| Philosophy 105:
Philosophical Thinking Spring 2004 -- Maclean Hall 165 -- TH 10 a.m. Theodore Gracyk, Philosophy Department Office: Bridges 359B Phone:
477-4089 Required Texts:
Course Description: This course stresses critical reflection about selected philosophical topics from such areas as religion, society, human nature, morality, and knowledge. Major emphasis on development of skills in philosophical writing. Course Goals:
Grading Policies: You will be graded on seven things:
Papers are due at the start of class on their due date. Late work that does not receive prior authorization to be late cannot receive a grade above C+. Late work that has not been submitted within one week of its due date will drop another grade step for each day that it is late. (This means that a paper that is two weeks late is a failing paper.) There is no penalty for a late paper if you have received prior authorization to hand it in late. The best way to receive prior authorization is by speaking to me or by telephoning me (if I am not there, just leave a message on my voice mail). Leaving me a voice mail message will automatically grant you a one day extension on a due date. Email is fine if done several days in advance (and I will acknowledge it by return email). But email is unreliable for contacting me on the due date itself because I may not have time to see it before the start of class, when it is due. In-class writing is automatically
late if not handed to the professor during the class period in which
it is written. Rough drafts of your five essays will be required for discussion during class time. If you do not have copies of your rough draft on a day that it is to be discussed, it will be treated as two in-class writings that you've missed. Official University Events and medical emergencies for self or immediate family are the sole basis for exceptions to the above policies, and will require evidence (e.g., a note from your athletics coach for a university sports event or a note from your doctor). There is no "extra credit" or "make-up" work. Grades are not posted. If you'd like me to mail your final grade to you, submit a self-addressed, stamped postcard or envelope along with your portfolio. Or email me with a request that I email your grade when it is computed. (For email link, click here) Important Dates
Initial Reading Schedule Read assignments before coming to class on the specified day. Assignment dates will be posted on the website as we proceed.
Basic Policies about the five paper assignments You will write five different kinds of papers:
The final (graded) version of each paper is to be typed. It is standard to use double-spacing, 12 point font, a cover page, and page numbering. You must proofread your papers and fix any spelling or grammar mistakes before submitting them. (I strongly suggest using the "spell check" function on your word processing program.) Papers with numerous "typos" will be returned to you for cleanup, and will be reduced one grade step for each day you spend cleaning it up until it is satisfactory. You will submit all five papers to me as a group at the time of the final exam. This is so that I can determine if you've made progress, which will be counted in your favor if your final grade is borderline. So make sure that you keep your papers in a safe place after getting them back from me. Notice of disability services & special accommodations The Minnesota State University of Moorhead is committed to a policy of equal opportunity in education and employment and welcomes students with disabilities. We are prepared to to offer you a range of services to accommodate your needs. However, students must accept responsibility for initiating the request for services. This can only be done by contacting: ACADEMIC HONESTY The University expects all students to represent themselves in an honest fashion. In academic work, students are expected to present original ideas and to give credit to the ideas of others. The value of a college degree depends on the integrity of the work completed by the student. PLAGIARISM WILL NOT BE TOLERATED Plagiarism is passing off somebody else's writing or ideas as your own. There is nothing wrong in consulting any number of sources to help you understand what we are studying (whether an article in The Encyclopedia of Philosophy or a web site or Cliffs Notes) but it is stealing to take material without first paraphrasing it completely into your own words, or without placing it in quotation marks. (Rule of thumb: if you take more than two consecutive words from a source, put them in quotation marks, and if the idea behind a sentence comes from an outside source, acknowledge that source!) Any time you consult and draw on ideas from any source, you should cite your source. Taking ideas from another person and pretending that they are your own, original thoughts, is also plagiarism. The fact that your source was an assigned text for the course does not mitigate or lessen the seriousness of plagiarism. Students sometimes claim unintentional or accidental plagiarism. It is difficult for an instructor to judge whether the plagiarism was intentional or unintentional. Basically, the latter occurs when a student reads a secondary source or takes notes, writes a paper without looking at the source or the notes, and accidentally uses phrasing and ideas from that source. Or a student may attempt to paraphrase an author's ideas, but fails to put it completely into his or her own words. (If you paraphrase and don't cite your source, that's evidence of intentional plagiarism.) If evidence demonstrates that you have plagiarized any part of any written assignment for the course, the offense will be reported to the Vice President for Student Affairs and you will receive a failing grade for the course. In short, if you use an outside source, simply provide footnotes or citations in parentheses where appropriate. For further information, click here. INTERPRETING YOUR GRADE ON AN ESSAY Grade of "A": An excellent essay in all respects. Clear, grammatical, well organized, and progresses logically, with all elements relevant to the topic. Exhibits both original thought and an accurate grasp of the material. Grammatical errors kept to the very minimum. Grade of "B": A good essay, but not outstanding. Overall organization is clear and coherent, although minor weaknesses may be present. Accurate presentation of material, but generally presents the minimum needed. Limited original thought. A few minor or subtle errors in punctuation and/or spelling. Grade of "C": A satisfactory paper. Shows basic understanding, with some deficiencies. Organization not always clear and transitions abrupt or lacking. May contain irrelevant material. Weak support of ideas. Occasional grammatical mistakes, or sloppiness that could have been avoided. Grade of "D": Minimally acceptable work. Marginal grasp of material, ineffective or confusing presentation. Summarizes the most obvious aspects of the material, but otherwise tends to be irrelevant. Little or no organization. Contains major grammatical problems. Grade of "F": Unsatisfactory. Superficial, incoherent, and/or irrelevant. Writing ability verges on illiteracy. Plagiarism.
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Last updated April 16, 2004