As William Shaw's (2008) textbook states, by way of observation, "To a significant extent, law codifies a society's customs, ideals, norms, and moral values" (pp. 10-11). Shaw adds that "changes in the law tend to reflect changes in what a society takes to be right and wrong…" (p. 11). We think Shaw is correct, and we work to…

The purposes of this policy document are: (1) to encourage public-school instruction conducive to developing skills and gaining factual knowledge necessary for students' future success as critical thinkers, citizens, and leaders of the state of [STATE]; (2) to protect children against the unwarranted and harmful influence of politicized classroom…

The determinants of sentencing are of much interest in criminal justice and legal research. Understanding the determinants of sentencing decisions is important for ensuring transparent, consistent, and justifiable sentencing practice that adheres to the goals of sentencing, such as the punishment, rehabilitation, deterrence, and incapacitation of…

The author examines the effectiveness of a curriculum aimed to raise awareness of prospective English teachers and writers while studying the psychological and sociological impact of language use. Action research tested whether students already knew how to argue and think critically when they came to a 200-level undergraduate course. Finding that…

What is the nature and function of case law in our legal system? How are legal case histories used to establish precedent and to assist in the application of legal principles to specific cases? These and other questions are addressed in this examination of the potential of using a basic case structure in educational evaluation similar to that used…

The core of adversary evaluation is the existence of opposing viewpoints, not adherence to existing formats for presenting them. Suggests that evaluators develop adversary methods more appropriate for education. (Author/MLF)

On the premise that legal research in mass communication should be scientific and grounded in theory based upon available knowledge about how the world works, it is argued in this paper that the research paradigm used by most communication-law scholars is inadequate. In the first section of the paper the current, "institution-centered"…

Uses the judicial model of reasoning employed by the Supreme Court as an exemplar in teaching critical skills in the basic argumentation and debate course. Describes the model and course highlights. (PD)

This article examines the use of a modified judiciary model, called the Advocacy-Judiciary model, by the Mesa Public School System in Arizona. The method was used to investigate programs specifically directed toward the academic needs of the gifted and talented student population. (Author/JAZ)

A way is described to expose first-year law students to a whole case and thus to blend in appellate decisions, statutes, and scholarly articles as they might be discovered and used by the parties and the court. (MLW)

Time series analysis is applied to an assessment of the temporary and permanent impact of the 1975 Australian Family Law Act and its effect on number of divorces. The application and construct validity of the model is examined. (Author/PN)

A legal model, involving a courtroom and jury, is presented as a method of educational evaluation. The negative reactions to the approach's previous supporters--Robert L. Wolf and Murray Levine--are discussed. The author interprets the trial in judicial educational evaluation as an adversarial process used to probe the complexities underlying an…

Describes the use of a problem-solving negotiation model to resolve disputes under Part H of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and the need for formal education and training in problem-solving negotiation in early-intervention systems for children with disabilities. (Author/CR)

College debaters who go to law school are often surprised by the differences between the processes that take place in the court of reason and the process that takes place in the court of law. The court of reason relies mainly on authoritative testimony, while the court of law relies on direct evidence. Evidence in the court of reason is either…

Using the story of death row inmate Charles Singleton, who developed paranoid schizophrenia while in prison awaiting execution, this case study explores the relationship between a society's concept of mental illness and its treatment of people who are mentally ill. Students are asked to identify the model of mental illness assumed by each of the…