Session 2014-1 Summer
Online Classroom
05/05/14 – 06/29/14
Karen Winberg-Jensen
Office hours by appointment
kwinberg-jensen@ben.edu
217/741-1779
PRE-ASSIGNMENT:
Please read Chapter One before the first day of class.
PHIL110 – 70 OL INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY
I.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course provides an examination of criminal law including origins and developmental changes
to the present.
II.
TEXTBOOK AND MATERIALS
Brooke Noel Moore. (2010). The Power of Ideas, 8th Edition, Pearson Prentice Hall,
ISBN: 0-073407461 ISBN: 978-0073407463
Other required readings may include relevant current events from State Journal Register, New
York Times, CNN, MSNBC, and/or other reputable news sources (online, print, and broadcast
sources are all acceptable).
III.
MISSION STATEMENT
Benedictine University is dedicated to the education of undergraduate and graduate students
from diverse ethnic, racial and religious backgrounds. As an academic community committed to
liberal arts and professional education distinguished and guided by our Roman Catholic tradition
and Benedictine heritage, we prepare our students for a lifetime as active, informed and
responsible citizens and leaders in the world community.
IV.
GOALS, OBJECTIVES, AND STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
A Benedictine Core Goals
Benedictine University's core mission is to prepare students for active participation in an
increasingly interconnected world. Its Core Curriculum advances this mission by enabling
students to attain a broad range of learning goals, listed below:
1. Demonstrate an effective level of cognitive, communicative, and research skills;
2. Achieve a college level of computational skills and an ability to understand and interpret
numerical data;
3. Acquire a knowledge of the history and heritage of western civilization, to include:

the contributions of religious faith and philosophical thought to understanding the
person in community,

the relationship of the individual to society: membership and participation in
groups and institutions,

scientific literacy through a knowledge of the history, the methods, and the
impact of science on the individual, society, and the environment, artistic and literary
heritage;
4. Develop an understanding of global society: cultural diversity, mutual relationships,
interdependence of peoples and nations;
5. Apply liberal learning in problem-solving contexts as preparation for active participation in
society;
6. Make informed ethical decisions that promote personal integrity, the legitimate rights and
aspirations of individuals and groups, and the common good.
B. Course Objectives
Upon completion of the course, PHIL 110, Introduction to Philosophy, students will be able to
demonstrate their mastery of the following learning outcomes:
1. Investigate the ultimate principles of knowledge, reality and human conduct;
2. Establish rational methods of evaluating ideas and arguments;
3. Explore the underlying unity and diversity of experience;
4. Provide an historical survey of philosophical ideas;
5. Offer a systematic treatment of major philosophical questions; and,
6. Afford you a general enrichment in philosophy.
V.
TEACHING METHODS/DELIVERY SYSTEM
The classroom is a writing and discourse community. This class will be taught using a variety of
methods. These methods include a combination of online lectures, online course management
system discussions, online course management system, and formal evaluations. I will employ
Desire to Learn (D2L) for required postings. Please become familiar with the discussion
feature of the D2L online system. This class is very interactive. In order to complete the
course successfully, students must be prepared to discuss the reading assignments and
to do the online work.
VI.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Attendance Policy
This course is highly accelerated, and students will need to take a great deal of responsibility for
their own learning outcomes. Any absence of required online work must be due to extraordinary
circumstances and will require documentation for it to be considered excused. Documentation
must be provided immediately in order to determine what, if any, accommodations are reasonable
or possible. Completing or submitting online work late will directly impact your final grade, and
each undocumented absence will be considered unexcused and will result in a 20% reduction in
the overall final grade for the course.
Due to the accelerated nature of the course, should you experience a medical condition which
prevents you from completing assignments, appropriate medical documentation must be provided
immediately to the instructor so it may be determined what, if any, accommodations are
reasonable or possible.
Missing Deadlines and Its Effect on Your Grade
There will be deadlines for postings on D2L. If you miss a deadline, I will reduce your grade for
that assignment by ten percent (10%) for each day that it is late. Work will be accepted up to four
days late.
Required Technology
Given the online nature of this class you are required to have the following:
 Access to a computer and a reliable internet connection. If you do not have a
computer or access to the internet, BUS provides computers with internet access for
student use in the Resource Center.

