PHILOSOPHY 103
Policies, Procedures, etc.◊ Grades
◊ Civility
Structure
This course has three major components – lecture, online discussion, and the classroom meeting.
- The lectures will center on ethical theory.
- The online discussion will involve the application of the ethical theory to concrete issues.
- The classroom meeting will clarify questions regarding the ethical theory and will further extend the application of that theory.
The final grade will normally be weighted as follows:
- 10% - Summations
- 30% - Essay Tests
- 20% - Online Discussions
- 20% - Classroom Meetings
- 20% - Paper
I. Summations: At the end of the lecture period, students will PERSONALLY submit a TYPED summation to their respective classroom instructors. These should summarize the main points of the assigned reading and demonstrate that students have read the complete assignment. Summations will not be accepted from students who have not attended the lecture or who arrive late to the lecture. (Attempted submissions in violation of this policy shall be deemed a case of academic dishonesty - see below.) Exceptions will be made for those students who have an excused absence (see below). Summations meeting the above-stated requirements will receive full credit. Deficient summations will receive no credit.
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 - the week of February 19th. Test # 2 will cover the material from topics 6-10 and will be given the week Topic 11 is covered in lecture - the week of April 2nd. Test # 3 will cover the material from topics 11-15 and will be given during the time period designated for the final exam - Wednesday, May 9th @ 7:30 am. (There is no comprehensive final.)
At least ½ 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. Online Discussion: By each Tuesday, a question will be posted to the web page corresponding to the lecture. UNLESS OTHERWISE DIRECTED BY YOUR CLASSROOM INSTRUCTOR, students will reply to the posted question by Wednesday at midnight and respond to 2 other group members in their designated discussion group. Only one posting may be made per day and all postings must be completed by Monday at midnight. Postings should be approximately ½ page in length and the responses must make a substantial contribution to furthering the discussion. Instructors may require the written submission of these postings. Postings meeting these requirements will receive full credit. Deficient postings will receive no credit.
Notes on postings:
- It is suggested that you prepare your answers and your responses to other students in a word processing program, offline. This should help you take the time you need to meet all the requirements of the assignments and to carefully consider your views before sending them irretrievably off into cyberspace.
- Think carefully, and express your position clearly. To the best of your ability, be sure any facts you assert are correct. Cite any sources you use.
- All postings should demonstrate the same level of respect for other’s views that would be expected if you were face to face in class. See the note on civility below.
IV. Classroom Meetings: This is the forum for resolving questions regarding the lecture material or the study questions. The instructor may deal with this through additional lecture or otherwise. Also, the instructor will facilitate the student’s further understanding of the proper application of the ethical theory through such activities as group work and class discussion. At the instructor’s discretion, this may or may not deal with the question posted for the online discussion. The credit given for classroom meetings is dependent upon the students’ attendance and participation.
V. 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". Dead week begins April 30th. The paper may be turned in anytime before the due date.
The paper topic is listed at the following link: Paper Topic Spring 2007
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.
Summations:
Late submissions will be accepted only if a student has an excused absence. If this occurs, the student must submit the summation and written notification of the excused absence to the classroom instructor no later than the class period immediately following the absence. However, if you have advanced written notification of an excused absence, please provide this to your instructor prior to the absence.
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.
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.
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 can be disruptive to the class as a whole, especially in the large lecture hall. To deal with this, students that arrive on time should not sit in the two back rows of the lecture hall. Students arriving after the class has begun shall sit in these rows.
III. Because they are distracting, laptop computers shall not be used in the lecture hall unless needed 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 be able to submit their summations for credit.
- Students will be able to read and comprehend primary philosophical texts on an introductory level.
- Students will learn the basic tenets of several Western and Eastern ethical theories and be able to apply them to everyday situations.
- Students will learn to assess the strengths and weaknesses of various ethical theories.
- Students will be able to identify, describe, justify, and criticize their own ethical views as well as the views of other people.
- Students will find that the study of ethics is relevant to their lives.
Reasonable accommodations are available for students who have a documented disability. Please notify the instructor during the first week of class of any accommodations needed for the course. Late notification may mean that requested accommodations might not be available. All accommodations must be approved through Disability Support Services located in the Idaho Commons Building, Rm. 333.
- 885-7200
- email at dss@uidaho.edu