Life
Pandemic! Political chaos! Economic meltdown! Climate apocalypse! We've all had a rough few years lately, and some of us continue to face significant challenges in our personal as well as academic lives. I'm committed to doing all I can to make this class a positive part of your year, and to responding with understanding, empathy and flexibility if complications arise for you this semester. The most important thing is to get in touch with me sooner rather than later if you're struggling. And the other most important thing is for all of us to be kind and patient with each other.
Attendance and Participation
You'll get the most you can out of the course only if you attend each class. I'll be keeping track of attendance, and your participation grade will be impacted if you are absent without good reason. But if you have a pressing need to miss a class, that's okay: just email me in advance so I know what's going on.
I encourage you to participate actively during class meetings, by, for example, making comments, asking questions, responding to other students, engaging in assigned activities, and listening actively. I know that some find it harder than others to talk in class: let's meet if you find you're struggling to enter the discussion, and we can workshop ways to make that easier for you.
Read the required reading
It's hard to participate effectively in a philosophy class if you haven't read the assigned material in advance. I've tried to keep the readings to a reasonable number of pages per class to make this requirement not too taxing. In return, I expect you to do your part in reading the material, and coming to class prepared to discuss what you've read.
Reading philosophy is a learned skill, and it takes a lot of attention and energy (see the helpful advice here). I strongly advise you not to do it at the last minute. Often you won't really understand a reading unless you read it twice before class.
I'm happy to recommend additional readings if you're particularly interested in a topic, but you don't need to do outside reading to do very well in this course.
Class discussion
Philosophical discussions can roam widely and unpredictably, including into areas that are personally and politically sensitive. Please be attentive to the possible impact of your comments on students who may have special vulnerabilities. Our aim is to talk freely to each other, but with empathy and sensitivity where needed. If you're finding class discussions personally or ethically troubling, in a way that's interfering with your engagement in the course, I encourage you to get in touch with me so we can chat about it.
Written Assignments
Extensions will be permitted only in exceptional circumstances. Contact me well in advance if possible.
No rewrites allowed.
Although I don't give *written* comments on drafts, I strongly encourage you to meet with me to talk about outlines or drafts of your papers before they're due, or to ask shorter questions about assignments over email.
Grading criteria
I focus on the following three features when assessing your assignments:
1. Understanding. Does your assignment demonstrate a basic understanding of the material covered in the course? Does it avoid big errors of interpretation? Does it go beyond just repeating the points covered in class, to demonstrate a genuine grasp of the material?
2. Clarity and organization. Is the argument you give in your assignment clear and easy to understand? Is there a readily identifiable central thesis? Is your assignment structured transparently and logically? Have you avoided including material irrelevant to your thesis? Is your writing style simple and straightforward?
3. Evidence of critical ability. Does your assignment demonstrate critical thinking on the subject it covers? Is it clear you have thought deeply about the topic? Have you carefully considered arguments on both sides of the question? Have you treated views other than your own fairly and accurately?
Grading goes as follows:
Assignments in the B-range display each of the above features to a good-to-very-good degree
Assignment in the A-range display them to an excellent-to-truly-exceptional degree.
Your assignment will fall into the C-range (or below) if it displays significant problems in relation to one or more of these features.
Or, as David Foster Wallace used to put it:
A = Mind-blowingly good; A- = Extremely good; B+ = Very good; B = Pretty good; B- = OK; C+ = Mildly subpar; C = Seriously subpar; D = Downright bad; F = Obvious.
Plagiarism
is an academic offense that the College takes very seriously. In order to avoid being accused of plagiarism, be sure to reference any materials that you quote or paraphrase. The particular format that you use for references is unimportant, provided that it is clear and consistent throughout. Let me know if you have any questions about this.
More info on the Honor Code here.
The Pink Guide
You can find general advice about taking philosophy classes here:
https://sites.google.com/a/wellesley.edu/pinkguidetophilosophy/
I will try to respond to your email within 48 hours. After that, feel free to send me a gentle reminder.
BUT I try not to reply to emails on weekends, so, if you want a prompt reply, it’s best not to send me an email past 3 p.m. on a Friday.
It’s also best not to send me an email with a complicated question about a paper less than 48 hours before the paper is due (remember, everyone else is doing that too!) Plan ahead.
Disability Accommodations
I have a disability myself (solidarity!), and it's very important to me that all my students have all the resources they need to succeed in this course.
If you have a disability or medical condition, either long-term or temporary, that means you need academic accommodations in this seminar, please contact Disability Services to get a letter outlining your accommodation needs, and submit that letter to me.
Disability Services can be reached at disabilityservices@wellesley.edu, at 781-283-2434, by scheduling an appointment online at their website www.Wellesley.edu/disability, or by visiting their offices on the 3rd floor of Clapp Library, rooms 316 and 315.
You should request accommodations as early as possible in the semester, or before the semester begins, since some situations require significant time for review and accommodation design.
If you're unsure but suspect you may have an undocumented need for accommodations, I encourage you to contact Disability Services about that too. They can provide assistance including advice, screening and referral for assessments.
Situations evolve, so don't be shy about contacting me at any point in the semester if something new comes up.
Get in touch!
It's important that we stay in touch about any questions or concerns you have across the course of the semester. Come and visit during office hours or email me for an appointment if you have a question about the course, are experiencing difficulties, or would like to chat. I’d love to see you!