10/23/06-12/17/06
1645 pm--1915pm
Location: Conference room , 1331

Information:

Instructor: Olga Workman
Telephone/Fax 760-720-9088
Email: ographics@ographics.com
olga.workman@park.edu
E-companion web site: http://www.parkonline.com
Class web page: http://ographics.com/ph311/syllabus.htm
Office hours: in lieu of office hours, questions will be addressed
before or after class

FALL 2006 SYLLABUS

Course Description|Textbook| Assessment and Term Papers|Grading|
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Course Description
An examination of the following topics seeks to provide a historical framework for thinking about the major questions of mankind: what is the origin and nature of the universe and humanity?; Does God exist and if so, what does God require of us?; what can we know and how?

Faculty Educational Philosophy
The instructor will engage learners in disputatious learning to encourage the lively exploration of ideas, issues, and contradictions.
Lectures, discussions, analysis of web sites, video films, and audio clips will complement reading and writing assignments.

Course Objectives
• classify ideas in a historical perspective
• analyze, contrast, and integrate ideas to cultivate a disciplined, conscious, and rational process of thought
• explain ideas and translate common sense into explicit philosophical premises
• strengthen convictions and be able to defend truth, justice, freedom and important personal values
• refute wrong ideas by  becoming a more critical thinker
• discuss ideas by attaching specific philosophical meaning to words • demonstrate a basic level of competence in the use of a variety of disciplinary research methods

Course Textbook(s)
Christian, L. (2006). Philosophy: An Introduction to the Art of Wondering. (9th ed.). USA: Thomson Wadsworth.
ISBN: 0-534-51250-X

Library Information for Students: www. park.edu/student/lib.asp
(Student enters users Id and Password)
Contact Park University Reference Librarians (816) 584-6840 or 6464

Academic Honesty
Academic Honesty is required of all members of a learning community. Hence, Park will not tolerate cheating or plagiarism on tests, examinations, papers or other course assignments. Students who engage in such dishonesty may be given failing grades or expelled from Park.”

Plagiarism
Plagiarism—the appropriation or imitation of the language or ideas of another person and presenting them as one’s original work—sometimes occurs through carelessness or ignorance. Students who are uncertain about proper documentation of sources should consult their instructors.”

Attendance Policy
Instructors are required to keep attendance records and report absences. The instructor may excuse absences for cogent reasons, but missed work must be made up within the term of enrollment. Work missed through unexcused absences must also be made up within the term of enrollment, but unexcused absences may carry further penalties. In the event of two consecutive weeks of unexcused absences in a term of enrollment, the student will be administratively withdrawn, resulting in a grade of “F”. An Incomplete will not be issued to a student who has unexcused or excessive absences recorded for a course. Students receiving Military Tuition Assistance (TA) or Veterans Administration (VA) educational benefits must not exceed three unexcused absences in the term of enrollment. Excessive absences will be reported to the appropriate agency and may result in a monetary penalty to the student. Reports of F grade (attendance or academic) resulting from excessive absence for students receiving financial assistance from agencies not mentioned above will be reported to the appropriate agency.

Late Submission of Course Materials
Assignments not submitted on the due date without a valid reason will be given a “zero” score.

• A valid reason should be substantiated with a written statement on letterhead signed by a person in authority or a written and signed statement from the student. Make up work will be accepted towards the final grade at 100% of the total grade. It should include 5 typed pages, covering class discussion and home reading material.
• If a reason for late submission of work is not valid and substantiated with a written statement, make up work will not be accepted for the missed class, which will negatively affect the final grade.

Course Assessment
• Analytical home and class reading assignments:
Particular home reading assignments are given in class and the general schedule can be found on the class web site.
Home reading requires thoughtful analysis of philosophical articles and abstracts. Reading and note taking are  beneficial for stimulating class discussions and deeper understanding of the course material).
• Participation in class discussions and team assignments
• Three exams
• Ten 50-100 words entries in a philosophical online journal, recording materials applicable to class discussions.
• Term paper (6 pages, may be published online @ http://www.parkonline.org (ph 311section) or @http:// www. pjo311.blogspot.com) and class presentation: (suggested topics, information sources, grading criteria and guidelines for writing term papers see the following guidelines:

Suggested Term Papers Cosmic Philosophy of Carl Sagan Socratic Turn in Philosophy Dark Side of the Moon: Death or Immortality Nihilism Astrology and Religion Aristotle about Ethics Puzzles of Time and Space Ideas of Humanism The History of Confusion: Philosophy and Religion David Thoreau about Civil Disobedience Any Interesting Ideas That You Want to Share Objectivism and Ideas of Self and Social Responsibility Can we know the whole truth and nothing but the truth? Ideas of Freedom in the Context of Electronic Culture Existential Ideas of Life and Death UFOs and Star Wars as Cinematographic Mythology Ideas Bridging Modern Sciences Social and Scientific Ideas of Plato and Aristotle in Ancient Arabic Philosophy Dialectic Ideas in Philosophy and Modern Science Ideas that Destroy Humanity: Terrorism Ideas of Supreme Good at Times of War and Peac Ideas of Life according to H. Bergson and A. Schweitzer
• Extra-credit assignment: those who wish to add to their grade point average should present an additional  term paper (6 pages) on any subject related to class discussions and home reading material.

Classroom rules of Conduct
The Park University catalog provides detailed information on this subject.

Disability Guidelines
Park University is committed to meeting the needs of all students that meet the criteria for special assistance. These guidelines are designed to supply directions to students concerning the information necessary to accomplish this goal. It is Park University’s policy to comply fully with federal and state law, including Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the American with Disabilities Act of 1990, regarding students with disabilities and, to the extent of any inconsistency between these guidelines and federal and/or state law, the provisions of the law will apply. Additional information concerning Park University’s policies and procedures related to disability can be found on the Park University web page: www.park.edu/disability.

Course Topics/Dates/Assignments
Information about dates, time of all class sessions, topics, study assignments, and examination schedules are given in the handouts and also accessible on the Instructor’s web site.

Grading Plan
First Exam 20 points (1 00%-90% A)
Mid-Term Exam 22points ( 1 00%-90% A)
Final Exam 25 points ( 100%-90% A)
Term Paper and Class Presentation 30 points (1 00%-90% A)
Philosophical Journal 20 points ( 100%-90% A)
Full –Time Participation 8 points per class (1 00%-90% A)

Note: final exam or term paper with a grade “D” will limit your final grade to " C".

Park University Grading Requirements:
1 00%-90% A (4.0 grade points) , 89%-90% B (3.0 grade points), 79%-70% C (2.0 grade
points), 69%-60% D (1.0 grade point), Below 60% F (0.0 no grade points)