2. Course Description: (as in the university bulletin):

This course provides an introduction to philosophy through the examination of philosophical problems in the classic divisions of philosophy of ethics, metaphysics, and epistemology. Students are encouraged to learn to "do" philosophy. Prerequisite/Co-requisite: ENG101. Course Objective: (a) To familiarize the student with some famous philosophers; and (b) to foster deep and critical thinking about very basic issues.

3. Required Text/Materials:

Vaughn, Lewis. 2013. Philosophy Here and Now, 1^st edition, NY, Oxford University Press (Required). Website: http://www.oup.com/us/companion.websites/9780199765225/student/

4. Student Learning Outcomes (What student should be able to do at the end of course): 1. Define basic or introductory level philosophical terms. 2. Clearly articulate or identify philosophical points of view and arguments. 3. Apply philosophical ideas to issues in their own lives through developing a philosophy of life. 4. Identify the subfields of philosophy and the doctrines of representative philosophers. 5. Critically assess the validity or soundness of philosophical claims or arguments.

Course SLO	Program SLO	Core SLO	Direct and Indirect Assessment Measures
1. Define basic or introductory level philosophical terms.	Interpret and appraise major texts and philosophical systems in the history of philosophy. (Program SLO 5)	Apply information literacy/research skills to assist their systematic process of critical thought; articulating the problem; gather information from multiple sources and venues; evaluating the accuracy/thoroughness/timeliness of the collected data, and determining when/if the problem has been satisfactorily resolved (Core SLO 3).	Course and homework assignments Examinations and quizzes Term papers and reports
2. Clearly articulate or identify philosophical points of view and arguments.	Critically evaluate arguments and claims in philosophical and non-philosophical contexts. (Program SLO 3)	Think critically via classifying, analyzing, comparing, contrasting, hypothesizing, synthesizing, extrapolating and evaluating ideas (Core SLO 2).	Examinations and quizzes Term papers and reports Class discussion participation
3. Apply philosophical ideas to issues in their own lives through developing a philosophy of life.	Apply philosophical theories and normative principles to current events and broader issues pertaining to the individual and society. (Program SLO 4)	Apply information literacy/research skills to assist their systematic process of critical thought; articulating the problem; gather information from multiple sources and venues; evaluating the accuracy/thoroughness/timeliness of the collected data, and determining when/if the problem has been satisfactorily resolved (Core SLO 3).	Course and homework assignments Examinations and quizzes Term papers and reports Class discussion participation
4. Identify the subfields of philosophy and the doctrines of representative philosophers.	Analyze philosophical and logical problems. (Program SLO 1)	Apply information literacy/research skills to assist their systematic process of critical thought; articulating the problem; gather information from multiple sources and venues; evaluating the accuracy/thoroughness/timeliness of the collected data, and determining when/if the problem has been satisfactorily resolved (Core SLO 3).	Course and homework assignments Examinations and quizzes Term papers and reports Class discussion participation
5. Critically assess the validity or soundness of philosophical claims or arguments.	Create clear and cogent oral and written presentations. (Program SLO 2)	Think critically via classifying, analyzing, comparing, contrasting, hypothesizing, synthesizing, extrapolating and evaluating ideas (Core SLO 2).	Course and homework assignments Examinations and quizzes Term papers and reports Class discussion participation

