Minds, Robots, and the End of Humanity (FYS-IFS-G)
Course Requirements
Cell Phones. 
I used to place a polite little notice about this at the bottom of the page, but it’s time for a big impolite notice, right up at the top of the page so you can’t miss it. Do not bring your cell phone to class!
Wait, that’s impossible, since you have to have your cell phone on your person at all times! OK, I get that, so go ahead, bring your phone; but while in class, it needs to be turned off and stowed away.
Why a “No Damn Cell Phone” policy? Primarily out of respect for others, but also because you — and I suspect this really does include nearly everyone reading these words — need help! This class involves listening closely to, and thinking carefully about, what others say; a focused discussion is supposed to take place in this classroom — and none of that is possible if you are staring at your cell phone screen.
Most people are now quite literally addicted to their phones. If the phone is within reach it will be reached, and checked, and used, every five minutes or so on average (and that’s just averaging over a 17 hour waking day; peak usage can involve checking the phone every few seconds).
And don’t think you’re able to pay attention to the classroom discussion AND your emails and Facebook and Reddit and Instagram and Snapchat and Twitter posts when you’ve got those phones out. You’re actually just wasting your time, as ample research shows. This so-called “multi-tasking” doesn’t work.
I understand that sometimes you are looking up important information with your phone; that’s admirable, but probably not necessary. Just write down the question or topic, and look it up later. That’s what we all used to do “in the old days,” and it worked pretty well.
If you are going to attend class, then attend class. And that means: Turn off the phone.
Readings. Read the assignments closely prior to class (see the Schedule), and always print out and bring the text. Class discussions and your success in this class depend upon this.
Attendance and Participation. Roughly half of any successful project is simply showing up. That alone is not enough, but it’s a necessary first step. Also, because uninformed talk is often worse than silence, you need not only to show up for class, but to arrive having worked through and reflected on the readings for the day.
There are also a collection of FYS activities that need to be completed during the semester [pdf], including two "activity options" (drawn from activities highlighting faith, diversity, service, community, and integrity). For each of the two activities in which you participate, please complete this survey.
If you still need to interview a professor in your anticipated major, here is the form.
Occasional Writing. Roughly every other day, at the beginning of class, a one to two page essay on the day’s reading, or some similar assignment, will be due, or else there will be a brief in-class writing on the day’s reading (see the page on Writing).
Three essays. Three formal essays are part of each First Year Seminar section; these essays are discussed on the Writing page.
Final exam. A final exam concerning the the readings and ideas discussed in the course will be given during the final exam week. This will consist of essay and short answer questions.
Grading. The set of three essays is worth 60% (20% + 20% + 20%); the set of occasional writing is worth 20%; the final exam is worth 10%; participation in and completion of the various FYS activities is worth 10%.
I use the following letter grade conversion scale: A (94-100), A- (90-93), B+ (87-89), B (83-86), B- (80-82), C+ (77-79), C (73-76), C- (70-72), D+ (67-69), D (63-66), D-(60-62), F (0-59).
The following is a descriptive explanation of the different course grades you might receive:
In general terms, you will receive a C in this class if your work is consistently adequate and meets all minimum requirements for assignments. Just showing up and getting the work done should get you to this level.
A B reflects an above average commitment to coursework, efforts toward improvement, and positive contribution to the classroom environment.
The grade of A stands for excellence in every area of coursework. This means producing polished, thought-provoking, and inventive writings, as well as showing a genuine interest in the subject matter and a consistent willingness to ask and answer difficult questions inside and outside of class. An A- student is an independent, critical thinker who reads and analyzes texts beyond the surface level and incorporates lessons learned from previous assignments to improve upon future ones.
Receiving a grade of D means that your work has not been consistently adequate or does not meet minimum requirements for assignments. An F indicates that the work for the course is incomplete or inadequate; in addition, an F may be given for academic dishonesty (plagiarism or cheating).
Late Work is not normally accepted. Assignments must be handed in at the beginning of class on the day that they are due – if you are late, that means your work is also late. If you anticipate any kind of difficulty meeting a deadline, see me as soon as possible to discuss an extension or to make special arrangements. If you know ahead of time that you cannot be present when something is due, you must contact me before class to discuss alternatives (this usually means handing in an assignment sooner rather than later).
Laptops and iPads. Some students take notes best with a keyboard and computer, but many students are unable to use their computers without compulsively checking Facebook, email, and otherwise surfing the web. This is bad for the student, of course, but it is especially unfair to those sitting nearby, who can be distracted by the unrelated material glowing from your screen. Unless you have a documented disability that requires the use of a laptop or tablet, prepare to take notes the old fashioned way, with paper and pencil.
Why the "No Laptop" policy? Research indicates that taking notes on a laptop (i.e., typing your notes) generally results in notes inferior to those written by hand, and you are also less likely to retain the information. If you don't believe me, read this item from the Scientific American (June 3, 2014) or this from the Association for Psychological Science (April 24, 2014).
In other words, even if you don't let the computer distract you from the classroom discussion, you'll still be taking notes that are worth less than if you wrote them by hand.
Cheating and Plagiarism. 
Plagiarism consists of submitting the statements, ideas, opinions, or findings of another as if they were your own. It is not plagiarism to copy from or paraphrase a source as long as this is acknowledged and the source is cited. Cheating and deliberate plagiarism will result in automatically failing the class. For more information, see the university Catalog.
Academic Support. Manchester University has a commitment to the success of its students; therefore, the Success Center services will serve you well! Whether you are in the honors program, need a little help getting started with an essay, or need some extensive tutoring for a math class, familiarize yourself with the Success Center on the second floor of the Switzer Center!
Starfish. Beginning this year, the University will be using a new software program called “Starfish,” which gathers together information for your advising and scheduling, as well as for you and others to “throw a flag” if there’s a problem or worry of any kind (falling behind in class or not showing up, feeling depressed or anxious, and so on). You may receive alerts from this system, and you can also initiate alerts.
Students with Disabilities. Manchester University, in compliance with federal guidelines, is committed to providing students with disabilities an access to programs and activities that is equal to the access provided to students without disabilities.
If you believe that you need an accommodation due to a disability, please contact Mia Miller, the Disability Support Coordinator, to establish eligibility and to coordinate reasonable accommodations. Students whose accommodation requests are approved will be provided with confidential letters to deliver to their professors. Each letter verifies the disability and documents the need for auxiliary aids and services and/or academic adjustments/accommodations. Students are encouraged to meet with each professor early in the semester to discuss academic implications as they relate to each specific course and to request appropriate accommodation. The Disability Support Services office is in the Success Center (second floor of the Jo Young Switzer Center) and can be reached by phone at 260-982-5888 or 260-982-5499 to schedule an appointment.
The university-prepared syllabus addendum regarding the Student Disability and Reasonable Accommodation Statement and Title IX Reporting Requirements can be found here.
When life happens… If circumstances in your life occur that affect your performance in class (e.g., childcare issues, unreliable transportation, a sick grandparent, expected recurring absences for any reason), you should talk to me and to your other professors immediately. We can figure something out.
Manchester University // Registrar // Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies // Last updated: 24 Aug 2017