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Jeremy C. Ball PhD
..Introduction to Philosophy

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.Course Information

 

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Course Description

This class is intended to be a basic skills course. Rather than simply trying to give you information, this class will focus on cultivating various academic abilities:

  • to read critically
  • to explicate and evaluate arguments
  • to construct arguments
  • to think through complex ideas in an organized manner
  • to become familar with some of the important contibutions to Philosophy

To this end, we will consider the writings of quite a few philosophers and attempt to respond to some of the issues they raise. To do well in this class, students need to come to class, complete their reading, and participate in the class discussions.

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Syllabus

Philosophy 100

Introduction to Philosophy

Jeremy Ball

Office: 15-121

Ph: (650) 574-6638

Check here for Office Hrs:

Expectations

In this class you're expected to:

  • closely read/reread/study a number of primary essays..

  • write 2 formal essays in MLA format (typed, double-spaced, on one side of non-erasable typing paper, with one inch margins on all sides, staple only).

  • actively participate in class discussions by carefully listening to others' opinions and expressing your thoughts as clearly as possible.

  • complete all assigned work and in-class assignments.

  • share your work with your peers in writing groups and work with a group of students outside class.

  • hand in all work on time or receive less or no credit. (Note: Each day late your score is lowered a full grade. Weekends count so email if you have to).

  • ask for the phone numbers of at least 2 people you can call if you miss assignments

  • have time to ask your particular questions in class and discuss your work with me during office hours.

  • use the writing/thinking skills you learn here in allpresent and future endeavors.

Materials

Required Texts:

Reason and Responsibility 12th ed.(Fienberg)

I will give you various handouts during the semester

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Class Policies

1. Plagiarism

Plagiarism has become an increasing problem especially with the Internet and the ease for students to cut and paste. I view plagiarism as a form of theft-it is the stealing of another's intellectual property. As such, based on the seriousness of the offence, the punishment will be at a minimum the failure of the assignment and at most recommendation for expulsion from the college. There will be no second chances. If you are not sure what plagiarism is, FOLLOW THIS LINK, come by my office, or go to the Writing Lab in building 18. It is fine to refer to someone's work, just give them credit with a footnote and/or works cited page.

2. Classroom Professionalism

I expect you to conduct yourself in a professional manner exhibiting respect for yourself, others in the campus community, and to the institution itself. This includes, but is not limited to

-Turn off (or turn on silent mode) cell phones and beepers.
-Do not bring food into the classroom. You may bring something to drink, but make sure you don't spill or leave the container in the classroom.
-Avoid getting up during class, leaving, and walking in late.
-Dress and speak in a manner appropriate for an institution of higher learning.
-Be respectful of whoever is speaking in class by not interrupting and by not conversing with others out of turn.
-Help other students by taking notes when asked and by fulfilling agreements you have made with them. If someone helps you, you should find a way to repay that person and to express your gratitude.
-Pick up after yourself as you leave the classroom being careful to leave your desk area clean and organized.

Failure to act professionally in my course will adversely affect your grade. Based on the disruptiveness of the offence, I may ask you to leave for the day or may drop you from the class all together.

Late Papers and Assignments

To get an extension on an assignment, you must make arrangements with me before the assignment is due. In all other cases, the grade will be dropped one letter grade each calendar day the assignment is late. All assignments are due at the start of class and are considered late after 5 minutes of the start of that class. If an emergency arises and you will not be able to make it to class to turn in or fulfill an assignment, you may call and leave a message at 574-6638 or email me at ballj@smccd.net Missing class is not in itself justification for turning an assignment in late. I expect you to email me a copy of the assignment prior to the start of class hour the assignment/paper is due. Once you return to class, turn in a printed copy of the assignment with a note on top telling me the date you emailed it to me. To email me a paper, please follow these steps:

Send me the papers as an attachment--do not simply try to paste them into the message window. This will preserve all your formatting and make the paper easier to print and to read.

My computer can read documents done in Microsoft Word. If you did it in some format other than Word, please save the document as "Rich Text Format" (it will have your file name and ".rtf" Then send this as an attachment. In your email message remind me/inform me of why I am getting your paper as an email rather than in class. Remember to use MLA format for your papers.

I will send a confirmation that I received the email.

If your printer is not working (or you don't have one) you are welcome to come by my office hours and I will print the document from your disk.


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Grading Information

Your semester grade will be based on:

  1. Two Essays (10 points and 20 points)

  2. Three exams (20 points each)

  3. Reading Quizes(5points)

  4. Class Participation (5 points)

 

Essays

In the first paper, you will explicate an argument from one of the three articles on the issue of freewill vs. determinism. In the second paper, you will evaluate this argument being careful to include the material from paper #1. Paper #2 will be presented in a reading tutorial with me and several other students.Unless otherwise stated, are due at the start of class. Papers should be in MLA Format. Follw this link to find out what this entails.

 

Exams

Study questions for all three exams will be given to you prior to the exam. The exam will be taken from these questions. Responses to each study question are intended to be between 1-2 pages in a Blue Book. Students are encouraged to work together in studying for the exams.

Reading Quizzes

To motivate you to do your reading on time, I will from time to time give a reading quiz. Quizzes will cover the previous nights assigned reading and will be very strait forward plot summary sorts of questions. If you did the reading, you should be fine. There are no make-ups on missed reading quizzes but everyone starts out with one reading quiz credit.

Class Participation

You are expected to participate in the classroom discussions. You are strongly encouraged to share your perspective with the rest of the class and to be respectful of other's points of view. You are also encoraged to participate in the discussion board for this class.

 

 

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