Time/Place
Lecture: F 10:30 am–11:30 pm (Carlson C-13).
Section 10 (Lin): MW 6:30–7:35 pm
(Carlson C-32).
This syllabus applies to Section 10. There are two other sections for the Ethics and the Environment track for Dialogue 2 which may have slightly different syllabi. Here are their meeting times (though if you want to visit another section you'll first need permission from that instructor):
- Section 2 (Johnson): MW 9:15–10:20 am
(Magnuson Campus Center, Rm. 2).
- Section 16 (Clifton-Soderstrom): MW 1:00–2:05 pm (Carlson C-28).
Section and/or lecture will not meet Mon. Jan 15 (MLK Day), Mon.–Fri. Mar 12–16 (Spring Break), and Fri. Apr 6 and Mon. Apr 9 (Easter Break).
Texts
See the Course Bibliography for the list of required textbooks, additional required readings, and optional readings. Additional required readings are available online (links provided on the Schedule). Optional readings are found online and in the reader on reserve in the library.
See the list of External Links for additional resources on the subjects of the course. In the News lists a potpourri of current news articles on environmental topics. As the course progresses, works may also be placed on reserve at the library.
Goals
First and foremost, I hope you will discover a new dimension of worshiping God through hard work, critical thinking, community learning, and wrestling with ethics and the environment. Additional goals include:
- The outcomes for the Dialogue 2 course:
- "Addresses the question: What does it mean to be ethical?"
- "Includes works from three or more disciplines including ethics and the social or natural sciences."
- "Helps students understand what the human good is."
- Analyzing various conceptions of nature and place and ethical theories of the environment.
- Applying philosophical, theological, literary, and scientific analysis to reasoning about ethical courses of action regarding environmental issues.
- Growing in the ability to closely reading a text.
- Growing in the ability to writing reasoned and well-crafted papers.
- Growing in learning how to learn. See this page for some tips on learning.
Requirements
Percentages by the requirement is given with respect to your overall grade:
- Writing (45%): 15% for each of three 5-page papers. See this page for details.
- Speech (15%): One 5-minute synthesis presentation. See this page for details.
- Exams (30%): 15% for each of two exams.
- Miscellaneous Assignments (10%): To be determined. This may include creative writing, art projects, and debates.
Because this course is a pilot, part of the goal is to try out new assignments. Thus, the final category will be determined as we go along. Also, though there are two exams in the course, there will not be a final exam.
Makeups & Late Policy
I want to apologize ahead of time for what will sound like a rather draconian late policy, but without a clear outline of how things will be done, and many students in the class, the logistics of managing and grading assignments can quickly become untractable (papers get lost, grading isn't timely, etc.), which impacts everyone.
Sorry, but there are no makeups for any exam or in-class work that you miss. See me if you have extenuating circumstances; in general, this includes an illness, a death in the family, or official university responsibilities.
All work is due the beginning of section (or end of lecture on lecture days) on its due date. They are considered late any time after. Work late:
- 1 class session: 20% is deducted.
- 2 class sessions: 40% is deducted.
- > 2 class sessions: Not accepted.
Work is accepted only at lecture/section. Work turned in any other way (e.g. put under my door) without prior arrangements being made will have 10% automatically deducted from it. Late work will likely not be graded in a timely manner.
That all being said, I will treat each of you as individuals. The above policy is meant to ensure the class can function as a unified whole, so that we can all learn.
Collaborating
As with any relationship, I expect honesty, respect, and grace to be the foundation of our time together. I expect this for myself, as well as for you. Collaborating in work is a wonderful opportunity to practice all three principles. Cheating, however, is an affront (to the first two) or an abuse (of the last) of these norms, and so will result (at a minimum) in a zero for the paper or exam, etc. involved. If you are not sure what constitutes cheating, please ask me; here are some guidelines to help you on this issue:
- For assignments: I encourage you to work together and discuss your ideas freely. Each person must, however, write their own assignment up (e.g. paper, speech, artwork, etc.).
- For exams: These should be your own work, written without the use of other help or resources, unless explicitly specified.
- Plagiarism is, of course, cheating. Plagiarism involves representing another's work as your own and/or without proper acknowledgment. The most common form is the use of another's words without quotation or citation. The web makes plagiarism very easy to do; a quick copy and paste and you're done. The web also makes plagiarism very easy to detect; a quick Google search and you're done.
Disabilities
"Students with disabilities who believe that they may need accommodations in this class are encouraged to contact the Center for Academic Services at 773-244-5737, advising@northpark.edu or stop by the office located on the 2nd floor of the Student Services Building. Please do so as soon as possible to better ensure that such accommodations are implemented in a timely manner. If needed, appointments can be relocated. For further information please review the following website: http://www.northpark.edu/ada." (Disability Resources 2006)
