Sterling Harwood

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: Set 1

Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) 1: For all courses, how can I most easily use this website?

For all classes, the keys to most easily using our website are to have a positive attitude toward our website and to use Control + F -- and the table of contents below -- to search for key words or phrases in our website. I have tried to put the most important questions and answers toward the top of the website, to minimize the scrolling you have to do. Using Control + F minimizes scrolling, too. Avoid printing out the website, for these reasons: 1) the website is over 225 pages long in Font size 12; 2) much or even most of the website will be irrelevant to your work in the course, since most of the website consists of quotations you can use in your paper; but there is only one paper due and there are about 7 topics with up to 147 quotes on each topic; 3) importantly, relying on one printout means you miss all updates after you print out the website; 4) printing out the website, especially more than once to get updates, is environmentally wasteful of paper; 5) most importantly, a printout can't give you the crucial Control + F window to search the website with pushbutton ease; and 6) the pages of your printout might not be numbered (since the website lacks page numbers) and so the printout may be hard to organize. Avoid being intimidated by the size of our website, since every part of our website is designed to help students. So having a large website is like having a large friend or a large library. Besides, you don't let the large size of the library on campus intimidate you; you see that as a great resource due to its large size. The same applies here. Anyway, whatever your attitude, you can read the table of contents below (29 FAQs) to find what you want in fewer than 5 minutes and you can search this website with pushbutton ease for key words or phrases by holding down the Control key and then hitting the F key. A window will then appear and then you should type in the word or phrase for which you wish to search. If that fails, simply use the table of contents below to find your way around this website. Scroll to the FAQ that gives you the answer you seek or simply use Control + F to search for the FAQ. It's pushbutton easy and as easy as reading the TV Guide or a comic book. Indeed, in some ways it is easier to read than a comic book, since you won't be distracted by pictures and since the font is typed and thus easier to read than a comic book's handwritten font.

TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THIS WEBSITE

Here is the absolutely crucially important table of contents for the website:

FAQ1: For all courses, how can I most easily use this website?

FAQ2: For all courses, what is Dr. Harwood's contact info and when did Dr. Harwood last revise this website, and what were his latest revisions?

FAQ3: What's my grade?

FAQ4: What's the syllabus for PHIL 60 EVC Spring 2008?

FAQ5: For all courses, what are Dr. Harwood's CRUCIALLY important Guidelines A-Z for Creating & Grading Papers & Presentations?

FAQ6: For all courses, what is the best sample paper for us to read to help us write our term paper in ABC format?

FAQ7: For all courses, what is the required ABC format for organizing papers (unless otherwise stated on the greensheet or syllabus)?

FAQ8: For all courses (and for all paper topics except moral relativism versus moral realism in PHIL 65 Spring 05 @ EVC), what are the 5 moral principles we should use AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE if we write on any moral or political topic such as affirmative action, gun control, abortion, euthanasia, prostitution, or surrogate motherhood?

FAQ9: For all courses, what are the 7 truth tips we should try to use to discover truth generally and try to use in section C of our ABC sets in our term papers?

FAQ10: For all courses, what are 33 fallacies to avoid committing and to expose and disagree with when others commit them?

FAQ11: For all courses, what is Dr. Harwood's introductory lecture in philosophy?

FAQ12: For all courses, what are some arguments on euthanasia (mercy killing) that students have the option of evaluating in a paper?

FAQ13: For all courses, what are some arguments about abortion that students have the option of evaluating in a paper?

FAQ14: For all classes, what are more than 175 quotations on human nature that students may choose from to use in the A sections of their papers to evaluate (and in the C sections of their papers to help them evaluate quotations in their A sections)?

FAQ15: For all courses, what are some arguments on gun control that students may use in a paper on gun control?

FAQ16: For all courses, what are some affirmative action quotes students may use in a paper on affirmative action?

FAQ17: For all courses, what are some quotations on prostitution students may use in a paper about whether or not to legalize prostitution?

FAQ18: For all courses, what are some quotes on the Baby M/Surrogate Motherhood case which students can use in a paper about surrogate motherhood?

FAQ19: For all courses, what are more than 100 miscellaneous, assorted quotes we may choose from to use in any approved paper topic for which they are relevant (ask Dr. Harwood if there is any doubt about their relevance for an approved paper topic and note that your paper must be on only one of the approved paper topics; avoid combining paper topics)?

FAQ20: For all courses, what are some arguments on capital punishment that students may use in a paper on capital punishment?

FAQ21: What is the test bank for PHIL 10 Fall 2008 @ EVC?

FAQ22: For all courses (except those excluded below), how may we view videos and earn extra credit on our exams, quizzes & tests (40% of your course grade at EVC & SJCC)?

FAQ23: For PHIL 10 and PHIL 60 students only, what are some quotes on rationalism versus empiricism that students may use in a paper on rationalism versus empiricism?

FAQ24: For all courses, what quotes show that the Golden Rule is accepted in at least 7 different cultures or religions?

FAQ25: For all courses, what guidelines should I follow to make email communication with Dr. Harwood most helpful to all concerned?

FAQ26: For all courses, how can I rewrite my paper to try to get a higher grade (though not all COMM 100W or COMM 41 papers may be rewritten)?

FAQ27: What are the 8 requirements for earning 3 extra credit points for every American War (note that one student seems to have found 48 American wars I list at the end of FAQ27 and thus seems to have earned 144 extra credit points)?

FAQ28: For all courses, how can we get our work back after the course is over?

FAQ29: For all courses, what is Dr. Harwood's essay published as "Is Inheritance Immoral?" chapter 44 in Louis P. Pojman's book Political Philosophy (New York: McGraw-Hill, 2002)?

FAQ30: For all classes, how can students earn up to 15 extra credit points on an approximately 30-foot bronze and white marble statue of Confucius?

FAQ31: For all classes, what videos have we seen in class so far?

FAQ32: For all classes, what are some pros and cons of capital punishment?

FAQ33: For all classes, what are some pros and cons of moral relativism?

FAQ34: For all classes, what are some pros and cons of affirmative action?

FAQ35: For all classes, what is Dr. Harwood's overview of Philosophy of Religion?

FAQ36: For all classes, what is Dr. Harwood's essay "Why Be Moral? A Definition and Defense of Humanism"?

FAQ37: What is the syllabus for PHIL 60 Logic: Critical Reasoning, Spring 2007, 2 sections, W night and Sat. morning, both @ SJCC?

FAQ38: For PHIL 65 Introduction to Ethics; M&W 1045am-1210pm; room C102 EVC; Spring 2007, what is the syllabus?

FAQ39: What are 7 possible contradictions in Buddhism?

FAQ40: What are more than 20 quotations by or about Confucius that students may use in the A-sections (and the C sections) of a term paper?

FAQ41: What are some quotations on the paper topic of legalizing currently illegal drugs that students may use in the A-sections (and C-sections) of their papers?

FAQ42: What is a test bank and what is the test bank for PHIL 10 SJCC Saturdays 9am-1225pm Fall 2007?

FAQ43: What's a test bank and what's the test bank for PHIL 60 Logic and Critical Thinking, EVC, Fall 2007?

FAQ44: What is a test bank and what is the test bank for PHIL 65 Introduction to Ethics, Spring 2008, EVC?

FAQ45: What is Chief Seattle's letter concerning environmentalism?

FAQ46: What is the syllabus for PHIL 65 Fall 2008 EVC?

FAQ47: What are the grades for COMM 41, Section 3, M/W 730-845AM, HGH 219, Spring 2008, SJSU?

FAQ48: What are the grades for COMM 100W, Section 1, F 9-1145AM, BBC 223, Spring 2008?

FAQ49: What are the instructions for COMM 41 students doing the Personal Introductions assignment due at the end of the last class in Week 2 at SJSU?

FAQ50: What are the grades for PHIL 60, EVC, M/W 1215-140PM, Spring 2008?

FAQ51: What are the grades for PHIL 60, SJCC, SAT 9AM-1220PM, Spring 2008?

FAQ52: What are the grades for PHIL 65, EVC, M/W 1045AM-1210PM, Spring 2008?

FAQ53: What are the grades for Law & Logic, Lincoln Law School, W night, Spring 2008?

FAQ54: What is the greensheet for COMM 100W?

FAQ55: What videos have we seen in COMM 41TH?

FAQ56: What videos have we seen in COMM 41MW?

FAQ57: What videos have we seen in COMM 100W?

FAQ58: What videos have we seen in PHIL 65?

FAQ59: What videos have we seen in PHIL 60 MW @ EVC?

FAQ60: What videos have we seen in PHIL 60 SAT @ SJCC?

FAQ61: What are the answers to the midterm in COMM 41TH, so we may unofficially grade our own tests for faster feedback?

FAQ62: What are the answers to the midterm in COMM 41MW, so we may unofficially grade our own tests for faster feedback?

FAQ63: What are the answers to the midterm in COMM 100W, so we may unofficially grade our own tests for faster feedback?

FAQ64: What is the test bank for COMM 100W?

FAQ65: What is the test bank for COMM 41MW SECTION ONLY?

FAQ66: What was the test in COMM 41MW on 3/17/08 and what are the right answers to those test questions?

FAQ67: What's a sample paper (but still an imperfect paper) on abortion?

FAQ68: What are 23 reasons to start questioning President Richard Nixon's claim that all 6 landings of humans on the moon in human history occurred 1969-1972 during his first presidential term?

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FAQ2: For all courses, what is Dr. Harwood's contact info, when did Dr. Harwood last revised this website, and what were his revisions?

Here's Dr. Harwood's contact info:
Dr. Harwood's email = svharwood1@aol.com
phones = 408-259-7777, 408-687-8199 & 408-289-5800
faxes = 408-254-7777
mailing address =
Dr. Sterling Harwood, Esq.
Law Office of Sterling Harwood
5445 Alum Rock Ave.
San Jose, CA 95127-2613
USA

Dr. Harwood last revised this website on 10/10/08 when he did the following:

A) added the 178th quote on human nature at the end of the answer to FAQ14 and reminded students that he recently added 4 other quotes there;

B) renewed his recommendation for students to watch the award-winning film "Taxi to the Dark Side" that premiered on HBO on Monday 9/29/08 and that is also available on DVD;

C) reminded students that he has added the first part of the PHIL 10 Fall 2008 EVC test bank, consisting of hundreds of questions, in FAQ21; and

D) added the PHIL 10 Fall 2008 syllabus immediately below:

Syllabus Fall 2008 PHIL 10 Introduction to Philosophy course @ EVC, Tu/Th 1045am-1210pm, Room PE206B, which has only one required book costing about $11 new and about $8 used at EVC Bookstore and perhaps less elsewhere such as amazon.com, bn.com, half.com, ecollegetextbooks.com, or ebay.com. Here is that syllabus:

This syllabus is 5 pages long when printed out in 8-point font.