A Working Benedictine E-mail Account.
Access to Desire to Learn (D2L): I will use D2L to post material. You will also use D2L to
complete your assignments.
Reading Assignments
Advance reading as outlined in VIII. "Topical Course Outline" section is expected of each student.
Written Assignment
Each student will submit a written paper examining a topic selected from a list provided by the
instructor. Each paper must between 1400 and 2100 words in length. Each paper must be
researched and written specifically for this class - no papers will be accepted if the instructor
believes they have been prepared as an assignment for a different class. Students should insure
that the assignment complies with the highest academic, linguistic and grammatical standards.
Paper must cite at least 3 authoritative reference sources including at least one published book,
one printed journal of national circulation, and one internet source. Note: Wikipedia is NOT an
acceptable internet source! A late penalty of 10% per day will be deducted for each day after
the due date. No papers will be accepted more than two days after the due date.
Online Discussion Questions: Participation Requirements
You must post an answer to at least one discussion question during the discussion week. Also,
you must post two substantive (on topic) discussion responses or comments to other’s replies,
per day, on a minimum of two separate days during the discussion / participation week.
To be considered substantive, the messages must be on topic, and more than “I agree” replies.
While the word count itself is not as important as the content, try to write at least 2-3 sentences,
using correct grammar, punctuation and spelling. Only posts during the specific discussion week
(Monday through Sunday) will count towards your class participation score.
Benedictine University at Springfield Student Academic Honesty Policy
The search for truth and the dissemination of knowledge are the central missions of a university.
Benedictine University at Springfield pursues these missions in an environment guided by our
Roman Catholic tradition and our Benedictine heritage. Integrity and honesty are therefore
expected of all University students. Actions such as cheating, plagiarism, collusion, fabrication,
forgery, falsification, destruction, multiple submission, solicitation, and misrepresentation are
violations of these expectations and constitute unacceptable behavior in the University
community.
Student’s Responsibility
Though there is no formal honor code at Benedictine University at Springfield, students are
expected to exhibit academic honesty at all times. Violations against academic honesty are
always serious and may result in sanctions that could have profound long-term effects. The final
responsibility for understanding the Academic Honesty Policy of the institution, as well as the
specific policies for individual courses normally found in syllabi, rests with students. If any doubt
exists about what constitutes academic dishonesty, students have the responsibility to talk to the
faculty member. Students should expect the members of their class to be academically honest.
If students believe one or more members of the class have been deceitful to gain academic
advantage in the class, students should feel comfortable to approach the faculty member of the
course without prejudice.
Violations of the Academic Honesty Policy will be reported to the Office of the Dean of Academic
Affairs. Along with a verbal warning, the following are consequences a student may face for
academic dishonesty:
 a failing grade or “zero” for the assignment;
 dismissal from and a failing grade for the course; or
 dismissal from the Institution.
VII.
MEANS OF EVALUATION
Grading
Students will be assessed as follows:
Final exam:
Written assignment:
Weekly Homework / Quizzes:
Online Discussions:
25%
20%
30%
25%.
A traditional grading scale will be followed:
{100-90% = "A"} { 89-80%="B"} {79-70%= "C"} {69-60%="D"} {below 60%="F"}
No credit will be given for any missed in-class quizzes, missed in-class tests, or missed in-class
discussions.
If a student believes that an error has been made in reporting a grade, an appeal must be made
in writing to the instructor and must be initiated within 60 calendar days after the end of the term
for which the grade in question was reported. The appeal should contain specific information
about why it is believed the grade reported is inaccurate. See the Student Handbook for
additional details.
Add/Drop Dates
Please refer to the current Academic Calendar for add/drop dates.
Incomplete Request
To qualify for an “I” grade, a minimum of 75% of the course work must be completed with a “C”
or better, and a student must submit a completed “Request for an Incomplete” form to the
Registrar’s Office. The form must be completed by both student and instructor, but it is the
student’s responsibility (not the instructor’s) to initiate this process and obtain the necessary
signatures.
Student Withdrawal Procedure
It is the student’s responsibility to officially withdraw from a course by completing the appropriate
form, with appropriate signatures, and returning the completed form to the Advising Office. Please
refer to the Student Handbook for important financial information related to withdrawals.
VIII.
TOPICAL COURSE OUTLINE
Week
1
Course Introduction; Review Chapter 1 – What is
Philosophy. Read Chapter 2. Online Discussion
Questions – Pre Socrates Era.
Week
2
Quiz #1; Read Chapter 3 – Socrates and Plato;
review of key terms
Week
3
Written Assignment Topics Posted; Quiz # 2;
Read Chapter 4 – Online Discussion Questions –
comparing Socrates and Plato Aristotle
Week
4
Quiz # 3; Read Chapter 5 – Philosophers of
Hellenistic and Christian Eras; review of key terms
Week
5
Quiz # 4; Read Chapter 6 – Online Discussion
Questions – Rise of Modern Metaphysics
Week
6
Quiz # 5; Read Chapter 7 –Pragmatic and Analytical
Traditions; review of key terms
Week
7
Written Assignment Due; Read Chapter 9; Online
Discussion Questions - Prior weeks’ topics and
review key terms for Final
Week
8
FINAL EXAM
IX.
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA)
Benedictine University at Springfield provides individuals with disabilities reasonable
accommodations to participate in educational programs, activities, and services. Students with
disabilities requiring accommodations to participate in campus-sponsored programs, activities,
and services, or to meet course requirements, should contact the Resource Center as possible:
springaccess@ben.edu or (217) 525-1420, ext. 3306.
X.
ASSESSMENT
Goals, objectives, and learning outcomes that will be assessed in the class are stated in this
syllabus. Instructor will use background knowledge probes, online discussions, and/or other
Classroom Assessment Techniques as deemed necessary in order to provide continuous
improvement of instruction.