Introduction to Ethics (PHIL 160) Section 5 (#3801)-- CSU Long Beach -- Fall 2010

2:00-3:15 p.m. - Mondays and Wednesdays -- LA5-246 – Julie Van Camp, Professor of Philosophy

OFFICE: MHB-703

OFFICE HOURS: Wednesday: 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

E-MAIL: jvancamp@csulb.edu

Course Objectives

1.	Analyze, criticize and advocate ethical ideas and generate multiple explanations of options for action, based on understanding of fundamental concepts and relationships of ethics;

2.	Demonstrate skill in ethical reasoning and problem-solving, recognizing and using relevant ethical principles;

3.	Identify and question implicit assumptions in ethical positions, evaluate and criticize constructively one's own thinking processes about ethical issues and the reasoning of others, recognizing common errors of thought and language;

4.	Demonstrate ability to apply the lessons, skills and distinction in a range of ethical issues as they arise in other disciplines and areas of study throughout the university.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND GRADING

The semester grade will be based on two in-class examinations (a midterm and a final); activity point options (for reports on films, essays on case studies, and quizes on Beachboard and the Wadsworth Publishing site), and attendance points at the main lecture. All exams and quizzes are open-book-open-
notes.

EXAM I. MID-TERM. Monday, October 25 -- Units I and II (24 points): 2:00 - 3:15 a.m.

The exam will be an open-book-open-notes 24-question exam on Units I and II. Students should bring a Scantron form 882-E, a #2 pencil, and a good eraser. The questions will test your understanding of the issues and reasoning in these units.

EXAM II. FINAL. Monday, December 13 - 2:00 - 3:15 p.m. – Units I and III (24 points)

The final exam will be an open-book-open-notes 24-question exam on Units I and II. Students should bring a Scantron form 882-E, a #2 pencil, and a good eraser. The questions will test your understanding of the issues and reasoning in these units.

EXAM I and II Grades: Up to 24 points are available, as follows:

Grade	Points	Grade	Points

A+	24-23	C+	12-11

A	22-21	C	10-9

A-	20-19	C-	8-7

B+	18-17	D+	6-5

B	16-15	D	4-3

B-	14-13	D-	2-1

Make-up exams will be permitted only for serious illness and mandatory University policies. A physicians' note will be required for illness. If you will need to take a make-up exam, you must leave a message on e-
mail (jvancamp@csulb.edu) no later than 12 noon the day of the exam. Your message must include a telephone number where I can reach you later that afternoon/evening and the next day to schedule the make-up exam.

ACTIVITY POINTS: Several types of activities are available to earn activity points to reinforce your learning.

BEACHBOARD QUIZ ON PLAGIARISM POLICY: You can earn up to 4 points for the on-line quiz on the course plagiarism policy available on Beachboard from September 2-17.

WADSWORTH TUTORIAL QUIZZES: Tutorial quiz options on the Wadsworth site for some units are listed on your reading list. These are open book quizes and are not graded. You earn one point for taking the quizzes for one topic, getting a minimum % correct that you see on your syllabus, and having Wadsworth submit the results to jvancamp@csulb.edu. (One quiz, consisting of 30 questions on abortion and euthanasia cases is worth 2 points.) It should take no more than one hour to complete the quizzes on one unit. (See instructions on the reading list.) For access to the quizzes: go to "websites" on our class Beachboard site for direct access.

BEACHBOARD QUIZES: For some units, quizes are available on Beachboard for 4 or 8 points. These are open book quizes with one point for each correct answer.

REPORTS ON FILMS: Write a report of at least 500 words on one of the films listed for that unit (see syllabus). View the entire film, paying special attention to the philosophical issues and dilemmas in that unit of the course. Write a report discussing these issues as portrayed in the film. Do not just summarize plot and characters. Reports should be submitted in word-processing files to the Beachboard Dropbox. Use either Word or Wordperfect. If you use any other word-process
ing program, please "save-as" in RTF (rich-text-format) so we can open your file. All reports are submitted to Assignments Turnitin Dropbox to check for plagiarism and originality.

CASE STUDY REPORTS: Write a report of at least 500 words on one of the case studies listed as options on your syllabus. Answer the designated questions. To the extent possible, use the course material from that unit in writing your essay. Reports should be submitted in word-
processing files to the Beachboard Dropbox. Use either Word or Wordperfect. If you use any other word-processing program, please "save-as" in RTF (rich-text-format) so we can open your file. All reports are submitted to Assignments Turnitin Dropbox to check for plagiarism and originality.