1. INSTRUCTOR: Sterling Harwood, J.D., Ph.D.

2. PHONE: 408-259-7777 (home office & 24-hour voicemail; leave all phone messages on this voicemail). Feel free to call me anytime, since I simply turn off my phone when I can't take any more calls. So you won't disturb my beauty sleep!

3. FAX: 408-289-5375 (backup fax unavailable until further notice: 408-254-7777)

4. WEBSITE THAT IS CRUCIALLY IMPORTANT (Homepage): www.sterlingharwood.com. This will fill in for our textbook until it arrives at the campus bookstore. Our site has hundreds of pages of material to help you answer frequently asked questions, help you write your term paper, and generally help you excel. So remember to use Control + F to search it for key words and remember to use the table of contents, too. Guidelines A-Z on this website are crucial to writing and your term paper. I plan to put them on reserve @ the request of any student. Students who see me to establish a code can have their grades regularly posted on this website, though I grade scantrons only once they are full. I plan to post the answers to all previous tests on the site so you can unofficially grade yourself by keeping track of your answers, as I require you to do by keeping a fully completed backup scantron form at all times after the first class. Never submit your last backup. Make a backup to your backup before submitting your first backup scantron. Submit only a scantron signed by Dr. Harwood and if this is unavailable, then call that to Dr. Harwood’s attention immediately and get him to sign a backup labeled “Backup #1.” There will be a grade penalty (which you can make up with extra credit) if your scantron becomes unavailable. So keep track of your scantrons the best way you can.

5. EMAIL: svharwood1@aol.com. It is urgently important that you avoid emailing me any attachments, since viruses are too often unintentionally spread that way, especially while we are at war with terrorists, including cyberterrorists. Thanks for helping me help you by avoiding delays in my service to you due to viruses. For faster response, call me after emailing me to let me know there's an email from you waiting for me to answer.

6. OFFICE HOURS & OTHER TIMES AVAILABLE: Office hours are by appointment only. I’m also usually after each class for a few minutes and any other time by appointment. It is important to call me promptly if you have any questions on how to do your assignments that are not answered by this syllabus, sample papers on reserve in EVC library, or www.sterlingharwood.com . For ease and efficiency check those 3 other sources first before calling me, since they usually explain matters in more detail and with more clarity than I can on the phone. I answer calls much faster than emails, which I often check only late at night. I will be happy to return your call with instructions if leave your number and the question you want me to answer. I am always happy to answer any remaining procedural questions during breaks and after class, but not during valuable class time because we have so much of substance to cover during that time.

7. BIO: Dr. Sterling Harwood (B.A. in Philosophy, 1980 University of Maryland; J.D. 1983 Cornell Law School; M.A. in Philosophy, 1986 Cornell University; Ph.D. in Philosophy, 1992 Cornell University) is a practicing attorney at law (Licensed, State Bar Number 194746; see www.calbar.ca.gov) and is the author of Judicial Activism: A Restrained Defense (Austin & Winfield 1996). He edited and wrote 24 chapters of Business as Ethical & Business as Usual (Jones & Bartlett, now Wadsworth 1995), co-edited with Michael Gorr Crime & Punishment: Philosophic Explorations (Jones & Bartlett, now Wadsworth 1994), and co-edited with Michael Gorr Controversies in Criminal Law (Westview Press, 1992). He is working on a revised edition to Judicial Activism: A Restrained Defense, for which he has been offered a book contract by University Press of America, and on a new textbook on critical thinking. Dr. Harwood became a practicing lawyer in 1998. He has been teaching since 1981 and still isn't tired! He has taught philosophy for more than 13 years in the Evergreen Valley College/San Jose City College Community College District and has earned Seniority Rehire Preference here. He has taught courses in philosophy and some other departments for more than 7 years (more than 45 courses since 1989) at San Jose State University. He has taught more than 65 courses, mainly in philosophy and sociology, at University of Phoenix since 1998 (including online and onground) and has also taught at the following: Cornell University; Cornell Law School; Foothill College, San Jose City College; Evergreen Valley College; West Valley Community College; Chabot College; Hobart & William Smith Colleges; Illinois State University; and Masters Institute of Technology. Dr. Harwood is married to a vivacious Vietnamese-American lady named Tina Le Harwood, who is a Assistant Vice President at Wells Fargo Bank. They have two delightful daughters ages 8 and 6, Heather Harwood and Holly Harwood, respectively. The Harwood family is also proud to include a German shepherd named Panther and a beagle named Tobey. The Harwood family lives in San Jose, CA, where EVC is located.

8. REQUIRED TEXTBOOK

Edward Craig, Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford University Press, 2002). www.amazon.com has had this book for sale for about $9.95 new and about $5 used. We will supplement this book with free readings from The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, which I put a link to at the end of my www.sterlingharwood.com, and which you can find at: http://plato.stanford.edu/

9. COURSE ASSIGNMENTS:
1. Class Participation; attendance & speaking; every class = 15%
2. Term Paper; ABC format; approved topic; due @ our final exam = 45%
3. True/False Tests, Exams & Quizzes, all extra credit; almost every class = 40%
Note: since the term paper is worth 45%, a failing grade on the term paper means a failing grade for the course (the remaining 55% is insufficient to get the minimum of 60% to earn at least a D). I cannot remember any student ever failing a class of mine after the student submitted a term paper that qualifies to get a grade (submitted on time, on an approved paper topic, etc.).

10. GRADING CRITERIA: Any missed time in class (for example, arriving late to class at the start, arriving late to class after a break, or leaving early before the start of the quiz or exam at the end of every class) reduces your class participation grade to the extent that you miss class time. Further, good class participation raises borderline grades, which are common. Perfect attendance will still get a class participation grade of only C- if you never speak in class. Perfect attendance with only 1 unexcused absence will get a class participation grade of D+ if you never speak in class. Perfect attendance with only 2 unexcused absences will get a class participation grade of D if you never speak in class. Perfect attendance except for less than 3 hours of unexcused absences gets a grade of D+ if you never speak in class. Perfect attendance except for only 3 hours of unexcused absences will get a class participation grade of D if you never speak in class. Perfect attendance with more than 3 hours of unexcused absences will get a class participation grade of D- if you never speak in class. If you speak in class, then I will use my judgment about the quality and quantity of your speaking to help you make up for unexcused absences in your class participation grade and to raise your class participation grade generally. (Obviously, I will make reasonable accommodations for disabilities and so you may communicate in class in another way if you are physically unable to speak.) The more you speak in class, following my classroom management rules, the higher your class participation grade will be. Arriving late or leaving early lower your class participation grade in accordance to how much classtime you miss without excuse. You have the option to earn an A on class participation if you give a class presentation of 3 ABC sets on one of the approved paper topics. See my 26 guidelines A-Z on www.sterlingharwood.com for more info on how I grade your papers. These guidelines are to be read within the context of any applicable Faculty Handbook guidelines for grading and are meant to be a supplement to them to give you more specifics and help.

Requirements for an Incomplete: The student must have the excuse of an unavoidable circumstance preventing completion of the course on time, and the student must use my voicemail or email to notify me of this circumstance on the earliest possible day. Only I will make the initial determination on what circumstances were/are unavoidable. Students may appeal to our Dean, if necessary.

11. MAKE-UP POLICY: I allow some students to make up missed exams by answering extra questions at the final exam, but only if those students have written an alleged excuse for missing those exams and submitted that writing to me more than 24 hours before the start of the final exam. Further, you may make up work only if the excuse of an unavoidable circumstance prevents you from submitting your work on time and you use my voicemail or email to notify me of the unavoidable circumstance on the earliest possible day. Only I make the initial determination on what circumstances were/are unavoidable. Students may appeal to our Dean, if necessary. Papers submitted late without excuse mean that the student cannot receive a grade of A in our course, but it is generally better to submit the paper late than never to submit it. Papers submitted late by more than 24 hours without excuse mean the student cannot receive a grade higher than C in our course. Papers submitted more than 48 hours late without excuse mean the student cannot receive a grade higher than D in our course. Papers submitted without excuse after grades are due to be submitted to admissions and records cannot count at all toward your grade.

12. GRADING SCALE: I use letter grades on a 0 (F) to 4.0 (A) scale on papers and I use points for tests (quizzes or exams). Convert points on tests into letter grades as follows: 0-59% = F; 60-62% = D-; 63-66% = D; 67-69% = D+; 70-72% = C-; 73-76% = C; 77-79% = C+; 80-82% = B-; 83-86% = B; 87-89% = B+; 90-92% = A-; 93-100% = A. EVC does not allow grades of A+, but I informally keep track of them, so that I can use them only in writing a letter of recommendation for you if you receive a course grade of A and ask me to write one for you. I hope everyone earns an A. I do not grade on a curve where students compete with each other for spaces along the curve. Everyone can earn an A. Another student earning an A does not make it any less likely that you will earn an A. We have cooperation not cutthroat competition in this course, but of course you may not cheat or plagiarize. I plan to give a failing grade for the course to any student I catch committing plagiarism. Here is the basic policy on honesty.

13. COLLEGE HONESTY POLICY: The College and I expect students to write their own papers and to avoid copying from another student or author (which is plagiarism). Consequences of such actions will lead to a reduction of your course grade to F for the class, suspension from the class, and may lead to expulsion from the college. Violations of standards include but are not limited to the following: altering grades; altering or forging college documents, records or identification; copying from someone's test or allowing someone to copy your test; copying from an author's work without giving credit (plagiarism; and Dr. Harwood adds that changing a few words here and there does not prevent plagiarism); doing an assignment (for example, a term paper or essay) for another student or asking, paying, bribing, or blackmailing someone to do an assignment for you; sitting in for someone in class or on a test or having someone sit in class for you if not authorized by the instructor; submitting work previously presented in another class ifnot authorized by the instructor; during an exam, using or consulting other test or course material not authorized by the instructor; possession of an examination or materials not authorized by the instructor. Consequences may include one or more of the following actions by appropriate college officials: receiving a failing grade on the test, paper or exam; course grade lowered, possibly resulting in course failure (and Dr. Harwood adds that he will fail for the course any student caught cheating or plagiarizing); verbal or written reprimand/warning; suspension for a longer specified time; expulsion from college.

