Phil 101 Syllabus

This syllabus, the assignments, and other aspects of the course are all subject to revision as we go, as needed. After all, we're still in a pandemic.

Contents

Contact Information
Course goals
Texts
Grading & assignments
Course policies
How to succeed in this course
Important dates

Your host: Jeremy Anderson

E-mail: jeremyanderson@depauw.edu

Web: http://jeremyanderson.net

Phone: from campus, ext. 4679. From off campus, 765-658-4679.

Office:

Virtual (safer! more convenient!): here on Google Meet.

Physical: Asbury 209. Please wear a mask in my office whether or not you are vaccinated.

Hours: My office hours are MWF 2:50 - 3:50PM; other times by appointment. I can likely meet with you MWF between 11:30AM and 1:30PM, just ask. (Times are Eastern Daylight Time (UTC-4:00) until November 7, when we switch to Eastern Standard Time (UTC-5:00).)

Course goals

I want to acquaint you with philosophy’s content and techniques, and sharpen your writing and thinking. Through reading, lecture, discussion, and writing you’ll get to know philosophy’s major divisions, including epistemology, metaphysics, and ethics, and some of the puzzles that philosophers think about. Is the outside world as it appears to be? Does God exist? Are we free? How should we lead our lives? You will learn about and evaluate major thinkers' answers to questions like these. You will enhance your critical thinking skills so that your beliefs can be better grounded in logic, deepened by an understanding of the issues at stake, and tempered with an appreciation of opposing views. In writing, you will practice expressing new and complex ideas clearly. These critical thinking and writing skills are useful in every discipline.

These goals contribute towards DePauw's purposes and aims (listed here), specifically #2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10. Photo of our textbook cover

Texts

Our textbook is The Broadview Introduction to Philosophy, Volume I. There are several versions of this textbook; we're using Volume I, with the blue cover pictured here.

You can get it as a physical book (ISBN 9781554814015) or as a PDF (ISBN 9781770487550, available on Google Play). Page numbers of the different versions may vary. Any readings not in BIP will be available on our Google drive.

Grading & assignments

As you might expect, your grade will depend on how well you demonstrate you understand, and have thought about, material brought up in readings, lectures, presentations, and discussion. If and when any independent research is required, your grade will also depend on the quality of that research and on demonstrating you understand and have thought carefully about the material. Grades will be derived as follows:

Speaking & listening:

5% participation

Writing:

10% Reading responses
30% Three papers @ 10% each

Exams:

10% Midterm exam 1
15% Midterm exam 2
30% Final exam

Speaking & listening

Participation means showing you are thinking about the course. That is not hard. The best way is to participate in class discussions, but you can also get credit for discussing course-related things outside of class: in person, by e-mail, or posting to the open forum on Moodle. You can earn up to one point per class meeting (i.e., three points per normal week). Earning one point per week, by whatever means, will earn you a B (85%) for participation. Participating less often earns a lower grade; more often earns a higher grade. Seventeen points total, with at least one point earned per week, will get you an A+ (100%).

Writing

Reading responses: Each assignment includes some reading questions. Asking you to write answers to all of them would be too demanding. So I ask that you answer some, and that you do it regularly. Here's what I mean by "regularly" and "some": at least once per week, write a response to at least one reading question, before class, in the forums set up on Moodle. (If Moodle is down, e-mail it to me.)

Reading responses are scored credit/no credit. To get credit, yours should:

Be on time. Your response should be in the right Moodle forum (they are here) and time-stamped by one hour before class starts. (Suggestion: turn them in the evening before class.)
Total at least 200 words. I mean, your answer(s) should total at least 200 words. Putting in your name, typing in the question, bibliographies, etc. do not count. Answering more than one reading question per assignment counts as one response.
Respond thoughtfully and completely to one or more reading questions.
Be carefully proofread, and meet the academic integrity requirements (for example, you must cite within your response). Too many/too serious errors in citation, grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc. will keep a response from getting credit. Integrity problems may also be charged as violations of DePauw's Academic Integrity Policy.

To earn a B (85%), do one passing reading response per week. To earn an A+ (100%), do at least one response each week (passing or not), with a total of seventeen passing responses during the semester.

If you find these instructions confusing, my apologies! Let me try explaining a different way:

First, to do one passing reading response, try answering one reading question. If your answer is at least 200 words and it meets the other criteria in the assignment (on time, answers the question thoughtfully, meets the requirements for integrity and proofreading) it gets credit for one reading response. If it's not at least 200 words, try answering another question until you've got at least 200 words total. But no matter how many of that assignment's questions you answer, it's still just one reading response.

Second, to get an A+ for the assignment, you need 17 passing responses. There are 14 weeks of class. So, doing more than one passing response every week would be more than you need. All you need to do is turn in one per week and, in some weeks, turn in more than one, and see to it you total 17 passing responses by the last week of class.

Still have questions? Please ask. I'm happy to help.

