Phil 1318 (6) Contemporary Moral Problems
Spring 2013 MWF
2:00, Umphrey Lee 241
Office
hours: MWF 1-2 and by appointment
Class
blog: cmpsmu.blogspot.com
Course
Description In this course we will study moral
controversies about individual behavior and social justice. Topics will include censorship, sexual
harassment, assisted suicide, economic inequality, racism, immigration,
abortion, and our duties to animals. Our
readings will be drawn from contemporary philosophy, the history of philosophy,
and also sources outside philosophy.
Course
Goals
1. Philosophy 1318 is a Philosophical and Religious Inquiry and Ethics Pillar (level I) course
within SMU’s University Curriculum. The
student learning outcome is: “Students will be able
to describe, explain and/or employ some of the principles and theoretical
methods of philosophy, religious studies, or ethics.”
2.
In
addition, this course will help students hone skills in the area of critical
thinking, argumentative writing, and oral debate.
3.
Students
will build a foundation for future reflection about the pressing moral and
political controversies of our time.
Requirements
Exam
I (25%), Exam II (25%), Exam III (25%), Short paper (10%), Quizzes (10%), Citizenship
(5%).
Quizzes
1.
To encourage
you to come to class ready to discuss each day’s reading assignment, we will
have pop quizzes on these assignments (around 8 in total).
2.
To
do well on the quizzes, your best bet is to complete the reading in a timely
fashion (don’t just skim right before class!) read slowly and carefully, and create
an outline of the main claims and arguments.
3.
You
will receive a minimum of 50 points for taking a quiz, but zero points if you
don’t take it.
4.
Your
lowest 2 quiz grades will be dropped.
5.
There
will be no make-up quizzes except in the event that you miss a quiz due to an
official SMU extracurricular activity.
Citizenship The default citizenship grade is 90 points. You will lose points for excessive absences (see
below) and for negatives like
coming to class late, reading newspapers, escapist use of laptops, texting
during class, etc. You can gain up to 10
points by being an especially good contributor to class discussion.
Attendance I
will consider absences excessive if they add up to more than 5 over the whole
semester. Each additional absence,
beyond 5, will lower your citizenship grade by 10 points. Think of the 5 absences as a “budget”: it
must cover both necessary absences for illness and other absences as well, so
“spend” it carefully.
Make-up
exams Make-up exams will be given only
to students who have an outstandingly good reason for missing a class, such as
being ill, needing to attend a funeral, or participating in an official SMU
extra-curricular event. Be prepared to
present documentation. If you are
physically able, ask for permission before
missing an exam. Don't make any travel
plans before looking at the schedule.
Disability Accommodations Students needing academic accommodations for a disability must first contact DASS (214-768-1470 or www.smu.edu/alec/dass.asp) to verify the disability and establish eligibility for accommodations. You should then communicate with me to make appropriate arrangements. (University Policy No. 2.4.)
Extra-curricular Activities If
you participate in an official, scheduled, SMU extracurricular activity, you
will be given the opportunity to make up exams and assignments missed as a
result of your participation. It is your
responsibility to make arrangements with me prior to any missed examination or
assignment. Please discuss your schedule
with me at the beginning of the semester.
Religious
observance “Religiously observant students wishing to
be absent on holidays that require missing class should notify their professors
in writing at the beginning of the semester, and should discuss with them, in
advance, acceptable ways of making up any work missed because of the absence.”
(University Policy No. 1.9.)
Grade
interpretation. Each test and assignment will be graded on a
100-point scale. 100-97 = A+; 96-93=A;
92-90=A-, 89-87=B+, 86-83=B, etc.
A-range Very accurate, very insightful. Only a few minor flaws.
B-range Some very good work, but also some
significant gaps.
C-range You've learned something, but missed many
important things as well.
D-range Very little mastery of any of the
material.
F-range No significant mastery or not turned in,
etc.
Honor Code Violation
of SMU's honor code will not be tolerated.
Every piece of work you turn in must be entirely your own. Writing a paper means both expressing your own thoughts, and expressing them in your own words. You may not copy passages from our texts,
from any other texts, or from the internet, even if the passages are
brief. No one else may write a paper for
you, whether in whole or in part. The penalty for academic dishonesty will be
a zero on the paper or exam in question and possibly also in the course. On
top of this grade penalty, the case may be presented to the honor council,
which may decide to take further disciplinary action, such as suspension or
dismissal.
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