14. ATTENDANCE POLICY: "Students are expected to maintain regular and prompt attendance in all classes. Instructors shall maintain a record of students' attendance in class." VI. Instruction Policies 6070.1 12/19/89. Similar policies apply to all colleges and universities where I teach. See your counselor for details.

15. WITHDRAWAL/DROP POLICY: It is the ultimate responsibility of the student to formally drop the class. You should not rely on the instructor to drop you froma class for non-attendance. At EVC, you may drop by telephone using the STAR system (223-0300) or by completing the proper forms in the Office of Admissions and Records. To be eligible for a refund of fees and/or prevent a recording grade of 'F' or 'W,' you must drop the class on or before posted date. Similar policies are in effect @ FH. See your counselor or admissions and records for important details.

16. GENERAL EDUCATION LEARNING OUTCOMES: These apply mainly to EVC but FH has somewhat similar outcomes. General eduction is the college's commitment to provide students with a broad set of knowledge and skills that will help each student in their process of becoming a well-rounded healthy person equipped to participate wisely in the health of our community. It requires a carefully selected set of courses and activities on the part of the college and active reflection on the part of the student. This course participates in the general eduction process by including the following Gerneral Education Outcomes: improving the student's experience and abilities in the areas listed below. These outcomes contribute to the General Education areas of emphasis stated in the accreditation standards and District General Education Philosophy (pending) checked below:
1. civic responsibility (local, national, global); civility; computer literacy; critical analysis/logical thinking; cultural diversity; ethical principles; historical sensitivity; information competency; oral communication including speaking and listening; political involvement (local, national, global); social responsibility (local, national, global); teamwork (ability to work and solve problems as a team); written communication.

17. COURSE DESCRIPTION & OVERVIEW: The course catalog says: “Introductory survey of basic principles and concerns of philosophy and of philosophical questions. Examines selected concepts concerned with the meaning and nature of reality, knowledge, morals, religion, aesthetics and issues of social and political concern.” We will learn much introductory knowledge about philosophy generally and the following in particular: 1) social and political philosophy, including just war theory and alleged justifications of violence; 2) philosophy of religion; 3) ethics and moral philosophy; 4) epistemology; 5) ontology and metaphysics; 6) logic and critical reasoning; 7) legal philosophy; 8) rationalism versus empiricism; 9) theism versus atheism; 10) realism versus antirealism; 11) materialism versus idealism versus dualism; 12) philosophy of art and aesthetics. For a list of questions we plan to consider, see the list of term paper topics in this syllabus. We will learn 32 fallacies, errors in reasoning, to avoid. We will learn the definitions and applications of soundness, validity, strength, and truth in evaluating arguments as reliable or unreliable guides to the truth of their respective conclusions. We will study probability, including how it is applied to gambling and other games of chance. When engaged in moral and political philosophy, we will examine and apply 5 sets of moral principles – egalitarianism, libertarianism, utilitarianism, perfectionism (also known as virtue ethics) and prima facie principles – to a wide variety of topics, including the current war in Iraq, the current war in Afghanistan, the current war against terrorism, abortion, surrogate motherhood, cloning humans, human stem cell research, gun control, euthanasia (also known as mercy killing), gay marriage, affirmative action, capitalism, socialism, globalization, NAFTA, nuclear power, global warming, acid rain, endangered species, pollution, and much more.

18. FORTY-TWO APPROVED PAPER TOPICS FROM WHICH YOU CHOOSE ONLY 1: Approved topics for your paper are announced below, but all papers must be done in the ABC format exemplified imperfectly but usefully in sample papers on reserve in EVC library, explained in class and on www.sterlingharwood.com . Approved topics: You must compare a minimum of 6 quotations about ethics from any published and named writer(s) who try to give arguments or answers to the questions below. If you wish to use an anonymous quotation, then you must get Dr. Harwood’s written permission in advance. There is no maximum number of quotations or minimum or maximum requirements for the length of your paper. I hereby approve the following paper (and presentation) topics:
1) Pick any two thinkers listed in the index of the textbook listed above – or that you get Dr. Harwood to approve in writing in advance of your work on your paper – and argue that one of the two has a position on a philosophical issue that is more defensible than the other.
2) Based on the 5 moral principles on www.sterlingharwood.com (which are also in Ch.4 of this book on reserve in our campus library: Sterling Harwood, Business as Ethical and Business as Usual), has America’s current war in Iraq been moral?;
3) Does human nature exist and, if it does, is it primarily good, primarily evil or primarily a mixed bag, and is it more fixed than flexible or more flexible than fixed?
4) Based on the 5 moral principles on www.sterlingharwood.com has America's current war on terrorism been moral?
5) Based on the 5 moral principles on www.sterlingharwood.com, should prostitution be legalized, as it is in some counties of Nevada?;
6) Based on the 5 moral principles on www.sterlingharwood.com, should pornographic films and books be legal?;
7) Does God exist (that is, which is closer to the truth, atheism or theism)?
8) Is causal determinism compatible with human freedom and moral responsibility and, if so, how?
9) Which is closer to the truth, empiricism or rationalism?
10) Is moral relativism true?
11) Is relativism about all human knowledge true?
12) Is moral skepticism true?
13) Is skepticism about all human knowledge true?
14) Which is closer to the truth, materialism, dualism or idealism?
15) Based on the 5 moral principles on www.sterlingharwood.com, is comparable worth moral?;
16) Based on the 5 moral principles on www.sterlingharwood.com, is feminism moral?;
17) Based on the 5 moral principles on www.sterlingharwood.com, is capitalism more moral than socialism?;
18) Based on the 5 moral principles on www.sterlingharwood.com, is Rush Limbaugh right about environmentalism?;
19) Based on the 5 moral principles on www.sterlingharwood.com, what currently illegal drugs (if any) should the government legalize and under what circumstances?;
20) Based on facts and logic generally, is moral relativism more justified than moral realism?;
21) Based on the 5 moral principles on www.sterlingharwood.com, is more gun control than we already have morally required?;
22) Based on the 5 moral principles on www.sterlingharwood.com, is cloning of humans moral?;
23) Based on the 5 moral principles on www.sterlingharwood.com, is capital punishment (also known as the death penalty or execution) moral?
25) Which is closer to the truth, Darwinism, creationism or Intelligent Design Theory?
26) What’s the most logical explanation of the evidence for extraterrestrial UFOs, and what would be the greatest significance philosophically of discovering the existence of alien life from other planets?
27) Addressing some philosophical issues of social or political concern, and using the assassination of President Kennedy as a test case to apply logical principles of weighing evidence and evaluating argument, what’s the most logical explanation of President Kennedy’s death (including whether there was a conspiracy and whether Oswald was guilty as charged)?
28) Addressing some philosophical issues of social or political concern, and using the death of Princess Diana as a test case to apply logical principles of weighing evidence and evaluating argument, what’s the most logical explanation of Princess Diana’s death, which is still under official government investigation 8 years after she died (including whether there was a conspiracy to kill her).
29) Based on the 5 moral principles on sterlingharwood.com, is abortion moral?;
30) Based on the 5 moral principles on sterlingharwood.com, is any form of affirmative action moral?;
31) Based on the 5 moral principles on sterlingharwood.com, is surrogate motherhood immoral?;
32) Based on the 5 moral principles on www.sterlingharwood.com, is euthanasia (mercy killing) moral?;
33) Based on the 5 moral principles on www.sterlingharwood.com, is gay marriage moral?;
34) Based on the 5 moral principles on www.sterlingharwood.com, is gay adoption moral?;
35) Is existentialism defensible?
36) Is phenomenology defensible?
37) Based on the 5 moral principles on www.sterlingharwood.com, is stem cell research moral?;
38) Based on the 5 moral principles on www.sterlingharwood.com, is allowing gays in the military moral?;
39) Is astrology logical?
40) Which of the theories in philosophy of art discussed on www.sterlingharwood.com is most defensible?
41) Based on the 5 moral principles on www.sterlingharwood.com, is America's current war in Afghanistan been moral?
42) What is the meaning of life?

19. IMPORTANT NOTE: One of the biggest mistakes students make in this class is writing on one of the topics above and failing to include any of the 5 moral principles. That mistake means you wrote on an unapproved topic and can get no credit for your paper. The same is true if you fail to put your paper into the required ABC format. If you want another topic approved, besides the topics approved above, see me to try to get approval before you begin writing, but all topics approved require discussing as many of the 5 moral principles as possible in your C sections of the ABC format. Sample papers in ABC format will be available for you to read in EVC Library. No assignment has any minimum or maximum length, but you must evaluate (using our ABC format) at least 6 -- and preferably as many more than 6 as you can -- quotations in the final version of your paper. I expect all students to do their best and to enjoy the course. Enjoy your work enough to take the time to think well about it, re-read it and proofread it carefully. See guideline R of guidelines A-Z on www.sterlingharwood.com . All written work must be typed (or word-processed) double-spaced with 1" margins on all 4 sides of regular (no onion skin) white 8 1/2" x 11" paper. This means that each page should have about 10 words per line and 25 lines per page (for a total of about 255 words per page maximum). Each page of your papers, except perhaps your last page, MUST have a minimum of about 245 words following the margins described above. I expect everyone to cooperate well in his or her learning team when we break into learning teams in class. I expect us to think critically and thus be logical and reasonable throughout the course. This obviously includes treating each other with patience and fairness.

