PHIL 1301 0342 - INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY

Introduction

Syllabus

NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE

COURSE SYLLABUS

Course Title: Introduction to Philosophy

 

Course Prefix & Number: PHIL1301

Section Number:  0342

Semester: 2020 FA

 

Semester Credit Hours: 3

Lecture Hours: 3

Lab Hours: 0

 

Course Description (NCTC Catalog):

A study of major issues in philosophy and/or the work of major philosophical figures in philosophy. Topics in philosophy may include theories of reality, theories of knowledge, theories of value, and their practical applications.                                    

 

Course Prerequisite(s): None

 

Required or Recommended Course Materials:

Cahn.  Classics of Western Philosophy.  8th edition.  Hackett Publishing.

ISBN # 978-0-872-20859-9

 

 

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Name of Instructor:

Dr. Seth Thompson

Campus/Office Location:

Corinth Campus, 215

Telephone Number:

940-548-6832

E-mail Address:

sathompson@nctc.edu

 
OFFICE HOURS

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

2:00p – 3:00p

  

2:00p – 3:00p

  

 2:00p – 3:00p

 

 STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

 

At the successful completion of this course the student will be able to:

 

 

 
  • Read, analyze, and critique philosophical texts.

 

 
  • Demonstrate knowledge of key concepts, major arguments, problems, and terminology in philosophy.

 

 
  • Present logically persuasive arguments both orally and in writing.

 

 
  • Demonstrate critical thinking skills in evaluation and application of philosophical concepts to various aspects of life.

 

 
  • Evaluate the personal and social responsibilities of living in a diverse world.
         

 

GRADING CRITERIA

Grading Policy and Procedures:  There will be three ways that you will be evaluated in this class:  Quizzes, Discussion Boards, and Essays. 

There are 6 quizzes, all timed and multiple choice. There are 10 Discussion Boards and there are 4 Concluding Essays. Essentially the procedure is like this: you read the passages and use the Informal Discussion Boards to make sure you understand the material. Then, you will take a quiz over the passage you were to read, to solidify your understanding. By that time you will be able to intelligently discuss and comment on the material, and hence will participate in a Graded Discussion Board which will evaluate your preparedness to talk about what you are expected to have mastered. And, lastly, you will write a paper which asks you to apply one of the perspectives that we will have discussed. The break down is like this:

 

  1. Quizzes – 10 of them (20 points each) = 200 pts
  2. Discussion Boards – 12 of them (25 points each) = 300 pts
  3. Concluding Essays – 4 of them (40 points each) = 160

Grand Total = 660 points.  You simply add up your points and divide by 660 to get your grade.

  • Quizzes – timed multiple choice
  • Essays – Well organized, textually based answers to prompts given. You will usually have a few days to write them, and they will be of a summary nature – that is, they are meant to wrap up a unit by having you apply what you have learned. You can see the rubric on the page in the online course. They will be graded thus: 8 points for content (how well you understand the material and refer to the texts), 8 points for style (grammar and organization) and 4 points for staying on topic and being coherent. This adds to 20, but I will double this number to make them out of 40.
  • Graded Discussion Boards: There are two types of discussion in this class:  informal and graded. The informal ones are there for your questions and are meant to imitate a kind of free flow discussion on the texts that we read in order to aid in your understanding. Informal discussions are optional and intended to provide you a community to assist in your understanding of the concepts if you need it. The graded ones will be more formal and, of course, graded.

Here are the expectations for the Graded Discussion:

  1.  Post your response to the prompt
  2.  Respond to at least 2 classmates
  3.  All responses should be “scholarly,” in other words formally written, serious, thoughtful and engaging of the texts.  You should use proper grammar and form, complete sentences and think about your responses.

