ETHICS
PHL 201 - Spring 2013
Online (CRN #43675)
Prof. Borrowdale

DROP POLICY: You must log into the class in Moodle by Thursday 11:55pm of the first week to avoid being dropped. To log into the class, simply click on its name after you have logged into the Moodle online course system at classes.lanecc.edu. If you can see the course page and a weekly outline of topics, you have successfully logged in to the class. For help logging in, click here or contact the Student Help Desk (SHeD) at 463-3333. Logging in to the course counts as first week attendance for the purpose of instructor-initiated drops. However, please check your myLane schedule to make sure you are not registered in any unwanted classes, as there is no guarantee any instructor will drop you for non-attendance. You will be charged for any class you do not drop by Sunday, April 7, 11:59pm.  To drop a class, go to mylane.lanecc.edu and click the myEnrollment tab, then Add/Drop Classes. You should also check your schedule the second week to make sure you have not been dropped from any of your classes. Being able to log into the course in Moodle does not mean you are still officially registered; check your myLane student schedule to see the classes in which you are officially enrolled. The last day to drop without a refund (or change your grading option to pass/no pass or letter grade) is Friday, May 24 at 5pm (the end of the 8th week). If you do not drop by this deadline, you will receive a grade. For students who forget to drop and do not complete the course, this grade will be an F.

MOODLE MESSAGING
Preferred form of communication. Please use this method for any time-senstive issues. To send me a message, click on my name anywhere in Moodle and click the Send message button at the bottom of my profile. If you click the Add Contact button in the messages tab, you can easily send me messages by clicking the word Messages in the Message block in the upper left of the main course page. When I respond, you will see an indicator in the Messages block. To use Moodle messaging, make sure your web browser's pop-up blocker is off or is set to allow lanecc.edu. The SHeD can help you with this. If you leave the Messages pop-up window open, it will automatically check for new messages every minute; otherwise, you will only see new messages when you click on something in the course or log in to the course again. You can also set your profile to receive email notifications of new Moodle messages, which is recommended if you do not log in to Moodle every day. You will get the most rapid response using this method of communication. You will receive a response within 24 hrs or less between the first day of classes and the day the Final Exam closes.
EMAIL borrowdalej@lanecc.edu Second preferred form of contact, after Moodle instant messaging, described above; please use descriptive subject lines (e.g. "Extension Request for Second Midterm") and include your class (e.g. PHL 201 or "Ethics,"and full name in your email. Note that emails with no subject or subject lines like "Test" "Hey" or "Hi there!" will probably be filtered out by the Digitar spam filter and may never be read. Use Moodle messaging for all time-senstive issues.
PHONE 463-5434. Least preferred form of contact. On voicemail messages please give your name and call-back number clearly and slowly so I can write them down correctly. Phone messages are answered last, after I've answered all incoming Moodle instant messages and email and are generally not checked evenings, weekends, or holidays.
OFFICE CEN 410 J (Enter through Hallway B, next to the interior North stairs, across from the restrooms)
OFFICE HOURS M 10-10:50, Tu 11-11:50, W 10-10:50, Th 3-3:50, F 10-10:50 in CEN 410J and by appointment.
SUBJECT MATTER Ethics is the study of morality, including an analysis of the concepts of good and evil, right and wrong, justice and injustice, duty, responsibility, character, and successful living. Possible topics include whether morality is relative to culture or to the individual, the relationship between morality and religion, theories about what make particular actions right or wrong, moral skepticism, and eastern perspectives on right action.
TEXT Borrowdale, Ethics: An Anthology of Classical Readings, 6th Edition (available at the LCC Titan Bookstore)

REQUIREMENTS

FORUM POSTS
Due before Sunday 11:55pm each week
10% of grade
FIRST MIDTERM EXAM Begins: Wednesday, April 17 at 9am
Ends: Wednesday, April 24 at 7pm
30% of grade
SECOND MIDTERM EXAM
Begins: Wednesday, May 8 at 9am
Ends: Thursday, May 16 at 7pm
30% of grade
FINAL EXAM Begins: Monday, June 10 at 8am
Ends: Thursday, June 13 at 5pm
30% of grade


COURSE OBJECTIVES: The objectives are this course are for students to (1) acquire some factual knowledge about the history of ethics, classical and contemporary theories, and important figures in moral philosophy (2) acquire or sharpen critical and analytical reasoning skills (3) come to their own conclusions about which ethical theories are best or most likely to be true, even if those conclusions are of a tentative nature (4) bring their conclusions about ethics to bear on their present values, goals and way of life.

