SYLLABUS
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Introduction to Ethics
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PHI 2600
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Reference #: 449305
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Table of Contents
Faculty Contact Information
- Faculty
Name: Tonietta A. Walters
- Office
Phone: 305-299-0100
- Email:
twalters@broward.edu (All email communication should be through
D2L. Use this only if you have an emergency and are unable to access D2L
email.)
- Virtual
Office
Hours: Any Weekday by appointment
Course Description
This
course is an introduction to the nature of ethics, ethical thinking, major
intellectual movements in the history of ethics, and specific problems in
ethics. The relationship between ethics and culture will also be examined. For more
information, please see
BC College course
outline)
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General Course Outcomes
- The students
should be able to identify and discuss elements antecedent to the study
of ethics.
Upon successful completion of this unit, the students should be able to:
- Distinguish ethics from other
disciplines such as sociology and religion.
- Discuss problems of justification in
ethics.
- The students
should be able to identify and discuss the major ethical theories.
Upon successful completion of this unit, the students should be able to
reflectively and creatively discuss, differentiate, and define various
ethical concepts and ethical theories in the history of philosophy
including, but not limited to the following:
- Virtue ethical theories e.g., Plato
and Aristotle.
- Consequentialist theories.
- Various non-consequentialist ethical
theories, e.g., Kant and Ross.
- Differentiate theories of meta-ethics,
e.g., naturalism and non-naturalism.
- The students
should be familiar with the problems of applying ethical theory to
various problems.
Upon successful completion of this unit, the students should be able to:
- Examine the importance of ethical
behavior for the self and society.
- The students should understand the
application of ethical theories to real-world experiences.
Course Prerequisites
To
maximize your chances for success in this course, make sure that you meet the
following course prerequisites:
- Course Academic Prerequisites and Corequisites: None.
- Computer Knowledge and Skills Required:
- Students in this course should be familiar with the
following computer skills.
- File Management - You should be familiar with finding and
saving files on your computer.
- The Internet - You should be familiar with connecting to
the Internet through an Internet Service Provider or Network
Connection.
- Web Browser Software - You should be familiar with using
web browser software to navigate the Internet and locate information.
- Email - You should be familiar with sending and receiving
email messages.
- Discussions - You should be familiar with posting and
reading discussion messages in a threaded format.
- Attachments - You should be familiar with sending email
messages with attached files.
- Word Processing - You should be familiar with creating,
editing, saving, and printing documents using Microsoft Word.
- You'll need a BC email
address to access the online portion of this course.
- Obtain
a County Library Card or University/College Library Card. You will need
either a County Library Card which you may obtain at either North
Campus or South Campus Library or a University/College Library Card
from the Central Campus Library. These cards will allow you to use
select library databases. (optional)
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Course Hardware & Software Requirements
To
complete the online segments of this course, you must have access to computer
hardware and software that meets or exceeds BC's minimum hardware and
software standards for e-learning courses. It is strongly recommended that
you check your computer to verify that its hardware and software configuration
meets or exceeds the BC standard.
- Attention AOL Users: Students using
AOL should pay particular attention to the section addressing issues
related to AOL. To avoid AOL dropping your connection, set up a private
chat room to suspend AOL's idle timer. See AOL's help function for more
details.
- Attention Windows XP Users: Users who have upgraded to Windows XP from Windows
95,98,ME,NT,2000 do not need to download any additional files. Windows
XP does not include the Java Virtual Machine (JVM). The JVM is used by
some tools within D2L. Students with new machines or who perform a
clean installation of Windows XP will automatically be offered the
choice to perform a one-time download of the virtual machine the first
time you try to access any tool within D2L that uses Java.You must
download the entire file before continuing to use D2L.
- Technical and Access Problems
- If you attempt to use hardware or software that does not
meet the BC standard, it is possible that you will encounter technical
difficulties when accessing your online course that could interfere
with your ability to view content or complete assignments.
- If you encounter difficulties accessing content in D2L or
in logging in, please contact the 24/7 helpdesk.
- To avoid unforeseen technical complications that can
occur, even when you think everything is working well, it is strongly
recommended that you complete and submit your assignments well ahead of
schedule.
- If you do not have access to a computer that meets or
exceeds BC's minimum hardware and software standards, you can use an
"open lab" computer at any BC Learning Resource Center. Get
current check your campus for the hours of operation of the LRC Open
Computer Lab at
http://www.broward.edu/libraries/index.jsp Please
remember that the computer lab attendants are there to ensure that the
computer equipment is working properly, not to help you with your
assignments. Direct all questions regarding this course to your
instructor.
- Lack of access to a computer that meets
BC's hardware and software standards or difficulty connecting to the
Internet are not a valid excuse for failure to complete the online
portion of course requirements on time.
- Additional Software Required for this Course (optional)
- Any word processing documents that you may be required to
submit for this course must be submitted in Microsoft Word format. (Not
Microsoft Works, text, not ascii, not PDF, etc.) If you do not have
proper software on your computer, you can use the Microsoft Word
program on any of the "open lab" computers at any BC Learning
Resource Center.
- Only word processing documents in
Microsoft Word format will be accepted. Please virus check documents
before sending them. Panda
Software offers a free
online virus check.
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Required Course
Materials
Required
and Optimal course materials are described below:
- Main
Textbook - Boss, Judith: Ethics
for Life: A Text with Readings. 4th Ed.,
McGraw-Hill, Boston, 2008 (ISBN 978-0-07-338664-5). Extra material will
be provided by the instructor as needed.