Rubric:

  1. Post your response – 3 points. 
    1. 3 = articulate and engaging text
    2. 2 = meets minimum standard – needs textual support or clarity
    3. 1 = more effort needed
  2. Respond to 2 classmates – 2 points (1 point per response)
    1. 1 = a scholarly response
    2. 0 = bare minimum or not done

 

 

DISABILITY SERVICES (Office for Students with Disabilities)

The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) provides support services for students with disabilities, students enrolled in technical areas of study, and students who are classified as special populations (i.e. single parents).

 

Support services for students with disabilities might include appropriate and reasonable accommodations, or they may be in the form of personal counseling, academic counseling, career counseling, etc.  Furthermore, OSD Counselors work with students to encourage self-advocacy and promote empowerment. The Counselors also provides resource information, disability-related information, and adaptive technology for students who qualify.

For support, please contact the counselors at (940) 498-6207 or (940) 668-4321.  Alternatively, students may stop by Room 170 in Corinth or Room 110 in Gainesville.

 

CORE CURRICULUM FOUNDATIONAL COMPONENT AREA (For classes in the Core)

o Communication

o Mathematics  

o Life and Physical Science

X Language, Philosophy & Culture

o Creative Arts

 

o Government/Political Science

o Social and Behavioral Sciences

o Component Area Option

o American History

 

REQUIRED CORE OBJECTIVES (For classes in the Core)

X  Critical Thinking

X  Communication

o   Empirical and Quantitative

o  Teamwork

X  Personal Responsibility

X  Social Responsibility

 

COURSE TYPE

o  Academic General Education Course (from ACGM but not in NCTC Core)

X Academic NCTC Core Curriculum Course

o WECM Course

 

STUDENT HANDBOOK

Students are expected to follow all rules and regulations found in the student handbook and published online.

 

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY:

Scholastic dishonesty shall include, but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, academic falsification, intellectual property dishonesty, academic dishonesty facilitation and collusion.  Faculty members may document and bring charges against a student who is engaged in or is suspected to be engaged in academic dishonesty.  See Student Handbook, “Student Rights & Responsibilities: Student Conduct ([FLB(LOCAL)]”.

 

There is a great temptation to cut and paste from the internet and other nefarious means of cheating on assignments, and while this might be more common today, it does not make it excusable. Everyone should know what plagiarism is, and if not, please seek to make sure you understand it.  This is the definition of plagiarism and collusion as quoted from NCTC’s Student Handbook:

 

“Plagiarism” shall be defined as the appropriating, buying, receiving as a gift, or obtaining by any means another’s work and the unacknowledged submission or incorporation of it in one’s own written work.

 

“Collusion” shall be defined as the unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing written work for fulfillment of course requirements.

 

In order to preserve the sanctity of the mission of education, we will take all appropriate actions to prevent and to punish instances of scholastic dishonesty, up to and including the following consequences: 

 

First, the Philosophy Department uses a plagiarism-checking service to check written submissions, so be aware that your submissions will be vetted through this vehicle.

 

Secondly, a paper that demonstrates plagiarism will receive an F, and, the student may receive an F in the course.

 

Thirdly, students caught plagiarizing will be reported to the registrar’s office (via NCTC’s Scholastic Dishonesty Report Form).

 


ADDITIONAL POLICIES

Classroom Behavior: Each student is expected to be respectful to all others. This includes refraining from disrespectful comments in any discussion board. We discuss contentious ideas in philosophy, so it is important that you stay level headed (even when you confront ideas that challenge your assumptions) and address the arguments being presented in a rational, rather than fallacious and emotional, manner.

 

Late Assignment / Make-up Policy:  There will not be make-up assignments, so if you miss one for any reason (with notable exceptions), you will receive a zero. This means that you should pay close attention to the calendar and schedule accordingly.   

 

Name of Chair/Coordinator:

Crystal R.M. Wright

Office Location:

Gainesville Campus, Room 824

Telephone Number:

940-668-7731, ext. 4320

E-mail Address:

cwright@nctc.edu

Name of Instructional Dean:

Dr. Larry Gilbert

Office Location:

Corinth Campus, Room 305

Telephone Number:

940-498-6216

E-mail Address:

lgilbert@nctc.edu