Introduction to Ethics Syllabus for 2017-2018
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Course

PHIL-2306-005 Introduction to Ethics

Prerequisites

Course Description

The systematic evaluation of classical and/or contemporary ethical theories concerning the good life, human conduct in society, morals and standards of value.

Student ResourcesStudent Resources Website

Department Expectations

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Notice to Students enrolled in an educational program for preparation of issuance of certain occupational licenses:

Students enrolled in an educational program in preparation for obtaining certain occupational licenses are potentially ineligible for such license if the student has been convicted of an offense. For further information, please contact your advisor, the Legal Clinic, or the faculty member in charge of the educational program that you seek to enroll in. The further information you will receive will include notification to you of your right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the licensing authority in order to clarify your particular situation.

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

Online Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

1. Shafer-Landau, Russ, The Fundamentals of Ethics Oxford University Press, 2015. ISBN: 978-0-19-999723-7;
2. Shafer-Landau, Russ, The Ethical Life Oxford University Press, 2015. ISBN: 978-0-19-999727-5;
3. AND this syllabus (you will be tested over the assigned materials in all three).

Supplies

Your textbook, syllabus, a dictionary, pens or pencils, notebook paper or a notebook, and access to a computer to complete assignments and review class materials. Access to library materials is necessary for the successful completion of this course. Access to film rentals may be necessary if you cannot attend on the days we view and discuss contemporary movies (all of which are listed in your course outline which I will follow closely.

Student Performance

ACCESSING AC CONNECT:

Online communication will be achieved between students and the professor by using AC Connect.  It is the student's responsibility to check for email messages and announcements regarding this class by clicking on AC Connect at the top of the Amarillo College home page, and then clicking on the icon identifying this class.  You will be able to communicate with both your classmates and professor, check your syllabus, find required supplemental materials and reviews for the examinations, and find your grades posted there.

Any really important communication with your teacher must be sent via email so that we both may maintain a permanent record of it. You will also find a Formative Feedback form that must be completed and submitted this week. These will not receive a grade, but I will add five points to your first examination if you will complete and submit it.

OBJECTIVES AND GOALS: We will identify the ethical theories which support our ethical decisions through the writings of great philosophers. However, we will explore the practical applications of our moral and ethical actions through the age-old practice of narrative and storytelling.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (EXEMPLARY EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES):

Upon successful completion of the course, students will:

1. Read, analyze, and critique philosophical texts. 
2. Define and appropriately use important terms such as relativism, virtue, duty, rights, utilitarianism, natural law, egoism, altruism, autonomy, and care ethics.
3. Demonstrate knowledge of major arguments and problems in ethics.
4. Present and discuss well-reasoned ethical positions in writing.
5. Apply ethical concepts and principles to address moral concerns including living responsibly in a world where people have diverse political priorities.
6. Apply course material to various aspects of life.
7. Discuss ways of living responsibly in a world where people have diverse political beliefs..

THE STUDY OF PHILOSOPHY:  Philosophy is an important part to the foundation of a liberal arts education. Courses in philosophy help to provide a deeper understanding of the concepts which have formed human cultures while at the same time helping to develop the students’ skills in critical analysis, their ability to write and interpret texts from all cultures, and to examine the ideas behind theoretical thinking. 

SPECIFIC COURSE REQUIREMENTS FOR PHILOSOPHY 2306:

1. Reading. A careful reading of all the assigned sections of the textbooks (see the class outline in this syllabus to find your specific reading assignments), and all lectures and informational sheets.   Reading the assigned portions of the textbook and watching the assigned movies are necessary for the successful completion of this course. 
2. Watching Movies. You must either rent, download or own and watch four movies during the course of this semester. You will find worksheets to help you notice those aspects of each movie that is important for this class in each of the following weekly folders.

Week Two: “A Passage to India” (1984)

Week Four: “The Help” (2011)

Week Five: “As Good As It Gets” (1997)

Week Seven: “Little Women” (1994)

Week Eight: “Hidden Figures” (2017)

3.Testing. The successful completion of three major examinations. Only the final exam will be comprehensive. You will have an hour to complete each exam; and you only have one chance to take each exam. All three major examinations will close at 11:00 P.M., on the date they are due. See the course outline and calendar in this syllabus for the dates of these exams.

4. Weekly Quizzes. The successful completion of weekly quizzes every week that you do not have a major examination. You must take the actual quizzes by Saturday of the week they are due; and you will be limited to ten minutes on each of the short quizzes when you take it. Therefore, you must be prepared to start before you open each quiz. All weekly quizzes will close at 11:00 P.M. on Saturday evening of the week they are due.

5. Online Discussions. Active participation in all online discussions. You must speak respectfully to and of your fellow students and the instructor during all class discussions.

If you want to make a 100 on these weekly discussions I will expect you to thoughtfully respond to all of my questions each week. And you will either . . .

Thoughtfully offer at least two original postings of you own for your classmates to read and possibly respond to; or . . .

Thoughtfully reply to at least two postings offered by your classmates.

This is a DISCUSSION.

Beyond that, I will grade your weekly discussions according to the following scale, with points deducted for hurried or thoughtless posts and responses (saying “I agree” is not enough).

a.  I will give you a 90 if you have thoughtfully replied to all my questions, and offered only one of your own postings or one reply to another students’ posting.

b. I will give you an 80 if you have only thoughtfully replied to my questions.

c. I will give you a 70 if you have only included your own postings and/or replies to other students’ postings, but have not responded to my questions.

d. I will give you a 50 if you only offer one reply to anyone else in the class, or offer only one original posting of your own.

e. You will receive a 0 each week that you do not participate, OR do not treat your classmates with respect.

f. In week five, you will have a worksheet to complete instead of a group discussion. It will be graded according to the quality of your responses.

g. All weekly discussions will close at 11:00 P.M., on Saturday evening.

