Phil 115YO, Problems in Philosophy (ON-LINE)
No text book is required for the On-Line course.  All of the required reading is material that is available on-line at the Blackboard site for this course.

  Topics that will be taken up in this course will be drawn from the following list:

A.  Genetic Engineering and Cloning

B.  The Death Penalty

C.  Abortion

D.  Homosexuality and Same-sex Marriage (and related issues)

E.  The Use and Decriminalization of Illegal Drugs

F.  Non-Human Animal Rights

G.  Affirmative Action?Preferential Treament


Syllabus/overview
As you will see, I have attempted to build into the course a good deal of flexibility to accomodate
the various demands that you each have operating in your lives.

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Grades for the course will be figured in the following way.

Tests 25%/45%
Discussion  45%/25%
Papers 30%

The variable percentages for ‘Tests’ and for ‘Discussion” is to allow for differences in peoples’
inclinations when it comes to academic performance.  The higher percentage will be allowed in
the area in which your grade is the better of the two.

The TESTS will be on-line timed tests  intended to evaluate your understanding/appreciation
of the text essays/other readings.  You will be allowed to drop one of the tests.  These tests will
be available for you when you, individually, are ready to take the test.  This enables you to schedule
your test when you want to, and allows us to move on directly to a new topic when we have finished
with one.  All you have to do is finish the tests by the end of the semester.

The PAPERS will allow you to get your own opinions/views/etc., into material to be evaluated.  These papers will be fairly short position papers on each of the issues we discuss.  The specific form/format of these papers will be described later.  You can turn these papers in as you finish them, or you can turn them all in at the end of the term, or some one way, some the other.

DISCUSSION will allow you to demonstrate both of the above.  It should be obvious that the discussion aspect of the course allows for the least flexibility-- your comments. observations, etc., must be timely.  It does not do much good to go back to a topic and add your comments after everyone else has moved on. YOU ARE REQUIRED TO RESPOND TO EACH AND EVERY POST THAT IS A RESPONSE TO ONE OF YOUR POSTS.

More on DISCUSSION :   While you can post an earlier assignment after we have moved on to the next topic, and you are still expected to respond to any responses that I might make to you, post/response that occur after the next topic has been introduced cannot be considered timely-- Other students are not expected to 'go back' and look at your  'post-topic' responses.

We will work by (roughly) the calendar just below.  I say ‘roughly’ because I know that part of the reason for taking an on-line course is so that you can have some flexibility in coordinating the course with the other demands on your time.

Individuals are able to vary their course participation within the constraints set by schedule below since there are no day-by-day meeting times.  I will make specific recommendations for finish dates for specific assignments as we move through the course, but here also some variabiity is allowable.