PHILOSOPHY 103
Policies, Procedures, etc. 

◊  Structure                                                                        

◊  Grades

◊  Make-ups & Extensions                      

◊  Academic Honesty    

◊  Civility

◊  Course Objectives

◊  Reasonable Accommodations

 

Structure

This course has two major components – the lecture and the classroom meeting.

Grades

The final grade will be weighted as follows:

I.   Quizzes:  Promptly at 8:00 a.m. (as determined by UI computer system) in the lecture room, a quiz question will be given.  When announced, students are to immediately stop writing and pass their quizzes to the aisle for collection. Students should refrain from speaking until the quizzes have reached the aisle.   

The quiz question will be based on the assigned reading.  The quiz is intended as a medium in which the student can evidence that she/he has carefully read – but not necessarily understood – the assigned reading.  Quiz answers that fail to do this may be assigned a negative value.     

Anyone leaving the lecture early will not receive credit for the quiz unless prior approval was received from the classroom instructor. Except in an emergency, leaving the lecture early without permission will be deemed an instance of academic dishonesty.

II.  Essay Tests:  Three essay tests covering the lecture material will be given in the regular classroom meeting period.  Test # 1 will cover the material from topics 1-5 and will be given the week Topic 6 is covered in lecture.  Test # 2 will cover the material from topics 6-10 and will be given the week Topic 11 is covered in lecture.  Test # 3 will cover the material from topics 11-15 and will be given during the time period designated for the final exam. (There is no comprehensive final.) 

At least ˝ of each test will be comprised of the posted study questions.  The remainder may involve such things as the application of theory to specific problems. The credit given will be relative to students’ demonstrated knowledge.

III.  Classroom Meetings:  This is the forum for resolving questions regarding the lecture material and/or the study questions.  During this period, the instructor will facilitate the student’s understanding of the proper application of the ethical theory through such activities as group work and class discussion.  The credit given for classroom meetings is dependent upon the students’ attendance, written responses to discussion points and discussion participation. 

IV.  Paper:  One paper of approximately 5-6 pages in length is required. Your classroom instructor will discuss the specific mechanics and expectations of this assignment with you.  The paper is due the class period prior to the beginning of "dead week".  The paper may be turned in anytime before the due date.

The paper topic is listed at the following link: Paper Topic Fall 2009 

Please note that this is not a research paper and it should not use sources that have not been used or developed in this class.

Make-ups & Extensions

Quizzes:

If a student misses a quiz due to an excused absence or an illness, a make-up in the form of a summary of the assigned reading may be submitted the following class period. 

An excused absence is defined by University of Idaho policy as a) an approved field trip or other official UI activity; b) confinement under doctor's orders; c) call to military duty; or d) leave of absence granted by student's academic dean.

Essay Tests:

Make-ups will be given only with the classroom instructor's permission.  Permission will be granted if evidence is presented of an illness, a family (extended or otherwise) emergency, or a University recognized excused absence.

Papers:

Normally, no extensions will be granted.  Extensions may be granted at the classroom instructor’s discretion in extraordinary circumstances. 

Academic Honesty

I.   Academic honesty is governed by the Student Code of Conduct.

II.  Anyone found plagiarizing or otherwise cheating will receive a zero (0) for the work involved.

Plagiarism may include 1) the direct copying of another’s writings, with or without minor rephrasing, without citing the source, and 2) not indicating directly quoted passages when the work is cited as a general source.  

Furthermore, it is the policy of the Philosophy Department to refer all instances of academic dishonesty to the Dean of Students. These are the minimum consequences for academic dishonesty.  Further consequences may include receiving a grade of "F" in the course.  

Civility

I.  Throughout this course, we will be discussing many issues that may involve an individual's deeply held values. While disagreement is encouraged, it is expected that each person be accorded the basic respect that we ourselves would presumably expect and desire.  This includes, but is not limited to, refraining from the use of  "offensive" language.

II.  Arriving late to the lecture can be disruptive to the class as a whole.  To help deal with this, students arriving after the class has begun shall sit in a designated seating area. (Students arriving on time should not sit in this area.)  

III.  Because they are distracting, laptop computers shall not be used in the lecture hall unless approved as a reasonable accommodation.

IV.  Students found sleeping, using cell phones, reading newspapers, listening to music, or otherwise not paying attention during the lecture will be asked to leave the lecture hall and will not receive credit for their quiz.

Course Objectives

Reasonable Accommodations

Reasonable accommodations are available for students who have documented temporary or permanent disabilities.  All accommodations must be approved through Disability Support Services, located in the Idaho Commons Building, Room 306. Please contact Disability Support Services as soon as possible so that you may receive accommodations in a timely manner.