I. Written Assignments For the extra credit
You will be assigned two 3 – 4 page papers throughout the course. In addition to being philosophically rigorous, all papers must be typed, double-spaced, and in 12 point font. On Wednesday you will be given three possible prompts to choose your topic from and will turn in the paper on that Friday. I recognize that this is an intensive schedule and that this might be the first time you have written a philosophy paper. As such, the second paper increases in point value as you become a better writer of philosophy papers. The first paper will be worth 70 points and the second will be worth 130 points.
All assignments are due before the beginning of class and are to be turned in electronically through Safe Assign on Blackboard Learn. Since those who have extra time to complete an assignment have an advantage over their classmates, late assignments will be docked 3 points for each day late in the interest of fairness. The deduction begins at the end of class. Thus, if an assignment is received the following day it will lose 6 points.
III. Critical Paragraphs
The texts we are covering are difficult. The illumination they require can only occur with your engagement, and your insights and interpretations will aid the entire class. You will, therefore, be asked to write 3 critical paragraphs to help prompt discussion. Like your papers, these will increase in point value each week. The first will be worth 10 points, the second will be worth 15, and the third will be worth 20. They must be typed, double-spaced, in 12 point font, and submitted to me in person at the beginning of class. In the event of a technological emergency (your printer self destructs, for example) I will accept your paragraph electronically, but only if it is submitted before class and you are present in class. I will provide you the question for the critical paragraph the class period prior to its due date. These paragraphs cannot be made up or submitted late since they are germane to the discussion for that class period.
May 13: Plato’s Crito, in The Trial and Death of Socrates, pp. 43-58; Introduction to Aristotle; Critical Paragraph 1 Due
May 14: Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, Books I-II, pp. 1-29; Book VII,
pp. 99-119
May 15: Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, Books VIII-IX, pp. 119-153;
Paper 1 Due
