Dr. Patrick J.J. Phillips:  pjjp@yorku.ca

Office hours: (Currently suspended).

Contact via e-mail: PJJP@yorku.ca

To ease your passage through this course please read this document at least twice. 

This is an online course.

That is: this course was not originally designed to be enacted online, but rather was designed to be a face-to-face lecture class which has now been located online. Accordingly, this course is a work in progress. I therefore beg your indulgence and appreciate your patience.   Please know that I am here to support you.

Information and updates will be posted on Moodle or sent via Moodle directly to your York email account (be sure to check your York e-mail account regularly). 

The good news: you may complete the work required for this course in accordance with your own personal schedule. You will not be asked to “attend” virtual classes or be available at a specific time twice a week. However please make note: Deadlines for course work hand in (see below) are fixed and non – negotiable.  Be reminded: to avoid confusion all written work is due on the same day of the week that it is due: on a Sunday by midnight.    

Before embarking on this course think carefully about your own schedule and self-discipline. This course requires a significant amount of reading and working alone.   It will be up to you to set a schedule and deadlines for the completion of readings and written components. Also, try to find a friend or family member who, face to face or online, will discuss with you some of the themes of the course.

There will be two reading lists, one for the first six weeks of the term and one for the second six weeks. These will be shared via Moodle. 

Lastly, I will be recording my lectures (which will be of a short duration) via Zoom software. You will require accesses to a computer with this technology loaded.  

Video conferencing via Zoom MAY be held depending upon student requirement. 

Now read on….    

This is a problem-based course where students will be required to assess ethical issues and questions of value from historical, political, economic, and ethical approaches.  Emphasis will be placed on providing explicit instruction in critical analytical thought, and its communication in writing. (For an expanded description see below).

York University Bookstore:

https://bookstore.yorku.ca/

Contemporary Moral Problems by James E. White

Paperback: 544 pages

10^th edition (January 1, 2011)

Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing

ISBN-10: 0840033788

ISBN-13: 978-0840033789

The Power of Critical Thinking by Chris MacDonald and Lewis Vaughn 4^th Canadian Edition  (5^th Edition is also permitted).

Publisher: Oxford University Press

ISBN: 978-0-19-901868-0

Both textbooks are available via the York Bookstore. Multiple used copies are available (at reduced cost). 

Reading List(s)

• There will be two such reading lists one for the first six weeks of the term and one for the second six weeks. These will be posted via Moodle.
• Students are expected to read all assigned readings twice and complete all the textbook exercises (if applicable).

Two opinion papers: 10% Pass Fail.

Note: students MUST COMPLETE BOTH PAPERS to receive the 10% grade. Completion of one paper only will result in a zero grade.

No opinion papers will be accepted in the last 14 days of the SU term.

Note: SU Term ends: 12^th August

Three essays

Essay 1: 35%, (Sunday, June 14th, 2020)

Essay 2: 35% (Sunday, July 12th,2020)

Essay 3: 20% (Sunday, August 9th, 2020)

• Those students who do not wish to critique, discuss and debate their ideas are strongly discouraged from joining this course.
• This course is multidisciplinary and, where appropriate, interdisciplinary, in character. A concatenation of approaches and texts include, but are not be limited to, humanities, social science, natural science, politics, and moral philosophy.

Grades

• The course director has the sole and absolute discretion on the format and content of all assessments. Exams and tests may be based on the assigned readings (including, but not limited to, any exercises in the texts), assigned films  and discussions.
• To ensure fairness and impartiality for the benefit and protection of all students, and to safeguard academic integrity, grades are not subject to bargaining or negotiation.
• Students may formally request a reappraisal of their final grades to the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies. It is the students’ responsibility to obtain, complete, and submit all applicable documents within the required time frame in accordance with the University’s requirements.
• A grade reappraisal may result in the original grade being raised, lowered or confirmed.

Late or Missed Assignments and Assessments

Assignments

• All assignments are due at the same time on the same day: Sunday at 12.00 midnight. For dates of submission see below
• Submissions by email to PJJP@yorku.ca with the student’s name in the subject line. The assignment submission e-mail must have a Word Document attached. No alternative format will be accepted.  Student’s FULL NAME AND STUDENT NUMBER must appear in the email subject line   
• For late submissions, a 5% per calendar day grade reduction will apply, unless accompanied by a doctor’s note, court-date note, or other official document detailing a serious matter. Otherwise a grade of zero will be recorded.
• Students must notify the course director in writing of late submissions within 24 hours of the due date and time, or as soon as possible if a serious matter applies, or as the University otherwise requires. Otherwise, a grade of zero for that component will be recorded.

