Bioethics (PHIL 235)

Manchester College, January 2012 Instructor: Steve Naragon
Welcome! Course Objectives Course Requirements Writing Schedule Glossary Resources Philosophy FAQ Latin Phrases Make More Money! [MC Angel site] [Instructor Homepage] [Registrar] [Religion/Philosophy Dept.]	Course Requirements How to Succeed in this Class First, be sure to show up for class. Second, show up prepared to talk and ask questions. The best way to be prepared is to set aside about two hours of your time in order to do the following: (a) Read through the list of “WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW HOW TO DO” listed with each day (on this page). (b) Work through the assigned readings, making notes in the margins as you go — and be sure to check the relevant entries in the Bioethics Glossary, since some of what you need to know is in the Glossary, but not the Veatch text. (c) Re-read that list of “WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW HOW TO DO” and consider whether you know how to do those things yet; if you don't, then return to the assigned “Readings” and the Bioethics Glossary, and study them some more until you do. (d) When you have a little extra time, take a look at some of the “Other Resources” (I’m still developing these resources for this class...); these are usually pretty interesting, and they will often give you a different angle on the topic being considered. If you want, write up an Extra Credit Journal on one of these items. If you follow this procedure consistently during the term — and if you put your best effort into the writing assignments — then you should do well on the daily quizzes, you should be ready for the exams, you will do well in the course, and you will learn quite a bit of bioethics. Attendance. If you do not plan to attend class and participate constructively, then you should withdraw from this class. A course on philosophy is by its nature aimed at self-examination and discussion; consequently, doing well in this class requires being there. Missing class does not directly affect your grade, although students with poor attendance typically do quite poorly in the class. On the average, students missing more than two classes during a semester receive grades below the class average. Small Groups. The students in the class will be divided into groups of six or seven students each, viz., the Hippocrates Group, the Avicenna Group, the Vesalius Group, and the Semmelweis Group. These groups will function primarily for the purposes of in-class discussions and online discussion forums. Exams. There will be three non-cumulative exams over the readings and lectures. [Makeup: Exams missed due to an excused absence are to be taken as soon as possible or else will be forfeited. It is your responsibility to see me about this.] Discussion Forums. There will be four discussion forums, each of which will require one post and two comments from you. The posts have a 500 word minimum, and comments a 100 word minimum. These will be completed on ANGEL, and evaluated using these rubrics. Late entries will be penalized. Please consult these rubrics closely before writing your posts and comments. See the Writing page for more information. Pre-Class Blogs. Before about one-half of the class sessions, either morning or afternoon, you will need to post a brief discussion of an assigned case study to your small group blog (on ANGEL). These are due no later than 30 minutes before the start of class (thus, either 8:30 AM or 12:30 PM). Late entries will be penalized. These will be completed on ANGEL, and evaluated using these rubrics. Pre-Class Blogs. There are twelve blog postings — due before class, either morning or afternoon. These are due no later than 30 minutes before the start of class (thus, either 8:30 AM or 12:30 PM). Late is the same as never. These will be completed on ANGEL, and evaluated using this rubric. Quizzes. There will be a quiz at the beginning of about one-half of the class sessions; these will concern the readings for that class session and material discussed the previous class session. Most or all of the quizzes will involve a single short answer question. These quizzes help keep each of us informed of your grasp of the material, and should provide additional motivation to stay current with the readings, and to work through the day’s material before class. [Makeup: Missed quizzes can be made up in my office, but this has to occur before the next class meeting. It is wholly your responsibility to make this arrangement.] Extra Credit. You may write, for extra credit, journal entries on various additional materials — essays, films, videos, audio recordings — that are listed on the Schedule and marked with an [EC]. See the Writing page for more information. Grading. The set of three exams is worth 51% (17% per exam); the set of discussion forum posts and comments is worth 20%; the set of blog entries is 20%; and the set of quizzes is worth 9%. 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). Cell Phones. Please do not bring these to class. If you do bring a cell phone, it needs to be turned off and put away at the bottom of a very deep pocket or book bag. If you are unable to part company with your cell phone, or are unable to keep it turned off and stowed, then please enroll in a different class. Thank you. 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 college policy, as reprinted on the Writing page. Students with Disabilities. Manchester College, 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 Bonnie O’Connell, the director of services for students with disabilities, to establish your eligibility and to coordinate reasonable accommodations. It is your responsibility to seek this accommodation. Students whose accommodation requests are approved will be given confidential letters to deliver to their professors that verifies the nature of the student’s 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 the academic implications of the disability as they relate to the specific course and to request appropriate accommodation. The Disabilities Office is located in the Success Center (second floor of the Union); please telephone 982-5076 to schedule an appointment.
Manchester College // Registrar // Department of Religion and Philosophy // Last updated: 13 Dec 2011

Bioethics (PHIL 235)

Course Requirements

How to Succeed in this Class

First, be sure to show up for class. Second, show up prepared to talk and ask questions. The best way to be prepared is to set aside about two hours of your time in order to do the following:

(a) Read through the list of “WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW HOW TO DO” listed with each day (on this page).

