Mark Greene
© 2005-2011
   
  • Important details and deadlines for assessed work are tabulated below.
  • Quizzes
    • Quizzes will be available well in advance of the deadline - you should get started on them right as soon as they are available as they can be quite challenging.
    • There will be no makeup quizes (so make sure you don't miss any deadlines).
    • Your lowest score from among the numbered quizzes will be dropped.
    • Other quiz scores (e.g. any Final quiz) cannot be dropped so make especially sure you do not miss such deadlines.
    • To avoid disaster, make sure you have at least an initial go at completing each quiz as soon as it is available - just do not click submit until you are sure you don't want to go back and change any answers. (If you never click submit it will not matter - you quiz will be auto-submitted after the deadline.)
  • Collaboration
    • You are encouraged to work collaboratively in all aspects of this class.
    • Although your are encouraged to discuss quiz questions etc. with your colleagues, you must complete and submit your own final answers individually. (Duplicate quizzes are easily detected in this IT age and will be dealt with severely.)
  • The curve
    • Quiz scores will be converted into letter grades on a curve. Please note the strategic implications of this: 1) If a group collaborates to help each other they all benefit. 2) If you just help somone without any useful help in return then their higher score will make the curve tougher for everyone, including you.
    • Written work other than quizes is not curved. Letter grades are converted into scores for Sakai calculations according to this scheme.

 

NB: You must meet the submission deadlines listed here, any additional availablility on Sakai is purely administrative.

Be a sure you have read and understood the 'policies' page for vital information on attendance, on-time submissions etc.

 

Requirements and Deadlines
Deadline Weight Details
None
0%
  • Sakai@UD Quiz of Quizzes
    • Not required
    • Recommended to check your familiarity with quizzes on Sakai
Before selected classes
extra credit
  • Contribute to the forums on Sakai@UD
    • Post brief questions or comments on assigned readings, or respond to someone else's post.
      • Post your contribution in the appropriate topic or thread before the corresponding class.
      • Consistently thoughtful contributions will earn extra credit that may boost your final grade.
    • Set up you own course-related topic in the 'student topics' forum and / or contribute to topics set up by others.
Various
extra credit
  • Various other opportunities for extra credit may arise as the class progresses. Some opportunities may be announced but most extra credit will remain secret; you may not even notice you got it until the class is over. I will, however, give you this clue: that my greatest inspiration for giving out extra credit is exemplary class citizenship. For example, consistent engagement in class discussion tends to be remembered come extra credit time (and, when it comes time for your presentations, you might like to know that I find that thoughtful and constructive feedback on your colleagues' work is especially inspiring).
Mar 10
11:55pm
10%
  • Write your own, or submit a group explanation as directed in the timetable.
    • Word limits are strictly enforced (just as in real life) - even a word over will affect your grade.
    • A good explanation will be clear, precise, and to the point.
      • Even if it is not required, it is likely that a well-chosen example will help.
      • Researching your explanation may require you to draw on any or all of class discussion, class readings, your own research.
    • Even if the assignment calls for individual submissions, you are encouraged to collaborate in thinking this through and drafting.
    • Submit via Sakai@UD'Assignments'.
Mar 11
11:55pm
15%
  • Quiz - complete on Sakai@UD.
    • Questions may cover anything covered in class or in the assigned readings so far. There may also be questions we have not covered that will require some independent research.
    • Your lowest score of the numbered quizzes is dropped.
Mar 23
5am
VOID
  • Quiz - complete on Sakai@UD.
    • Questions may cover anything covered in class or in the assigned readings so far. There may also be questions we have not covered that will require some independent research.
Apr 9
5am
15%
  • Quiz - complete on Sakai@UD.
    • Questions may cover anything covered in class or in the assigned readings so far. There may also be questions we have not covered that will require some independent research.
Apr 10
In class
10%
  • Write your own or submit a group abstract as directed in the timetable.
    • Word limits are strictly enforced (just as in real life) - even a word over will affect your grade.
    • A good abstract will state the main point of the paper and the core strategy the author uses in defending that point.
      • An abstract is pure exegesis: there should be no commentary, critique, or evaluative language - just the facts ma'am.
      • Pretend you are the author and that you have been asked for a very short overview of your piece for people browsing journal contents.
      • Write in the first person (again, as though you were the author) and do not waste space repeating the title etc. - abstracts always come with title and author information attached.
      • Hint - browse some philosophy journals on the web or in the library - it should not take you long to find some with abstracts.
      • Unlike writing papers, there's no need to cite sources or page numbers in an abstract. But, if you do use language from the text, make sure you put it in quotes.
    • Even if the assignment calls for individual submissions, you are encouraged to collaborate in thinking this through and drafting.
    • Submit via Sakai@UD'Assignments'.
Apr 30
5am
15%
  • Quiz - complete on Sakai@UD.
    • Questions may cover anything covered in class or in the assigned readings so far. There may also be questions we have not covered that will require some independent research.
Apr 24
In class
10%
  • Write your own, or submit a group explanation as directed in the timetable.
    • Word limits are strictly enforced (just as in real life) - even a word over will affect your grade.
    • A good explanation will be clear, precise, and to the point.
      • Even if it is not required, it is likely that a well-chosen example will help.
      • Researching your explanation may require you to draw on any or all of class discussion, class readings, your own research.
    • Even if the assignment calls for individual submissions, you are encouraged to collaborate in thinking this through and drafting.
    • Submit via Sakai@UD'Assignments'.
May 3
In class
15%
  • The bad argumentation assignment - submit via Sakai@UD
    • You know you can make them but can you spot them?
      • Identify a very bad and very short written argument on the internet. (Newspaper editorials, news items, and political blogs are excellent sources).
      • Give the URL to the original source.
      • Cut and paste the relevant text.
      • Set out the essential form of the argument, stripped of any rhetoric and padding. You know... list assumptions (don't forget hidden assumptions), logical moves, conclusion(s).
      • Explain, VERY concisely, why it is a bad argument.
      • Limit of 500 words for the whole assignment (including pasted text, your set out of the essence, and your critique).
      • Here's an example pdf
    • Some points to consider
      • Make sure it's acutally an argument (don't be seduced by mere opinion)
      • Make sure it's really, utterly, indisputably bad. Even demonstrably mistaken arguments may be interesting and not all mistakes are stupid mistakes - I'm looking for mindblowingly idiotic, the worse the better.
May 20
2:47am
25%
  • Quiz - complete on Sakai@UD.
    • Questions may cover anything covered in class or in the assigned readings so far. There may also be questions we have not covered that will require some independent research.