SHORT ESSAY PAPERS (36 points): You will be required to write three short essay papers (3-5 pages, 600-1000 words each) discussing the philosophical materials developed in Units I, II, and III. These papers will not require research beyond the class readings and discussions. The due dates for these papers will be February 17 (8:00 p.m.), March 30 (12 noon), and May 13 (12 noon), Pacific Time. Additional information about the precise assignments will be available on-line at least two weeks before the deadline. For the most recent information, check the "Assignments" page.
You will be required to submit your paper as a file attached to an e-mail message. Instructions for how to do this are available on-line: http://www.csulb.edu/~jvancamp/361_h1.html The instructor will then post the texts of the student papers on the class web site, so that we can discuss them in our class discussion group. Alternatively, you may post the full text of your essay on your own Web page by the due date and notify the class and the instructor via the class e-mail list.
Each paper will be worth up to 12 points (see point scale below). Papers may be submitted early, but they may not be submitted after the deadline, because the other papers will have been posted by that deadline. Because of the ever-present possibility of technical problems, students are encouraged to submit papers at least a day early. In case of technical emergency, papers in hard-copy may be faxed to the department by the deadline (562-985-7135), with the file sent by e-mail as soon as the technical emergency is solved.
You will be assigned a grade for your participation during Weeks One-Eight (January 26-March 22, 1998), ranging from A+ (12 points) to F (0 points). You will be assigned a second grade for your participation during Weeks Nine-Fifteen (March 23-May 17), ranging from A+ (12 points) to F (0 points). Just as with a regular in-person discussion, your grade will be based on a range of factors - not mere "quantity" of comments, but the quality of your comments, their demonstration of your understanding of the material, and your ability to reflect appropriately and insightfully on the material of the course and the comments of other students.
For more information on the Course Discussion Requirements, see Discussion.
FINAL PROJECT (36 points total): For the final project for the course, you will be required to select one work of art (in any medium) available on-line and consider it from the perspective of at least one of the philosophers and theorists studied in Units I-III. You also will be required to identify on-line resources related to your project. For more information on the project, see "Final Project".
WRITTEN PAPER (24 points of the 36 available): Due: Friday, May 22, at 12 noon Pacific time.You will be required to write a final paper of at least 10 pages (2000 words) analyzing the work of art you select from the perspective of the philosopher you select. These will be due, sent as e-mail attachments.
WEB PAGE (12 points of the 36 available): Due: Monday, May 18, at 12 noon Pacific time. You will be required to post a Web page summarizing the philosophical insights about the work of art you have selected and including links to at least six other Web sites which are informative in understanding this work. On-line instructions for creating a Web page using Netscape Composer are available here. Netscape Composer is loaded in most CSULB computer labs; it is free to educational users and can be downloaded from the Netscape site. As needed, we will also schedule optional training in the CSULB campus computer labs for students who do not know how to author a Web page. All CSULB registered students will be required to use their free CSULB computer accounts for loading their Web pages, even if they access the Internet through a commercial ISP. Open University students who are not allowed to post Web pages on their own ISP will send their Web page file as an e-mail attachment to the instructor, who will then post it on the class Web site. You might also check with your Internet Provider - many now provide simple web-authoring software and space to load your pages on their sites.
BONUS POINTS: Up to 4 bonus points will be available for exceptional performance in any class element.
If you are taking this course for graduate credit, you must complete all requirements (above) for undergraduate credit. In addition, you will be required to do the following:
CLASS DISCUSSION LEADER: SHORT PAPERS (up to 12 points): For one of the short paper assignments (I, II, or III), you will be required to critique at least three (3) of the undergraduate papers (sending your comments to the instructor via e-mail) and lead the class discussion on those papers.
CLASS DISCUSSION LEADER: ASSIGNED READING (up to 12 points): For one of the assigned readings, you will be required to lead the class discussion that week, framing questions and following-up to comments and questions from the other students.
12 point assignments: A+ (12) A (11) A- (10) B+ (9) B (8) B- (7) C+ (6) C (5) C- (4) D+ (3) D (2) D- (1)
24 point assignments: A+ (23-24) A (21-22) A- (19-20) B+ (17-18) B (15-16) B- (13-14) C+ (11-12) C (9-10) C- (7-8) D+ (5-6) D (3-4) D- (1-2)
FINAL COURSE GRADE: undergraduate
A: 10+10+10+10+10+10+19 = 79 points - 100 points
B: 7+7+7+7+7+7+13= 55 points - 78 points
C: 4+4+4+4+4+4+7 = 31 points - 54 points
D: 1+1+1+1+1+1+1 = 7 points - 30 points
FINAL COURSE GRADE: graduate
A: 10+10+10+10+10+10+10+10+19 = 99 points - 124 points
B: 7+7+7+7+7+7+7+7+13= 69 points - 98 points
C: 4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+7 = 39 points - 68 points
D: 1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1= 9 points - 38 points
A word to the wise: Search engines on the World Wide Web have made it significantly easier for faculty to find plagiarized sources.
DEADLINE FOR COURSE WITHDRAWAL:
Last day to drop the course and not have a "W" appear on permanent records: February 9
NOTE: Drops after February 9 require the signature of the instructor and the department. There will be a "W" on the transcript.
DEADLINE FOR LATE REGISTRATION:
Last day to Add/Drop using VRR: February 9
Las day to Add using printed add forms: February 17
DEADLINE FOR CREDIT/NO CREDIT:
Last day to change grade status to Credit/No Credit: February 17
DEADLINE TO DROP WITHOUT SIGNATURE OF COLLEGE DEAN: April 24