- Extra
Reading - Rachels, James: The Elements of Moral Philosophy. 5th
Edition by Stuart Rachels. McGraw-Hill, Boston, 2007 (ISBN
978-0-07-312547-3). This book should be read by those students who
might need a different approach to the information found in the course
main textbook. The students are not required to buy this book and no
assignment will be required from it.
This is a
3 credit hour course. Normally, a three credit hour course would meet two or
three times each week (during a 16 week term) for a total of 3 hours per week
or 48 hours per term. In this course, we will not meet in class, but instead
of class time you will engage in structured out of class or online
activities. See "Course Schedule and Assignments" section below for
a detailed description of learning activities for out of class or online
assignments. Students are responsible for regularly reviewing the course
schedule and completing all required in and out of class assignments.
Regular,
active, and meaningful participation in both on campus class meetings and
online learning activities is a critically important component of this course
and is essential to your success. It is recommended that you check into the
course site several times during the online week. Frequency and quality of participation may effect your
grade.
- Active
participation is expected of all students in this course.
- Check
your e-mail and course discussions regularly. Ask questions.
- Post
and respond to messages.
- BC Attendance Policy: Please familiarize yourself with BC's
Attendance Policy:
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It
is very important for you to actively participate in this online class. If
you stop participating in class discussions, submitting assignments or fail
to take quizzes or tests prior to the withdrawal date, you will be
administratively withdrawn from class and receive a W or, if it is your
third attempt, an F.
If
you stop participating after the withdrawal date, you will receive a WF
that will then be computed as an F in your GPA. To avoid this situation,
you should remain an active learner in this class and always communicate
extenuating circumstances to me. Ongoing communication with the instructor
is critical to your course success. I will use completion of tests, assignments,
and other class activities as indicators of your participation in order to
satisfy this reporting requirement.
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Course Schedule and
Assignments
Read and refer to this document regularly. It will tell you what
assignments you should read and when, and how and when you will be assessed.
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Mandatory Course Orientation: Students can only continue
to the other course’s modules after completing this Course Orientation module.
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Content Area
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Learning Materials and Activities
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Expected Learning Outcomes
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How Learning Will Be Assessed
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Online
Orientation
and
Syllabus Review
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- Course
web page and Syllabus
- Access
the course home page in D2L
- Read
course orientation in "Course Info/Start Here"
- Complete
orientation assignment and practice exam
- Explore
course icons
- Post
student introduction
- Read
syllabus
- Send
private e-mail to instructor indicating that syllabus has been read, understood
and agreed with
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- Being
able to log in to the course web page
- Being
able to recognize course icons and navigate through them
- Being
able to post a message in the "Discussion" area
- Being
able to send and receive private e-mails from D2L
- Being
able to complete a small assessment
- Being
able to respond a few questions about the syllabus
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In
the course homepage, go to the "Orientation Module," then:
- Go to "Syllabus
Orientation Quiz" and complete a mandatory quiz about D2L
functionality and the syllabus.
Points: 2.0
- Go to "Mail" and
send a private e-mail to instructor indicating that syllabus has been
read, understood and agreed with.
Points: 1.0
- Go to
"Introduction" and post a brief introduction about yourself,
indicating who you are, your major, and when you expect to graduate
from BC.
Points: 1.0
Total
of points: 4.0
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Weeks
1 & 2: Chapters 1-2
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Content Area
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Learning Materials and Activities
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Expected Learning Outcomes
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How Learning Will Be Assessed
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Chapter
1:
Ethics:
General Overview
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- Power
Point presentation for chapter 1 located at "Course Content"
area
- Textbook
Ethics for Life
- Read
chapter 1 with special attention to the following topics:
- What is ethics?
- Normative and theoretical ethics
- Metaphysics and human nature
- Epistemology and moral knowledge
- Philosophy and the search for wisdom
- Read
the passage "Allegory of the Cave," on page 16
- Read
the passage "Emotivism," on page 29
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- To
know the importance of ethics in our everyday lives
- To
know the two subdivisions in moral philosophy: normative ethics and
metaethics
- To
know the different types of ethical theories
- To
understand the concept of "theory" and the limitations of
theory
- To
know the distinction between ethical relativism and universalist moral
theories
- To
understand the concepts of personhood and moral community
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In
the course homepage, go to "Chapter 1," then:
- Go to "Review Quiz
Ch1" and complete a mandatory quiz about Ethics for Life:
Chapter 1.
Points: 2.0
- After doing a
self-examination of your moral thinking, go to "Moral
Inconsistencies" and submit a brief comment about the
inconsistencies found in your moral thinking. See submission
requirements for this assignment in D2L.
Points: 2.0
Total
of points: 4.0
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Content Area
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Learning Materials and Activities
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Expected Learning Outcomes
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How Learning Will Be Assessed
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Chapter
2:
Moral
Reasoning
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- Power
Point presentation for chapter 2 located at "Course Content"
area
- Textbook
Ethics for Life
- Read
chapter 2 with special attention to the following topics:
- Three levels of thinking
- Moral analysis, praxis, and paradigm shifts
- Overcoming resistance
- The role of is
and ought
in ethics
- Recognizing and constructing moral arguments
- Avoiding logical fallacies
- resolving moral dilemmas
- Read
the passage "The Relevance of the Noble Eightfold Path to
Contemporary Society," on page 45
- Read
the passage "Can't We Make Moral Judgments?," on page
68
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- To
know the three levels of thinking: experience, interpretation, and
analysis
- To
understand the role of moral sensitivity and ontological shock in
praxis
- To
understand the impact of our worldviews and pradigms on moral thinking
- To
recognize and break through patterns of resistance that prevent us
from analyzing our worldviews
- To
know how to construct a moral argument
- To
recognize and avoid logical fallacies
- To
know how to solve moral dilemmas
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In
the course homepage, go to "Chapter 2," then:
- Go to "Review Quiz
Ch2" and complete a mandatory quiz about Ethics for Life:
Chapter 2.
