I have only two rules: R & R (Responsibility & Respect)

I respect you and expect respect from you.
Being a mature college student entails responsibility. This means you are responsible for yourself,  your education,  your assignments, your behavior, your attitude, and your timeliness, your contributions to the classroom atmosphere.

Responsible students are generally

• Prompt: They avoid coming to class late. The class starting time is not a "suggested" started time. Stragglers distract from opening lectures. Students must stay for the entire duration of the class.
• Attentive: They pay close attention to their classmates while they are speaking.  They are objective, open-minded, and tolerant of ideas, especially those that seem opposed to their own point of view. Federal Express was considered a dumb idea when presented as a business project in a college class. The ringers on their cell phones are off, unless there are extenuating circumstances. They are not  crunching on  noisy chips or walking to the trash can to dispose of empty cups and trash. They are not nonchalantly thumbing through a magazine or doing other assignments.
• Prepared: They are  prepared  for active discussions. Reading and homework assignments are essential background for in-class assignments and discussions. We must recognize that a thoughtful question is at least as valuable as a conclusive response.
  Prepared students may bring in current event articles for discussion.
• Supportive: People are sensitive and anxious about oral and written communication. Encouragement and expressions of appreciation play an important role in teamwork. Strive to find the strengths in your classmates’ work. Also, suggestions for improvement are always welcome and improve everyone’s creativity and critical thinking skills.
• Contributors to a positive classroom atmosphere: Every assignment provides us with an opportunity for discussion. The quality of discussion depends on you. If you listen carefully, find something of value, and respond enthusiastically, you will help make the class an enjoyable and rewarding experience for everyone. Don't talk while classmates are talking or this will negatively affect your class participation/contribution grade.

Course Description

Covers the fundamentals of ethics, including an introduction to the origins and nature of moral right and responsibility. Students will analyze and formulate positions on contemporary ethical issues.

Disabilities Statement

If you are a student with a disability and believe you will need accommodations for this class, it is your responsibility to contact the disabilities Counseling Service at 383-5240. To avoid any delay in the receipt of accommodations, you should contact the counselor as soon as possible. Please note that I cannot provide accommodations based upon disability until I have received an accommodation letter from the Disabilities Counselor. Your cooperation is appreciated.

Evaluation Criteria

Grading is based on the criteria established in the Three Rivers College catalog.

You will receive grades on  3  exams; one paper and oral presentation requiring ethical analysis and reflection; and participation.

Keep a copy of ALL your work.  If ever anything is  "missing,"  the burden of proof is on you.

The percentage of the final grade resulting from each of these will be determined at our first meeting.

Grades will conform to the following numerical ranges:

Class Participation Points:

As dialogue is critical in philosophy courses, your participation grade will reflect your contributions to the class. Students receiving an A for participation will meet the following requirements:

1. Attend all classes punctually  and remain for the duration of class sessions, contributing your insights.
2. Demonstrate evidence of consistent prior reading and thought
3. Participate actively in classroom dialogue
4. Present summaries to the class of small group discussion and activities

Extra Credit Points

In addition, you will have the opportunity to increase your final numerical average by a maximum of three points if you contribute to the class in an exemplary manner. Items that contribute towards exemplary qualities would include the following: bringing in current articles and volunteering to summarize and/or lead a discussion on these; volunteering  for extra projects; stellar participation and attendance; contributions to the class web page; presenting a lecture/extra credit project  on a relevant topic or  book; showing a portion of a video to demonstrate ethical principles; participating in an activity that would bring credit or publicity to the class....   I am always eager to hear your  creative proposals.

Extra credit is not busywork; it is something which positively contributes to the class. 

Objectives

By the end of the course, students will be able to do the following:

1. Understand and critique ethical theory
2. Extract ethical questions or propositions that are implicit within the law, issues of personal behavior, and public policy;.
3. Analyze  complex ethical issues by identifying its underlying causes of ethical tension or conflict;
4. Listen to, consider the reasonableness of, and respond to ethical ideas contrary to their own. Students   will be able to clearly articulate points of agreement and points of disagreement;
5. Identify connections and relationships among different ethical issues;
6. Reflect critically on the process by which you and others arrive at decisions on complex ethical issues;
7. Reflect critically on the dissonance (if any) between  present  behavior and moral beliefs;
8. Research ethical issues utilizing the library’s online catalog and professional databases;
9. Evaluate web resources;
10. Speak and write articulately  on ethical theories and issues;
11. Reflect critically upon and analyze ethical issues of personal and professional importance. You will be able to reason toward a decision  on complex ethical issues and  articulate justification for one’s moral decision and actions.
12. Appreciate the virtue of acting as responsible citizens, committed to ethical principles of freedom, equality, and justice. Students will better understand self, community, and our responsibility for such;

Plagiarism and Academic Integrity

Any form of cheating will result n the immediate failure of the assignment and an official report to academic officials.

Plagiarism is the unacknowledged use of another person’s works or ideas in your writing.  It is often known as copying word for word.  However, even paraphrasing without acknowledgement or using the ideas of your peers garnered from class discussion or study groups is considered plagiarism.  Whether it be conscious or unconscious, plagiarism is a serious academic offense.  Your writing for this course, and any other course at TRCC, is expected to be original, the product of your own thinking.   Please see me if you are unsure what constitutes plagiarism.

Read and abide by the college's academic integrity policy http://www.trcc.commnet.edu/Stu_Programs/StudentOrgPage/HANDBOOK_TRCC_2007-2008.pdf

Withdrawal Policy

Students may withdraw from a class, in writing at the Registrar’s Office, for any reason until  (approximately) the end of the 10^th week of classes.  From the 11^th week through the end of the 13^th week, a student may withdraw with the signature of the instructor or advisor.  Check the college catalog for specific dates.  Formal withdrawal eliminates receiving an F for the course.       

Attachment: Listing of Assignments

Instructor reserves the right to revise this syllabus.