5. Schedule of Learning Opportunities (Assignments):

Day	Date	Discussion Topic/Learning Opportunities and Homework
Mon	05/19/2014	Prologue.
Tue	05/20/2014	Read 1.1 PHILOSOPHY: THE QUEST FOR UNDERSTANDING p. 2 before today's class.
Wed	05/21/2014	Read The Good of Philosophy pp. 2-4 before today's class.
Thu	05/22/2014	Read Philosophical Terrain pp. 4-7 before today's class.
Mon	05/26/2014	Memorial Day: NO CLASS
Tue	05/27/2014	Read 1.2 SOCRATES AND THE EXAMINED LIFE pp. 8-13 before today's class.
Wed	05/28/2014	Read 1.3 THINKING PHILOSOPHICALLY pp. 13-14 before today's class.
Thu	05/29/2014	Read Reasons and Arguments pp. 14-24 before today's class.
Mon	06/02/2014	Read Reading Philosophy pp. 24-29 before today's class.
Tue	06/03/2014	Read Fallacious Reasoning pp. 29-36 before today's class.
Wed	06/04/2014	Classwork 1: Quiz on Readings and Classes.
Thu	06/05/2014	Read Narrative: The Trial and Death of Socrates, Plato pp. 44-52 before today's class.
Mon	06/09/2014	Read 2.1 OVERVIEW: GOD AND PHILOSOPHY pp. 55-63 before today's class.
Tue	06/10/2014	Comprehensive Midterm Exam.
Wed	06/11/2014	Read 3.1 OVERVIEW: ETHICS AND THE MORAL DOMAIN p. 123-134 before today's class.
Thu	06/12/2014	Read 4.1 OVERVIEW: THE MIND-BODY PROBLEM pp. 187-193before today's class.
Mon	06/16/2014	Read DESCARTES: Discourse on the Method pp. 193-194 before today's class.
Tue	06/17/2014	Read DESCARTES: Meditations on First Philosophy pp. 194-197 before today's class.
Wed	06/18/2014	Classwork 2: Quiz on Readings and Classes.
Thu	06/19/2014	Read 5.1 OVERVIEW: THE FREE WILL PROBLEM pp. 219-224 before today's class.
Mon	06/23/2014	Read 6.1 OVERVIEW: THE PROBLEM OF KNOWLEDGE pp. 253-258 before today's class.
Tue	06/24/2014	Read Descartes’ Doubt and Certainty pp. 262-266 before today's class.
Wed	06/25/2014	Read DESCARTES: Meditations on First Philosophy pp. 266-270 before today's class.
Thu	06/26/2014	Comprehensive Final Exam.

6. Calculation of Final Grades:

Mid-term grade will be determined by a mid-term exam and semester grade determined by final examination (40%), midterm exam (30%), term paper on your philosophy of life using or applying all the relevant readings in our textbook (15%) and class participation/presentation (15%) minus absences or lack of attendance and/or poor participation -- unless stated otherwise on supplementary details. Unless you officially withdraw or formally request an incomplete (in writing) and submit appropriate documentation before the end of the semester, you will receive a passing or failing grade based on performance and attendance. Grading Scale: A=100-90, B=89-80, C=79-70, D=69-60, F=59-0 or for difficult exams A=100-80%, B=70-60%, C=50-40%, D=30-20%, F=10-0%. (+/- determined by curve.) Note: Each unauthorized use of an electronic device in class -- including the use of a mobile or cell phone -- may count as an absence or, in the case of class exercises (such as exams, tests and quizzes), an act of academic dishonesty (cheating) and sanctioned appropriately. It may result in failure in a project or course.

7. Attendance Policy:

Lincoln University uses the method of teaching, which assumes that each student has something to contribute and something to gain by attending class. It further assumes that there is much more instruction absorbed in the classroom than can be tested on examinations. Therefore, students are expected to attend all regularly scheduled class meetings and should exhibit good faith in this regard. For the control of absences, the faculty adopted the following regulations: 1. Four absences may result in an automatic failure in the course. 2. Three tardy arrivals may be counted as one absence. 3. Absences will be counted starting with whatever day is specified by the instructor but not later than the deadline for adding or dropping courses. 4. In case of illness, death in the family, or other extenuating circumstances, the student must present documented evidence of inability to attend classes to the Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management. However, in such cases the student is responsible for all work missed during those absences. 5. Departments offering courses with less than full-course credit will develop and submit to the Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management a class attendance policy in keeping with the above. 6. Students representing the University in athletic events or other University sanctioned activities will be excused from class with the responsibility of making up all work and examinations. The Registrar will issue the excused format to the faculty member in charge of the off- or on-campus activity for delivery by the student(s) to their instructors. Save your documents or ‘excuses’ and submit copies to your instructor at the end of the semester.

8. Students with Disabilities Statement:

Lincoln University is committed to non-discrimination of students with disabilities and therefore ensures that they have equal access to higher education, programs, activities, and services in order to achieve full participation and integration into the University. In keeping with the philosophies of the mission and vision of the University, the Office of Student Support Services, through the Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) Program, provides an array of support services and reasonable accommodations for students with special needs and/or disabilities as defined by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. The Services for Students with Disabilities Program seeks to promote awareness and a campus environment in which accommodating students with special needs and/or disabilities is natural extension of the University’s goal.