Suggestion: if you take too long Moodle can log you out, which could wipe out your work. So try typing your response using a word processor first, then copy and paste your response into the forum before the deadline.

Papers: In your papers you will critically evaluate arguments discussed in the class. They will allow you to practice, and improve at, expressing challenging ideas clearly and accurately and appraising them fairly. Assignments will be posted to the Papers web page as the time approaches, and we will take class time to discuss assignments and help you improve your writing before turning in final drafts.

Exams

There will be two midterms and a final. Each will be comprehensive, covering all material previously discussed in the course. You may not access texts or notes during in-class exams. Exams account for 55% of the course grade, so you should prepare for them. To help you succeed on exams, I offer several resources besides lecture and discussion:

The study guide identifies what you may be tested on: terms we learn, people we study, the arguments they give, and so on.

Citations and links in the study guide direct you to material needed for giving good answers.
The study guide also explains my expectations: how you should be able to respond to terms, what to know about the people we study, etc. There are some sample answers there, too.

There will be review sessions before every exam. See the class schedule Google Doc.
I can also help you with your answers to items on the study guide during office hours (or by appointment) and by email.

The best way to prepare: keep up each week. I will add new items to the study guide roughly each week and notify you via email. When new items are added, use the texts and notes (and classmates--group study is often helpful) to remind yourself of the relevant material, write out the best answers you can, and study them periodically.

A list of possible assignments is posted to the class web site. Details and timing are subject to change. Dates for assignments, exams, etc. will be posted on our class schedule Google Doc.

Course policies

If any of these policies might be a problem for you, please let me know and let's discuss it.

COVID-19 policies

The COVID-19 pandemic has not gone away and our safety is paramount. The changing nature of the pandemic means that safety measures may change as we go. Please refer to DePauw's guidelines. If you have any covid symptoms, isolate yourself and consult with DePauw's health center (765-658-4555) before attending any in-person classes. I will update this syllabus as needed.

8/9/2021: masks are required in class when indoors, regardless of whether you are vaccinated.

Attendance

Be in class on time and prepared to discuss the day's assignment unless you have strong reason not to be. Covid symptoms are a strong reason (see above). I will check attendance out of concern for you, but I will not lower your course grade merely for missing class. (If you miss much class you will lower your own grade.) If you cannot make it to class, please let me know if possible.

Here are three special situations:

Academically approved (by the VPAA) extracurricular activities, such as athletics: please inform me of possible conflicts at the beginning of the semester or as early as possible. I'm generally willing to work with you, but be aware your extracurriculars do not automatically let you miss class, make up a missed exam, or get an extended assignment deadline. You must ask faculty for permission, and we can say "No." Read the policy here.
Religious obligations: I support and follow DePauw's policy on religious holy days. If your religious obligations conflict with class meetings or deadlines in this course, let me know at least one week in advance. Then (a) you are excused from attending those meetings and (b) I will work with you to make up any work you miss.
Excessive absences: per the Academic Handbook, you may have to drop the course if you miss two weeks of class (six meetings) regardless of why you are absent.

Suggestion: since everyone misses class now and then, make a deal with two classmates, at the beginning of the semester, to share notes in case of absences.

Minimize distractions

Be here both physically and mentally as much as you can and help others do the same. Please set your cell phone, smart watch, PDA, pager, etc. to vibrate only, and put them aside during class. Laptops or other tech may only be used for class, and if your usage seems to be a distraction to yourself or others I may ask you to put it away.

Late work

Make-up exams will not be allowed nor late papers accepted for full credit except in cases where there is a compelling excuse such as a serious medical problem, University-recognized event, religious obligation, etc. (See Attendance policy, above.) Notify me in advance by phone (765-658-4679), e-mail, or in person, if you can. I may require documentation.

Academic integrity

We learn from others. I expect words and ideas from other people -- readings, classmates, me, research you do, etc. -- to show up in your work. But we must acknowledge everyone who helped us. Whenever others' words or ideas appear in your work, you must cite them whether you quote them or not.

I take academic integrity very seriously and I expect you to. Often, cheating is unintended, but even then it is a serious offense and I may charge you with misconduct. The minimum penalty is usually worse than turning in no work at all, and penalties can include failing the course, suspension, or expulsion. Much plagiarism is due to ignorance of the standards for documenting sources, so I urge you to:

Ask me any questions you have about academic integrity, preferably before you turn in your work.
Follow the academic integrity instructions for writing in this course.
Get to know DePauw's policy and your obligations and rights, which are stated in the Academic Handbook.
Use these resources to better understand academic integrity at DePauw.

You can avoid many integrity problems if you follow these simple rules: if you use an idea you got from someone or somewhere else, cite it; if you use their words, put them in quotes and cite.

