IMPORTANT STUFF: There's a quiz on the syllabus due by Thursday at 3PM. Please take it right away. If you take the Syllabus Quiz by the deadline, I'll add two points to your First Midterm Exam score! That's almost half a letter grade! If you don't take the syllabus quiz by Thursday at 3pm, you may get booted from the class. Nothing personal. The State of Oregon and the College require me to drop non-participating students, and for the online sections, that means providing a meaningful educational activity and dropping those who don't do it.

If you decide this class is not for you, please drop yourself right away on MyLane, since there's no guarantee I will drop you and there are other students waiting to get in. If you don't drop by 11:59pm Sunday, somebody's going to have to pay for the class. That somebody might be you. Also, after Sunday the class will be recorded on your transcript with a "W" (withdrawn) next to it. If later in the term you decide to go "Pass/No Pass" or completely bail on the class, the deadline to do that is always Friday of the 8th week, which this year is May 26. If you forget to drop and forget about the class, you probably won't like the grade I'll have to give you.

MORE IMPORTANT STUFF: For Online/Cable Video students only, there is an internet post due Sunday 11:55pm. Late posts don't get credit. Don't forget. Topics will be up the first day. Every Sunday another post will be due. Set a reminder in your phone or online calendar. You'll thank yourself later.

There are four sections of this class. The Studio Classroom Section (CRN 40628) and Honors Section (CRN 42453) meet TR 1-2:50pm in Building 2, Room 214. That classroom is equipped with TV cameras and broadcasts class sessions live on on Lane-TV (Comcast Cable, Channel 23) and on the internet at http://www.lanecc.edu/it/media/live-classroom-streaming (Note: The stream may take a while to buffer - please get on a few minutes early and be patient). Students registered in the Video Section (CRN 41215) may watch the live stream or cable broadcast or watch recordings of the class posted to YouTube by that evening. The Cottage Grove Section (CRN 41302) receives the class via two-way IP video conferencing in CG 110 and is able to interact live with the instructor and students in the classroom.

TEXT: There is no text to buy. The class will revolve around internet links to news and commentary, articles, essays and a few book excerpts, posted each week and possibly some ebooks and/or free paperbacks later in the term. Short audio and video clips may also be used.

SUBJECT MATTER: This course focuses on ethical issues, which affect our daily lives in personal, social, and political spheres. Issues covered will vary by term, but may include our duties to animals and the environment; consumerism; issues in bioethics such as abortion, euthanasia, human cloning and genetic engineering; the moral legitimacy of government, it's and proper size, scope and form, and the role of religion in public life; crime, including "victimless" crimes such as drugs, gambling, pornography and prostitution; the Nanny State, the Surveillance State, poverty, both in the U.S. and abroad; terrorism and war; immigration: legal and illegal, free speech, self-defense with a firearm, property and privacy rights, and other personal liberties; and various forms of discrimination and prejudice. The ethics of sexual and romantic relationships may also be discussed.

ATTENDANCE FOR STUDIO, HONORS AND CG STUDENTS: This is 25% of your grade. You can miss two classes without penalty - this should cover missing class due to being out sick, with the exception of chronic cases of spring fever. After that, absences will start to add up quickly. If you come in late, make sure to sign the attendance roster during the break.

FORUM POSTS (ONLINE/CABLE VIDEO STUDENTS ONLY): 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 material with your classmates. At the beginning of each week, a new forum will be open for posting. To receive credit, you must make two posts two posts of at least 100 words which substantially address one of the topics. You may address a topic by replying directly to my original post or by replying to another student's post (as long that post is on topic). 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. In order to avoid missing the deadline, posting earlier in the week is recommended. 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."

PAPER AND PRESENTATIONS (HONORS STUDENTS ONLY): Honors students must write a paper between 1250 and 1500 words in length. The material from this paper must then be condensed into a 15 minute persuasive presentation. Students may not merely read their papers, but must present their arguments in the form of a persuasive and engaging speech, after which they must field questions from the instructor and other students. Students must then revise their papers in the light of class feedback for final submission.

COMPUTER USE: This course requires you to use (but not necessarily own) a computer. Testing, distribution and archiving of notes and handouts 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 https://www.lanecc.edu/atc/student-help-desk, call them at 463-3333 or visit them in Building 2, Room 121/122. Campus computer labs and hours may be found at https://www.lanecc.edu/cit/computer-lab. Please make sure your current email address is in your myLane account and Moodle profile.

EXAMS: Exams cannot be taken at home. You will have a window of at least a week during which you may take each exam in Instructional Testing Services in the  in CEN 311 on the Main Campus or at the Cottage Grove Center, Florence 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 Instructional Testing Services are posted at https://www.lanecc.edu/learningcommons/its. You must arrive one hour before closing. See http://www.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. Note: LCC Testing labs (and everything else) will be closed Friday, May 5 (Spring Conference) and Monday, May 29th (Memorial Day).

EXTRA CREDIT EXAM: The optional Extra Credit Exam, based on the material from the First and Second Midterm Exams. It opens Monday of Week 8 and closes Friday of Week 10. It will replace the lowest of your First or Second Midterm Exam scores. If it is lower than either, it will have no effect. In order for it to count, you have to take both midterms. It is not a substitute for taking either midterm or the Final Exam.

MAKE-UP EXAM POLICY: Since you will have at least a week to take the exam, you will be expected to meet the deadline. However, you may contact the instructor before the deadline via Moodle messaging, email or in person to request an extension without penalty.

The Final Exam must be completed by THURSDAY 5PM of Final Exam Week. Make ups are generally not possible for purposes of Spring Term grades since will begin determining course grades when the is lab closes at 5pm  If you have a legitimate excuse for missing the Final, contact me immediately about a make-up and grade change.

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