Points: 2.0
- After a brief research, go to
"Moral Examples" and submit an example of either a moral
argument, or an ethical informal fallacy, or a moral dilemma found in
your own experience or from newspapers, magazines, or movies. See
submission requirements for this assignment in D2L.
Points: 2.0
- Go to "Review Exam
1": Take a 25-multiple- choice / true or false question exam
covering the material studied in chapters 1 and 2 of Ethics for Life.
Please, make sure you read the exam's instructions thoroughly before
taking the exam.
Points: 5.0
Total
of points: 9.0
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Remember: Exam 1 - Chapters 1 and 2
Please, make sure you
read the exam's instructions thoroughly before taking the exam.
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Weeks
3 & 4: Chapters 3-5
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Content Area
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Learning Materials and Activities
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Expected Learning Outcomes
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How Learning Will Be Assessed
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Chapter
3:
Ethical
Subjectivism: Morality as a Matter of Personal Opinion
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- Power
Point presentation for chapter 3 located at "Course Content"
area
- Textbook
Ethics for Life
- Read
chapter 3 with special attention to the following topics:
- What is ethical subjectivism?
- What ethical subjectivism is not
- The roots of ethical subjectivism in J.-J. Rousseau
- The criticism of Mary Wollstonecraft
-The Kitty Genovese syndrome
- Critique of ethical subjectivism
- Read
the passage "Student Relativ- ism," on page 80
- Read
the passage "Emile," on page 85
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- To
understand the theory of ethical subjectivism
- To
understand the difference between ethical subjectivism and moral
uncertainty, emotivism, and ethical skepticism
- To
recognize the roots of ethical subjectivism in Jean-Jacques Rousseau's
Romantic Sentimentalism, and Mary Wollstonecraft's critique of
Rousseau's theory
- To
understand the implications of ethical subjectivism for real-life
moral behavior as occurred in the Kitty Genovese case
- To
know the weaknesses of ethical subjectivism that make it inadequate as
moral theory
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In
the course homepage, go to "Chapter 3," then:
- Go to "Review Quiz
Ch3" and complete a mandatory quiz about Ethics for Life:
Chapter 3.
Points: 2.0
- Go to "Kitty
Genovese" and submit an example of a moral situation depicting
the "Kitty Genovese syndrome" found in your own experience
or from newspapers, magazines, or movies. See submission requirements
for this assignment in D2L.
Points: 2.0
- Go to "Essay: Role of
Ethics in My Life" and submit a 1-page essay about the role of
ethics in your life. Essay should be based on the student’s thoughts
about the importance of ethics in his/her life. See submission
requirements in D2L.
Points: 5.0
Total
of points: 9.0
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Content Area
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Learning Materials and Activities
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Expected Learning Outcomes
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How Learning Will Be Assessed
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Chapter
4:
Cultural
Relativism: Morality as a Matter of Culture
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- Power
Point presentation for chapter 4 located at "Course Content"
area
- Textbook
Ethics for Life
- Read
chapter 4 with special attention to the following topics:
- What is cultural relativism?
- Difference between cultural and sociological relativism
- Social Darwinian Ethics
- Cultural relativism as a protest against Social Darwinism
- Cultural relativism and the moral community
- The Holocaust and disillusionment with cultural relativism
- Critique of cultural relativism
- Read
the passage "Anthropology and the Abnormal," on page
114
- Read
the passage "The Muqaddimah," on page 128
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- To
understand the theory of cultural relativism
- To
understand the difference between cultural relativism and tolerance of
cultural diversity
- To
know the distinction between cultural relativism and sociological
relativism and why moral disagreement does not necessarily imply
cultural relativism
- To
know Herbert Spencer's social Darwianian ethics, and understand the
effects of this theory on social policy and on moral theory
- To
understand how the rise in popularity of cultural relativism, came
about as a protest by Ruth Benedict and other anthropologists against
social Darwinian ethics
- To
understand the impact of cultural relativism in our definition of moral
community and our treatment of people who are marginalized or outside
the moral community
- To
understand how different philosophers, including Ibn Khaldun, address
the question of whether some cultures are more moral than others
- To
understand why the Holocaust contributed to disillusionment with
cultural relativism following World War II
- To
understand the real-life implications of accepting cultural relativism
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In
the course homepage, go to "Chapter 4," then:
- Go to "Review Quiz
Ch4" and complete a mandatory quiz about Ethics for Life:
Chapter 4.
Points: 2.0
- Go to "Moral
Community" and submit an example of a moral situation depicting
the marginalization of those not included in the Vietnam moral
community found in your own experience or from newspapers, magazines,
or movies. See submission requirements for this assignment in D2L.
Points: 2.0
Total
of points: 4.0
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Content Area
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Learning Materials and Activities
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Expected Learning Outcomes
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How Learning Will Be Assessed
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Chapter
5:
Morality
and Religion: Morality is a Matter of Religious Belief
Review
of Chapters 1 Through 5 for the Midterm Exam
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- Power
Point presentation for chapter 5 located at "Course Content"
area
- Textbook
Ethics for Life
- Read
chapter 5 with special attention to the following topics:
- Religion and morality
- The Divine Command theory
- Natural Law theory
- Religion, Natural Law theory, and civil disobedience
- Civil religion and cultural relativism
- God and problem of evil
- Does morality need religion?