20. SAVE YOUR WORK: I require that you save copies of all work you submit for a grade, and keep these copies for at least one year after you receive your grade for the course. Failure to save your work for one year means that you may lose any appeal of your grade for the paper and for the course. I require a copy of your paper, and all or almost all other graded work, to consider any appeal of your grade for the course. Protecting privacy prevents production of information about grades of any particular student by email, fax or phone. I already announced this policy in our syllabus and repeatedly announced this policy in our class. If you wish to discuss your grade, then you need to make an appointment to meet me and bring your student photo ID to our meeting. If a student has a problem, the problem is usually that 1) I never received a paper or 2) never received a paper on time or 3) I never received a paper in the proper format (for example, ABC format and with moral principles for papers on topics in moral philosophy such as, for example, affirmative action, euthanasia, capital punishment, abortion, gun control, surrogate motherhood, gay marriage, and cloning). So if – repeat if – your problem is that you think I lack your paper, then feel free to fax, mail or email -- no attachments accepted -- me your paper and ask me to update your grade in person by appointment, if possible. I require that you report to me any work you fail to receive back without a grade by the next class after the class in which you allegedly submitted the missing work. You must get a signed receipt from me during that next class or else your report of missing work you submitted will be rejected as untimely and you risk losing credit for doing that work and being ineligible to redo that work if it remains missing. This applies to index cards submitted for a grade (extra credit or otherwise) and all other graded work. This new rule is in response to a student last semester who claimed in an untimely way that he submitted some index cards and never received them back. I have doubts about whether the student ever submitted the supposedly missing work on time, since no one else reported such missing work and it seems highly unlikely that his work alone would disappear class after class while others’ work failed to disappear. If you experience a disappearing index card (submitted but never returned), then I require you to make a backup photocopy (or handwritten copy) of all future index cards submitted. You must get a signed receipt from me for the final exam, any submission of any version of your term paper, and any quiz, exam or test worth more than 12 points. Failure to get that signed receipt means that if the work disappears, then I may decide to give you no credit for it and may refuse to allow you to make it up.

21. CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT RULES INCLUDE:

A. No blurting = raise your hand and patiently wait for Dr. Harwood to call on you before speaking. I certainly plan promptly to call on everyone who raises his or her hand.
B. No murmuring = avoid side-conversations that are loud enough for Dr. Harwood to hear. Dr. Harwood has excellent hearing, so he recommends that you pass notes back and forth in a non-distracting way rather than murmur. Murmuring tends to distract you from what Dr. Harwood is saying and tends to distract other students and sometimes even risks distracting Dr. Harwood. Stay focused on the class presentation, take detailed notes (especially since all tests are open note), and face the front of the class.
C. No lumbering = stay in your seat during class, unless you need to leave the room to take a bathroom break of course. Obviously there's no need to ask permission to leave the room; just do so as quietly as you can.
D. No consuming of or engaging in outside material during class = for example, no quilting, no reading of newspapers or magazines that I haven't assigned, and no listening to headphones.
E. No impatience = patiently listen to and follow Dr. Harwood's directions, instructions, and announcements. Patience is indeed a virtue (and a key to happiness). If you have a question about instructions, then wait until the next break or after class to discuss it unless you raise your hand during or right after Dr. Harwood gives the instructions in class.
F. Bring several blank 5” x 8” index cards (lined or unlined doesn’t matter; color doesn’t matter) and at least 2 blank Scantron 882 forms to every class, starting with our second class. Do not try to use any differently sized index card or any other form instead of those specified above. Index cards must be of commercial quality and not homemade cards. 5” x 8” cards are generally available @ the campus store, Long’s Drugs, Office Depot, Office Max, Staples, etc.

22. THE BOTTOM LINE: BIGGEST MISTAKES STUDENTS MAKE IN THIS COURSE =

Tied for 1st. Failing to read carefully the instructions in this syllabus, and failing to get the required receipt for submitting your term paper, which means that if someone takes your paper from my inbox or your paper is otherwise misplaced that you will get no credit for submitting it. So get a hardcopy receipt from me when you submit your hardcopy or submit your paper by email early enough to get a receipt from me by return email. I require getting a signed receipt (or email receipt from my aol address) from me for submitting the paper; that’s the only evidence for submitting the paper that counts if I do not have your paper for whatever reason. We will not have a mini-trial or other proceding where you try to bring witnesses or any other evidence instead of the receipt, which is required.

Tied for 1st. Writing a paper on an unapproved paper topic. This will lead to an F in the course unless you correct this problem with another term paper on an approved paper topic (and meeting all other requirements) by the deadline of the end of the final exam.

Tied for 1st. Failing to use ABC format for the term paper (and any oral presentation). You will fail the course if you fail to submit a term paper in ABC format by the end of the final exam.

Tied for 1st. Failing to include any of the 5 moral principles on www.sterlingharwood.com when doing assignments on a topic that includes the words “Based on the 5 moral principles.” You will fail the course if you submit such a paper by the end of the final exam.

6. Failing to ask me questions in a timely way after reading this syllabus and the FAQs on www.sterlingharwood.com. The syllabus and this top 12 list and the table of contents to www.sterlingharwood.com are great to try to find the answers even faster and better than I can give them to you off the top of my head (relying on memory is imperfect; written rules are best).
7. Missing time in class (absences, late arrivals, early exits that are not earned).
8. Failing to put a grid on all graded work. The grid = draw a cross & put as follows: upper left = name of student; upper right “PHIL 60” or “PHIL 1”; lower left = description of the work submitted; lower right = date submitted into my in-box (not the date you did the work or the date it was due if you are submitting it late; late work must say how many days late it is to get any credit at all; the later it is, the less credit you will receive but it’s always better late than never until the final deadline at the final exam, which will be during our last class).
9. Combining more than one paper (or presentation) topic in the same assignment.
10. Failing to read the sample paper on www.sterlingharwood.com and on reserve in the library. Note: on www.sterlingharwood.com, ‘FAQ’ = frequently asked question.
11. Failing to follow guidelines A & U by using a title and headings, respectively, as signposts to guide the readers of their papers and presentations.
12. Failing to follow guideline A by failing to make the title of their paper or presentation a claim that indicates an approved paper topic and the student’s stand on that topic.
13. Failing to save the aol website as a word file & failing to use the Control + F search and the table of contents in FAQ2 to search the website
14. Failing to realize that www.sterlingharwood.com clearly states that students may of course use the quotes I posted on www.sterlingharwood.com in the A sections of their papers & presentations in ABC format
15. Failure to take good notes, since all our tests, quizzes, and exams are open note (and open book).

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FAQ3: What's my grade?

Here are the codenames and grades for them. To learn the codename that Dr. Harwood has assigned to you, simply see him and show him your authentic photo ID.

Codes & Grades

To read your extra credit and attendance, note that the letters refer to the months and the numbers after the letters refer to the date of the month on which the assignment was submitted and the points earned. '/' indicates a quiz, test, or exam was involved (I use those 3 terms interchangeably). The number before the '/' (which is called a virgule or slash) is the number of questions you answered correctly on the exam, and the number after the '/' is the number of questions on the exam in question. Note the following examples as a key to translation: '1j30' means 1 extra credit point earned on January 30th; '1/1f2' means you answered 1 of 1 question right on Feb. 2; '27/30m31' means you answered 27 of 30 questions right on march 31; '2/3may1' means you answered 2 of 3 questions right on may 1; ‘2S19’ means 2 extra credit points received on Sept. 19, ‘1S27’ means 1 extra credit point received on Sept. 27, ‘3O6’ means 3 points received on Oct., ‘4D1’ means 4 points received on December 1, 2006, ‘0S27’ means attended on September 27, 2006; ‘0O18’ means attended on October 18, 2006, etc. Call me @ 408-259-7777, email me or ask me in class if you need help in understanding these abbreviations or anything else on the website or in the course. Note: perhaps not all the cards graded and returned to you have been entered into my computer yet (I sometmes have handwritten notes), but if you want to speed this process or double check by showing me your graded cards that fail to appear below, then just see me after class or perhaps during a video or other class exercise in class. If your codename is not listed below, then you will need to fill out another code card before I can post your grades.

Here are the grades:

PHIL 10; Section 204: Reg ID 46123; Tu/Th 1045am-1210pm; Introduction to Philosophy

‘cp+’ = good class participation; ‘cp-‘ = poor class participation; ‘0s11’ means, for example, attended on Sept. 11; ‘3o2’ means, for example, 3 extra credit points earned on Oct. 21; ‘1/1n4’ means, for example, 1 of 1 quiz question answered correctly on Nov. 4

USA 488; 3s2; 3s23; 3s4; 3s11; 1/1s16; s9; 2/2s30; 2s30; 4s30; 3S18; 5/8S18; 2/2S9; 3S11; 17/19O2; 9/9O9; 7/7O16; 15/15O23; 3O21; 9/9O21; 3N4; 2/2N4; 2O29; 4/4O29; 6/6O2;
UAE 822; 0s9; 0s23; 2/2s9; LEFT CLASS BEFORE 1125AM S18; 3S18(SEE ME/GRID); 11/17O2; 4S30;
Russia 090; 1s2; cp- many absences
Mexico 555; s9; 2s23; 12/15A23; 4/4A23;
Brazil 277; 3S2; 3S4; cp+s4; 0S23; 0/1S16; 2/2S9; 2/2S30; 4/6O7; 5/9O9; 1/1O14; 7/7O16; 3O23; 15/15O23; 4/4O30; 3N4; 2/2N4; 3O9(MD; SEE ME/GRID); 3O14; 6O30; 5S30;
Venezuela 182; 3S2; 3S4; OS11; 0S16; 2/2S9; 3O14; 0/1O14; 0/2S30; 6S30; 2/6O7; 7/7O15; 10/15O23; 7/9O21; 2O30; 3/4O30; 3N4; 1/2N4; 3S18; 5/8S18; 3O23; 3O21; 10/17O2;
Peru 723; 3s2; 3s4; 0s9; cp-1140s18; 0s23; 0/1s16; 1/2S30; 2O23; 15/15O23; 4O30; 4/4O30; 15/19O2; 3O9; 9/9O9; 7/7O16; 1/2S9; 6/6O7; 1/1O14; 3O14;
Chile 672; 3s2; 3s2; 0s11; s23; s16;
Uruguay 769; 3s2; 2/2s9; 0s11; 0s9; 0s16; 0s23; 3s11; 2/2s30; 3O9; 7/9O9; 3o14; 1/1o14; 15/15O23; 8/9O21; 5O30; 3/4O30; 3N4; 2/2N4; 1/1S16; 3O23; 3o21; 13/17O2; 3S4;
Paraguay 728; 3s2; 3s4; 2/2s9; 3s18; 0/1s16(mds15); 3s11; s23; s9; 6s30; 2/2s30; 15/19O2; 5/6O7; 1/1O14; 15/15O23; 9/9O21; 3N4; 3O14; 3O23; 3O21;
Siam 892; 3s2; 3s23; 3s4; 0s18; 0s11; 0/1s16; s9(mds10); 6/6O7; 8/9O9; 1/1O14; 7/7O16; 14/15O23; 9/9O21; 4/4O30; 1/2N4; 3N4; 3O18; 6/8O18; 3O23; 3O9; 3O14; 4O21; 6O30; 17/17O2;
Formosa 920; 3s2; 0s4; 0/1s16; 0s23; 0s9; 3s11; left before 1125 s18; 3s18; 4/6O7; 6/9O9; 1/1O14; 2O23; 15/15O23; 0/4O30; 3N4; 2/2N4; 3O30; 3O7; 2O23; 3O21; 10/17O2; 3S30; 3S4;
Germany 920; 3s2; 3s4; 3s2; 2/2s9; 3s11; 0s23; 0s16; 0s9; 3s16; 7/8s18; 5s30; 3o14; 1/1o14; 2/2s30; 3S10; 5/6O7; 3O9; 9/9O9; 7/7O10; 4/4O30; 6O30; 3O23; 14/15O23; 3O21; 9/9O21; 3N4; 1/2N4; 16/17O2;
East Germany 879; 3s2; 1/2s9; 3s23; 3s4; 3s18; 3s11; 1/1s16; 0s9; 8/8s18; 2s30; 4s30; 4/9O9; 5/7O16; 7/15O23; 0/4O30; 2N4; 1/2O4; 1/1O14; 3O30; 3O18; 2O14; 3O21;
Zaire 270; 3s2; 1s23; 3s4; 3s18; s11; 0/1s16; 2/2s9; 3s11; 6s30; 3o14; 0/1o14; 1/2s30; 7/7O16; 1O23; 8/15O23; 4/9O21; 1/2N4; 6/16O2;
Belgium 190; 3S2; 0S18; 3S4; 0S11; 0S23; 1/1S16; 0S9; 3S11; 2/2s30; 15/19O2; 1O9; 7/8O9; 3S16; 1/1O14; 14/15O23; 1O21; 7/9O21; 3/4O30; 2N4; 1/2N4; 6/8S18; 1O21; 3O30;
Bahamas 483; 3s2; 2/2s9; 1s23; 0s9; 0s18; 2/2s30; 6/6O7; 9/9O9; 17/19O2; 1/1O14; 7/7O16; 15/15O23; 9/9O21; 4/4O30; 3N4; 2/2N4; 0/1S16; 6O30; 3S11; 3O23; 3o21; 3O14; 3O9; 3S18; 7/8S18;
Bermuda 233; redo grid on 2s2; 0s11; 0/1s16; 0s18; 3s11; off census; dropped; 2O9; 4/9O9; 2/2S30; 3S30;
Spain 782; 3s2; 0s18; 0/1s16(md:s6); 0s23; 0s9; 4/4O30; 5O30; 15/15O23; 9/9O21; 3N4; 2/2N4; 2O14; 1/1O14; 3s4; 0s11; 2/2S30; 3O21; 17/17O2; 3S18; 5/8S18; 2O9; 9/9O9; 7/7O16; 5S30; 6/6O7;
Portugal 854; 3s2; 3s23; 3s4; 0s18; 0s11; 2/2s9; cp+s9; 1/1s16; 3s18; 6/8s18; 15/15O23; 3N4; 2/2N4; 5/8O16; 5/9O21; 3O21; 3O23; 3O30; 5/5O30; 3O30; 2/6O7; 3O9; 8/9O9; 6S30; 2/2S30;
England 928; 3s2; 3s4; 0/1s16(md15); 0s11; 3s18; 6s30; 15/19O2; 6/6O7; 3O9; 9/9O9; 3O14; 1/1O14; 3O23; 15/15O23; 6O30; 3/4O30; 3s11; 2/2S30;
Britain 009; redo grid on 3s2; 3s4; 0/1s16; 0s9; 0s11; 0s23; 3o9; 2/2s9; 12/17O2; 3O14; 1/1O14; 12/17O2; 3S18; LEFT BEFORE 1125AM S18; 4/6O7; 6/9O9; 3O9; 15/15O23; 3/4O30; 3N4; 2/2N4; 3O23; 3O21; 4/4O21; 3O30; 3S30;
Great Britain 138; 1s4; 0s16; off Census Roster; dropped
Iceland 276; 3s2; 2/2s9; 0s23; 3s4; 3s18; 0/1s16; 3s11; 3o23; 12/14o23; 6/9O9; 4O14; 1/1O14; 3/4O30; 3N4; 2/2N4; 6/8S18; 3O9; 6O30; 10/17O2;
Denmark 329; off census ROSTER; dropped
China 492; redo grid on 3s2; 3s4; 0s23; 2/2s30; 3N4; 3O30; 3S18; LEFT CLASS BEFORE 1125AM S18; 3S11; 3o21;
India 574; 0s23; 2s4; 0s11; 0/2s9; 0/1s16; 2s30; 4s30; 6/6O7; 2s11; 8/9O9; 16/19O2; 4/8S18; 3S18;
Burma 827; 3s2; 2/2s9; 0s18; 0s11; 0s16; 0s23; 3s11; 5/6O7; 3O9; 3O21; 7/9O21; 3N4; 2/2N4; 1/1S16; 2S23; 3S18; LEFT CLASS BEFORE 1125AM S18; 9/9S10; 3S18; 4/8S18; 2/2S30; 14/17O2; 5S30;
Myanmar 683; 3s2; 2/2s9; 2s18; 3s23; 0/1s16; 9/9O9; 15/19O2; 7/7O16; 11/15O23;
Bangladesh 578; 3s2; 2/2s9; 1/1s16; 0s23; 2/2S30; 2s30; 6/6O7; 7/7O16; 14/15O23; 1/2N4; 2N4; 3O23; 12/17O2;
Pakistan 728; 3S2; 0S9; 0S23; 0/1S16; 0S11; 5S30; 2/2S9; 3S18; LEFT BEFORE 1125AM ON S18; 3O30; 2/2S30; 3O9; 6/9O9; 5/7O16; 3/4O30; 3N4; 2/2N4; 3O20; 3O30; 1/1O14; 3/3O14; 12/17O2;
Nepal 289; 3s2; off Census Roster; dropped
France 678; 3s2; 0s17; 1/2s9; 3s4; 0s18; 0s16; 3s11; 0s23; 6/6O7; 3O9; 8/9O9; 3o14; 1/1o14; 14/15O23; 3O23; 4O21; 9/9O21; 6O30; 4/4O30; 4/4O30; 2/2N4; 3N4; 1/2N4; 3S18; 7/8S18; 0/1S16; 17/17O2; 2/2S30;
Italy 099; 3S2; 2/2S9; 3S4; 0S11; 0S23; 1/1S16; 6S30; 2/2S30; 11/19O2; 5/9O7; 3O9; 7/9O9; 1/1O14; 6/7O16; 13/15O23; 2O21; 9/9O21; 6O30; 3/4O30; 3N4; 1/2N4; 5/8S18; 3S18; 3O23; 3O14; 6O30;
Somalia 878; 3S2; 3S4; 3S23; 3S18; 2/2S9; 5S30; 3S11; 7/7O16; 2/2S30; 6/8S18; 3O9; 9/9O9; 3S18; 13/15O23; 9/9O21; 3N4; 2/2N4; 3O21; 2O23; 3O30; 3O30; 3/4O30; 5/6O9; 13/17O2; 3O14; 1/1O14;
Ethiopia 552; redo grid for 1s2; 2/2s9; 0s18; 0s23; 1/1s16(mds18); 0s11; 3s11; 1s23; 3o14; 1/1o14; 6s30; 2/2S30; 14/19O2; 3O9; 9/9O9; 7/7O16; 2O23; 15/15O23; 2O21; 8/9O21; 6O30; 3/4O30; 3N4; 2/2N4; 2S18; 8/8S18;
Monaco 343; 3s2; 3s4; 0s18; 0s11; 0s23; 0s16; 1/2s9; 3s11; 2O9; 13/17O2; 8/9O9; 6O30; 4/4O30; 7/7O16; 3O23; 12/15O23; 3O21; 8/9O21; 3N4; 2/2N4; 6/8S18; 1/1S16; 3S23; 5/6O7; 6S30;
Algeria 698; 3s2; 2s4; 3s18; cp-left 1147s18; 0s16; 0s9; 2o9; 0/1O14; 7/7O16; 6/9O21; 0/1S16; 1O14; 6/9O9; 13/19O2; 1/2S30;
Libya 826 (had been Lybia 826); 3s2; 3s4; 0s18; 0s11; 0s8; 0s16; 0s9; 3s11; 4/4O30; 3O30; 3S18; 3/8S18; 2/2S9; 5/6O7; 3O21; 9/9O21; 7/7O16; 2O9; 8/9O9; 2/2N4; 3N4;
Iraq 557; 3s2; 3s4; 2/2s9; 0s11; 1/1s16; 0s9; 3s11; 3o14; 1/1o14; 2/2s30; 6/6O7; 3O9; 9/9O9; 17/19O2; 7/7O16; 3O23; 15/15O23; 3O21; 9/9O21; 6O30; 4/4O30; 3N4; 1/2N4; 6/8S18; 4S30;
Saudi Arabia 927; 3s2; 0s23; Os9; 3s4; Os16; 2/2s9;
Kuwait 274; 3s2; 3s4; Os4; Os16; Os23; 3s11; 3O9; 7/9O9; 3O23; 9/15O23; 9/9O21; 6O30; 3/4O30; 3N4; 2/2N4; 3o21; 2/2S30; 13/16O2;
South Africa 346; 3S2; 3S4; 0S18; 0S11; 0S23; 1/1S16; 2/2s8; 2/2S30; 6/6O7; 9/9O9; 15/15O23; 9/9O21; 4/4O30; 2/2N4; 3O23; 3O21; 6O30; 2S18; 6/8S18; 7/7O16; 5S30; 15/19O2;
North Korea 782; 3s2; 3s11; 1/1s16; 3s18; 7/8s18; 6/9O9; 8/17O2; 0/1O14; 5/9O21; 2/2N4; 3N4; 3O14; 3O18; 5/9O21;
South Korea 278; 3s2; 1/2s10; 2s23; 3s4; 0/1s16; 0s11; cp+s10; 5s30; 2/2s30; 16/17O2; 5/6O7; 3O9; 9/9O9; 3O14; 1/1O14; 7/7O16; 3O21; 9/9O21; 4/4O30; 6O30; 3N4; 2/2N4; 2S10; 6O30;
North Yemen 289; 3s2; 2/2s9; 3s4; s11; 0/1s16; 3s11;
South Yemen 289; 3s2; 3s4; 0s18; 0s11; 1/1s16; 0s23; 1/1O14; 1O23; 15/15O23; 9/9O21; 2O30; 3O14; 3O21; 16/17O2; 2O9; 8/9O9; 7/7O16; 2/2S9; S530; 2/2S30; 6/6O7;
North Vietnam 728; 3s2; 2/2s9; 0/1s16; 3s18; 9/9O9; 15/19O2; 7/7O16; 11/15O23;
South Vietnam 256; 3s2; 3s4; 2/2s8; 7/7s16; 0/1s16; 0s23; 0s8; 3S9; 6/9S9; 2/2s30; 11/19O12; 14/15O23; 3O21; 9/9O21; 4/4O30; 3N4; 1/2N4; 5/6S9; 6O29(MD?); 3O23; 3S18; 5/8S18; 5S30;
Australia 178; 3s2; 3s4; 2/2S9; cp-:many absences;
Austria 778; 1s2; 3s4; 3O9; 7/9O9; 3O23; 12/15O23; 3S30;
Hungary 289; 3s2; 2/2s9; 0S16; 0S23; 1/1O14; 3O14; 6O30; 3/4O30; 3O21; 9/9O21; 2/2S30; 14/19O2; 3O9; 6/9O9; 15/15O23; 2/2N4; 3N4; 3S4; 3O23;
Yugoslavia 277; 3S2; 1/2S9; 0S16; 3S11; 3O14; 1/1O14; 15/15O23; 9/9O21; 10/11O28; 3/4O30; 3N4; 2/2N4; 3O28; 3O23; 3O21; 6O30; 14/17O2; 3O8; 9/9O8;
The Czech Republic 658; 1s2; 1/1s16; 2/2s9; 0s9; 3s4;
Czechoslovakia 277; redo grid on 1s2; off Census Roster; dropped
Serbia 344; 3s2; 1s4; cp-left 1147s18; 2s18; s16; s9; 0/2s30; 2o9; 11/19O2; 0/1O14; 9/9O21; 1O14; 7/7O16; 8/9O9;
Tanzania 284; 3s4; 1/1s16; 2/2s9; 3s18; 2/3s18; 5/6O7;
Sudan 746; 3s2; 3s4; 0/1s16; 2/2s9; 2/2s30; left before 1125am S18; 3s18; 3/4O30; 1/2BN4; 2/2N4; 3N4; 3O30;
Chad 113; 3s2; 2/2s9; 3s4; 0s23; 0/1s16; 3s11; 2/2s30; 6S30;
Congo 789; 3s2; 3s4; 0s11; 0/1s16; 2/2s9; 3s11; 1O9; 3/9O9; 3S18; LEFT BEFORE 1125AM S18; 3/6O7; 1/2S30; 5/7O16; 2O23; 13/15O23; 1/O21; 5/9O21; 3N4; 1/2N4;
Turkey 243; 3s2; 2/2s9; 3s4; 3s2; 6/8s18; s11; s23; s16; 3s11; 2/2s30; 4/6O7; 6/9O9; 0/1S16; 3o9; 13/17O2; 5S30;
Poland 235; 3s2; 1s23; 3s4; 3s11; 7/7s16; 0/1s16; s9; 5/9O9; 2s18; 4/8s18; 6s30; 3/6O7; 13/15O23; 4/4O30; 1/2N4; 2N4; 1/2N4; 3O30; 18/19O3; 2/2S30;
Latvia 906; 3s2; 0/1s16; 3s11; s23; s9; 3s4; 3s18; left before 1125am S18; 4/6O7; 6/9O9; 3O14; 1/1O14; 5O30; 4/4O30; 3O23; 15/15O23; 3/4O30; 3N4; 2/2N4; 8/8S18; 3O9; 3O21; 3O30; 14/17O2; 3S30;
Belarus 769; 3s2; 1/2s9; s23; 0/1s16; 3s11; 3s23; 2/2s30; 6S30;
Georgia 232; 3s2; s9; 3s4; s18; s11; 0s23; 0/1s16; 5s30; 2s11; 3s18; 8/8s18; 2/2S9; 13/19O2;
Ukraine 231; 3s2; 3s4; 0s23; 2/2s9; 3/8s18; s11; s16; 3s11; 4/6O7; 1/1S16; 18/19O2;
Luxembourg 869; 3s2; 3s4; 2/2s9; s4; s16; 3s11; s23; 0/1s16(misdated s15); 12/19O2; 3O23; 14/15O23; 3O21; 9/9O21; 6O30; 2/4O30; 3N4; 2/2N4; 3O9; 8/8O9; 2/2S30;
Egypt 333; off census but added and in the class; s18; s23; 2/2s30;
Norway 673; 3s2; 3s4; 3s11; 0/1s16;
Finland 634; 3S2; 3S4; 0/1S16; 0S23; 2/2S30; 11/19O2; 0/1O14; 3O14; 7/7O16; 4/4O30; 2/2N4; 6O30; 5S30;
Holland 754; 3s2; 3s4; 3s23; 1/1s16; 9/9O9; 3O9; 7/7O16; 2/2S9; 3S18; 7/8S18; 2/2S30; 15/15O23; 3N4; 2/2N4; 3S11; 3O23; 4S30; 3O30; 4/4O30;
Ivory Coast 765; 3s2; 1/2S9; 3S4; 3S18; 0S11; 3S23; 1/1S16; 2/2S30; 13/17O2; 5/6O7; 7/9O9; 1/1O14; 5/7O16; 10/15O23; 9/9O21; 2/2N4; 3N4; 3O14; 3O23; 3O21; 6S30;
Bolivia 787; dropped

