PHIL 5500/6500 COURSE REQUIREMENTS

• Two 5-page papers, due Oct. 1 and Nov. 5 (15% each)
  
  A 5-page paper must be accompanied by an outline of its argument (on a separate sheet, stapled to the paper), executed on the model of the weekly outline assignments (see below). Papers submitted without an accompanying outline will not be graded.
  
  
• One 10-15 page paper (undergrads) or 15-25 page paper (graduate students, senior seminar participants), due Fri. Dec. 11 (30%)
  
  Papers are to be submitted by 4:00 on the due date to my mailbox.
  
  Students must submit an outline of the argument of the final paper on Tue., Dec. 1; if the outline is not submitted, the paper will incur a penalty of one full grade. Outlines due in my box or by email at 4:00. These outlines are a bit more complicated: they have to include an outline of the structure of the main argument (on the model of the weekly assignments), along with subsidiary outlines schematizing subsidiary arguments (arguments for claims made in the main argument, responses to objections, and the like); the main outline should show where the conclusions of the subsidiary outlines are brought to bear. I will supply further guidelines and models in class.
  
  Papers are to be submitted in printed, not electronic, form.
  
  Late paper policy: the later the paper, the harder it will be graded. The final paper must be turned in on time; late final papers will not be graded. All work for the class must be in by Dec. 11.
  
  
• In-class participation. (20%)
  
  Participation is not the same as attendance; come prepared to talk in class. You will receive a mid-term participation grade. (Note that this grade will reflect only your in-class discussion, and not your overall performance in the class.)

  Classroom etiquette: no cell phones, tablets, laptops, e-readers, recording devices or food (you'll be asked to leave the class). Beverages are okay. Coming on time is a courtesy to your fellow students; please allow plenty of time to get to campus or from your previous classes.



• Weekly argument outlines. (20%)
  
  OK, this bit is a little complicated, but please bear with me. During the first half of the semester (i.e., before Fall Break), these assignments consist of an outline of an argument in the readings. I will suggest passages, but you are free to outline an argument of your own choice instead. I will provide models and a more detailed description of what these outlines look like on the first day of class.
  
  During the second half of the semester (i.e., after Fall Break), a weekly assignment consists of two outlines: the first, an outline of an argument in the readings (as during the first half of the term), and the second, an outline of an argument of your own that attacks the argument in the first outline.
  
  The weekly assignments are due two hours before class (i.e., Wednesdays at 3:30 sharp), and may be submitted either to my mailbox (located in the Philosophy Department administrative suite, on the fourth floor of CTIHB), or by email (ascii text only, please; no Word files or other attachments). Late weekly assignments will not be accepted.
  
  You need to turn in ten of these; which weeks you skip is up to you; however, you may not turn in more than one per week. (So how many of each type of assignment you end up doing will depend on when you choose to turn them in.) You can turn in 11 if you want, and if you do, I'll drop the lowest grade.
  
  

• Presentation.
  
  9/3/15: the enrollment is too high for presentations.