DAWSON COLLEGE
HUMANITIES 345-BXH-03 or 345-BXH-DW section ____ (ETHICAL ISSUES)
COURSE TITLE:
WORKLOAD (per week):
EFFECTIVE DATE:
INSTRUCTOR'S NAME:
OFFICE NO.:
TELEPHONE LOCAL:
E-MAIL:
OFFICE HOURS:
WEBSITE:
Issues in Bioethics
3-0-3
Winter 2011
Gabriel Tordjman
3D.7
514 931-8731 (1288)
gtordjman@dawsoncollege.qc.ca
Monday and Wednesday 12:30-2:00 or by appointment
http://dc37.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/humanities/gabriel
STATEMENT OF THE COMPETENCY
Learning Outcome: To think critically about ethical issues
ELEMENTS OF THE COMPETENCY
(= General Instructional Objectives Common to all Ethical Issues Courses)
Students who successfully complete the Ethical Issues course in Humanities should be able to:
1. Understand basic ethical concepts and theories necessary for reflecting upon moral beliefs, actions and
questions pertaining to personal, professional, local and global issues;
2. Situate issues in their social and historical contexts and examine them from an ethical perspective in a
reasoned and critical manner;
3. Identify conflicts of values, and reflect on the moral disagreements, questions, and options that emerge from
these conflicts;
4. Identify and analyze ethical issues that are pertinent to the student's program.
GENERAL AIM:
Bioethics examines the social and ethical dimension of medical and biological research, practice and technology.
This includes controversial issues such as health care, abortion, euthanasia, reproductive technology, surrogacy,
“test tube babies”, genetic testing and genetic manipulation of plants and animals, including human beings.
Through the examination of some of these bioethical issues, this course helps students acquire the knowledge and
sensitivity necessary for ethical deliberation and action in the public sphere and in personal life.
SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONAL OBJECTIVES:
This course introduces students to the basic vocabulary used in bioethical discourse, and situates various
bioethical issues in their historical and philosophical contexts, underlining both their local and global importance
while helping students articulate their own personal ethical outlook. Class material emphasizes general knowledge
and debate on a number of bioethical issues, critical analysis of moral arguments and the detection of faulty
arguments. Assignments stress basic and higher-level reading and writing abilities and deeper knowledge of the
ethical implications connected to a student’s field of studies.
REQUIRED TEXT(S): (This should include the approximate # of pages to be read.)
Much of the reading material for this course is on-line and thus requires that students are registered and have
access to the internet as well as a Dawson College login code (available only to registered students). Students
should notify teacher if they do not have access to the internet from home. The readings include the following:
 G. Tordjman, Issues in Bioethics: A Brief History and Overview (30 pp)
 Readings from various authors (on-line) (100 pp)
 G. Tordjman, "Tips on Essay Writing” (available on my website) (7 pp)
 G. Tordjman, “Tips on Research” (available on my website) (6 pp)
 Academic Skills Center handouts on essay writing, including the Dawson Style Sheet.
TEACHING METHODS/LEARNING ACTIVITIES:
Teaching methods include lectures as well as discussions and group work. Lectures introduce key bioethical
issues and controversies supplemented by audio-visual presentations to assist students in achieving basic
knowledge of the class material and contribute to the development of their own ethical perspective. Students will
articulate their own perspectives on bioethical issues in class continued through online discussions.
EVALUATION TOOLS/ASSIGNMENTS: (At least three different types of evaluation instruments are to be used.)
Type of evaluation tool/assignment
Due date
% of final mark
Bibliographic Assignment
5th Week
15%
Quizzes (6 X 5%)
Throughout term
30%
Outline Assignment
10th Week
10%
Blog entries
Throughout term
10%
Program Specific Written Assignment
13th Week
25%
Final Exam
Last class
10%
Additional comments: (This should include a policy for late assignments. Please clarify expectations if participation forms any part
of the grade.)
The Bibliographical Assignment requires an annotated Bibliography of three scholarly sources and an
introduction on a clearly defined bioethical topic in preparation for the Program Specific Written Assignment.
The Outline Assignment requires a revised Introduction and annotated Bibliography on the same bioethical topic
also in preparation for the Written Assignment. The Program Specific Written Assignment is the major written
assignment in this class. It is an objective research essay, roughly 1,500 to 1,800 words (5-7 double spaced,
computer printed pages) requiring references ("footnotes") within the essay, bibliography at the end. It must be
based on a minimum of three scholarly sources and five sources in all demonstrating college-level reading,
writing and analytical skills. Topics should be relevant to this course and must be connected to the students’
Program (i.e., Social Science, Health Sciences, Commerce, etc…).
Quizzes (including “pop” quizzes) cover material from the previous weeks’ course work testing basic
knowledge of key terms and concepts. The Blog entries will be submitted to the course blog, accessible from the
teacher’s website and will include responses to issues raised in class or based on assigned questions assigned
throughout the semester. The blog entries are designed to help learn class material and to help articulate the
student’s own ethical perspective on a given bioethical issue. Except for the blog entries, all assignments must be
handed in person to the teacher.
All assignments must be submitted on the date and time due. A valid justification, such as a medical note,
is required for any late assignment otherwise they will not be accepted and will receive a zero grade. Late
assignments that are accepted will have a -.5 deduction per day (weekends included). Repeated tardiness in
submitting or adequately completing assignments may result in teacher’s refusal to accept further submissions and
will result in a zero grade. No assignments will be accepted after they have been returned to the class. Students
must contact the teacher about any late or missing assignments as well as missed classes preferably before the
missed class or date due of an assignment.
STATEMENT OF LITERACY REQUIREMENT:
Any written work must follow the basic rules of essay writing and English grammar, including proper sentence
structure, paragraph development and organization as well as references and bibliography. Students should
consult the “Tips on Essay Writing,” “Tips on Research” and use the services and handouts provided by the
Academic Skills Center to accomplish these ends. Students should request guidance from the teacher to obtain
clarification on all course material and on requirements for written assignments.
STATEMENT ON CHEATING AND PLAGIARISM:
Cheating and plagiarism are serious academic offences (refer to the "Institutional Student Evaluation Policy"
(ISEP) for further details). Action in response to an incident of cheating and/or plagiarism, up to and including the
failure of the student in the course, is within the teacher's authority. Specific consequences for cheating and
plagiarism: from a zero grade for an assignment to a zero grade for the entire course and further disciplinary
action, depending on the nature and extent of the cheating and/or plagiarism.
RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS:
Students who wish to observe religious holidays must inform their teacher in writing within the first two weeks of
the semester of their intent as prescribed in the religious holiday policy (for further details, refer to ISEP).
EXPECTED CLASSROOM BEHAVIOURS: (This should include a policy regarding attendance.)
Respect and courtesy by and for all members of the class is required at all times. Attentiveness and active
involvement in course material is expected. Attendance is mandatory and key to success in the class. Excessive
absences result in poor performance on assignments and in the final grade. No cell phones or laptops are allowed
in class.