Requirements
 |
The following is a detailed outline of what may be included on this unit test and what will be expected
of the student. In order to successfully complete this test,
the student must be able to: |
- explain the purpose of criminal law;
- outline and explain the legislative requirements for an offence to be considered a crime:
- The act must be wrong;
- The act must cause harm;
- The harm must be serious;
- The act must best be dealt with through the mechanism of criminal law.
Reference: Class note; PPT
- differentiate between "Mens Rea" and "Actus Reus";
- differentiate between the following forms of Mens Rea: pp. 278-282; PPT
- intent
- recklessness
- willful blindness:
- Differentiate between "strict liability" and "absolute liability" offences. (Reference: Class note; pp. 281-282; PPT)
- Outline and explain the categories within the "hierarchy" of Canadian criminal offences, ie:
- indictable offences,
- summary offences, and
- hybrid offences
Reference: Class note; pp. 282-87; PPT
- Define and explain the following incomplete crimes:
- conspiracy (Section 465, Criminal Code),
- aid (Section 21, Criminal Code),
- abet (Section 21, Criminal Code), and
- accessory after the fact
(Section 23, Criminal Code).
Reference: Class note; PPT
The first quiz covers just the material up to here.
The second quiz covers just the material
from this point down to the next line.
- Explain the rationale behind any of the following historical methods
of adjudication:
- Trial by Compurgation (aka Wager of Law),
- Trial by Combat (aka Battle), and
- Trial by Ordeal
- Explain how our historical brutal methods of adjudication have impacted on present-day trial procedures.
- Discuss any of the following aspects of the pre-trial process:
- first appearance (arraignment)
- bail hearing
- disclosure meeting
- preliminary hearing
- pre-trial
- plea bargaining
- Discuss the roles and responsibilities of the following trial players:
- Judge
- Jury
- Crown Attorney
- Defence Attorney
- Discuss the difference between the following roles:
- trier of law
- trier of fact
- Outline the trial format:
- opening arguments
- case for the Crown (order of questioning)
- case for the defence (order of questioning)
- closing arguments
- deliberation
- verdict
- Explain and differentiate between the various possible trial outcomes:
- quash / dismissal
- stay
- acquittal
- conviction
- hung jury
The third quiz covers just the material
from this point down to the next line.
- Differentiate between, and discuss, any of the following rules related to the presentation of evidence:
- character of the accused
- "modus operandi"
- similar fact evidence
- perjury
(lying on the witness stand; an offence under the Criminal Code;
punishable by up to 14 years)
The third quiz covers all
of the material below the line above and up to here.
 |
Once this test has been marked and handed back, students may be asked to write a reflective journal in which they discuss aspects of the test that they found challenging versus those aspects that seemed straight-forward or easy. Students are asked to discuss specific technical mistakes that they made, and to state whether they now understand the issue underlying the error. |
Studying and Writing Skills: