UH 101: MORAL FORUM
FALL 2009
Instructor:
Stephen F. Black
Director, Center for Ethics & Social Responsibility
stephen.black@ua.edu, 348-6490
Location:
Monday – Doster 104
Tuesday – Temple Tutwiler/Lloyd
Wednesday– ten Hoor
Time:
Monday 2–4 p.m.
(all sections attend)
Breakout
Facilitator:
Lane Busby McLelland, lbmclelland@ua.edu, 348-2642
Course
Coordinator: Heather Christensen, hchristensen@aalan.ua.edu, 348-6495
Student
Facilitators:
Walt Johnson, wmjohnson1@crimson.ua.edu
Will Schildknecht, waschildknecht@crimson.ua.edu
Chris Scott, cascott1@crimson.ua.edu
§10 Tuesday 10– 10:50 a.m.
§11 Tuesday 11– 11:50 a.m.
§13 Tuesday 2– 2:50 p.m.
§ 17 Wednesday 11– 11:50 a.m.
§ 18 Wednesday 2– 2:50 p.m.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Effective citizenship requires a well-developed capacity for thoughtful moral discourse. In today’s society,
dominated by constant exposure to a polarized media, the potential for developing such discourse is seriously
undermined. We live in a society where it is much easier to disengage than to process the latest-breaking “news,”
which increasingly seems to be an endless shouting match between ideological opposites. Two-minute split-screen
“conflict” segments reinforce the polarization of the citizenry and contribute much to the decline of public trust in
the possibility of meaningful dialogue. When citizens’ voices are channeled through an increasingly narrow tunnel
of market-driven mass-media outlets, our political conversations are severely limited.
This course is concerned with developing the skills to evaluate and respond to moral claims and engage in moral
discourse. We will distinguish between making reasoned judgments about the moral legitimacy of views and being
intolerant or disrespectful toward individuals or cultural groups. There is a way to directly evaluate values-based
issues and respond to moral claims in a thoughtful and sensitive way, but this requires us to move beyond both
oversimplified absolutes and moral relativism. This class should challenge you to question the simple absolutes you
previously understood as the “right answers” to complex questions.
CLASS FORMAT
This class will be organized around the analysis of one particular controversial “moral” resolution. In teams of two,
students conduct research, attend the regular lectures, and construct position statements in preparation for a Moral
Forum tournament taking place in October.
The first half of this course will be organized around preparation for participation in the Moral Forum tournament.
Each Monday, all students will attend a two-hour weekly lecture series. These are MANDATORY.
In addition, all students are required to attend one breakout session taking place on Tuesdays and Wednesdays
following the lectures (your breakout group is determined by the section of the class you registered for). These
breakouts are also MANDATORY.
The tournament is organized around teams, and once teams are formed, each team must prepare
two position statements – one affirmative and one negative side of the same resolution. Students
should be prepared to respond to a wide spectrum of arguments raised by their opponents during the tournament,
while the position statements will only reflect a well-developed summary of the strongest arguments on each side.
Material used in the written arguments and the tournament should reflect research beyond classroom discussion and the readings
required.
All students enrolled in the course are required to participate in at least one affirmative and one
negative round of the tournament with their partner. Qualifying students may choose to continue on in
the debate, which concludes with a final, public tournament held at the end of October.
MORAL FORUM 2009 RESOLUTION
“In order to foster a more moral society, the federal government should lower
the legal drinking age from 21 to 18.”
REQUIRED READINGS
UH 101 Moral Forum Class Reader (available in the University Supply Store)
There will almost certainly be supplemental readings handed out which you WILL be responsible
for.
It is expected that the required and recommended readings included in the course packet will only
serve as a starting point in the development of your arguments; personal research extending beyond
the books and articles distributed to class is necessary for a complete, well-supported and unique
position statement. Use the library and all of its tools and resources in conducting your research. The various
electronic databases are incredibly helpful, as is Interlibrary Loan (to use if our library doesn’t own or have electronic
access to a source you’d like to see). Be skeptical of everything you find on the internet – academic articles posted on
random webpages often have errors, and are many times totally illegitimate. It is always best to find the original source.
ABSOLUTELY NO ONE SHOULD USE OR REFERENCE WIKIPEDIA AS A SOURCE – NOT NOW, NOT
EVER.
WARNING: Pop quizzes on the assigned readings could happen at any time. Be ready.
INCOMPLETES/WITHDRAWALS
The last day to withdraw from this course without a “W” is Wednesday, August 26.
The last day to add a course is also Wednesday, August 26.
The last day to drop this course with a “W” is Wednesday, October 28.
No incomplete grades will be issued except in extraordinary and well-documented circumstances.