FORUM POSTS: The purpose of the forum assignment is to allow you the opportunity to interpret, evaluate and apply what you have learned, and to discuss the merits and implications of class concepts and theories with your classmates. At the beginning of each week, a new forum will be open for posting. To receive credit, you must make one post (or reply) of at least 100 words which substantially addresses a class topic and shows that you have read and thought about the material for that week. Postings will be graded on a credit/no-credit basis and are due before Sunday 11:55pm at the end of each week. Late posts will not receive credit. An extra credit forum will be available in Week Ten to make up for one missed post. Students are also expected to read every post. If you do not wish to receive email copies of posts, click Profile --> Edit Profile tab --> Forum auto-subscribe (change to "No; don't automatically subscribe me to Forums."). If you do this, you'll want to turn read-tracking on. In the Edit Profile tab, change Forum Tracking to "Yes; highlight new posts for me." Some exam questions may be based on material posted in the forums.

COMPUTER USE: This course requires you to use (but not necessarily own) a computer. Testing, distribution and archiving of notes and handouts, outside-of-class communication and reporting and calculation of grades are all done via Moodle. Campus labs are staffed with people who can help you if you are new to computers or have difficulty using them. Visit the Student Help Desk (SHeD) website at http://lanecc.edu/distance/shed.html, call them at 463-3333 or visit them in Building 2, Room 121/122. Campus computer labs and hours may be found at http://www2.lanecc.edu/it/computerlabs/instructional-computing Please make sure your current email address is in your myLane account and Moodle profile.

EXAMS: You will have a window of several days during which you must take each exam in the Social Science Testing Lab in CEN 456 on the Main Campus or at the Cottage Grove Center or with an approved proctor. You will need a photo I.D. and to know your L Number and myLane PIN to log into the test. The exam format will be multiple choice and true/false questions. During the exam you may use a 3 x 5 card note card (both sides) or a piece of paper measured with a ruler and cut to the same size. The final will not be comprehensive. Opening and closing times of exams are in the syllabus and may also be seen by clicking on the exam name in the main course view as soon as the date is set. Lab hours for the Social Science Testing Lab are posted at http://www2.lanecc.edu/socialscience/testing-lab. You must arrive one hour before closing. See http://www2.lanecc.edu/laneonline/test-proctoring for details on proctoring if you are taking the course from out of the greater Eugene area. If you need help locating a proctor, try The National College Testing Association at http://www.ncta-testing.org/cctc/. A per test fee is usually required, though fees will vary by institution.

MAKE-UP EXAM POLICY: Since you will have a week to take each midterm, you will be expected to meet the deadline. You must contact the instructor before the deadline via Moodle messaging to request an extension without penalty. No extensions are possible for the Final Exam, which closes at the same time the testing lab on the main campus closes for the term: Thursday 5pm of Finals Week.

PENALTIES FOR CHEATING: Students caught cheating will be given an F in the course.

GRADING: At the end of the term, the class will be graded on the following absolute scale. Extra credit work does not count towards the A+.

A+ 97% -100% A  93% - 96% 
A-  90% - 92%
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%  

AVAILABILITY OF THE INSTRUCTOR: I am available by Moodle messaging, email, phone, or in-person office visits. If you are having difficulties with the class, please contact me as soon as possible; I am here to help. If you performed poorly on your first exam, please come by office hours or make an appointment to see me to see what we can do to improve your next exam score. I am also available to discuss any issue in the class which has piqued your intellectual curiosity, or which you find interesting or important, outside of the realm of assignments and testing.

DISABILITY SERVICES: If you need support or assistance because of a disability, you may be eligible for academic accommodations through Disability Service. For more information, contact the Disability Services at (541) 463-5150 (voice) or 463-3079 (TTY), stop by Building 1, Room 218, or contact Nancy Hart (541) 463-3010. You may also want to check out Lane's On-Line Resource Page for students with disabilities.