Course Syllabus

BUS 2440 Introduction to Business Law

Community College of Vermont  Summer 2026

Anne E. Buttimer, MA, JD, Esq  instructor

Anne.buttimer@ccv.edu (do not use the Canvas messenger function, use only your CCV/VTSU email)

Course Description

This course provides an introduction to the principles and practices of law as it applies to business operations and the legal and constitutional environment of business. The course focuses on contract law, the Uniform Commercial Code, negotiable instruments, commercial transactions, debtor and creditor rights, bankruptcy, and agency relationships.

 Essential Objectives

1. Describe the general organization of state and federal legal systems.
2. Explain how the civil legal system provides for the resolution of business disputes.
3. Discuss the general principles of contracts, partnerships, corporations, real and personal property, commercial transactions, and bankruptcy.
4. Define and correctly use the basic legal terminology associated with business transactions.
5. Differentiate among the various legal documents used in business transactions.
6. Examine the online digital environment as it relates to business law including cyber-crime, cyber-torts, e-contracts, and cybersecurity.
7. Apply the Uniform Commercial Code to business contracts and negotiations.
8. Describe common legal problems and issues likely to arise in a business context.
9. Discuss common ethical considerations likely to arise in a business law context.
10. Identify resources that can provide guidance in the solution of legal problems.

Textbook 

Business Law I Essentials

Publisher OpenStax at Rice University – this is a free textbook that you can read online or download to your device.

URL: https://openstax.org/details/books/business-law-i-essentials 

ISBN-13: 978-1-947172-78-4

Use only the digital version. Although there is a print version you can buy it’s from 2019 and is out of date for the readings and assignments we’ll use.  Our online, downloadable book is updated more frequently.

How to Cite to Our Book

Remember to use our book as your first source for research and citations.

In-text: (Business Law 1 Essentials  p. 69, 2019)   If your version of our book doesn't have page numbers, instead use the section number this way (Business Law Essentials 1 sect. 6.2 2019)

References section: Business Law 1 Essentials  (2019) OpenStax Rice University https://openstax.org/details/books/business-law-i-essentials

Using APA in-text citations and a References section in all work, weeks 2-12 any sources you use to include our book must be cited using APA citation format. There are no exceptions. All work that you post in weeks 2 through 12 must have APA in-text citations and a References section. 

How to Cite to other Sources and Paraphrasing

Paraphrasing - Purdue OWL® - Purdue University

APA Formatting and Style Guide (7th Edition) - Purdue OWL® - Purdue University

Reference List: Basic Rules - Purdue OWL® - Purdue University

Reference List: Electronic Sources - Purdue OWL® - Purdue University

A key rule for citations: If you cite a source in References there must be at least one in-text citation to it, otherwise there's no reason to have it in References. Likewise if you have an in-text citation there must be a corresponding References citation.

Authoritative research sources

Starting in week 2 our e-textbook is your first source for research in many weeks of our class, depending on the prompt you answer. Using non-authoritative sources means your answers will likely be incorrect and you don't want that.

You may reliably use .gov sources, Vermont or federal, as well as Legal Information Institute (LII) at Cornell Law School. LII Cornell Law Schoo  Investopedia (has lots beyond business research). Investopedia  Also, Justia.com and Oyez.com for cases.  ScienceDirect.com for summaries of scholarly journals in law (not just science!).

Also, any relevant research that you find at CCV's library databases in working with our librarians or once you know how to conduct research on your own.  You may also use VT Digger VT Digger or Vermont Public VT Public or National Public Radio and its affiliate stations NPR etc. or PBS News  Hour and other programs on PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) PBS

 Also, The New York Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal. Be sure to use permalinks from our library for them. Do not use any sources behind a pay wall.  Do not use any sources or articles that are not based in the US. We learn and use only the US legal system.   Do not use any sources not listed here without emailing me first. This is to save you from using incorrect information from unreliable sources.

How to Create a Permalink to a Research Source from our Library

 https://libraries.vsc.edu/research/searching/saving-linking You'll need this for your Reference sections/citations.

Learning Methods

We use discussions every week to replicate the discussions we'd have in an in-person class. Our subject matter lends itself well to them.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

The use of generative AI is not allowed in this course, with the exception of spellcheck, grammar check and similar tools. This course rests in the value of students engaging in the learning process without relying on AI-generated content. Students will develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills independently, owning their learning journey from start to finish. If you use these tools, your actions would be considered academically dishonest and a violation of CCV's Academic Integrity Policy. Please note that work suspected of being done by AI will receive a grade of "0."

