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>> Requirements

Sculpture by Grendel's Mother.

• Papers (60%)
• Undergraduates: Three 4-6 page papers, due Sept. 21, Nov. 2, Dec. 5 (20% each).
  1. Topics for the first paper -- undergraduates.

  2. Topics for the first paper -- graduate students.

  3. Topics for the second paper -- undergraduates.

  4. Topics for the final paper -- undergraduates. (LATE PAPERS NOT ACCEPTED -- THIS PAPER MUST BE ON TIME.)

  Read "Writing Your Philosophy Paper: Common Problems to Avoid" before you start writing!

• Graduate students: Two 12-15 page papers, due Oct. 19, Dec. 5 (30% each).

Papers are to be submitted by 4:00 on the due date to the Phil 5193/6190 folder, located in the Philosophy Department reception area, 345 OSH.

Papers are to be submitted in printed, not electronic, form.

A paper must be accompanied by an outline of its argument, on the model of the weekly assignments. (I.e., the outline should be stapled to the paper.) Papers without an attached outline will not be graded.

Late paper policy: the later the paper, the harder it will be graded. No exceptions. The final paper must be turned in on time; late final papers will not be graded. Failure to submit any of the papers by Dec. 5 will result in a failing grade for that paper.

• Weekly Assignments (30%)

  OK, this bit is a little complicated, but please bear with us. During the first half of the semester (i.e., before Fall Break), these assignments consist of an outline of an argument in the readings. We will suggest passages (they will be posted on the web page, under "Weekly Assignments"), but you are free to outline an argument of your own choice instead. We will provide models and a more detailed description of what these outlines look like on the first day of class.

  During the second half of the semester (i.e., after Fall Break), a weekly assignment consists of two outlines: the first, an outline of an argument in the readings (as during the first half of the term), and the second, an outline of an argument of your own that attacks the argument in the first outline.

  The weekly assignments are due 4:00 sharp the day before class (i.e., Tuesday afternoon), and may be submitted either to the class folder (located in the Philosophy Department reception area, 345 OSH), or by email (ascii text only, in the message buffer; no Word files or other attachments; you must cc: both instructors, and retain a copy in your "Sent" box). Late weekly assignments will not be accepted.

  You need to turn in ten of these; which weeks you skip is up to you; however, you may not turn in more than one per week. (So how many of each type of assignment you end up doing will depend on when you choose to turn them in.) You can turn in 11 if you want, and if you do, we'll drop the lowest grade.

• Classroom Participation (10%)

  Participation is not the same as attendance; come prepared to talk in class. You will receive a mid-term participation grade. (Note that this grade will reflect only your in-class discussion, and not your overall performance in the class.)

  Students are expected to finish each assigned reading before the class meeting on that assignment. Students are also expected to bring the assigned reading to class with them.

• Email contact info

  In order to facilitate communication, students are required to provide the instructors with a working email address by the end of the second week of class. If you do not submit this information on paper during the first class meeting, send a message with the title "Phil 5193/6190 -- Enrolled Student" to the instructors, and in the body of the message please be sure to note your major and class year (e.g., junior, senior, G2). Students who have not provided this information by the end of the second week of class will be penalized one grade level on the first paper (e.g., A- to B+).

• All written assignments in this course must be the student's own work. Plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct may result in a failing grade for the entire course, and the case may be transferred to the University's Academic Misconduct Committee for further judgment. According to the Student code, "'Plagiarism' means the intentional unacknowledged use or incorporation of any other person's work in, or as a basis for, one's own work offered for academic consideration or credit for public presentation. Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to, representing as one's own, without attribution, any individual's words, phrasing, sequence of ideas, information or any other mode or content of expression" (Student Code, p. 3). If you have further questions about what constitutes plagiarism or academic misconduct, ask the instructor and consult the University Code.