- Read
the passage "In Defense of the Divine Command Conception,"
on page 152
- Read
the passage "The Summa Theologica," on page 163
- Review
chapters 1 through 5 in Textbook Ethics
for Life in preparation for the midterm exam
- Review
the Power Point presentation for chapters 1 through 5 located at
"Course Content" area in preparation for the midterm exam.
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- To
understand the relationship between morality and religion
- To
know the divine command theory and understand its implications
- To
understand natural law theory, as proposed by Thomas Aquinas, and how
it differs from the divine command theory
- To
understand Henry David Thoreau's and Thomas Aquinas's views on civil
disobedience as a moral imperative under natural law theory
- To
understand how religious views affect the concept of moral community
- To
know different philosophical and theological responses to the problem
of God and the existence of evil and suffering in the world
- To
understand the difference between morality, spirituality, and
religiosity
- To
understand morality's lack of dependence on religion
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In
the course homepage, go to "Chapter 5," then:
- Go to "Review Quiz
Ch5" and complete a mandatory quiz about Ethics for Life:
Chapter 5.
Points: 2.0
- Go to "Baby
Theresa," read the description of her case, and based on what you
have learned so far in this course, participate in an online
discussion about the moral issues involved in Baby Teresa's case. See
participation requirements for this discussion in D2L.
Points: 2.0
- Midterm Exam: Take
a 40-multiple-choice / true or false question exam covering the
material studied in chapters 1 through 5 of Ethics for Life.
Please, contact Mr. Tyler Watts to take the exam.
Points: 16.0
Total
of points: 20.0
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Remember: Midterm Exam - Chapters 1 through
5
Please
contact Mr. Tyler Watts for information about how to take the Midterm Exam.
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Weeks
5 & 6: Chapters 6-8
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Content Area
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Learning Materials and Activities
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Expected Learning Outcomes
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How Learning Will Be Assessed
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Chapter
6:
Conscience
and Moral Development
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- Power
Point presentation for chapter 6 located at "Course Content"
area
- Textbook
Ethics for Life
- Read
chapter 6 with special attention to the following topics:
- Ethics and human development
- Conscience: culturally relative or universal?
- Affective and cognitive sides of conscience
- The stage theory of moral development
- The care perspective
- The four components of moral behavior
- Moral maturity: Moving beyond ethical relativism
- Read
the passage "The Philosophy of Moral Development," on
page 211
- Read
the passage "In a Different Voice," on page 219
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- To
know the different philosophical and scientific theories regarding the
nature of conscience
- To
understand how environmental and biological factors and conscious moral
direction work together in shaping or consciences
- To
understand the affective and the cognitive aspects of conscience and
how the two work together
- To
know Lawrence Kohlberg's and Carol Gilligan's stage theories of
moral development and understand their views on the differences in
moral reasoning between men and women
- To
know James Rest's four components of moral behavior: moral
sensitivity, moral reasoning, moral motivation, and moral character
- To
understand the real-life implications of one's stage of moral
development
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In
the course homepage, go to "Chapter 6," then:
- Go to "Review Quiz
Ch6" and complete a mandatory quiz about Ethics for Life:
Chapter 6.
Points: 2.0
- Go to "Moral
Development" and submit a brief comment relating the concept of
stages of moral development to the moral theories studied in the
earlier chapters. Relate the stages and the theories to the actual
behavior of people discussed in earlier chapters, such as Martin
Luther King Jr., Adolph Eichmann, the subjects of Milgram's
experiment, and the bystanders in the Kitty Genovese case. See
submission requirements for this assignment in D2L.
Points: 2.0
Total
of points: 4.0
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Content Area
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Learning Materials and Activities
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Expected Learning Outcomes
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How Learning Will Be Assessed
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Chapter
7:
Ethical
Egoism: Morality as Our Best Self-Interest
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- Power
Point presentation for chapter 7 located at "Course Content"
area
- Textbook
Ethics for Life
- Read
chapter 7 with special attention to the following topics:
- What is ethical egoism?
- Psychological egoism
- Ethical egoism and laissez-faire capitalism
-Ethical egoism and the moral community
- Self-interest and happiness
- Critique of ethical egoism
- Read
the passage "Leviathan," on page 241
- Read
the passage "The Fountainhead," on page 249
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- To
know the difference between ethical subjectivism, hedonism, and
ethical egoism
- To
understand the distinction between ethical egoism and psychological
egoism, as advocated by Thomas Hobbes
- To
know Ayn Rand's theory of rational egoism and understand how it
supports a laissez-faire capitalist economic system
- To
understand the effect on the definition of moral community of
accepting ethical egoism
- To
understand the relationship between happiness and pursuing our
self-interests
- To
understand both the strengths and weaknesses of ethical egoism
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In
the course homepage, go to "Chapter 7," then:
- Go to "Review Quiz
Ch7" and complete a mandatory quiz about Ethics for Life:
Chapter 7.
Points: 2.0
- Go to "Ethical
Egoism" and submit a brief comment about the following statement:
Ethical egoism may
be an unsatisfactory moral theory if it is taken on its own; however,
it is an important corrective to an ethics of self-sacrifice. See
submission requirements for this assignment in D2L.