Modeling Professional Workplace Conduct

We model professional workplace conduct by being on time or early. These are time management skills and they are vital to use in business settings so we help you get a start on them by practicing them in our class.   We address everyone in a courteous and respectful manner in class and via video recordings and emails.  Part of your responsibility to self and others is knowing our syllabus thoroughly and following all prompts and instructions.

Weekly Schedule

Here's the schedule by day for each week all semester. Put these due times in your calendar now and set time earlier in the week to complete your work. This is a discussion based course where students and faculty interact several times each week through posts.

Monday - read all posts for the week and review work for the coming week and start your reading.

Tuesday - per CCV’s schedule the new week starts.

Friday - post your Discussion answer by 6 pm VT time. Use college level writing skills (see Grading & Writing Rubric in week 1 in Canvas).  This is worth up to 70 points.

If you post your answer after 6 pm VT time you’ll have automatically taken 10 points off whatever your grade would have been. This applies even if your work is only a few minutes late.  Read my reply to you in class and view my Canvas grade book video comments to you as soon as I make them so you know what your follow up questions are.

Post your work by typing your answer into a posting. Do not use attachments.

Canvas is set so you must post your work before you're able to read anyone else's posts. Canvas is also set so that you can’t edit or delete your posts, this is to keep the rare not-honest student from reading classmates’ postings and then revising their work. If you post something in error and need it deleted, please email me.

Saturday – read all posts and decide which two classmates you’ll reply to. Respond to classmates who answered a different prompt than you did and who don’t already have a reply posted by someone else. Respond to my follow up questions.

Responses to classmates must explore their answer and the research sources they cited to include our book. Do not ask questions, posts with questions will receive an automatic grade of “0.” Why? Everyone has more than enough work so it’s not fair to have additional questions for them to answer. Each response to a classmate is worth up to 10 points.

Your response to my follow up questions must use APA in-text citations and a References section. Your follow up response is worth up to 10 points.  

Sunday – finish replying to two classmates and me. All are due by 6 pm Sunday VT time.

Monday - review our work for the coming week and start your reading. I will post your grade for the week sometime today.

It's Been One of Those Weeks!

Life happens while we're going to college. Someone gets sick, the boss piles on overtime, or we have one of our frequent Vermont power outages. If this happens to you, we have a twice-a-semester "it's been one of those weeks" option to post your work by 6 pm Sunday of that week (instead of the usual 6 pm Friday due time) and for me to not ask you a follow up question, and for you not to reply to classmates.

To take advantage of this offer you need to email me by 6 pm Friday of the week you're taking it so I know to adjust grading and attendance records correctly.  You don't need to tell me why you're taking the option, just that you are.  You are responsible to keep track of the weeks you use this option. Because 30 points of your grade each week is based on replies to classmates and me, and because you won't be doing that work and hence not earning those points, please only use this option when your circumstances tell you it's your best option.

Learning Center Online Live (LCOL)  

You can access a CCV learning coach in either real time virtually, or in-person (at some not all CCV centers), or remotely, to drop work and receive it back later.  These options are totally free to anyone taking a CCV class.  You access this service, called the Learning Center Online Live (LCOL) via a tile in your portal that has this title. This is your best option for help with writing.  Do not ask for tutoring in our subject matter, ask me for that. The best tutor for writing is Mr David White, a CCV English instructor who also works as a writing coach in our LCOL.  You can find his and all tutors' hours in the LCOL tile in the portal. 

Grades

A+ = an average of 98-100       A = an average of 93 -97      A- = an average of 90-92
B+ = an average of 87-89         B = an average of 83-86       B- = an average of 80-82
C+ = an average of 77-79         C = an average of 73-76       C- = an average of 70-72
D+ = an average of 67-69         D = an average of 63-67      D- = an average of 60 - 62
F = an average of 59 or lower

If you want to stop reading here you can, at least until class starts! If you want to know about our readings, discussions, and specific topics please read on.

Weekly Readings and Discussions

Week 1 Begins Tuesday 5/26  Ends Monday  6/1  Introductions

Syllabus Reading Read the course syllabus. You are responsible for knowing and following all the information there.

Textbook Reading  Chapter 1 American Law, Legal Reasoning, and the Legal System

Discussion  There are two parts of the discussion. Both are required. Post both in the same post with a line (-------------) between the two. Posts missing one part or the other will receive a grade of zero (0).

Part 1 - Write a 350-400 word introduction in which you discuss your education and career plans and goals, to include CCV, any college you plan to attend after CCV (or that you’ve already attended) and your professional working world plans. Discuss how you see your study of the material in this course assisting in each stage of your education and work. Include where you went to high school, prior college if relevant, current and past work experience.  What are you prepared to offer yourself, your classmates, and me so that our class is a success for you and everyone? What have you overcome to be here in college, ready to learn?

