Introduction to Philosophy: Self and Reality

PLA 105-21. Autumn 06

Dr. Joe Salerno
knowability AT gmail DOT com
Office: 207 Humanities Hall
Office hours: Tuesday 12:00-1:00 and by appointment

Requirements: Active class participation is an important part of this course, and attendance is required. There will be three short papers and tutorials that follow. The papers will be 5-7 pages on approved topics. We will discuss how to write a good paper later in the semester. All reading material will be made available.  The syllabus is subject to change.

Your grade will to a large extent be based on three papers, which count equally. The average from these three assignments together with your participation, preparation and other short writing assignments will determine the overall grade for this course. Prepared participation can put you up a grade. Extensive absence can put you down.

The papers will be on topics approved by the instructor and will have a length of 5-7 pages. We will discuss how to write a good paper. Here is the schedule of due dates for papers and tutorials:

• First papers due in class: Oct 18.
  
• Tutorials: following week
• Second paper due in class: Nov 29.
  
• Tutorials: following week
• Final paper due in my Mailbox (HU Bldg., Rm. 130): Dec 15, at 5pm.
  

• : Students with disabilities are encouraged to speak with me regarding accommodations.

Academic Honesty Policy of the University: Students are expected to be honest in their academic work. The University reserves the right to penalize any student whose academic conduct is, in its judgement, detrimental to the University. Such conduct shall include cases of plagiarism, collusion, cheating, giving or receiving or offering or soliciting information in examinations, or the use of previously prepared material in examinations or quizzes. Violations should be reported to your course instructor, who will investigate and adjudicate them according to the Policy on Academic Honesty of the College of Arts & Sciences. If the charges are found to be true, the student may be liable for academic or disciplinary probation, suspension, or expulsion by the University.

The University defines plagiarism as follows: 

Plagiarism involves the intentional representation of someone else's thoughts or words as if they were one's own. Instances include the following:

• Quoting directly from someone else's work without using quotation marks and without giving proper credit to the author.
• Paraphrasing someone else's ideas, concepts, arguments, observations, or statements without giving proper credit.
• Submitting as one's own work a paper or other assignment that has been prepared, either wholly or in large part, by another person, group, or commercial firm.