Assessment for this course is divided into five components:
1. Short Assignment (15%)
You'll write a short (800-1000 words) piece on the subject of the first unit of the course ("what is law?").
Instructions will be distributed on February 4, and the assignment will be due, 2 weeks later, on February 21.
2. Paper 1 (25%)
A list of topics (drawn from the units on liberty and criminal justice) will be distributed in class on March 4, and the paper (1500 words) will be due, 3 weeks later, on March 25.
3. Paper 2 (30%)
A list of topics (drawn from the unit on racism in the justice system) will be distributed in class on April 11.
You will share your draft with your editing partner 2 weeks later, on April 25.
They will give you comments by April 29 and you will revise the paper as needed.
The paper (1500-2000 words) will be due on May 4.
4. Reading Responses (15%)
You will submit a response to one of the readings for each Tuesday class (except the first and last classes).
The response should be submitted to our class email address by 4pm the Monday before class.
Important: If someone has already posted a response for the upcoming class, please post your response as a reply to that person's, so that we can see all responses for a single class in a single thread.
Your response (approx. 1-2 short paragraphs) should include answers to the following questions:
1. Which passage most leapt out at you in the reading for this class?
2. What does the passage say (briefly)?
3. Why is it interesting to you?
4. What question(s) or concerns do you have about it?
Responses displaying puzzlement, lack of comprehension, irritation etc. are encouraged.
You are welcome--indeed urged!--to respond to other students' responses in addition to posting your own, but you're not required to.
Note: I'll be asking you to submit all your responses to me compiled in a Word doc at the end of the quarter. It'll be easier for you to do this if you compile them as you go along.
5. Contribution to Class Environment (15%)
This portion of the grade reflects your level of engagement while in class. Such engagement includes:
regular attendance;
evidence that you have completed the readings;
speaking up in class discussions (covering both quantity and quality of contributions);
active listening;
support of your fellow students.
This handout gives you some helpful advice on the various ways to participate in philosophical discussions.