Make-up or Alternate Assessments

• Despite the current challenges posed by the pandemic make-up or alternate assessments are not guaranteed.
• If the course director has agreed to grant a mark-up or alternate assessment, the course director has the sole and absolute discretion on the format and content of the assessment (e.g. a makeup exam, take-home essay, etc.).
• Deferred standing may be granted to undergraduate students who are unable to write their final exam at the scheduled time or submit their outstanding work on the last day of classes.
• To apply for deferred standing, students must submit the Final Exam/Assignment Deferred Standing Agreement form, Attending Physician's Statement (if applicable), and all supporting documents to the course director in accordance with the University’s requirements.
• To make up for a missed exam not held during the formal exam period, students must make alternate arrangements directly with the course director to write the exam within the duration of the course at the course director’s discretion.
• It is the students’ responsibility to obtain, complete, and submit all applicable documents within the required time frame in accordance with the University’s requirements.

Reasonable Accommodation

• The course director and tutorial leader(s) (if applicable) are committed to providing reasonable accommodation in accordance with the University’s requirements, and federal and provincial legislations.
• Please contact the course director as early as possible with any request for reasonable accommodation. The course director cannot help if he is not aware of the need to do so.
• Here are some of the resources available to students (the information is subject to change from time to time – please consult the University’s website for the latest information):
  • Centre for Aboriginal Student Services: 246 York Lanes, 416-736-5571 o
  • Centre for Human Rights, 416-736-5682, rights@yorku.ca
  • Learning Disability Services, W128 Bennett Centre for Student Services, 416-736-5383 o Learning Skills Services – S172 Ross Building, 416-736-5144
  • Mental Health Disability Services, N110 Bennett Centre for Student Services, 416-736-5350 o Personal Counselling Services: N110, Bennett Centre for Student Services, 416-736-5297
  • Physical, Sensory and Medical Disability Services, N108 Ross Building, 416-736-5140
  • Writing Centre for the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Students Writing Department, S329 Ross Building, 416-736-5134

Office Hours

• The course director’s office hours are currently suspended.
• Any queries that ARE NOT ANSWERED BY THIS DOCUMENT may be addressed to the course director by email.

tudents who successfully complete this course will acquire the following skills:

• improve their knowledge of classical and contemporary social scientific and ethical theories, and apply these theories critically and grow their analytical skills for application throughout their undergraduate experience.
• discuss and debate issues respectfully and critically, both orally and in writing.
• spoken and written eloquence, listening skills, and ability to argue their position, through i) argument, ii) logic (including the fallacies), iii) rhetoric, and iv) practical application of skills gained in debates.  
• identify, synthesize, and record relevant and important concepts in note-taking.
• take responsibility for their learning, and comply with all rules and regulations, as preparation for graduate studies and the work force.

• Academic Accommodation for Students with Disabilities
• Alternate Exam and Test Scheduling
• Grading Scheme and Feedback Policy

The Senate Grading Scheme and Feedback Policy stipulates that  (a) the grading scheme (i.e. kinds and weights of assignments, essays, exams, etc.) be announced, and be available in writing, within the first two weeks of class, and that, (b) under normal circumstances, graded feedback worth at least

15% of the final grade for Fall, Winter or Summer Term, and 30% for ‘full year’ courses offered in the Fall/Winter Term be received by students in all courses prior to the final withdrawal date from a course without receiving a grade (see the policy for exceptions to this aspect of the policy - http://www.yorku.ca/secretariat/legislation/senate/gradfeed.htm  

 “Final course grades may be adjusted to conform to Program or Faculty grades distribution profiles.” If Term Test will be held outside of regularly scheduled class time, include announcement of day, date and time here (e.g., Saturday, October 28, 2006, 10 am to 11:30, room TBA).  

     "20 % Rule"

No examination or test worth more than 20% of the final grade will be given during the last two weeks of classes in a term, with the exception of classes which regularly meet Friday evenings or on the weekend (Saturday and/or Sunday at any time). (Approved by Senate, November 28, 1996)