Independent study unit

The purpose of this assignment is to develop your critical thinking skills, to enhance your understanding of a topic related to the law, and to develop your ability to write a concise, clear and grammatically correct paper.

You will use appropriate research methods to gather, organize, evaluate, and synthesize information.
CRITERIA:

1. You are required to research and investigate a Canadian / International legal issue. The focus of your topic is to be on one of the following areas:

• 
  Environmental Law
  
• 
  Labour Law
  
• 
  Principles of International Law
  
• 
  International Treaties and Agreements
  
• 
  Global Conflicts and Resolutions (topics on website)
  

2. Your paper must be in the form of an ARGUMENTATIVE THESIS, which explains your position on the topic – therefore you cannot be neutral. You must take a side and provide counter arguments.

ANY PLAGIARISM WILL RESULT IN A MARK OF “0”

9. The style should be formal. Therefore, you should write in the third person, avoid slang and colloquial language and not refer to the paper itself (e.g. ‘This paper will prove’)

10. WEIGHT: 15% of your final grade for the paper. 5% of your final grade for the presentation.

THIS IS A COMPULSORY ASSIGNMENT – FAILURE TO SUBMIT AN ESSAY AND/OR PRESENT YOUR RESEARCH WILL RESULT IN AN INCOMPLETION OF THIS COURSE.

DATES TO REMEMBER:

Distribution of ISU outline	Thursday October 16th
Selection of Topics	Friday October 17th
Submission of Thesis Statement	Thursday October 23rd
Second Draft of Thesis Statement If Req’d	Tuesday November 4th
Show me your sources!	Tuesday November 18th
Initial Presentation Concept Submission	Monday December 1st
Second Submission of Concept If Req’d	Wednesday December 3rd
Peer Review #1	December 15th
Peer Review #2	December 16th
Essay Due Date	December 19th
Presentation Dates	Check the schedule

PRESENTATION: 10-12 minutes, with the use of visual aids and resources. This presentation must be interactive; the idea is to get the class involved. You will need to provide me with a detailed overview of your presentation concept.
These are the presentation dates: Various dates in January- have to see exam schedule to confirm these dates.

We can either draw names from a hat or I can assign you to a presentation date- we can decide as a class!

Refer to the suggestions on the attached sheet and select one that interests you. If you prefer to select a topic that is not listed, that should be fine, as long as you have it approved by me first.