Section 880                                                                                                                     Professor Michael Tooley
TTh 9:30-10:45                                                                                                               Hellems, Room 277
Hellems, Room 177                                                                                                        Office Hours:   MW 11:00-12:30

Classes

        Once we get over the introductory, background material on philosophy and ethics, and the critical thinking material, our classes will be a combination of lectures and discussion.  It is very important that people come to class prepared to take part in those discussions.  This means that you  should do the readings in advance, and then think about the issues, so that when an opportunity arises in a lecture to set out your opinion on the issue in question, you are prepared to offer a thoughtful view, along with your reasons for thinking that your view is correct.

       Class discussions will sometimes incorporate a mini critical thinking session, in which we briefly discuss some controversial issue.  When this is the case, the topic to be discussed will be announced in the preceding lecture, and you should come to class prepared to advance a view on the issue, and a reason for your view.

Course Work

       Your grade in this course will be based upon seven exercises, two essay-writing exercises (each involving two parts), and a final examination.

Instructions Regarding Assignments

         Please note the following very important points:

(1) All assignments are to be downloaded from the Philosophy 1100 Honors website, which is http://spot.Colorado.EDU/~tooley/Philosophy1100Honors.html.

(2) You should download Exercise 1, read through, and bring it to class on Thursday, August 25, so that we can discuss any questions that you have about that first assignment.

(3) All assignments are to be handed in at the class on the due dates listed below.

(4) The policy concerning late assignments is set out below.

(5) Whenever you hand in an assignment, you should bring a downloaded copy of the next assignment to that class, since that is when the assignment will be explained and discussed.

The Web Site for Philosophy 1100 Honors

       My home page is  http://spot.Colorado.EDU/~tooley/.  Course materials can be accessed either from my home page, by clicking on the link “Current Courses”,  or directly, by going to the following, Philosophy 1100 Honors web site: http://spot.Colorado.EDU/~tooley/Philosophy1100Honors.html

        Those course materials include the following:  (1) the exercises, and essay assignments and instructions; (2) a course syllabus; (3) a course overview; (4) lecture material relevant to the exercises; (5) lecture notes on several topics; (6) a final examination handout; and (7) some additional readings for the course.

Contacting Me Concerning Urgent Matters

        People tend to rely rather heavily on e-mail.  This is not a good idea in my case, since I sometimes get absorbed in my research, and then I do not check my email on a regular basis.  In addition, many matters can be dealt with much more quickly and effectively by a conversation.  So please contact me by telephone, rather than by email, especially if it is a matter of some urgency.

        My home phone is (303) 541-0933, and you will almost always be able to reach me between the hours of 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and on weekends as well, and in the evenings on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

First Essay:  An essay of four to five pages in length (or about 1000-1250 words), on a topic chosen from a list of topics.  Full instructions, including a list of topics, can be found on our class website at  http://spot.colorado.edu/~tooley/FirstEssayExercise.html  (20%)

Sub-assignments:

(a) Your basic thesis, your central supporting argument, and one important objection that you will address.  (5%)

Due date: Thursday, October 20

(b) The completed essay.  (15%)

Due date: Thursday, November 3

Second Essay:  An essay of four to five pages in length (or about 1000-1250 words), on a topic chosen from a list of topics.  Full instructions, for this second essay, including a list of topics in a variety of areas, can be found at  http://spot.colorado.edu/~tooley/SecondEssayExercise.html  (20%)

Sub-assignments:

(a) Your basic thesis, your central supporting argument, and one important objection that you will address.  (5%)

(b) The completed essay.  (15%)

Due date: Thursday, December 1

        There will be a two and one-half hour, closed book examination on Wednesday, December 14th, 4:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. in Hellems 177 (25%)

1.  Concerns Regarding this Course

        If at any point during the semester you have any concerns about the exercises, lectures, discussions, or anything else in this course, please talk to me about those matters.

        If you still have concerns after talking with me, or if you feel that the matter is one that you need to discuss with a third party, you should contact either Professor Wes Morriston, who is the Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Philosophy Department (Wes.Morriston@Colorado.edu, 303-492-8297), Professor Graeme Forbes, who is the Head of the Philosophy Department (Graeme.Forbes@Colorado.edu, 303-492-7120).

2.  Course Plagiarism Policy

        Each student is expected to submit his or her own original work for each exercise, essay, and final exam.

        The use of essays and other material downloaded from the Internet is obviously a serious case of plagiarism.  But, in general, any substantial use of material from any source must be clearly acknowledged, and any ideas should be expressed in one's own words.

        A first violation of this plagiarism policy, or the University Honor Code, or the Honor Code pledge shown below will result in a grade of zero for the relevant piece of work, and, in accordance with University requirements, will have to be reported.  In addition, if that first violation is especially serious – such as the copying of a whole document – the result will be a failing grade for the course as a whole.

“On my honor, as a University of Colorado at Boulder  student, I have neither given nor received unauthorized assistance on this work.”