Tests

9/9/08 extra credit quiz

Socrates killed himself.T
Axiology is the study of value.T

9/16/08 extra credit quiz

Hicks said Nietzsche is a Nazi.F

9/18/08 extra credit quiz

Hicks said he gives a mixed verdict on whether Nietzsche was an intellectual ally of the Nazis.T
Nietzsche believed in the eternal recurrence of life.T
Hicks says there are at least 5 major differences between Nietzsche and the Nazis.T
Hicks says Nietzsche has a collectivist goal.F
Hicks says Nietzsche goal is the overman, a species superior to man.T
Nietzsche emphasized natural instinct over reason, which he called a tool of the weak.T
Nietzsche accepted slave morality as best.F
Nietzsche is an atheist, Hicks says.T

9/30/08

20. F

21. T

10/02/08

7. F

8. F

9. F

10. T

11. T

12. T

13. F

14. F

15. T

16. T

17. T

18. F

19. T

22. T

23. T

24. T

25. T

10/7/08

10/09/08

10/14/08

10/23/08

26. T

27. F

28. T

29. T

30. T

31. F

32. T

33. F

34. T

35. T

36. T

37. T

38. T

39. F

40. T

10/30/08

********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

FAQ4: What's the syllabus for PHIL 60 EVC Spring 2008?

FAQ4: What's the syllabus for PHIL 60 EVC Spring 2008?

PHIL 60: Logic and Critical Thinking; Spring 2008; 1215-140pm; Room __________. 3 units; Reg ID ___________; Section __________

Note: the schedule of readings and assignments is subject to change. For all courses this term, EVC has already changed the deadline to drop without a ‘W’ to 9/28/07.

1. INSTRUCTOR: Sterling Harwood, J.D., Ph.D, Attorney at Law. For a bio of Dr. Harwood, see near the end of the syllabus.

2. PHONE: 408-259-7777 (home office & 24-hour voicemail; leave all phone messages on this voicemail). Feel free to call me anytime, since I simply turn off my phone when I can't take any more calls. So you won't disturb my beauty sleep!

3. FAX: 408-254-7777

4. WEBSITE (Homepage): www.sterlingharwood.com. This will fill in for our textbook until it arrives at the campus bookstore. Our site has hundreds of pages of material to help you answer frequently asked questions, help you write your term paper, and generally help you excel. So remember to use Control + F to search it for key words and remember to use the table of contents, too. Guidelines A-Z on this website are crucial to writing and your term paper. I plan to put them on reserve @ the request of any student. Students who see me to establish a code can have their grades regularly posted on this website, though I grade scantrons only once they are completed at the final exam. I plan to post the answers to all previous tests on the site so you can unofficially grade yourself by keeping track of your answers, as I require you to do by keeping a fully completed backup scantron form at all times after the first class. Never submit your last backup of your work.

5. EMAIL: svharwood1@aol.com Do NOT email me any attachments, since viruses are too often unintentionally spread that way, especially while we are at war with terrorists, including cyberterrorists. Thanks for helping me help you by avoiding delays in my service to you due to viruses. For faster response, call me after emailing me to let me know there's an email from you waiting for me to answer.

6. OFFICE HOURS & OTHER TIMES AVAILABLE: Office hours are by appointment only and the best times are Monday through Friday, especially Friday, 1215-115pm. I’m also usually after each class for a few minutes and any other time by appointment. It is important to call me promptly if you have any questions on how to do your assignments that are not answered by this syllabus, sample papers on reserve in EVC library, or www.sterlingharwood.com . For ease and efficiency for you please check those 3 other sources first before calling me, since they usually explain matters in more detail and with more clarity than I can off the cuff or on the phone. I answer calls much faster than emails, which I often check only late at night. I will be happy to return your call with instructions if leave your number and the question you want me to answer. I am always happy to answer any remaining procedural questions during breaks and after class, but especially after the add period ends I try to reduce somewhat answering procedural questions during valuable class time because we have so much of substance to cover during that time.

7. REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS:
a) W. Kent Wilson, Logic: The Essentials of Logic (REA publishers; www.rea.com, 2003); available in our campus bookstore for about $8 or less.
b) Carl Sagan, The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark (Random House/Bantom, 1996), available in our campus bookstore for about $12 or less.

8. REQUIRED MATERIALS:
a) Students must bring at least 2 blank scantron 882 (the same as 882ES) forms to every class after 9/5/07;
b) Students must bring at least 1 5”x8” blank index card to every class after 9/5/07.

9. GRADED COURSE ASSIGNMENTS:
1. Class Participation; attendance & speaking; every class = 15% but the total number of acceptable absences without a good excuse is 2 (more than 2 such absences means you will fail the course); tardiness reduces one’s class participation grade in proportion to the amount one’s tardiness I observe (for example, 85 overall minutes of tardiness spread over several classes is equivalent to missing an entire class)
2. Term Paper; ABC format; approved topic; due @ our final exam = 45%
3. True/False Tests, Exams & Quizzes, all extra credit; every class after 9/5/07 = 40%
Note: since the term paper is worth 45%, a failing grade on the term paper means a failing grade for the course (the remaining 55% is insufficient to get the minimum of 60% to earn at least a D). I cannot remember any student ever failing a class of mine after the student submitted a term paper that qualifies to get a grade (submitted on time, on an approved paper topic, etc.).

