Assignments: Your grade in the course will be based on your performance on the following assignments:

• 20% Exam 1
• 20% Exam 2
• 20% Final Exam
• 10% Final Paper: This due the penultimate day of class. Though only worth 10% of your grade in the course, failure to complete this assignment or the associated pre-writing will result in an F in the course. More information on this assignment will be provided later.
• 10% Homework and In-Class Exercises: This is due at the start of the class for which it is assigned. Late assignments will not be accepted.
• 20% Pop Quizzes: These will be given at the start of class and will cover the previous classes material. They cannot be made-up if missed, but I will drop the lowest quiz score.

Grade Scale:

    ≥ 90 = A
    ≥ 80 = B
    ≥ 70 = C
    ≥ 60 = D
    < 60 = F

Schedule: (topics and important dates included): Homework will be due daily and assignments will be announced in class. Do not be concerned if we fall ahead or behind on this schedule. The most important goal is that everyone understand the concepts and problems. This schedule is subject to change. All changes will be announced in class and posted on the course website. In order to make the course accurately reflect student interests and concerns, the material for the later part of the course will be selected by students. All readings come from Exploring Ethics.

Week 1

Monday, June 9: Introduction, Chapter 1, "Morality and Moral Philosophy" (pp. 2-5), "Phaedo" (pp. 22-26), "Letter from a Birmingham Jail" (pp. 27-43)
Homework: Read the "Phaedo" and answer the following questions:

1. Why does Socrates not fear death?
2. Why is he critical of those who do fear death?
3. What, according to Socrates, is the proper attitude towards death (one's own or that of others)?
   

Week 2

June 16: Challenges to Morality Part II, Chapters 9-11 (pp. 71-96)

June 18: EXAM 1

Week 3

June 23: Kant and Mill (pp. 98-134)

June 25: Aristotle and Virtue Ethics (pp. 135-143)

Week 4

June 30: Ethics of Care and the Social Contract (pp. 144-163)
Homework: Look at Part III of our text and select and rank the top three topics you would like to discuss for the rest of the semester.

July 2: Watch Film in class, Crimes and Misdemeanors; discuss film

Week 5

July 7: EXAM 2

July 9: Introduction of Paper Topic, Watch Film in Class

Week 6

July 14: Abortion: Read "A Defense of Abortion" and "On the Moral and Legal Status of Abortion (pp. 166-202)

July 16: Abortion: Read "Why Abortion is Immoral" and "Virtue Theory and Abortion" (pp. 203-224)

Week 7

July 21: Capital Punishment: Watch Film in Class

July 23: Capital Punishment: Read "The Morality of Capital Punishment" and "The Death Penalty as a Symbolic Issue" (pp. 311-323), In-class Peer Editing. Bring three copies of a draft of your paper to class for peer editing.

Week 8

July 28: Torture: Read "Torture" and "Ticking Time Bombs, Torture, and the Analogy with Self-Defense (pp. 282-309), Final Paper Due

July 30:  FINAL EXAM

ACADEMIC POLICIES:
Student Responsibility to Drop/Withdraw: It is the student’s responsibility to officially add, drop, or withdraw from the course stated in the class schedule. Failure to do so can result in a failing grade.

Attendance: During the first week of class, students will be dropped for any unexcused absence. Starting during the second week, students may be dropped for missing two classes. In addition, students who arrive unreasonably late or leave unreasonably early will be marked absent.

Professionalism: It is assumed that students will conduct themselves in a professional manner with a positive attitude. An open mind is one of the most important tools required for success in academia. If a student is negative and feels as is there is nothing of value to be gained by the college experience or this course, he or she will not do well in this course.

Academic Integrity and Conduct: Mesa College students are bound by the Student Code of Conduct, Policy 3100.  In this course, cheating, plagiarism, disruptions of instructional activity, fraud and/or lying will result in, at a minimum, a grade of “F” for the assignment/test with no make up permitted.  Any of these infractions may result in an “F” for the course as well and formal disciplinary action by the Dean of Student Affairs as described in the code (as published in the catalog or online).

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities: Students with disabilities who may need accommodations in this class are encouraged to notify the instructor and DSPS. DSPS can be found at http://www.sdmesa.edu/dsps/ or they can be contacted by phone at 619-388-2780.

1. Be optimistic about your ability to learn from the textbook, the instructor, and each other.
2. Do all homework. It will be collected every time, and spot-checked.
3. Do all assigned reading.
4. If you find you fall behind in your understanding, contact the instructor.
5. Be prepared to spend time outside of class working on class material, doing readings, homework, preparing for quizzes and exams, etc.
6. Have confidence in your ability to do the work.
7. Ask questions if you don't understand something.
   
8. Remember that you are gifted with more education and intelligence than many persons on this planet. If you try, you are sure to get it, or at least most of it!
9. Remember that we are all here to learn.