An answer of this length should be two to three correctly written paragraphs.  This assignment serves the dual purpose of us getting to know one another and gives me a chance to assess your writing skills. Writing at a full college level is vital to your success in our class. See the content/writing rubric in week 1 for details.

Part 2 - go to our syllabus and starting with How to Cite to our Book and ending with Grades, copy each heading into a post, bold the heading, and write a one sentence summary of that section that includes all essential information. Then type this statement at the end of your post "I have read and agree to abide by all policies in this class and all information in the syllabus."  Doing so is your commitment to doing so. NOTE - you will be held strictly to everything in the policy so be sure you know what it says.

This is due by Friday 6 pm VT time.   Same due times each week. Put the assignment due times in your phone or calendar now, set alerts, and set reminders for enough time in advance to complete your work before it's due.

Then - answer any questions I ask you by 6 pm Sunday VT time. These instructions apply for the whole semester.  Be sure you have the due times in your calendar/device/phone for the whole semester and schedule time before they're due to get your work done, do this for the whole semester. 

Week 2 Begins Tuesday 6/2  Ends Monday  6/8 American Law, Dispute Settlement, Business Ethics

View:  This is a 30 min webinar from CCV's library about how to use APA citations. You will need to do this for every week, weeks 2-12, so watching the video now and reviewing it throughout the semester is required.  

 https://vsc.yuja.com/v/librariesAPAcitation

Read:  Chapter 2  Disputes and Dispute Settlement  and Chapter 3  Business Ethics and Social Responsibility

Discussion:  Pick one of these topics and write a 350-400 word answer using college level writing skills. You may want to work with CCV’s librarians to learn more about the topics in our book. If you choose the third topic, social justice and DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion), please read these articles to get a start.

Investopedia (one of our go-to research sources)  https://tinyurl.com/34zfjww6

Harvard Business Review  https://hbr.org/2020/06/were-entering-the-age-of-corporate-social-justice

Diversity Woman Media (online magazine)  Rise of Corporate Social Justice Corporate Finance Institute https://tinyurl.com/3t6stk2p

This is a scholarly article from the National Library of Medicine at the National Institutes of Health (yes, it's about business)  DEI at work

Use APA in-text citations and a References section.  Words/numbers in in-text citations and the Reference section do not count towards the word count. Use the number of the prompt at the start of your answer so we know which one you're writing about, do not type the prompt, we all know what it is.

1)Your small business is in a dispute with a long time, good customer. Tell us enough about the dispute that we can understand your answer; however this should only be one to two sentences. Select one (1) (only one) ADR method to resolve the dispute. What does our book tell you about this method?   Use our book for your research and citations.

or

2) The local chamber of commerce is giving you their “emerging businessperson of the year award” later this month and you need to give a short acceptance speech about your views on business ethics and social responsibility. Write that speech. What business ethics theories are important to you and to business people, their staff, customers, and the community you do business in? How will you achieve the requirements of those theories? Use our book for your research and citations.

or

3) You've just been hired by a well established business, or a start up business (your choice) as the Director of Ethics, People, and DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion). Your first task is to create a DEI policy where you draw on the various points made in the articles above. The management team wants you to present the policy to them.  Create the policy as your answer. Use not more than 10 key points, numbered 1) through 10). You must cite to at least four of the five articles above.

Week 3 Begins Tuesday 6/9  Ends Monday 6/15 US Constitution and Business

Read  Chapter 4  Business and the United States Constitution

Discussion   Use one of our authoritative legal research sources, LII (Legal Information Institute at Cornell Law School) and read their article about the Commerce Clause.    Commerce Clause LII

Select one of the cases mentioned in the article and research it further.  For this and all future assignments the sites Oyez.com or Justia.com are authoritative research sources for case law.  

Write a 350-400 word answer using college level writing skills answer these questions. Remember citations.   Which case did you select? What are the main facts of the case? Did the Supreme Court find that the law in question was constitutional under the Commerce Clause? Why was it or why wasn’t it? What did the Court rely on in its legal analysis and reasoning to reach it’s holding (legal term for decision)?

 

Week 4 Begins Tuesday 6/16   Ends Monday 6/22  Criminal Law in Business

Read  Chapter 5  Criminal Liability and read online in the Vermont Statutes, Title 13, the two chapters and several sections that address fraud crimes that can be encountered in any setting (chapter 47-frauds  Crimes and Criminal Procedure (vermont.gov) and frauds specific to commercial activity (chapter 49- fraud in commercial transactions Crimes and Criminal Procedure (vermont.gov)

 Also read in Title 13 chapter 57 larceny and embezzlement. Crimes and Criminal Procedure (vermont.gov)(Most but not all criminal statutes in Vermont are found in Title 13. Use only chapter 47, 49, or 57 crimes for this assignment.

