especially sensitive to (and exceptionally unforgiving of) the use of someone else's work without them being given credit.  I recommend that you read up on what constitutes plagiarism before you begin to write. 

    1. Since the Chicago Manual of Style (CMS) is often used in business, communications, economics, and history, and you probably haven't used this style before (because most English instructors only teach MLA or APA), you should use a style guide, e.g., Michael Harvey's page, CMS guidelines or The Chicago Manual of Style Online (quick guide to formats; also has free 30-day trial software or 1-year subscription to My Manual software) which provides help on how to format your report, cite work, basic and advanced instruction on how to write a Chicago Style Bibliography, etc.  Even easier:  if you are using Microsoft Office 2007, it will automatically format your footnotes correctly with minimal fine-tuning.
    2. The first time you reference a court case, include the full case citation.  Italicize or underline the names of the parties and include the book/volume number where the case appears, e.g., Jacob and Young v. Kent (or Jacob and Young v. Kent ), 129 N.E. 889.  Subsequent references to the same case can be abbreviated with just the parties' names, e.g., Jacob and Young v. Kent or just the prevailing party's name, Jacob and Young.
    3. Your final paper should have a clearly identified topic (e.g., Trademark Use and Protection, or California Worker's Compensation), be 5 to 8 pages in length (excluding title page, bibliography, and exhibits), and should conform to all rules of Edited Standard Written English.  Don't forget a title page (unnumbered), page numbers at the bottom of each report page, bibliography, etc.    Before submitting your paper to me, review the grading rubric I'll use with your paper -- use it as a checklist to ensure you haven't forgotten anything!  I also recommend you run it past an English instructor for editing recommendations before you submit it to me for grading.
  2. Your full report, with all research material attached at the back as exhibits, should be assembled into a small report binder or small notebook (yes, I am influenced by a work's professional appearance or lack thereof).  Do not place each page of the report into document protectors as it makes them difficult for me to grade (and I will take off points).

 

 

Last revised 12/27/2008