10. GRADING CRITERIA: Page 134 of the course catalog lists only letter grades (‘L’) for course grades and makes no provision for any C/NC grading option. Any missed time in class (for example, arriving late to class at the start, arriving late to class after a break, or leaving early before the start of the quiz or exam at the end of every class) reduces your class participation grade to the extent that you miss class time. Further, good class participation raises borderline grades, which are common. Perfect attendance will still get a class participation grade of only C- if you never speak in class. Perfect attendance with only 1 unexcused absence will get a class participation grade of D+ if you never speak in class. Perfect attendance with only 2 unexcused absences will get a class participation grade of D if you never speak in class. Perfect attendance except for less than 3 hours of unexcused absences gets a grade of D+ if you never speak in class. Perfect attendance except for only 3 hours of unexcused absences will get a class participation grade of D if you never speak in class. Perfect attendance with more than 3 hours of unexcused absences will get a class participation grade of D- if you never speak in class. If you speak in class, then I will use my judgment about the quality and quantity of your speaking to help you make up for unexcused absences in your class participation grade and to raise your class participation grade generally. (Obviously, I will make reasonable accommodations for disabilities and so you may communicate in class in another way if you are physically unable to speak.) The more you speak in class, following my classroom management rules, the higher your class participation grade will be. Arriving late or leaving early lower your class participation grade in accordance to how much classtime you miss without excuse. You have the option to earn an A on class participation if you give a class presentation of 3 ABC sets on one of the approved paper topics. See my 26 guidelines A-Z on www.sterlingharwood.com for more info on how I grade your papers. These guidelines are to be read within the context of any applicable Faculty Handbook guidelines for grading and are meant to be a supplement to them to give you more specifics and help.

Requirements for an Incomplete: The student must have the excuse of an unavoidable circumstance preventing completion of the course on time, and the student must use my voicemail or email to notify me of this circumstance on the earliest possible day. Only I will make the initial determination on what circumstances were/are unavoidable. Students may appeal to our Dean, Dean Mark Gonzales, if necessary.

11. MAKE-UP POLICY: I allow some students to make up missed exams by answering extra questions at the final exam, but only if those students have written an alleged excuse for missing those exams and submitted that writing to me more than 24 hours before the start of the final exam. Further, you may make up work only if the excuse of an unavoidable circumstance prevents you from submitting your work on time and you use my voicemail or email to notify me of the unavoidable circumstance on the earliest possible day. Only I make the initial determination on what circumstances were/are unavoidable. Students may appeal to our Dean, if necessary. Papers submitted late without excuse mean that the student cannot receive a grade of A in our course, but it is generally better to submit the paper late than never to submit it. Papers submitted late by more than 24 hours without excuse mean the student cannot receive a grade higher than C in our course. Papers submitted more than 48 hours late without excuse mean the student cannot receive a grade higher than D in our course. Papers submitted without excuse after grades are due to be submitted to admissions and records cannot count at all toward your grade.

12. GRADING SCALE: I use letter grades on a 0 (F) to 4.0 (A) scale on papers and I use points for tests (quizzes or exams). Convert points on tests into letter grades as follows: 0-59% = F; 60-62% = D-; 63-66% = D; 67-69% = D+; 70-72% = C-; 73-76% = C; 77-79% = C+; 80-82% = B-; 83-86% = B; 87-89% = B+; 90-92% = A-; 93-100% = A. EVC does not allow course grades using a plus or a minus (for example, A+), but I informally keep track of them, so that I can use them only in writing a letter of recommendation for you if you receive a course grade of A and ask me to write one for you. I hope everyone earns an A. I avoid grading on a curve where students compete with each other for spaces along the curve. Everyone can earn an A. Another student earning an A does not make it any less likely that you will earn an A. We have cooperation rather than cut-throat competition in this course, but of course you may not cheat or plagiarize. I plan to give a failing grade for the course to any student I catch committing plagiarism. The next section has the college honest policy.

13. COLLEGE HONESTY POLICY: The College and I expect students to write their own papers and to avoid copying from another student or author (which is plagiarism). Consequences of such actions will lead to a reduction of your course grade to F for the class, suspension from the class, and may lead to expulsion from the college. Violations of standards include but are not limited to the following: altering grades; altering or forging college documents, records or identification; copying from someone's test or allowing someone to copy your test; copying from an author's work without giving credit (plagiarism; and Dr. Harwood adds that changing a few words here and there does not prevent plagiarism); doing an assignment (for example, a term paper or essay) for another student or asking, paying, bribing, or blackmailing someone to do an assignment for you; sitting in for someone in class or on a test or having someone sit in class for you if not authorized by the instructor; submitting work previously presented in another class if not authorized by the instructor; during an exam, using or consulting other test or course material not authorized by the instructor; possession of an examination or materials not authorized by the instructor. Consequences may include one or more of the following actions by appropriate college officials: receiving a failing grade on the test, paper or exam; course grade lowered, possibly resulting in course failure (and Dr. Harwood adds that he will fail for the course any student caught cheating or plagiarizing); verbal or written reprimand/warning; suspension for a longer specified time; expulsion from college. See pages 167-168 of the course catalog on Student Disciplinary Procedures and Complain/Grievance Policy, which I incorporate by reference here.

14. ATTENDANCE POLICY: "Students are expected to maintain regular and prompt attendance in all classes. Instructors shall maintain a record of students' attendance in class." VI. Instruction Policies 6070.1 12/19/89. Similar policies apply to all colleges and universities where I teach. See your counselor for details. Class participation is 15% of your course grade. Missing the last 2 classes before Census Day (9/17/07), that is missing class on 9/10/07 and 9/12/07, without letting me know by phone by 9/12/07 310pm will lead me to line out your name on the Census Roster and that will probably lead admissions and records to drop you from the class. See Class Participation under grading above.

15. WITHDRAWAL/DROP POLICY: There is a typo in the hardcopy version of the schedule of classes. The correct deadline to drop without receiving a ‘W’ is 9/28/07. Sunday 9/16/07 is the last day to add via an add code. It is the ultimate responsibility of the student to formally drop the class. You should not rely on the instructor to drop you from a class for non-attendance. At EVC, you may drop by telephone using the StaReg (408-223-0300) or by completing the proper forms in the Office of Admissions and Records. To be eligible for a refund of fees and/or prevent a recording grade of 'F' or 'W,' you must drop the class on or before the deadline. See your counselor or admissions and records for important details. Wed. 11/21/07 is the deadline to drop (in-person) our class with a ‘W’ on your record. Just telling Dr. Harwood that you want to drop the class does not necessarily drop you from the class; you must take responsibility for meeting the deadlines to drop.

16. GENERAL EDUCATION STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES & LEARNING OBJECTIVES: These apply to EVC general education courses, which includes our course. General education is the college's commitment to provide students with a broad set of knowledge and skills that will help each student in their process of becoming a well-rounded healthy person equipped to participate wisely in the health of our community. It requires a carefully selected set of courses and activities on the part of the college and active reflection on the part of the student. This course participates in the general education process by including the following General Education Outcomes: improving the student's experience and abilities in the areas listed below. These outcomes contribute to the General Education areas of emphasis stated in the accreditation standards and District General Education Philosophy (pending) checked below:
civic responsibility (local, national, global); civility; computer literacy; critical analysis/logical thinking; cultural diversity; ethical principles; historical sensitivity; information competency; oral communication including speaking and listening; political involvement (local, national, global); social responsibility (local, national, global); teamwork (ability to work and solve problems as a team); written communication.

Learning objectives include acquiring or improving the ability to: 1) distinguish between formal and informal logic; 2) assess the basic forms of arguments; 3) demonstrate the basic skills in critical thinking through written and oral expression; 4) articulate the basic types of informal fallacies; 5) distinguish the basic misuses and abuses of argument forms and structures; 6) perform the basic operations of formal, sentential and symbolic logic; 7) demonstrate the basic skills in truth function logic; 8) distinguish between logical conditions; 9) describe the basic forms of formal logical fallacies; 10) articulate the basic forms of scientific, causal and statistical fallacies; 11) articulate, communicate, express and present a complete argument on a complex subject matter.

17. COURSE DESCRIPTION & OVERVIEW: Page 134 of the EVC course catalog says:
“This is an introductory course in informal logic and critical reasoning. Students are instructed in the practical applications of inferential, inductive and deductive reasoning, problem analysis/resolution, the logic systems entailed by language, word-functions, definition, and common fallacies of relevance and ambiguity. There is a strong emphasis on written expression and the application of critical thinking akills in a series of composition assignments.”

Here are some more specifics to try to build on the above course description. For a list of questions we plan to consider, see the list of term paper topics in this syllabus. We will learn 32 fallacies, errors in reasoning, to avoid. We will learn the definitions and applications of soundness, validity, strength, and truth in evaluating arguments as reliable or unreliable guides to the truth of their respective conclusions. We will study probability, including how it is applied to gambling and other games and problems of chance. Concerning practical applications of reasoning, when exploring reasoning in moral and political philosophy, we plan to examine and apply arguments using 5 sets of moral principles – egalitarianism, libertarianism, utilitarianism, perfectionism (also known as virtue ethics) and prima facie principles – to a wide variety of hot topics, including the current war in Iraq, the current war in Afghanistan, the current war against terrorism, abortion, surrogate motherhood, cloning humans, human stem cell research, gun control, euthanasia (also known as mercy killing), gay marriage, affirmative action, capitalism, socialism, globalization, NAFTA, illegal immigration, nuclear power, global warming, acid rain, endangered species, pollution, and much more.