6. The online submission in Rich Text Format (RTF) of an acceptable research paper.

a. For this paper, you are to choose one of the ethical problems listed below. Then, having chosen one of the ethical problems, write your paper (1) identifying and clarifying that problem, (2) identifying the most common ethical solutions which have been offered for that problem, and (3) defending the solution that you think is best. This is the outline I expect you to follow. And I expect you to use the listed chapters in The Ethical Life as one of your sources.

 Your choices are:

World Hunger (The Ethical Life, chapters 20-21)

Euthanasia (The Ethical Life, chapters 22-23)

Abortion (The Ethical Life, chapters 30-32)

The Limits of the Law (The Ethical Life, chapters 33-36)

b. Look for and use respected, academic level resources which are written by philosophers and ethicists who really believe in the correctness of the ethical solutions they are explaining. In other words, do not limit your sources to those which agree with your personal conclusions. And, do not use sources which disagree with a certain point-of-view to define that point-of-view. Be objective and open minded.

c. In using the various resources and writers available to you, always remember that "before one can say ‘I disagree’ one must be able to say ‘I understand’” (William James).

d. This paper must be 4-6 double spaced typed pages in length, excluding the attached “Works Cited” page, using size 12 point font (the size font you are reading in this syllabus). It must also use one inch margins on all four sides of each page. Note: a few lines typed on page 4 does not make a 5 page paper. 

e. This paper must also use good form; include either footnote or parenthetical documentation inside the text, and a complete “Works Cited” page attached as a last page for the paper (See the MLA Handbook available in the college bookstore, and in good libraries regarding form and documentation. You are all encouraged to visit the "Writers Corner" in room 102 of Ordway Hall on the Washington street campus for free and personal help if you are in Amarillo.

f. Your attached "Works Cited" page must include at least five sources other than your textbooks which are documented inside the text of your paper.

g. If you use internet resources, make sure that they come from reliable, academic level websites, and are properly documented so that your instructor may check your references. DO NOT resort to non-academic internet resources such as Wikipedia  or Philosopher Quotes (which may be edited and changed by anyone).

h. This paper must be submitted in the designated drop box by 11:00 p.m. on February 18, 2017.

i. See the Paper Weighing Scale on this syllabus to understand how your paper will be graded.

 

Research Paper Grading Scale

For select courses taught by Jerry L. Klein

Documentation and Form are graded by the standards in the MLA Handbook (consult your syllabus).

1.  Mechanics: 20%

             A.        Introduction                           5     4     3     2     1     0     5%

                              Grammar/Spelling

                               Evidence of Proof-Reading

                               Neatness

                               Documentation/Form               

         B.        Body                                       5     4     3     2     1     0     5%

                              Grammar/Spelling

                               Evidence of Proof-Reading

                               Neatness

                               Documentation/Form

         C.        Conclusion                             5     4     3     2     1     0     5%

                              Grammar/Spelling

                               Evidence of Proof-Reading

                               Neatness

                               Documentation/Form               

         D.        Bibliography                           5     4     3     2     1     0     5%

                               Form/Content

                               Completeness/Consistency

                               Neatness

                               Spelling

                               Any Obvious Sources Not Consulted?      

                                

2.  Content:  80%

 A.        Introduction                          10    8   6    4    2     0     10%

       B.        Thesis Statement                 10     8     6     4     2     0    10%    

      C.        Internal Documentation        10     8     6     4    2     0     10%       

       D.        Use of Logic/Thoughtfulness/

                           Analysis                       10     8     6     4     2     0     10%

        E.       Completeness/Consistency 10    8     6     4     2     0     10%

        F.         Reactions/Conclusions       10     8     6     4     2     0     10%

        G.        Future Value of Paper         10     8     6     4     2     0     10%

        H.        Is the Paper Interesting?    10     8     6     4     2     0     10%

         I.                    Length:  - ______ points (acceptable length loses zero points)

3.  Total Points/Letter Grade:  ______\______    

4.  Comments:

 

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Student Rights and Responsibilities

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If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

ACADEMIC HONESTY:

All matters of academic dishonesty including plagiarism, collusion, and fabrication and cheating will result in a failing grade for the assignment in question.  All violations will be reported to the proper college authorities for review. 

STUDENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

All students are required to follow the AC Student Rights/Responsibilities Statement (On the internet, go to www.actx.edu  and look under the “campus bookmarks”).

Grading Criteria

COURSE GRADE BREAKDOWN:           COURSE GRADING SCALE:                 

Discussions                      25%                            90-100                A

Quizzes                            25%                             80-89                 B

Major Exams                    25%                             70-79                 C      

Research Paper               25%                             60-69                 D

                                       100%                              0-59                  F                                            

Attendance

Calendar

Additional Information

OFFICES:     Byrd Business Building, Room 316 

OFFICE HOURS:

9:15-10:15 AM, Mondays through Thursdays at Byrd 316.

I can be available at almsot any time I am not in class, by appointment.  

PHONE:       806-371-5397, Philosophy Office (during office hours only)

                    806-683-7465, Cell (available anytime other than when I am in class)

EMAIL:         jlklein@actx.edu; and in AC Connect