(b) Work through the assigned readings, making notes in the margins as you go — and be sure to check the relevant entries in the Bioethics Glossary, since some of what you need to know is in the Glossary, but not the Veatch text.

(c) Re-read that list of “WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW HOW TO DO” and consider whether you know how to do those things yet; if you don't, then return to the assigned “Readings” and the Bioethics Glossary, and study them some more until you do.

(d) When you have a little extra time, take a look at some of the “Other Resources” (I’m still developing these resources for this class...); these are usually pretty interesting, and they will often give you a different angle on the topic being considered. If you want, write up an Extra Credit Journal on one of these items.

If you follow this procedure consistently during the term — and if you put your best effort into the writing assignments — then you should do well on the daily quizzes, you should be ready for the exams, you will do well in the course, and you will learn quite a bit of bioethics.

Attendance. If you do not plan to attend class and participate constructively, then you should withdraw from this class. A course on philosophy is by its nature aimed at self-examination and discussion; consequently, doing well in this class requires being there. Missing class does not directly affect your grade, although students with poor attendance typically do quite poorly in the class. On the average, students missing more than two classes during a semester receive grades below the class average.

Small Groups. The students in the class will be divided into groups of six or seven students each, viz., the Hippocrates Group, the Avicenna Group, the Vesalius Group, and the Semmelweis Group. These groups will function primarily for the purposes of in-class discussions and online discussion forums.

Exams. There will be three non-cumulative exams over the readings and lectures. [Makeup: Exams missed due to an excused absence are to be taken as soon as possible or else will be forfeited. It is your responsibility to see me about this.]

Discussion Forums. There will be four discussion forums, each of which will require one post and two comments from you. The posts have a 500 word minimum, and comments a 100 word minimum. These will be completed on ANGEL, and evaluated using these rubrics. Late entries will be penalized. Please consult these rubrics closely before writing your posts and comments. See the Writing page for more information.

Pre-Class Blogs. Before about one-half of the class sessions, either morning or afternoon, you will need to post a brief discussion of an assigned case study to your small group blog (on ANGEL). These are due no later than 30 minutes before the start of class (thus, either 8:30 AM or 12:30 PM). Late entries will be penalized. These will be completed on ANGEL, and evaluated using these rubrics.

Pre-Class Blogs. There are twelve blog postings — due before class, either morning or afternoon. These are due no later than 30 minutes before the start of class (thus, either 8:30 AM or 12:30 PM). Late is the same as never. These will be completed on ANGEL, and evaluated using this rubric.

Quizzes. There will be a quiz at the beginning of about one-half of the class sessions; these will concern the readings for that class session and material discussed the previous class session. Most or all of the quizzes will involve a single short answer question.

These quizzes help keep each of us informed of your grasp of the material, and should provide additional motivation to stay current with the readings, and to work through the day’s material before class. [Makeup: Missed quizzes can be made up in my office, but this has to occur before the next class meeting. It is wholly your responsibility to make this arrangement.]

Extra Credit. You may write, for extra credit, journal entries on various additional materials — essays, films, videos, audio recordings — that are listed on the Schedule and marked with an [EC]. See the Writing page for more information.

Grading. The set of three exams is worth 51% (17% per exam); the set of discussion forum posts and comments is worth 20%; the set of blog entries is 20%; and the set of quizzes is worth 9%.

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).

Cell Phones. No Cell Phones! Please do not bring these to class. If you do bring a cell phone, it needs to be turned off and put away at the bottom of a very deep pocket or book bag. If you are unable to part company with your cell phone, or are unable to keep it turned off and stowed, then please enroll in a different class. Thank you.

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 college policy, as reprinted on the Writing page.

Students with Disabilities. Manchester College, 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 Bonnie O’Connell, the director of services for students with disabilities, to establish your eligibility and to coordinate reasonable accommodations. It is your responsibility to seek this accommodation. Students whose accommodation requests are approved will be given confidential letters to deliver to their professors that verifies the nature of the student’s 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 the academic implications of the disability as they relate to the specific course and to request appropriate accommodation. The Disabilities Office is located in the Success Center (second floor of the Union); please telephone 982-5076 to schedule an appointment.

Manchester College // Registrar // Department of Religion and Philosophy // Last updated: 13 Dec 2011