PHIL 241: Ethical Issues in Healthcare

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	Mark Greene © 2005-2011

aims timetable assessment policies

Important details and deadlines for assessed work are tabulated below.

You are encouraged to work collaboratively in all aspects of this class, including assessed work (see assignment details for whether you must submit individually). Joint presentations and final papers are encouraged.

What do those numbers mean? Want to know your letter grade? Here's the 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.

Be a sure you have read and understood the policies on attendance, submissions etc.

Requirements and Deadlines
Deadline	Weight	Details
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).
Sep 13 11:55pm	5%	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'.
Oct 12 11:55pm	5%	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'.
Oct 19 11:55pm	5%	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'.
Nov 7 11:55pm	20%	Back story You have been invited to write a short, opinionated editorial for your local paper. Your editorial will come at the end of a special supplement in which the papers we've read in this class have been discussed. Your audience will be mainly smart, like you, but they will be lay people. They cannot be assumed to be specialists in the field and may well have missed coverage of the specific paper to which you are responding. So, you have very limited space to bring your audience up to speed on the conversation in the target paper and to make one focused point of your own. General Considerations As this is the first step in developing your final paper, it will help to consider the overall aims of the project here. Careful thought at this stage will save you a lot of suffering later on. Topic selection Pick a paper we have covered in class and write a response to it In general, it is easiest to respond strongly to an argument you find challenging, but that you disagree with Another option is to give additional argument in support of a specific point It is very difficult to respond strongly to an argument that does not challenge you at all (either because you agree completely, or because you find it idiotic, or because you don't really understand it) Be prepared to adjust your aims as your research progresses. If you want to respond to a paper we have not discussed in class, you must clear a specific, written proposal with me well in advance. Your proposal will specify the paper to which you will respond to and will give a 150 word abstract of that paper. It will also state the specific argument that you plan to address within that paper. Email your proposal to me at least two weeks before this deadline. Include an e-copy of the paper you have picked, or hand in a paper copy in advance. Do remember The point of your response is not to have the last word to to cover everything in the target paper, but to help get a productive conversation going. You should be able to state, in one sentence, the problem or question you seek to address. You should be able to state, in one sentence, the point you will try to persuade your audience to take seriously. Abstract The abstract conveys the essential point of your paper at a glance Having read your abstract, your reader will know: Thesis: the one focused point you are trying to get your audience to take seriously Argument: your basic strategy for defending your thesis Paper Format This is not a rough draft, but your first attempt at a finished, polished paper The word limit is a maximum, not a target you must reach - shorter papers are fine, usually preferable Assessment criteria: Based on the four philosophical skills Accurate exegesis A clear and focused thesis - The point you are making Clear argument in defense of your thesis Why is your position reasonable? Clear writing style Always remember your audience - what does a reader need to know and when does she need to know it? Don't just think about what to say - think about the how you want to affect your reader STOP! Before you submit, check all word limits and make sure you review and comply with class policies, especially paper submission requirements. Even things that seem silly to you can greatly help me to get comments back to you quickly at busy grading times... And grade penalties apply for non-compliance. Submit via Sakai@UD'Assignments' Submit both abstract and paper in a single document If you are working in a group... all authors must be listed in the submission all authors must submit an identical copy of the final document (to avoid the inevitable "someone else was supposed to submit it" excuses)
See timetable	10%	Presentations Topic selection See details of first paper writing assignment. You are presenting your work in progress for your paper. Presentation format Keep your presentation very concise to leave time for discussion. Briefly introduce relevant background reading to highlight the important theme. Give some critical comment and raise questions to get conversation started. Lead class discussion. The extent of your critical comment will depend on where you are in paper writing. It may be setting out a canditade thesis idea or two and seeking comments on how to narrow it down, it may be a more detailed exposition of your argument. Do what is useful to you at the time of your presentation. PowerPoint etc Try to manage without PowerPoint - it slows down the changeover between presentations and seldom helps all that much. If you think that PowerPoint will really help Have it ready to roll on your booted-up computer at the time of your presentation. Don't forget fresh batteries / power cord. Don't forget your VGA dongle if it is not built in to your computer. Assessment criteria Basics, such as audiability Ability to clearly and concisely explain the core of the reading that is important for your purposes. Clear statement of the feedback you are looking for (e.g. help picking a specific topic, feedback on which of two argument ideas sounds more promising, we're not sure about this bit of the argument - what do you think?, etc...) Keep discussion focused / relevant to your ideas (i.e. saying "That's an interesting question but it's not the issue we're focusing on." when appropriate. Thoughtful responses to comments and questions.
Nov 23 11:55pm	5%	Grade a paper: Arrange yourselves into groups of two or three and grade each other's papers. Every individual must grade a paper (i.e. don't grade as a group even if you wrote a paper as a group). Group of 2: A and B grade each other's papers. Group of 3: A grades B's paper, B grades C's paper, and C grades A's paper. What to do: Assign a letter grade and explain your rationale at the top of the paper. Give constructive feedback that will help guide improvements. One strategy is to note your reactions as you read - e.g. I was confused by this passage. Another strategy is to give more of less specific advice - e.g. It would be clearer if you explained the jargon before using it. Remember the four key philosophical skills: Is there a clear, focused, and interesting THESIS? Is the EXEGESIS clear and relevant? Does it do justice to the view being considered? Is the thesis defended with clear and careful ARGUMENT? Is the writing STYLE clear and concise, both at the sentence level and at the level of the overall structure? What to do if you don't get a paper: The deadline for submitting to your colleagues is the same as that for submitting to me, so you should have a paper to grade by that deadline. If a paper does not arrive for you to grade, contact the person who should be submitting it ASAP, and copy me on the message. Ask someone else to send a copy of their paper to grade - it can only help them to have more comments. Submit via Sakai@UD 'Assignments'. The best way is generally to grade the paper in Word with revision tracking on. Your edits will then be flagged and you can use the comment tool to put your comments in the margin. If you do not use revision tracking, make sure your comments are clearly distinguished from the text (e.g. you could use ALL CAPS AND BOLD). Don't forget also to return your comments and grade to your victim - er - I mean colleague.
Dec 8 11:55pm	50%	Abstract (max 150 words). Paper: final version (max one thousand words). Your final paper will build on your first draft, responding to comments (a good faith effort ensures at least the grade you got on the first draft). STOP! Before you submit make sure you review and comply with class policies, especially paper submission requirements. Even things that seem silly to you can greatly help me to get comments back to you quickly at busy grading times... And grade penalties apply for non-compliance. Submit via Sakai@UD'Assignments'. Submit both abstract and paper in a single document If you are working in a group... all authors must be listed in the submission all authors must submit an identical copy of the final document (to avoid the inevitable "someone else was supposed to submit it" excuses)