Discussion  Find any five statutes from the statutes above that have a direct relation between business and crime. Copy the template below into your answer with headings bolded as shown. For each of the five statutes  put the chapter, sub-chapter (if there is one) and section number into the first heading, give the title of the section, and explain how it applies to business. If our e-textbook has information about the crime include what it says, with a citation to our book.

Use the same format for headings second through fifth. Your total words not counting the bolded headings should be 350-400, that means each of the five headings will contain about 75 words.  The headings for each statute and your citations do not count towards the word total.

Example:

"First -  Title 13 : Crimes and Criminal Procedure    Chapter 043 : Forgery and Counterfeiting (this statute doesn't have a sub-chapter) Section 1801.

• Forgery and counterfeiting of papers, documents, etc

(Write your explanation here in 75 words.)"

Here is your headings template to follow:

First

Second

Third

Fourth

Fifth

   

Week 5 Begins Tuesday 6/23   Ends Monday 6/29  Tort Law and Agency Law

Read  Chapter 6  The Tort System

Discussion  Pick one of the headings in chapter 6 to include Torts, Intentional Torts, Negligence from section 6.1 or Strict Liability, Trespass, Product Liability, Unreasonably Dangerous Product Standard or Defenses from section 6.2 that’s of particular interest to you and research it further using LII and or Investopedia (see syllabus - Authoritative Research Sources). As always your first research source is our book. Then write a 350-400 word answer in which you fully explain the topic. At the end include a sentence or two explaining how this topic would be applied in a business you someday hope to own or manage.

Week 6 Begins Tuesday 6/30  Ends Monday 7/6  Contract Law

Read  Chapter 7 Contract Law  and  Chapter 8  Sales Contracts

Discussion  Write a basic, 350-400 word contract about something of interest to you in a business context.  Your contract must include the basic elements explained in chapter 7. It will be easiest if you write about sales contracts, chapter 8, meaning a contract for goods or services. Use this template with bolded headings as shown for the four essential elements of a contract. Start with an Introduction where you state in one sentence what this contract is for. Do not write a narrative explaining each section, rather create a basic contract and put the applicable provisions of it in each section. Copy the template into your answer. Use APA in-text citations and a References section  using our book as your research source.

Introduction

Agreement

Consideration

Legality

Contractual Capacity

 

 

 Week 7 Begins Tuesday 7/7 Ends Monday 7/13  Employment and Labor Law

 Read Chapter 9  Employment and Labor Law

Discussion Write a 350-400 word answer in which you explain the type of employment situation you have. Is it at-will employment, or are you part of a union’s collective bargaining agreement with your employer? Are you one of the rare people who has a formal written contract for employment; usually this means specific services for a specific period of time, or until a specific task is completed? What laws that our book explains is your employer bound by concerning wage and hour laws, hiring and termination of staff, and general workplace safety and what specific federal laws must your employer follow that our book explains?

Include the name of your employer. If you prefer to change the name of your employer in your answer, that’s fine. How long have you been with your employer?  Are some employees at-will and others part of a collective bargaining agreement?  If you’ve had experience with any of the topics in this week’s chapter at your current, or a former job be sure to include those. If you’re not working at this time, use a prior job as the basis for this assignment.

Week 8 Begins Tuesday 7/14  Ends Monday 7/20 Government Regulation

Read Chapter 10 Government Regulation

Discussion We’ll learn this week about Vermont’s administrative agencies, all are part of the executive branch of government, headed by the governor. Go to Vermont Administrative Agencies and find the government tab at the top, click it, and then click Agency A-Z at the left side of screen. This gives you a list of all of Vermont’s administrative agencies.

Select any three (3) of interest to you that closely regulate Vermont businesses, read their web page(s), and write a 150 word summary about each agency.  Include a link to the agency’s page in your answer. What is the department’s or agency’s function?  How is that function related to running a business in Vermont? If you realize the agency/department doesn’t have a direct or strong tie-in to business, find another agency to research and write about.