Points: 2.0
Total
of points: 4.0
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Content Area
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Learning Materials and Activities
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Expected Learning Outcomes
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How Learning Will Be Assessed
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Chapter
8:
Utilitarianism:
The Great Happiness Principle
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- Power
Point presentation for chapter 8 located at "Course Content"
area
- Textbook
Ethics for Life
- Read
chapter 8 with special attention to the following topics:
- Utilitarianism and the principle of utility
- Utilitarianism as universal love
- Utilitarianism and social reform
-Reformulation of utilitarianism by J. S. Mill
- Utilitarianism and the moral community
- Euthanasia and the principle of utility
- Read
the passage "An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and
Legislation," on page 278
- Read
the passage "Utilitarianism," on page 287
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- To
know the principle of utility, also known as the great happiness
principle
- To
understand the distinction between rule-utilitarianism and
act-utilitarianism
- To
understand utilitarianism as part of the Eastern moral philosophies
- To
know Mo Tzu and his philosophy of universal love
- To
know Jeremy Bentham and the role of his utilitarian theory in social
policy and reform
- To
know how to apply the utilitarian calculus to real-life situations
- To
know John Stuart Mill and his reformulation of Bentham’s utilitarian
theory regarding the quality of pleasures
- To
understand how the utilitarian definition of moral community includes
all sentient beings
- To
understand the role of utilitarians, such as Peter Singer, in the
animal liberation movement
- To
know how to apply utilitarian theory to a particular issue, such as
euthanasia
- To
understand the strengths and weaknesses of utilitarianism
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In
the course homepage, go to "Chapter 8," then:
- Go to "Review Quiz Ch8"
and complete a mandatory quiz about Ethics
for Life: Chapter 8.
Points: 2.0
- Go to
"Utilitarianism" and submit an example of a real-life moral
situation showing the application of utilitarian principles found in
your own experience or from newspapers, magazines, or movies. See
submission requirements for this assignment in D2L.
Points: 2.0
· Go to
"Review Exam 2": Take a 25-multiple- choice / true or false
question exam covering the material studied in chapters 6, 7, and 8 of Ethics for Life. Please,
make sure you read the exam's instructions thoroughly before taking the
exam.
Points: 5.0
Total
of points: 9.0
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Remember: Exam 2 - Chapters 6, 7 and 8
Please, make sure
you read the exam's instructions thoroughly before taking the exam.
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Weeks
7 & 8: Chapters 9-11
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Content Area
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Learning Materials and Activities
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Expected Learning Outcomes
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How Learning Will Be Assessed
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Chapter
9:
Deontology:
The Ethics of Duty
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- Power
Point presentation for chapter 9 located at "Course Content"
area
- Textbook
Ethics for Life
- Read
chapter 9 with special attention to the following topics:
- Deontology and duty
- Duty and community
- The categorical imperative
- The good will and proper self-esteem
- Is the duty not to lie absolute?
- Prima facie deontology
- The
duty of justice
- Critique of deontology
- Read
the passage "The Analects of Confucius," on page 316
- Read
the passage "Fundamental Principles of the Methaphysic of
Ethics," on page 321
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- To
know the deontological theories and understand how they differ from
cultural relativism, utilitarianism, and ethical egoism
- To
understand the distinction between absolute and prima facie moral duties,
and between positive and negative moral duties
- To
know Confucian deontology and understand how it incorporates both
virtue ethics and communitarian ethics
- To
know about Immanuel Kant, his formulation of the categorical
imperative, and his concept of the good will
- To
understand the relationship between morality and the development of
proper self-esteem
- To
know how to apply deontology theory to issues such as lying
- To
understand the difference between Kantian deontology and Ross’s prima
facie deontology
- To
know Ross’s seven prima facie duties
- To
know John Rawls’s theory of justice as fairness
- To
understand the strengths and weaknesses of deontology
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In
the course homepage, go to "Chapter 9," then:
- Go to "Review Quiz
Ch9" and complete a mandatory quiz about Ethics for Life:
Chapter 9.
Points: 2.0
- Go to "Deontology"
and submit an example of a real-life moral situation showing the
application of deontological principles found in your own experience
or from newspapers, magazines, or movies. See submission requirements
for this assignment in D2L.
Points: 2.0
· Go to
"Essay: My Ethical Legacy to the World" and submit a 1-page essay
about your ethical legacy to the world. Essay should be based on the
student’s thoughts about how his/her ethical life might bring a positive
impact to the world. See submission requirements in D2L.
Points: 5.0
Total
of points: 9.0
|
|
Content Area
|
Learning Materials and Activities
|
Expected Learning Outcomes
|
How Learning Will Be Assessed
|
|
Chapter
10:
Right
Ethics: Morality
is Based on Inalienable Human Rights
|
- Power
Point presentation for chapter 10 located at "Course
Content" area
- Textbook
Ethics for Life
- Read
chapter 10 with special attention to the following topics:
- The emergence of rights ethics
- Natural rights ethics
- The Marxist critique of natural rights ethics
- Rights and duties
- Buddhism and rights ethics
- Liberty rights and welfare rights
- Rights
and the moral community
- Critique of rights ethics
- Read
the passage "The Universal Declaration of Human Rights,"
on page 360
- Read
the passage "Two Treatises of Civil Government," on
page 366
|
- To
understand the emergence of human rights ethics as a protest against
the concept of divine rights
- To
know the expression of human rights ethics in historic movements and
events
- To
know the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights
- To
understand the difference between moral and legal rights
- To
know the natural rights ethics of John Locke, Thomas Hobbes, and Ayn
Rand
- To
understand the ways in which natural rights ethics supports capitalism
and libertarian political ideology
- To
understand why Marxists, including Karl Marx and liberation ethicist Gustavo
Gutierrez, are critical of natural rights ethics
- To
understand the relation between rights and duties
- To
know the Catholic natural law concept of human rights
- To
understand the distinction between absolute and prima facie rights
- To
know the Buddhist approach to rights
- To
understand the distinction between liberty and welfare rights
- To
understand the relationship between concepts of rights and concepts of
moral community
- To
know the distinction between basing rights on interests and basing
rights on self-assertion
|
In
the course homepage, go to "Chapter 10," then:
- Go to "Review Quiz
Ch10" and complete a mandatory quiz about Ethics for Life:
Chapter 10.