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ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
The University of Alabama’s academic misconduct policy is described in the Student Handbook
(http://www.sa.ua.edu/DoS/Handbook9.htm#Codes). The Handbook defines academic misconduct, the possible
penalties, and the procedures for investigating and prosecuting academic misconduct.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING DIFFERENCES
If you are registered with the Office of Disability Services, please make an appointment with Heather Christensen
(348-6495) as soon as possible to discuss any course accommodations that may be necessary. If you have a disability,
but have not contacted the Office of Disability Services, please call 348-4285 or visit 133-B Martha Parham Hall
East to register for services. Students with disabilities must be registered with the Office of Disability Services
before receiving academic adjustments.
STUDENT ASSESSMENT PROCEDURES
Grades for Moral Forum will be calculated as follows:
15%
Assignment 1 – Pro argument. Choose a value criterion and back it up with 2 arguments for lowering the
drinking age. Cite at least 3 sources, and relate it to a philosopher discussed during Lecture 2. Should be
approximately 1 page, typed (double spaced, 1” margins). This assignment constitutes 15 percent of your
final grade – due at the beginning of your breakout session on September 8/9.
15%
Assignment 2 – Con argument. In the same form as Assignment 1, construct an argument against lowering
the drinking age. Should be approximately 1 page, typed and correctly formatted. This assignment
constitutes 15 percent of your final grade - due at the beginning of your breakout session on September
15/16.
5%
Assignment 3 – cross examination questions. Due September 28.
5%
Assignment 4 – vision statement. Due September 28.
20%
Final written position statement – Each partner will turn in one written constructive argument (one on the
affirmative and one on the negative side) to be used in the debate competition. These are due in the first
round of the tournament, Monday, October 12. Partners will receive the same grade for this assignment.
10%
Evaluation of preparation for tournament - Evaluation of substantial debate preparation will be based on the
demonstration and use of materials (including organized binder of sources, notecards for tournament
rounds, etc.). This component of the grade also includes demonstration of a good faith effort in the two
required rounds of debate.
20%
Attendance and class participation - Attendance at all lectures and participation in breakout sessions each week
are absolutely mandatory. Because participation in all lectures and breakout sessions is critical to the
success of Moral Forum, students should expect to be deducted one letter grade after the second
unexcused, missed lecture or breakout session. If you do miss a lecture, you are responsible for printing and
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reviewing lecture notes and any additional readings from eLearning, scheduling a time to listen to the
lecture if it has been recorded on Tegrity, and consulting with instructor about any changes to the syllabus
or other important information missed. This is a very important part of your grade. Attendance is also
required at the Final Tournament on October 27 at 7 p.m., unless excused prior to this
event.
10%
Final essay exam - The final exam for this course will be in an essay-style format. Date due is TBA. All
exams should be submitted to Stephen Black (112 Temple Tutwiler Hall) on or before the day/time
announced.
ASSIGNMENTS
All assignments should be formatted with following information clearly at the top left of the first page of the
document:
Student name (with partner’s name in parentheses, if a collaborative assignment)
The course number and your section number
Date
Name/number of assignment
CLASS SCHEDULE
In preparation for the tournament, the first half of the semester involves a good deal of research, reading, and
writing. This level of intensity is necessary for successful participation in the debate. Please understand that the
commitment we are asking of you during the first half of the semester will be balanced by a
considerably lighter load at the end of the semester.
Week 2
Week 1
Lecture
Breakout
Wednesday, August 19
Out-of-Class Assignments for Week
Purchase class reading materials.
NO CLASS
Mon., Aug 24 – Lecture 1:
Lane McLelland and Stephen
Black: Introduction to course.
Review syllabus.
Tues/Wed. Aug 25/26
Breakout 1:
Discuss topic and requirements.
Readings – 1-16 from the Reader
Familiarize yourself with this class on
eLearning (http://elearning.ua.edu) and
review documents posted there.
Video: Drinking Age Debate, 60
Minutes (February 22, 2009)
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Week 3
Week 4
Lecture
Breakout
Mon., Aug. 31 – Lecture 2
Tues/Wed Sept 1/2
Breakout 2:
Jim Otteson (former UA
Philosophy professor and
chair): Moral philosophy and
three meta-ethical approaches
to argumentation; competing
philosophical perspectives
applied to issue.
Mon., Sept. 7 –
LABOR DAY –
NO CLASS
Quiz on readings.
Discuss readings.
Explanation of Assignment 1.
Tues/Wed Sept 8/9
Breakout 3:
Quiz on readings.
Discuss readings.
Discuss completed Assignment
1 (pro argument).
Week 5
Explanation of Assignment 2.
Mon., Sept 14 – Lecture 3
Turn in partner.
Dr. David Hanson – (Professor
Emeritus of Sociology at SUNY
Potsdam): Arguments in Favor
Week 6
of the resolution.
