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Page 1Page 2Page 3Philosophy 225 MC Spring 2001INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY2:00 - 2:50 MWF, Plumb Hall 409Instructor: Dr. Ted ToadvineOffice Hours: 12:00-1:00 MW, 2:00-3:20 Tuesday, 1:00-2:00 Friday (or by appointment) in Plumb Hall 411PPhone: 341-5566 (office); 341-5462 (Social Sciences Secretary)Email: [email protected] TEXTTraversing Philosophical Boundaries, ed. by Max Hallman (Wadsworth, 1998).COURSE OBJECTIVESC To come to an understanding of relevant issues and arguments surrounding some of the deepest and most enduringphilosophical problems, e.g., Is there an eternal self? How can I distinguish right from wrong? What are myobligations to other people and the world around me? What role should religion play in my life and in society?C To explore the diverse perspectives and positions on these issues across a wide range of cultures and time periods.C To introduce you to the specific ways of thinking appropriate for philosophical questions and train you to think andwrite critically about philosophical issues.C To encourage you to reflect philosophically on these and other significant issues which confront us all today.This course fulfills the "Multicultural Intensive" course requirement and the General Education requirement in Literatureand Ideas (Basic Skills VI) for certain majors. COURSE REQUIREMENTSC average of weekly short quizzes = 30%C 2 600-word take-home essays @ 15% each = 30%C mid-term and final exams @ 20% each = 40%1. Attendance at the lectures is absolutely crucial for understanding of the readings and participation in class discussion.Therefore, attendance at every class is expected as a minimal requirement for this course. It is your responsibility todocument your attendance on a sheet which will be circulated in class. Missing SIX classes FOR ANY REASON willresult in a full grade reduction. In the event that ALL SIX absences are the result of an extreme medical condition,documented by a statement from your physician or Health Services, notify me as soon as possible to discuss extraassignments to make up for your missed time. After the sixth, each further absence will result in an additional fullgrade reduction. There is no need to document illness for fewer than six absences, except in the case of having misseda quiz, exam, or reading day. I do not accept last-minute “extra-credit” work from those whose failure to attend hasresulted in a poor grade at the end of the semester.2. You are expected to be in command of the assigned readings PRIOR to the class period in which we will discuss them,since you cannot intelligently discuss what you have not read. Some of the readings will be quite dense and requireeffort on your part to understand them. Give yourself time to read difficult passages more than once. To encourageyou to read the assigned material before class, there will be brief, unannounced quizzes at the beginning of classalmost every week. Passing these quizzes will require that you CAREFULLY read all assignments, review materialfrom the previous classes, and arrive at class on time. NO MAKEUP QUIZZES will be given for those who are absentor late for class without documentation of an emergency.3. You will write two take-home essays, each worth 15% of the final course grade, in response to questions distributedin class. Essays must be at least 600 words (about 2 pages), and a WORD COUNT must appear on the first page ofyour essay. Papers less than the minimum number of words will receive an “F.” Essays will only be accepted ifTYPEWRITTEN, DOUBLE-SPACED, STAPLED, AND PROOF-READ. For help constructing your essays, pleaseread the Appendix in Hallman, "Writing Philosophically" (665-684). Further assistance is available from the WritingCenter, 345 Southeast Morse Hall (341-5380). If you anticipate trouble with your writing, please consult with theWriting Center or myself as soon as possible during the semester. Students having trouble with writing fundamentalsmay be required to seek assistance from the Writing Center as a condition for continuing in the course.4. On the days that essays are due, we will have a “reading day” devoted to discussion of student papers.ATTENDENCE AT ESSAY READING DAYS IS REQUIRED. PAPERS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED FROMSTUDENTS WHO DO NOT ATTEND UNLESS ACCOMPANIED BY WRITTEN DOCUMENTATION OF ANEMERGENCY. On these days, students will be selected at random to present their essays to the class and answerquestions from classmates about their essays. You will not be graded on your reading or comments, except as follows:Failure to read your essay on a day that you are selected will result in a failing grade for that assignment. If you havea legitimate reason for not wishing to read in front of the class (e.g., a medical reason), you must discuss this with meprior to the first essay assignment.5. On the days indicated on the course schedule, you will take a mid-term and final examination, each worth 20% of yourfinal grade. Each exam will have two parts: an “objective” component (true/false, fill-in-the-blank, or short answer)and an essay component. Review sheets will be distributed one week prior to exams, and ample class time will beprovided to ask questions about the material to be covered on exams. Each exam will cover half of the course (i.e.,the Final is non-cumulative).6. Discussion is crucial to this class, and I will do my best to make you feel at ease and welcome to contribute to theclass conversation. The best way to understand these sometimes difficult and controversial topics is to talk about themwith each other, so please feel free to contribute any question, objection, or other thought about the topic at hand whensuch occurs to you. NO RELEVANT REMARK IS OUT OF BOUNDS IN THIS CLASS. As an added incentive foryour participation, I will take into account your regular contributions to the ongoing discussion in borderline gradecases. For example, regular thoughtful participation in discussion (not just quantity, of course, but also quality) mayraise a high “B” grade (an 89, for example) up to an “A.”PLEASE NOTE1. Academic dishonesty of any kind will not be tolerated. This includes plagiarism, the paraphrase or quotation of anypublished or unpublished source—including the textbook—without full and clear acknowledgment. If you areuncertain about what documentation is appropriate, please consult the Writing Center or myself before submitting yourwritten work. The university policy regarding academic


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