Points: 2.0
- Go to "Rights
Ethics" and submit an example of a real-life moral situation
showing the consequences of violation of rights ethics principles
found in your own experience or from newspapers, magazines, or movies.
See submission requirements for this assignment in D2L.
Points: 2.0
Total
of points: 4.0
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|
Content Area
|
Learning Materials and Activities
|
Expected Learning Outcomes
|
How Learning Will Be Assessed
|
|
Chapter
11:
Virtue
Ethics and the Good Life
Review
of Chapters 6 Through 11 for the Final Exam
|
- Power
Point presentation for chapter 11 located at "Course
Content" area
- Textbook
Ethics for Life
- Read
chapter 11 with special attention to the following topics:
- Virtue ethics and character
- Reason and virtue in Aristotle
- The doctrine of the mean in Confucius and Aristotle
- Sentiment and virtue in Nel Noddings and David Hume
- Is virtue relative to culture, social status, and gender?
- The
unity of virtue
-
Virtue and moral education
- Critique of virtue ethics
- Read
the passage "Nicomachean Ethics," on page 407
- Read
the passage "Caring: A Feminine Approach to Ethics and Moral
Education," on page 422
- Review
chapters 6 through 11 in the Textbook Ethics for Life in
preparation for the final exam
- Review
the Power Point presentation for chapters 6 through 11 located at
"Course Content" area in preparation for the final exam.
|
- To
know the definitions of virtue and vice
- To
understand the relationship between virtue ethics and character
- To
know theories regarding how we can best cultivate the good will or a
virtuous character
- To
understand the relationship between virtue, happiness, and human
nature
- To
understand the role of intention in virtue
- To
know Aristotle’s and Confucius’s doctrine of the mean
- To
know Nel Noddings’s and David Hume’s theories regarding the importance
of sentiment in virtue
- To
understand how culture and gender influence our views of what
constitutes a virtue
- To
understand Aristotle’s concept of unity of virtue
- To
understand the importance of moral education in cultivating a virtuous
character
|
In
the course homepage, go to "Chapter 11," then:
- Go to "Review Quiz
Ch11" and complete a mandatory quiz about Ethics for Life:
Chapter 11.
Points: 2.0
- Go to "Mercy
Killing," read the description of Tracy Latimer's case, and
based on what you have learned from chapter 6 to chapter 11,
participate in an online discussion about the moral issues involved in
Tracy's case. See participation requirements for this discussion in
D2L
Points: 2.0
- Final Exam: Take a
40-multiple-choice / true or false question exam covering the material
studied in chapters 6 through 11 of Ethics
for Life. Please, contact Mr. Tyler Watts to take the
exam.
Points: 16.0
Total of points: 20.0
|
|
Remember: Final Exam - Chapters 6 through
11
Please
contact Mr. Tyler Watts for information about how to take the Final Exam.
|
Note:
The activities and expected learning outcomes described above were taken from
the course's textbook, Ethics
for Life: A Text with Readings, 4th Edition, written by Judith
Boss, and published by McGraw-Hill in 2008 and its accompanying Instructor's
Manual; and The Elements of Moral Philosophy, written by James
Rachels, and published by McGraw-Hill, in 2007.
Return
to Table of Contents
Grading & Exam Policy
- Submission Deadlines and Due Dates
- To
complete this course successfully students are required to do the
following mandatory tasks:
1. Take 12
online quizzes (2 points each) by the deadline indicated in the “Class
Schedule and Assignments” section above. These quizzes can be taken
from any computer with access to the Internet. After the deadline the
quiz will be unavailable and the student will not receive credit for
that specific quiz.
2. Send 1 email
(1 point) during the first week of class by the deadline indicated in
the “Class Schedule and Assignments” section above. After the deadline
the student will not receive credit for this activity.
3. Post 1
online introduction (1 point) during the first week of class by the
deadline indicated in the “Class Schedule and Assignments” section
above. After the deadline the student will not receive credit for this
activity.
4. Post 9
online postings (2 points each) by the deadline indicated in the “Class
Schedule and Assignments” section above. After the deadline the posting
will be unavailable and the student will not receive credit for that
specific activity.
5. Participate
in 2 online discussions (2 points each) by the deadline indicated in
the “Class Schedule and Assignments” section above. Students must
participate in these discussions. After the deadline the discussion
will be unavailable and the student will not receive credit for that
specific activity.
6. Take 2
online review exams (5 points each) by the deadline indicated in the
“Class Schedule and Assignments” section above. These exams can be
taken from any computer with access to the Internet. After the deadline
the exam will be unavailable and the student will not receive credit
for that specific exam.