 ** Do not use the Vermont Labor Relations Board (VLRB).  Although their site says they regulate private sector union/management labor relations, reality is that so few private sector businesses are unionized in our state that you won't have anything to write about.**

   **Also do not use the Vermont Dept of Human Resources because it is solely about HR for state employees and has no intersection with businesses HR departments.**

 

Week 9 Begins Tuesday 7/21  Ends Monday 7/27  Anti-Trust Law &  Unfair Trade Practices; also Debtor Creditor, Bankruptcy, Negotiable Instruments

Rea: Chapter 11  Antitrust Law and Chapter 12  Unfair Trade Practices and the Federal Trade Commission

Discussion  Go to Federal Trade Commission and find any three (3) topics of interest that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulates.  The Advice and Guidance link at the top of the FTC's home page is the best place to start as it lists the many areas it regulates. Read the information and write a 150 word summary about each topic. Use a heading and three separate paragraphs. Include a link to that topic’s page in your answer. How might these FTC regulations impact either a business you work for now, have worked for in the past, or hope to work for in the future?

Week 10 Begins Tuesday 7/28   Ends Monday 8/3  Securities Regulation

Read Chapter 14  Securities Regulation  Note: we are not reading or discussing chapter 13 International Law because it’s beyond the purview of our course. If this is an interest area of yours, you’re welcome to read it.  Do not use chapter 13 topics as the basis of your work in week (12 TED Talks).

Discussion Why are securities regulation laws vital to the economic health of our nation’s stock market and economy? Why do we have these laws, and what event(s) were the genesis of them?  Write a 350–400 word essay in which you explain. If you need to work with our CCV librarians you’re welcome to do so.

Week 11 Begins Tuesday 8/4   Ends Monday 8/10  Writing a brief business ethics policy

Read Costco's Mission Statement and Code of Ethics  Costco Ethics Code

Discussion In this assignment you’ll write a brief (350-400) word ethics policy for a small business you’d someday like to own or manage. Please use the six headings in our template, they are adapted from Costco’s highly regarded policy that includes the three main groups in any business: customers/clients; vendors, and staff, along with the need to abide by laws. We will add an introduction with your business’ name, location, and product or service, and whether it's an LLC (limited liability corporation) and a section about how your business will give back to the community that supports it.

Begin by thinking of a small business you’d someday like to own or manage, or that you already do.  

Use the format shown below including items 1), 2), 3), 4), 5), 6).

Write in short, clear statements, not long paragraphs. This is a document your company would use on posters, brochures, and websites so it must be easy to read and eye catching. This is not to be a long explanation of specific duties of the type found in an employee manual. 

Format to Follow: copy and paste  the numbered bolded headings starting with 1) and fill in as appropriate.  The bolded words don’t count towards the word total. Do not copy my words and phrasing for the content, write your own.

1) Introduction to Ethics Policy 

2) Respect and Abide By All Laws  

3) Our Customers 

4) Our Vendors 

5) Our Staff 

6) Giving Back to the Community That Supports Us

 Week 12 Begins Tuesday 8/11  Ends Monday 8/17  TED Talks

The goal of the week 12 work is to assess if students can use the critical thinking skill called issue spotting which means being able to understand what something is about (TED Talks) that relate directly to topics we studied over the semester.   If you think of this as a final exam-type assessment of your learning and skills you're accurate.

Discussion Go  to  TED Talks

 Near the top of the screen look for the Topics drop down menu. Click and select business.

From all the Talks at these many Topics select any two (2) Talks and watch each one, then complete the format below for each Talk and post in class.

Be sure the Talks you select are directly related to our class learning. This includes topics from our book and discussions in weeks 2 through 10.

 If you watch a Talk and realize you can't relate it to our class learning per the directions in the template below, do not use the Talk.  Do not use an Talk about ethics nor write about ethics, we covered that topic in week 11. Do not use chapter 13 topics.

Use only Talks that are about the US.  We don't study international topics as they are beyond the scope of our introductory level class. 

The thesis of a Talk is one-to-two sentence(s) that concisely state what the author seeks to prove in giving the Talk. The summary of Talk is 200 words that state what the Talk is about. The two are different. Be sure you understand what a thesis statement is and then craft your thesis statement for each Talk.

Copy the bolded headings into your posting and put both  Talks in one posting box.  Do not copy the un-bolded words into your answers.

My  TED Talks
#1

Full Title of Talk

Author’s Name

Thesis of Talk   Not sure how to do this?   Thesis statement (Read all of it and focus on the short paragraph just above the yellow box, and the contents of the  yellow box. One to two sentence limit for this section.)

Summary of Talk (Write 200 words +/- 10 for this section.)

How Does This Talk Relate to our Class Readings, Discussion, and Learning?   This should include a focused explanation of the weeks, topics, chapters, section numbers, case(s), website(s) from our class that relate to your Talk. (Write 200 words +/- 10 for this section.)

Link to Talk give the URL for the Talk.

Use same format in one posting for Talk 2.

END of course