9. University Academic Integrity Statement:

Students are responsible for proper conduct and integrity in all of their scholastic work. They must follow a professor's instructions when completing tests, homework, and laboratory reports, and must ask for clarification if the instructions are not clear. In general, students should not give or receive aid when taking exams, or exceed the time limitations specified by the professor. In seeking the truth, in learning to think critically, and in preparing for a life of constructive service, honesty is imperative. Honesty in the classroom and in the preparation of papers is therefore expected of all students. Each student has the responsibility to submit work that is uniquely his or her own. All of this work must be done in accordance with established principles of academic integrity. 1. Acts of Academic Dishonesty (Cheating): Specific violations of this responsibility include, but are not limited to, the following: * Copying, offering and/or receiving unauthorized assistance or information in examinations, tests, quizzes; in the writing of reports, assigned papers, or special assignments, as in computer programming; and in the preparation of creative works (i.e. music, studio work, art). * The fabrication or falsification of data, results, or sources for papers or reports. * The use of unauthorized materials and/or persons during testing. * The unauthorized possession of tests or examinations. * The physical theft, duplication, unauthorized distribution, use or sale of tests, examinations, papers, or computer programs. * Any action which destroys or alters the work of another student. * Tampering with grades, grade books or otherwise attempting to alter grades assigned by the instructor. * The multiple submission of the same paper or report for assignments in more than one course without the prior written permission of each instructor. 2. Plagiarism: If a student represents "another person's ideas or scholarship as his/her own," that student is committing an act of plagiarism. The most common form of plagiarism among college students is the unintentional use of others' published ideas in their own work, and representing these ideas as their own by neglecting to acknowledge the sources of such materials. Plagiarism includes downloads, copies and purchase of papers and essays from the internet. Students are expected to cite all sources used in the preparation of written work, including examinations. It is each student's responsibility to find out exactly what each of his/her professors expects in terms of acknowledging sources of information on papers, exams, and assignments. It is the responsibility of each faculty person to state clearly in the syllabus for the course all expectations pertaining to academic integrity and plagiarism. 3. Sanctions: A: Warning - A written notice that repetitions of misconduct will result in more severe disciplinary action. The warning becomes part of the student's file in the Office of the Registrar and, if there is no other example of misconduct, is removed at the time of graduation. B: Failure for project (exam, paper, experiment). C: Failure of course. For serious and repeat offenses, the University reserves the right to suspend or expel. Imposition of Sanctions: First Offense - A and/or B. Second and Subsequent offenses - B or C. Students failing a course because of an instance of academic dishonesty may not drop the course. The student may appeal a charge of academic dishonesty within ten days of receiving notice of same. The appeal will be heard by an Academic Hearing Board (AHB) consisting of the chairs of each division of study (or their designees). Files on violations of this academic integrity code will be kept in the Office of the Registrar.

10. Standards of Classroom Behavior (from Lincoln University Student Handbook):

The primary responsibility for managing the classroom environment rests with the faculty. Students who engage in acts that result in disruption of a class may be directed by the faculty member to leave the class for the remainder of the class period. The faculty member should, in the event such action is necessary, immediately report the incident to the chair of their department and the Dean of Students. Cell phones are not to be used in the classroom during instructional time. Cell phones that ring and/or answered during classroom instruction are subject to confiscation by the Professor. Confiscated cell phones will be turned over to the Dean of Students.

11. Miscellaneous Expectations: (a) Classwork consists of in-class quizzes for which there is no make-up. If your name is not printed in capital letters throughout or your cell phone rings or is used in class, half-a-point (5%) or more will be taken off your final grade or score. When graded, papers or quizzes will be distributed at the end (not the beginning) of class. You are required to save all your quizzes and papers. If you leave in the middle of a quiz or exam, for whatever reason, you will have to answer a different set of questions when you return. (b) Papers: All papers should explain the main question and evaluate the arguments on all sides and be submitted in both electronic and hard copies (i.e. printed on paper and also sent as e-mail). Papers should be typed and accompanied by an abstract (summary of main points, facts and arguments) and bibliography. Use "Save As" to save you paper as plain text and attach it to your e-mail with Philosophy in the subject line. E-mail attachments (in Microsoft Word or Works or WordPerfect or compressed or zipped) which are not in plain text (i.e. txt format) are unacceptable. Late extra-credit papers won't be accepted. Late required papers will be dropped by 1 letter grade. (c) Attendance: Signing the attendance sheet for someone else or missing a class, for whatever reason, may cost you up to 5% on your final grade for each occurrence. According to University regulations, 4 absences may result in a failure and 3 tardy arrivals or departures may count as an absence. (d) Extra-Credit: Extra-credit papers, if permitted, should be on an assigned project. See and search class website for topic and due-date. At best, 3 philosophy club meetings (you must participate and sign attendance) or a class-presentation (which is an oral critique of a reading/topic, not used for paper, with a written abstract), if permitted, can be used for extra-credit.