7. Submit 2
online essays (5 points each) by the deadline indicated in the “Class
Schedule and Assignments” section above. After the deadline the essay
will be unavailable and the student will not receive credit for that
specific essay.
8. Take 1
online midterm exam (16 points) on the date indicated in the “Class
Schedule and Assignments” section above. This exam must be taken
online, (please contact Mr. Tyler Watts for
information about how to take the exam) during the dates
indicated in the “Class Schedule and Assignments” section above,
neither before nor after. There is no make-up for the midterm exam.
Students who miss the midterm exam will not receive credit for the
exam. Missing of the exam due to extraordinary circumstances (death in
the immediate family, natural disaster, student illness, etc.) will be
considered, at sole discretion of the instructor, in a case-by-case
basis.
9. Take 1
online final exam (16 points) on the date indicated in the “Class
Schedule and Assignments” section above. This exam must be taken online
(please contact Mr. Tyler Watts for information
about how to take the exam) during the dates indicated in the
“Class Schedule and Assignments” section above, neither before nor
after. There is no make-up for the final exam. Students who miss the
final exam will not receive credit for the exam. Missing of the exam
due to extraordinary circumstances (death in the immediate family,
natural disaster, student illness, etc.) will be considered, at sole
discretion of the instructor, in a case-by-case basis.
- Note that in the “Class Schedule and Assignments” section
above, most of the tasks have a “Deadline,” which means that students
can submit or complete that task before (if available to the students)
or on that date. However, two tasks, the midterm exam and the final
exam, don’t have a deadline; they have dates, which means that they
have to be taken on those dates, neither before nor after.
- The submission time for all online assignment (except for
the midterm and final exams, which will comply with Mr. Tyler Watts’s
instructions) is 11:59 PM of the deadline indicated in the “Class
Schedule and Assignments” section above. Assignments submitted after
the due date and time will not be accepted.
- Quizzes cannot be completed after the due date and time.
Allow ample time to complete quizzes. For the midterm and final exams
see Mr. Tyler Watts for instructions for your test. If you arrive late,
you may not have sufficient time to complete the exam.
- There will be no make-up available for online assignments.
Additionally, there
will be no make-up for midterm and final exams. Students who miss
either of the exams, without just cause, will not receive credit for
it. However, the missing of the exam due to extraordinary circumstances
(death in the immediate family, natural disaster, student illness,
etc.) will be considered, at sole discretion of the instructor, in a
case-by-case basis.
- This course requires the completion of two proctored,
on-campus exams.
- Exams may be taken any time on the dates indicated. Exams
will not be administered after the dates and times indicated in the
syllabus, unless there are extenuating circumstances and you have made
prior arrangements with the instructor.
- Before taking your exams, see Mr. Tyler Watts
to receive instructions about how to take the exam. Allow
plenty of time to complete your test. Tests must be submitted whether
they have been completed or not. You will not be able to return to
complete the test at a later date.
- You will need to show a VATC identification card or
picture ID in order to be able to take the test.
- On-campus
tests will be delivered online via D2L in a multiple choice format.
- The
use of notes, books, binder, texts, etc. is not permitted for any test
- Make-up exams will be permitted, solely at the discretion
of the instructor, only under extenuating circumstances and only with
prior notification and documentation (original funeral notice, original
doctor note, etc.).
- The instructor reserves the right to create alternate make-up
exams for students who are not able to take the scheduled, on campus
exams.
- Exams cannot be made up after the exam date has passed
unless prior arrangements have been made.
- These
quizzes can be taken any time prior to the closing date, and may be
taken via any computer with an Internet connection.
- Collaboration
between students and discussion of quiz answers are not permitted.
- You
will be able to attempt each quiz twice. Allow time to complete each
quiz before the closing date and time. Make sure you have a solid
Internet connection. If your ISP disconnects you during a quiz, that
will count as an attempt and you will not be able to repeat the quiz if
that is your second attempt.
- Online
quiz and exam grades will be available after finishing the quiz or
exam. View "My Grades" from the course homepage.
- Grades for assignments will be posted within seven BC
working days of the closing date of the assignment.
- Grades for discussion postings will be posted seven days
after the discussion has closed.
- Final
grades for the course will be posted at BC Web Site within a week after
final exams are taken.
- How
your grade will be determined:
- Students
grades will be determined as follow:
|
Assessment
|
Graded Points
|
Percent of Final Grade
|
|
Quizzes
(12 x 2.0 pts)
|
24.0
|
24%
|
|
Orientation
Email (1 x 1.0 pt)
|
1.0
|
1%
|
|
Orientation
Posting (1 x 1.0 pt)
|
1.0
|
1%
|
|
Online
Postings (9 x 2.0 pts)
|
18.0
|
18%
|
|
Online
Discussion (2 x 2.0 pts)
|
4.0
|
4%
|
|
Review
Exams (2 x 5.0 pts)
|
10.0
|
10%
|
|
Essays
(2 x 5.0 pts)
|
10.0
|
10%
|
|
Midterm
|
16.0
|
16%
|
|
Final
|
16.0
|
16%
|
|
Totals
|
100.0
|
100%
|
|
Grading Scale
|
|
Grades
|
Percentage
|
|
Grade =
A
|
90-100%
|
|
Grade =
B
|
80-89%
|
|
Grade =
C
|
70-79%
|
|
Grade =
D
|
60-69%
|
|
Grade =
F
|
59% and
below
|
Return
to Table of Contents
Communication Policy
- Expectations for Course Communication
- BC
Email:
Please do not send course related emails to the instructor's BC email
address. Use the D2L email address instead. Assignments sent to the
instructor's BC email address will not be accepted. Send your
assignments to the instructor via D2L using the D2L feature identified
in the syllabus.