Tues./Wed. Sept 15/16
Breakout 4:
Quiz on readings and discuss
readings.
Discuss completed Assignment
2.
Chase Wrenn (Assoc. Professor,
Philisophy): Introduction to
logic, reasoning, and the basics
of moral argumentation.
Discuss Assignments 3 and 4,
Cross-examination questions
and the Vision Statement.
Mon., Sept 21 - Lecture 4
Tues./Wed. Sept 22/23
Breakout 5:
Dr. Stuart Usdan (Assoc.
Professor of Health Science at
UA): Arguments against the
resolution.
Stephen Black and Lane
McLelland: Discussion of the
Vision Statement
Out-of-Class Assignments for Week
Readings – 17-23 from the Reader
Assignment 1 – Pro argument. Choose a
value criterion and back it up with 2 arguments
for the lowering of the drinking age. Cite at
least 3 sources and relate it to a philosopher
discussed during Lecture 2. Should be
approximately 1 page, typed (double spaced,
1” margins). Due on Sept 8/9 (15 percent
of grade).
Readings- 24-31 from the Reader
Assignment 2 – Con argument. In the same
form as Assignment 1, construct an argument
against the lowering of the drinking age.
Should be approximately 1 page, typed and
correctly formatted. Due on Sept 15/16
(15 percent of grade).
Start thinking about/talking with potential
partners for debate. Partners are due Sept 14
(Monday); those not submitting partner by that
date will be randomly paired.
Readings- 32-36 from the Reader
Assignment 3 - Cross-examination
questions: Identify your 4 strongest crossexamination questions. Due on Sept 28
(5 percent of grade).
Assignment 4 - Vision statement. Due on
Sept 28 (5 percent of grade).
Partner assignments
announced.
Readings- 37-40 from the Reader
Wrap up outside research.
Quiz on readings.
Discuss mechanics of Moral
Forum debate in detail,
including rules and mechanics,
flowing, judging, and scoring.
Finish Assignments 3 and 4, Cross-X and Vision
Statements.
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Week 7
Lecture
Mon., Sept 28 – Lecture 5
Stephen Black: Ethics and
Religion?
MOCK DEBATE
Out-of-Class Assignments for Week
Tues./Wed. Sept 30/Oct 1
Readings – TBA
Breakout 6:
Final written position statements due on
October 12, the first day of the
tournament! Remember, these are 20
percent of your final grade.
Quiz on readings.
Discuss final position
statements.
This should be either the affirmative or negative
position statement used by your team in
constructive arguments. One of your team
should turn in the affirmative and the other
should submit the negative.
Week 8
Discuss graded Cross-X and
Vision Statements.
Mon., Oct 5 – Lecture 6
Tues./Wed. Oct. 7/Oct 8
Prepare for Tournament!
Mark Nelson (Asst. Provost for
Academic Affairs): General
delivery skills for speech and
debate.
Breakout 6:
Office hours available by request (email Stephen
or Lane to set up individual appointment).
Week 9
Cross-X and Vision Statements
DUE.
Breakout
Mon., Oct. 12
Tuesday Oct 13
TOURNAMENT BEGINS!
TOURNAMENT
See schedule below.
PRACTICE ROUNDS!
Each team turns in final written cases
(including pro/con argument and
vision statement) at your first round of
debate (Oct 12/13) – coordinate with
your partner to ensure that we receive
one of each!
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TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE:
Week 9
October
Mon. 12
Tues. 13
ROUND 1 (A)
2-4:30 p.m.
Location: UA School
of Law
ROUND 1 (B)
2-4:30 p.m.
Location: UA School
of Law
Wed. 14
Thur. 15
Fri. 16
Thur. 22
Fri. 23
Week 11
Week 10
*Final papers due!*
Mon. 19
Tues. 20
Wed. 21
ROUND 2
2– 4:30 p.m.
Location: UA School
of Law
ROUND 3
Quarterfinals
ROUND 4
Semifinals
8 teams from Round 2
debate
4 teams from Round 3
debate
2-4 p.m.
Location: Ferguson
Center, Rooms 300
and 301
7- 9 p.m.
Location: Room 300,
Mortar Board Room
Mon. 26
Tues. 27
FINAL ROUND
7 p.m., Morgan
Auditorium
Attendance is
mandatory for all
Moral Forum
students.
POST-TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE:
Class will continue to meet for three weeks during lecture time on Mondays (Nov. 2nd, 9th, and 16th)
THERE WILL BE NO TUESDAY OR WEDNESDAY CLASSES (BREAKOUT SESSIONS) FOR THE
REMAINDER OF THE SEMESTER.
Details about the Final Exam will be announced in class.
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