12. Class/Course Website: http://www.lincoln.edu/philosophy/kwame/teachast.htm or https://philosophydepartment.tripod.com/ or http://www.kwame.50webs.com/ or http://kwame.atspace.com/ Moodle: http://lincoln.learninghouse.com/ To check your grade on the computer or internet, go to any one of the websites listed above and follow the instructions there. Note that some of the websites may be down and not updated.

13. How to Check and Monitor Your Grade in This Class

Your semester grade will be determined by your class participation, mid-term examination, final examination and paper, if any, minus absences or lack of attendance and/or poor participation. Note that students are expected to attend classes regularly and participate in class discussions. Points are taken off for absences or lack of attendance and/or poor participation. Extra-credits, if available for this particular class or course (check syllabus), are applied to your mid-term or final examination grade or score. See details and percentages, above, in section on Calculation of Final Grades.

14. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

(a) Do I need the textbook? Answer: Yes. Class discussion, quizzes, tests and examinations are based on the readings from the textbook.

(b) How can I get a good grade in this class? Answer: You will have to attend classes regularly, do all of the readings and show that you understand them and can apply them. Reading the textbook is necessary. There is no substitute for reading the textbook yourself, however difficulty it may be; but it is not sufficient.

(c) What is your policy on the use of personal technology in the classroom? Answer: All kinds of phones are banned. The use of phones – whether cell phones, smart phones, iphones, head phones or ear phones – can fail you in this class. Neither of them should be on your desk, hand or ears during classes, quizzes, tests or examinations.

(d) What is your policy on attendance? Answer: I strictly enforce the university policy (i) Four absences may result in an automatic failure in the course. (ii) Students representing the University in athletic events or other University sanctioned activities will be excused from class with the responsibility of making up all work and examinations. (iii) All absences are listed as unexcused and may appear in Grades-First and elsewhere as such, until they are verified at the end of the semester.

(e) May I borrow your textbook? Answer: No. My textbook has personal and private information which may not be shared with students.

(f) May I have copies of your powerpoint? Answer: You may find some on the class website. My powerpoint contains a lot of material taken directly from the textbook. Copyright laws allow the use of copyrighted material for use in the classroom, but prohibit making copies to avoid the purchase of a textbook or consumable material.

(g) How can I improve my grade on your quizzes, tests and examinations? Answer: While the answers to my questions are usually found in the readings, in order to avoid unnecessary disputes about the answers and grades, my quizzes, tests and examinations are deliberately set to get you to think deeply and critically. To do well on them, you will have to understand the readings rather than memorize them. They assume that one cannot and should not memorize all of the readings and that, if one understands the readings very well and thinks carefully about the questions and answers, one can answer most of the questions, however they are worded or arranged.

(h) Why is our textbook so boring? Answer: This is a typical college textbook, for adults and with primary sources. These days, many textbook are modeled on children’s textbooks to include colors and pictures and, hence, are not challenging and, often, are inappropriate as college textbooks. Further, you need to distinguish between primary sources, which are original material from classics, and secondary sources which are other people’s opinions of the classics or original works and, as such, are interpretations or second-hand material.

(i) Why are your classes boring? Answer: Do not confuse education with entertainment. Professors are educators and not comedians or entertainers. While some of them may be funny or entertaining, depending on their style or presentation, that is not their job or function. There are cheaper ways of getting entertained than going to college.

(j) May I submit a daft of my paper to you for feedback? Answer: Yes, so long as it is typed and printed and submitted in hardcopy, at least 14 days before the due-date. Each student is allowed to submit only one draft for feedback. That draft, with the feedback, must be attached to the final submitted version.

(k) Do you give homework? Answer: Yes. All the readings from our textbook, listed above as discussion topics, are part of your homework. Other homework assignments will be given as we proceed.

15. Absence and Excuses Form. See below:

ABSENCE AND EXCUSES FORM. Which absences do you want to be excused and why?

Name: ____________________________ Class: _____________________________

No.	Date of Absence	Reason for Absence	Document Attached
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