- D2L
Email:
Use the email tool only for private, personal, one to one communication
with a specific individual or groups of individuals.
- Discussions: Please check
the discussion area regularly. Use the class discussion tool to post
questions that might be of general interest to all students such as
questions about assignments, tests, etc. Feel free to respond to other
students if you think you can help them. Remember - we are all in this
together and we can learn from each other. Remember that the discussion
tool is public - everyone will be able to view posts and responses.
- Chat
Rooms:
Chat Rooms allow you to talk with other students in the course in
real-time outside of your on-campus class meetings. Students must setup
times at which to meet other students in the chat room. This is a
useful tool for coordinating group projects.
- Netiquette: In all online communication, it is expected that
all students will follow rules of online "netiquette".
Netiquette is a set of rules for polite online behavior that all
members of this class is expected to follow. See details at http://www.albion.com/netiquette/index.html) Basically, these rules say "be respectful and
be polite to each other". and "be patient and considerate of
others". No one is perfect and we all have different approaches to
life, work, and school.
- Individuals who violate the netiquette policy or engage in
disruptive online behaviors such as flaming (posting disrespectful or
hostile comments), posting inappropriate comments, or shouting
(posting messages using all capitals) may have their course access
privileges revoked and/or they may be referred to the Student Dean.
Students who continue to engage in unacceptable online behavior even
after being warned, may be permanently denied access to the course
and/or may receive an F for the course.
- Please don't use email short hand like ROTFLO (rolling on
the floor laughing outloud) or BTW (by the way) - not everyone knows
what these abbreviations mean.
- Remember that in the real world we can see the facial
expressions, gestures, and hear tone of voice. We can't do that online
so it's very easy to misinterpret another person's meaning to to be
misinterpreted ourselves. Be careful of how you communicate to your
instructor and to your peers online. If you want to use emoticons
(smileys) to convey feelings, please stick with the basics happy :-)
sad :-( or wink ;-) Others are less well known and are subject to
different interpretations. The idea is to be clear in your
communications.
- If you have a concern about the course, a test or an
assignment, please contact the instructor.
- D2L
software automatically stores course access records, quiz scores, email
postings, discussion postings, and chatroom conversations. One more
reason to make sure that your communications adhere to the netiquette
policy.
- In
the unlikely event that a D2L problem makes it impossible to use the
course communication tools for more than 24 hours, the instructor will
communicate with students (if necessary) via their BC email addresses.
Access your BC email account here: http://www.broward.edu/info/studentemail/Home.jsp
- Course emails and discussion posts will be answered within
48 hours. Emails sent on Saturday or Sunday may not be answered until Monday.
It is recommend that you post course related questions in the
discussion area. If you need info related to a test or assignment, plan
ahead and submit your questions well ahead of the due date. Your
instructor is not online 24 hours per day, please allow time for
response.
Return
to Table of Contents
Assorted Policies and
Procedures
- Special Needs: Students having special needs as
defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act should:
- Notify the Office of Disability
Services as early in the term as possible. It is the student’s
responsibility to contact the Disability Support Office prior to
document disability prior to receiving services.
- Notify the instructor after you have contacted the Office
of Disability Services so that the instructor can consult with the
Office of Disability Services to discuss what reasonable accommodations
would be appropriate for your situation.
- Academic Honesty (Cheating):
- Each
student's academic work must be the result of his or her own thought,
research, or self-expression.
- Cheating
includes, but is not limited to: copying the work of another person (plagiarism) or
permitting your work to be copied by another person, discussing test
answers or questions with people who have not completed the test,
distributing assignment materials to other students, poses sing course
materials that have not been formally released to students in the
course, and collaborating on the completion of assignments not
specifically designated in the syllabus as being "group
projects".
- Cheating
will be considered a breach of Broward Community College's Code
of Conduct Policy and may result in academic penalties (zero
points on the assignment/test in question, a failing grade for the
course), disciplinary action, and/or a referral to the Dean of Student
Affairs.
Examples:
1) If it appears that two or more students have submitted the same
material for any solo assignments, each student involved will receive
zero points for that assignment.
2) If it appears that a student has copied an assignment from published
material (including Internet sites), the student will receive an zero
points for that assignment
- Critical Event Procedure
- In the event of a school closing due to weather or other
major event that might impact class schedules, the instructor will post
an announcement indicating what changes (if any), the event will have
on the course schedule and due dates.
- Copyright
- Please add the following statement relating to copyright
to your syllabus and as a lower textblock on the course homepage.
- The
materials used on this course Web site may be protected by copyright
and are only for the use of students enrolled in this course for
the purposes associated with this course and may not be retained or
further disseminated
- Withdrawals
- No
withdrawals will be given for any reason. It is the student's
responsibility to withdraw from this class by the withdrawal deadline
if you are not earning the grade you want or will not be able to
complete the course. To view important dates (including withdrawal
deadlines) for this semester, visit the college
calendar
on line.
- Logging
Off D2L
- D2L does not
require you to log off to exit D2L. Security Warning: If you don't
close your browser or log off, a person using that machine after you
will have access to your course materials, could send e-mail to me in
your name, and view your confidential student record. Protect your
password.
- Changes
to the Syllabus
- The
instructor reserves the right to make changes to this syllabus. In the
event that changes become necessary, students will be notified through
D2L Announcement/Email.
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