Course Description

601:782. Fall 2 WI*

601:784. Spring P3


SEMINAR: MARSHALL-BRENNAN CONSTITUTIONAL LITERACY

FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM

Friedman and Ricks


Prerequisite: Constitutional Law

Limited enrollment (14) and permission of instructor required.

Students required to attend “Boot camp” to be scheduled by instructor

(1.5 - 2 days)


The Marshall-Brennan Constitutional Literacy Fellowship Program enlists law students in an effort to increase civic literacy and participation in American democracy. Talented second- and third-year law students prepare and teach a course in Constitutional Law to Camden high school students. The aim is to make the Constitution “come alive” for young people in Camden while simultaneously improving law students’ ability to translate and explain complicated legal concepts into lay terms.


Marshall-Brennan is a sequential two-semester course. In the fall semester, meeting weekly in a two-hour seminar, the Fellows will study Constitutional law with a focus on cases and concepts concerning young people and schools. They will draft and execute lesson plans relating to these topics and will develop lesson planning and teaching skills. Fellows also will research and write a paper on a relevant topic. The fall seminar provides two course credits and qualifies as “writing intensive optional.”


In the spring, teams of two Fellows each will teach Constitutional law courses at Camden high schools, typically conducting four, 45-minute class sessions each week. Fellows will be entirely responsible for their courses. They will interact with high school teachers, design lesson plans, lead classes and evaluate students. With a continuing focus on issues of law, the spring seminar sessions also will explore teaching strategies and classroom dynamics and will provide general support for Fellows. The spring course provides three non-course credits and no writing credits.


Note: While every effort will be made to accommodate the convenience of the Fellows, teaching in the spring is a significant time commitment that may require significant flexibility. In particular, students may not be able to take all of or exactly the law school courses they want.


Fellows are chosen through a competitive process during the spring semester of each year. All interested students are encouraged to apply. Applicants are chosen based on their academic preparation, motivation, maturity and intellectual interest in constitutional issues. Interested students should attend the informational session(s) held during the spring semester.


Last updated September 26, 2016



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