Sample Syllabus: Introduction to Philosophy

1. Course Description

Clarity in thought and clarity of writing are inextricably linked; an introductory

philosophy course affords an excellent opportunity to practice both skills
simultaneously. In this course, we will survey several traditionally interesting
philosophical issues with an emphasis on explaining and clarifying problems,
expressing proposed solutions and critically assessing those proposals. By
completing writing assignments about the relationship of mind and body, freedom
of the will, conditions for knowledge, the definition of good and the existence of
God, students develop critical thinking skills and the ability to express those
thoughts effectively, while forming their own views on these questions.

2. Instructor Information

Dr. Jesse Butler

department info

office hours info

Appointments: Please set up an appointment if you're confused about something,

need help getting started on an assignment or would like to receive additional
feedback for what you've written.

3. Course Information

A. Meeting Places & Times

MTWRF: Time, Place

B. Text

Doing Philosophy: An Introduction through Thought Experiments by

Theodore Schick, Jr. and Lewis Vaughn.

[This book is on reserve at Library - visit the circulation desk.]

C. Grades

Grades are assigned based on the number and length of written assignments
successfully completed, performance on five surprise quizzes during the
semester and class attendance. Letter grades are assigned based on the number
of "points" a student earns during the semester.

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 Sample Syllabus: Introduction to Philosophy

i. Written Work

To receive credit for a written assignment a student must respond to a

specific prompt (each of which is on the e-Learning site under
"prompts"), and the response must

(a) be written in clear, cohesive and grammatical English.

(b) address, in a straightforward way, the issue raised by the prompt.
(c) contain a bare minimum of quoted material (* AT MOST 10% * of
the total number of words of the assignment can be quotation)
(d) be original work (not plagiarized).
(e) be submitted electronically by midnight of the last day of class.

If a submitted assignment fails to satisfy all of (a)-(e) then no credit will

be given for that assignment. The submission will be marked ‘0’.

ii. Points

a. Points and Written Assignments

Points are awarded for each satisfactorily completed written

assignment (hereafter ‘response’) according to the following scheme:

If the response is

+ less than 100 words, zero (0) points are awarded.

+ between 100 words and 199 words, one (1) point is awarded
+ between 200 words and 299 words, two (2) points are awarded.
+ between 300 words and 399 words, three (3) points are awarded.
+ between 400 words and 499 words, four (4) points are awarded.
+ between 500 words and 599 words, five (5) points are awarded.
+ between 600 words and 699 words, six (6) points are awarded.
+ between 700 words and 799 words, seven (7) points are awarded.
+ between 800 words and 899 words, eight (8) points are awarded.
+ between 900 words and 999 words, nine (9) points are awarded.
+ longer than 1000 words, ten (10) points are awarded.

b. Points and attendance & punctuality.

+ For each period a student attends, one (1) point is awarded

+ For each period for which a student is late, no points are awarded.
+ For each period during which a student is absent, one (1) point is
subtracted.

c. Points and the five surprise quizzes.

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 Sample Syllabus: Introduction to Philosophy

+ For each of the quizzes successfully completed, one (1) point is

awarded.

iii. Final Grade Calculation

Points are then tallied and letter grades are assigned based on the number
of total points in accord with the following table:

90+ Points = A
87 - 89 Points = B+
83 - 87 Points = B
80 - 82 Points = B-
75 - 79 Points = C+
70 - 74 Points = C
60 - 69 Points = D
Less that 60 Points = F

D. Determining Grades

i. Electronic grade update info.

Text here…

ii. Examples of a Grade calculation

Andrew Sample attends 33 (out of a total of 45) periods of class meetings,

is never late when he shows up, completes three (out of a total of five)
surprise quizzes, completes 9 assignments (each of which meets criteria
3.c.i.(1)-(4) above) of the following lengths: 555 words, 401 words, 1001
words, 1003 words, 400 words, 612 words, 478 words, 1120 words and
1098 words, and turns in one assignment of length 1556 words which is
copied straight from en.wikipedia.org - a 75% match according to
turnitin.com. Andrew Sample's final grade is:

33 points (for attendances)

-12 points (for absences)
+3 points (for surprise quizzes)
+5 points (for satisfactory assignment of 555 words)
+4 points (for satisfactory assignment of 401 words)
+10 points (for satisfactory assignment of 1001 words)
+10 points (for satisfactory assignment of 1003 words)
+4 points (for satisfactory assignment of 400 words)
+6 points (for satisfactory assignment of 612 words)
+4 points (for satisfactory assignment of 478 words)

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 Sample Syllabus: Introduction to Philosophy

+10 points (for satisfactory assignment of 1120 words)

+10 points (for satisfactory assignment of 1098 words)
+0 points (for an unsatisfactory assignment)
----
87 Points = B+.*

Ferit Ontime attends all 45 class periods, is never late, successfully completes
all five surprise quizzes and completes just four assignments (each of which
meets criteria 3.C.i.a.-e. above) of the following lengths: 1001 words, 1023
words, 1011 words and 1200 words. Ferit's final grades is:

45 points (for attendance

+5 points (for surprise quizzes)
+10 points (for satisfactory assignment of 1001 words)
+10 points (for satisfactory assignment of 1023 words)
+10 points (for satisfactory assignment of 1011 words)
+10 points (for satisfactory assignment of 1200 words)
----
90 points = A

E. Feedback and Comments on Written Work

If you'd like to discuss what you've written, please set up an appointment to talk
about your work. This feedback is especially helpful for philosophy majors or
students considering majoring in philosophy.

F. Classroom Conduct

We’ll engage in discussion for much of our class time. In order to have a
productive discussion, only one person may speak at a time.

Please be on time to class.

Please silence your cell phones before class. If your phone rings, don’t answer it.

Anyone disrupting will be asked to leave.

G. E-Mail Message Policy

Only e-mails that are concise and relevant will receive a response. Don't expect an
immediate answer.

H. Academic Assistance

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 Sample Syllabus: Introduction to Philosophy

Free tutoring is available at the Teaching Center.

I. Special Needs

Students requesting special accommodations must first register with the Dean of
Students Office.

J. Tentative Schedule (days off are indicated with corner brackets)

Monday Wednesday Friday

K. Twenty Five Philosophical Puzzles

------ ---- -------

p1: The paradox of the liar.
p2: what is there (ontology)?
p3: concept puzzlement, part 1
p4: concept puzzlement, part 2
p5: Cartesian dualism
p6: alien brains + identity theory
p7: Ned Block’s Chinese nation
p8: What Mary Didn't Know
p9: What is supervenience?
p10: The causal closure of the physical
p11: The coupling of the macro and micro
p12: What to make of second order volitions
p13: animalism
p14: soul theory
p15: Parfitt's Transporter Tale
p16: Ethical Egoism
p17: The Thuggees
p18: Virtue Ethics
p19: God's Omnipotence Paradox
p20: The problem of Evil
p21: Radical Skepticism
p22: Kantian Synthesis
p23: What should be corporate responsibility?
p24: Why should we educate ourselves in a liberal way?
p25: What is the best way to approach philosophy?
---------------------------

* Andrew also has to live with the eternal shame and disgrace of
trying to pass off wikipedia's work as his own. His GPA might
recover, but he'll never forget what he tried to do...