NEW COURSE PROPOSAL
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS COUNCIL
Title of course: Enlightenment, Freedom and Alienation
Shortened version of title for schedule and transcript. (30 characters including spaces):
Enlightenment, Freedom
Department and course number:
PHIL 340
Number of credits:
3
Variable credit?
No
Is the course repeatable for additional credit?
No
Effective date:
Fall 2011
Proposed for General Education option?
No.
Scheduling course information:
Is it lecture, laboratory, discussion, seminar, independent study, field study or thesis research?
Seminar
Does the course have a required attached lab for zero credit?
No
Does enrollment require the consent of the instructor?
No
Department?
Social Inquiry
Grade basis:
A = 100% - 90% B = 89 – 80% C = 79% - 70% D = 69% - 60% F = 59% and below
Catalog description:
In this course we will read philosophers who are concerned with our liberation from inherited, imprisoning belief
systems. As such, special attention will be given to the philosophical question of freedom, its limits, and its use as a basis
for rationality, morality, and politics. This course will focus primarily on philosophers from the Enlightenment (Kant)
through German Idealism (Hegel) and Marxism.
Prerequisites:
PHIL 151, POLS 262, or permission of the instructor
Main Units:
Kant
Hegel
Marx
Objectives of the course:
1) To practice strategies for reading philosophical texts, especially conducting close reading
2) To explain difficult concepts in written and oral form.
3) To develop a philosophical sensibility and questions.
4) Understand the development of philosophical questions in the history of philosophy
Evaluation procedures and techniques:
Attendance and participation
Bring type-written questions about a specific passage as a basis for class discussion
Midterm and final paper
Special projects, term papers, class reports, etc.:
See above
Library or other physical resources to support the course:
None
Need for Additional resources:
No
Course(s) to be dropped:
N/A
Attach appropriate minutes showing approval.
Name_____________________________________________________
Paper evaluation criteria
Assignment:________________________________________________
Basics:
o Is in 12 pt Times New Roman font and is double spaced
o Is stapled
o Paper was on time (if not, days late____)
o Includes an attached outline of thesis statement and supporting claims
Writing:
o Has a clearly stated thesis in the opening paragraph that is supported by the rest of the paper
o Is the appropriate length (2 pages), and is concise, not redundant
o Has few or no spelling and/or grammatical errors (misspellings will be circled)
o Is clearly written at the paragraph level
o Is clearly written at the sentence level
o Paper is well organized overall
o Words have been used appropriately (awkwardly used words will be circled)
o Quotes are well integrated into paper, appropriately chosen, understood, introduced, and followedthrough with an explanation
o Ideas or passages are attributed to their author, and page # is provided.
Content:
o Answers all aspects of the question(s) in the paper prompt
o Makes use of the required number of sources/readings
o Fairly and accurately represents the views of the authors mentioned
‘B’ level papers will have done all of the above.
‘C’ level papers will have done most of the above.
‘D’ level papers will have done only some of the above.
‘A’ level papers will have gone beyond the usual expectation in at least three of the following (in addition
to all of the above):
o Contains your own original and creative insights
o Demonstrates extraordinarily strong grasp of theory
o Uses compelling personal (or other) examples
o Gives the subject thought beyond what was required
o VERY clearly written
o Demonstrates a willingness to challenge your previous assumptions