DEADLINES: The deadlines on your reading list will be followed strictly. Extensions will be permitted only for University mandated absences, as for exams, and documentation will be required. If you miss a deadline, just focus on the next set of activity points. Nobody is expected to complete each and every activity point available in the semester.

WRITING REQUIREMENT: The activity point options on the syllabus include written film reports and written case study reports. In order to receive credit for this course, every student must complete at least three of those writing assignments. They are due at the deadlines noted on the syllabus. Late assign
ments will be accepted for points only if you meet the University excused absence policy. If, at the end of the course, you have not completed the three required writing assignments, those may be turned in no later than the last day of class, but you will not receive any points toward your course grade for late reports. If you have not submitted the writing by the end of the course, you will receive an Incomplete; you will then have one year to complete the writing. If not completed, the I will convert to an "F" after one year.

REGULAR ATTENDANCE is expected of all students. To encourage regular attendance, additional points will be available for the course grade total. Attendance will be taken 8 times at class beginning in the third week of the semester. Classes eligible for attendance points are indicated on your reading list with *[attendance point]. You will receive 1 point for each class you attend. Excused absences will be granted only for University mandatory policies; for illness, a physician's note will be required documenting serious illness and inability to attend class.

Attendance will be taken in a variety of ways. Sometimes a class list will be sent around for signature during class. Other times, students will be asked a simple question about the class material and submit an answer with their signature during class. (Please always have a blank piece of paper or file card with you at class.) Although it is understandable that students are sometimes a few minutes late or have a good reason for needing to leave a few minutes early, please do not expect attendance credit for a brief appearance in the classroom just to sign the attendance list. Even when the sign-in lists have been sent around, spot checks might be taken at random near the end of the class period.

Whether or not you attend class, you are responsible for the material presented in class. It is recom
mended that you make friends and acquaintances with others in the class to share lecture notes, as needed.

TOTAL WEEKLY COMMITMENT OF TIME TO THIS COURSE: Ordinarily, in a college-level course, for each one hour of class, students should spend two hours of time in preparation. For this 3-unit course, students should expect to spend, on average, each week, three hours in the lectures and six hours in reading, studying, and writing, for a total of nine hours.

FINAL LETTER GRADES for the course will be assigned as follows:

COURSE GRADE	POINTS
A	86-119
B	63-85
C	42-62
D	27-41

Up to 119 points are available (see "maximum" in chart below). The cut-offs for final letter grades were calculated based on the following "hypothetical" students. Your final grade will be strictly a matter of the total points accumulated, however you accumulate them. (I.e., you do not need to "match" the distribution of the hypothetical student – all that matters for the final course grade is the point total you accumulate this semester.) Nothing is averaged or curved or based on traditional percentages. No "extra credit" will be added later. You should try throughout the semester to accumulate as many points as you can from the options available.

FINAL COURSE GRADE CUT-OFFS: Fall 2010
Maximum	A	B	C	D
Midterm exam	24	19	13	7	4
Final exam	24	19	13	7	4
Attendance	8	8	7	6	5
ACTIVITY POINTS:
Quizzes	27	20	16	12	8
Writing-film: 6@3	18	10	7	5	3
Writing-cases: 6@3	18	10	7	5	3
119	86	63	42	27
A	B	C	D

Credit/No Credit students must accumulate sufficient points for a "C" for the course total (42).

DISABILITIES: It is the responsibility of students to notify me in writing, in advance, of any special accommodations for a disability, as verified by the University.

CHEATING AND PLAGIARISM: The CSULB policy on Cheating and Plagiarism will be followed strictly. Students who have any questions or uncertainty whatsoever about this policy are responsible for meeting individually with the instructor to discuss the policy. Students who cheat or plagiarize on any course requirements will be failed for the course and may be reported to the Office of Judicial Affairs for possible probation, suspension, or expulsion. The Turn-in-it Originality checker will be used for the written work in this course. The instructor also reserves the right to have an oral discussion with any student individually on any course element for any reason. Please remember: as easy as it is for you to find papers on the World Wide Web which you steal and submit as your own work, it is just as easy for me to find the source of a stolen paper; once I find the paper you stole, you are guaranteed an "F" for the course. If you sign the name of another student on the attendance list, that is also cheating and will be grounds for failing the course.

8/1/2010: subject to revision until August 30, 2010