Letter grades and numerical scores will be related as follows:

100% = A+	87 - 89% = B+	77 - 79% = C+	67 - 69% = D+
93 - 99% = A	83 - 86% = B	73 - 76% = C	63- 66% = D	59% or less = F
90 - 92% = A-	80 - 82% = B-	70 - 72% = C-	60 - 62% = D-

If you take the course Pass/Fail:

70% - 100% = Pass

60% - 69% = D

59% or less = F

I assign letter grades using the criteria stated in the University Catalog’s Academic Policies. There is no grading curve.

Disability accommodations

DePauw and I are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to students with properly documented disabilities--psychiatric, attentional, learning, vision, hearing, physical, medical, etc. If you believe you may need an accommodation because of a disability or learning challenge, please contact Student Accessibility Services to learn how to receive accommodations and support. You must contact them; I cannot do it for you. Student Accessibility Services' phone number is 765-658-6267, their email is studentaccessibility@depauw.edu. Please contact them at least one week in advance to ensure enough time for accommodations to be made. Otherwise, there is no guarantee they can be provided when you need them. I cannot provide accommodations until I receive an official ADA letter detailing the accommodations you may have. Once I receive it, you must discuss with me how to accommodate you in this course. Accommodations are not retroactive.

If we need to hold class remotely, these will be the privacy policies:

To enable class interaction, class will be taught synchronously if possible, meeting via video conference during the hours in the schedule of classes. This means we will be virtually visiting people's living spaces. So, out of respect for classmates, me, and those you live with:

Be aware that class meetings will be recorded to serve as a learning resource for the class.
Do not share those recordings or any portion of them outside the class.
Mind what your camera shows to others. For example, liquor bottles visible in an underage student's dorm room could be a problem. So could racist or otherwise offensive posters or paraphernalia in the background. Let's avoid that. Be mindful of DePauw's community standards and electronic communications policies.
I strongly encourage you to keep your computer's camera on during class, but you do not have to.

There are advantages to having cameras on. Having faces visible enables lip-reading and interpreting facial expressions, which help us better understand each other. You can prevent others from seeing your living space by using a background image or blurred background. So I encourage you to leave your camera on during class if your internet connection supports it.

How to succeed in this course

Read the assignments, and read carefully.

Reading is an act of contemplation, perhaps the only act in which we allow ourselves to merge with the consciousness of another human being. We possess the books we read, animating the waiting stillness of their language, but they possess us also, filling us with thoughts and observations, asking us to make them part of ourselves.... In order for this to work, however, we need a certain type of silence, an ability to filter out the noise.

David L. Ulin, “The Lost Art of Reading,” Los Angeles Times, 8/9/2009

Make time, in a quiet space, to read. Not just once, not quickly like it’s a news article, but deeply. Turn off your TV, phone, radio, MP3. When reading online, close all other windows, set Skype to offline, turn off chats, and release yourself from Facebook etc. Philosophical texts reward focused, careful, and repeated reading. Besides, you can expect me to call on you with questions about it.
Reading assignments for this course typically consist of a selection written by a philosopher and some introductory material written by the book’s editor, Andrew Bailey. Bailey suggests you read the selection first, and then go back and read the introductory material, and then read the selection again (Bailey, xi). I recommend following this advice. (A few exceptions are noted on the Reading Assignments page.)

Come to class prepared. Bring the current reading and your notes with you. Bring your responses to the current reading questions with you.

Take detailed notes. Just copying what’s on the board or screen (or whatever I'm doing in class) may not be enough. If the notes you take during class are sketchy, take a moment after class to fill them out.

Participate a lot. Don’t allow yourself to stay confused or lost. Some students assume their questions aren't worth asking or their comments not worth making, but often others wanted to say the same thing. If you are not comfortable speaking in class, see me outside it.

If you miss class, make arrangements with others to share notes with you. I suggest agreeing with at least two other people in the class, at the beginning of the semester, to share notes. If class is taught remotely, watch the recordings.

Keep up with the study guide every week. When new items are added to the study guide, sit down with your books and notes and classmates (if you like--studying in groups is helpful) and write out the clearest, most complete and thoughtful answers you can. If you have trouble formulating answers, come see me for help. Study your answers regularly to prepare for class discussion and for exams. This will pay off.

Give yourself time to write good papers, including revising/rewriting them well before the deadline.

Get enough sleep. If that means you cut back on extracurricular activities, so be it, because:

Studies have shown that sleep quantity and sleep quality equal or outrank such popular campus concerns as alcohol and drug use in predicting student grades and a student’s chances of graduating.

Jane E. Brody, "An Underappreciated Key to College Success: Sleep," New York Times, 8/13/2018

You may need to work harder than in high school. The sort of effort that got you A’s in high school might not get you an A here.

Seek help when you need it, or when you think you might need it, or just because. You do not need an appointment to drop in, though we can make one if you like.

Important dates

Start submitting reading responses by the end of the first week of class.

Paper deadlines and exam dates will be listed on the class schedule Google Doc and on our Moodle page.

Mid-semester progress reports will be available in 8th week.

DePauw deadlines for dropping the class, withdrawing with a "W," changing to pass/fail, along with other official dates are in DePauw's Academic Calendar.

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