18. APPROVED PAPER TOPICS FROM WHICH YOU MUST CHOOSE ONLY ONE TOPIC: Approved topics for your paper are announced below, but all papers must be done in the ABC format exemplified imperfectly but usefully in sample papers on reserve in EVC library, explained in class and on www.sterlingharwood.com . Approved topics: You must compare a minimum of 6 quotations from any published and named writer(s) (wikipedia does not count as published; anonymous quotes do not count as being from named writers) who try to give arguments or answers to the questions below. If you wish to use an anonymous quotation, then you must get Dr. Harwood’s written permission in advance. There is no maximum number of quotations or minimum or maximum requirements for the length of your paper. I hereby approve the following paper (and optional oral presentation) topics:
1) Based on the 5 moral principles on www.sterlingharwood.com (which are also in Ch.4 of this book on reserve in our campus library: Sterling Harwood, Business as Ethical and Business as Usual), has America’s current war in Iraq been moral?;
2) Pick any two thinkers listed in the index of Sagan’s textbook listed above – or that you get Dr. Harwood to approve in writing in advance of your work on your paper – and argue that one of the two has a position on a philosophical issue that is more defensible than the other.
3) Is astrology logical?
4) Based on the 5 moral principles on www.sterlingharwood.com has America's current war on terrorism been moral?
5) Based on the 5 moral principles on www.sterlingharwood.com, should prostitution be legalized, as it is in some counties of Nevada?;
6) Based on the 5 moral principles on www.sterlingharwood.com, should pornographic films and books be legal?;
7) Does God exist (that is, which is closer to the truth, atheism or theism)?
8) Is causal determinism compatible with human freedom and moral responsibility and, if so, how?
9) Which is closer to the truth, empiricism or rationalism?
10) Is moral relativism true?
11) Is relativism about all human knowledge true?
12) Is moral skepticism true?
13) Is skepticism about all human knowledge true?
14) Which is closer to the truth, materialism, dualism or idealism?
15) Based on the 5 moral principles on www.sterlingharwood.com, is comparable worth moral?;
16) Based on the 5 moral principles on www.sterlingharwood.com, is feminism moral?;
17) Based on the 5 moral principles on www.sterlingharwood.com, is capitalism more moral than socialism?;
18) Based on the 5 moral principles on www.sterlingharwood.com, is Rush Limbaugh right about environmentalism?;
19) Based on the 5 moral principles on www.sterlingharwood.com, what currently illegal drugs (if any) should the government legalize and under what circumstances?;
20) Based on facts and logic generally, is moral relativism more justified than moral realism?;
21) Based on the 5 moral principles on www.sterlingharwood.com, is more gun control than we already have morally required?;
22) Based on the 5 moral principles on www.sterlingharwood.com, is cloning of humans moral?;
23) Based on the 5 moral principles on www.sterlingharwood.com, is capital punishment (also known as the death penalty or execution) moral?
24) What’s the best logical assessment of the evidence for and against Bigfoot’s existence?
25) Which is closer to the truth, Darwinism, creationism or Intelligent Design Theory?
26) What’s the most logical explanation of the evidence for extraterrestrial UFOs, and what would be the greatest significance philosophically of discovering the existence of alien life from other planets?
27) Addressing some philosophical issues of social or political concern, and using the assassination of President Kennedy as a test case to apply logical principles of weighing evidence and evaluating argument, what’s the most logical explanation of President Kennedy’s death (including whether there was a conspiracy and whether Oswald was guilty as charged)?
28) Addressing some philosophical issues of social or political concern, and using the death of Princess Diana as a test case to apply logical principles of weighing evidence and evaluating argument, what’s the most logical explanation of Princess Diana’s death, which is still under official government investigation 8 years after she died (including whether there was a conspiracy to kill her).
29) Based on the 5 moral principles on sterlingharwood.com, is abortion moral?;
30) Based on the 5 moral principles on sterlingharwood.com, is any form of affirmative action moral?;
31) Based on the 5 moral principles on sterlingharwood.com, is surrogate motherhood immoral?;
32) Based on the 5 moral principles on www.sterlingharwood.com, is euthanasia (mercy killing) moral?;
33) Based on the 5 moral principles on www.sterlingharwood.com, is gay marriage moral?;
34) Based on the 5 moral principles on www.sterlingharwood.com, is gay adoption moral?;
35) Is existentialism logically defensible?
36) Is phenomenology logically defensible?
37) Based on the 5 moral principles on www.sterlingharwood.com, is stem cell research moral?;
38) Based on the 5 moral principles on www.sterlingharwood.com, is allowing gays in the military moral?;
39) Does human nature exist and, if it does, is it primarily good, primarily evil or primarily a mixed bag, and is it more fixed than flexible or more flexible than fixed?
40) Which of the theories in philosophy of art discussed on www.sterlingharwood.com is most defensible?
41) Based on the 5 moral principles on www.sterlingharwood.com, is America's current war in Afghanistan been moral?
42) What is the meaning of life?
43) What’s the best logical assessment of the evidence for and against the abominable snowman’s existence?
44) What’s the most logical explanation of The Bermuda Triangle (aka, The Devil’s Triangle)?
45) What’s the most logical explanation of Crop Circles?
46) What’s the best logical assessment of the evidence for and against Chupacabra’s existence?
47) What’s the best logical assessment of the evidence for and against the New Jersey Devil’s existence?
48) What’s the best logical assessment of the evidence for and against the existence of a conspiracy to fake landing Americans on the moon?
49) What’s the most logical explanation of the JFK assassination, including whether Lee Harvey Oswald was guilty and whether there was a conspiracy to kill President Kennedy?
50) What’s the most logical explanation of the RFK assassination, including whether Sirhan Bishara Sirhan was a Manchurian candidate assassin through hypnosis and whether there was a conspiracy to kill Senator Kennedy?
51) Is the Martingale Betting Strategy, or any known variant of it, a logical approach to gambling?

19.EXPECTATIONS: IMPORTANT NOTE: One of the biggest mistakes students make in this class is writing on one of the topics above and failing to include any of the 5 moral principles. That mistake means you wrote on an unapproved topic and can get no credit for your paper. The same is true if you fail to put your paper into the required ABC format. If you want another topic approved, besides the topics approved above, see me to try to get approval before you begin writing, but all topics approved require discussing as many of the 5 moral principles as possible in your C sections of the ABC format. Sample papers in ABC format will be available for you to read in EVC Library. No assignment has any minimum or maximum length, but you must evaluate (using our ABC format) at least 6 -- and preferably as many more than 6 as you can -- quotations in the final version of your paper. I expect all students to do their best and to enjoy the course. Enjoy your work enough to take the time to think well about it, re-read it and proofread it carefully. See guideline R of guidelines A-Z on www.sterlingharwood.com . All written work must be typed (or word-processed) double-spaced with 1" margins on all 4 sides of regular (no onion skin) white 8 1/2" x 11" paper. This means that each page should have about 10 words per line and 25 lines per page (for a total of about 255 words per page maximum). Each page of your papers, except perhaps your last page, MUST have a minimum of about 245 words following the margins described above. I expect everyone to cooperate well in his or her learning team when we break into learning teams in class. I expect us to think critically and thus be logical and reasonable throughout the course. This obviously includes treating each other with patience and fairness.

20. EXPECTATIONS: SAVING YOUR WORK IS REQUIRED: I require that you save copies of all work you submit for a grade, and keep these copies for at least one year after you receive your grade for the course. Failing to get the required, signed receipt from me for submitting your term paper and your final exam answers would be a huge mistake. Lacking a receipt means you get no credit for submitting your term paper or your final exam answers if they are lost or stolen or missing when I do the grading of the term papers and final exams. Failure to save your work for one year means that you may lose any appeal of your grade for the paper and for the course. I require a copy of your paper, and all or almost all other graded work, to consider any appeal of your grade for the course. Protecting privacy prevents production of information about grades of any particular student by email, fax or phone. I already announced this policy in our syllabus and repeatedly announced this policy in our class. If you wish to discuss your grade, then you need to make an appointment to meet me and bring your student photo ID to our meeting. If a student has a problem, the problem is usually that 1) I never received a paper or 2) never received a paper on time or 3) I never received a paper in the proper format (for example, ABC format and with moral principles for papers on topics in moral philosophy such as, for example, affirmative action, euthanasia, capital punishment, abortion, gun control, surrogate motherhood, gay marriage, and cloning). So if – repeat if – your problem is that you think I lack your paper, then feel free to fax, mail or email -- no attachments accepted -- me your paper and ask me to update your grade in person by appointment, if possible.

21. EXPECTATIONS: CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT RULES INCLUDE:

A. No blurting = raise your hand and patiently wait for Dr. Harwood to call on you before speaking. I certainly plan promptly to call on everyone who raises his or her hand.
B. No murmuring = avoid side-conversations that are loud enough for Dr. Harwood to hear. Dr. Harwood has excellent hearing, so he recommends that you pass notes back and forth in a non-distracting way rather than murmur. Murmuring tends to distract you from what Dr. Harwood is saying and tends to distract other students and sometimes even risks distracting Dr. Harwood. Stay focused on the class presentation, take detailed notes (especially since all tests are open note), and face the front of the class.
C. No lumbering = stay in your seat during class, unless you need to leave the room to take a bathroom break of course. Obviously there's no need to ask permission to leave the room; just do so as quietly as you can.
D. No consuming of or engaging in outside material during class = for example, no quilting, no reading of newspapers or magazines that I haven't assigned, and no listening to headphones.
E. No impatience = patiently listen to and follow Dr. Harwood's directions, instructions, and announcements. Patience is indeed a virtue (and a key to happiness). If you have a question about instructions, then wait until the next break or after class to discuss it unless you raise your hand during or right after Dr. Harwood gives the instructions in class.
F. Bring several blank 5” x 8” index cards (lined or unlined doesn’t matter; color doesn’t matter) and at least 2 blank Scantron 882 forms to every class, starting with our second class. Do not try to use any differently sized index card or any other form instead of those specified above. Index cards must be of commercial quality and not homemade cards. 5” x 8” cards are generally available @ the campus store, Long’s Drugs, Office Depot, Office Max, Staples, etc.
G. I request all students to notify me if they need assistance because of a disability.
H. The required safety issues are identified on pages 172-173 of the EVC course catalog, which I hereby incorporate by reference. Dial 911 for all emergencies. Dial 408-277-5454 if 911 fails to work. Dial 408-270-6468 for nonemergency safety issues and for EVC campus police.

22. EXPECTATIONS & THE BOTTOM LINE: THE 16 BIGGEST MISTAKES STUDENTS MAKE IN THIS COURSE:

#1 Biggest Mistake: Failing to read carefully the instructions in this syllabus, and failing to get the required receipt for submitting your term paper, which means that if someone takes your paper from my inbox or your paper is otherwise misplaced that you will get no credit for submitting it. So get a hardcopy receipt from me – with my signature and the correct date of submission – when you submit your hardcopy or submit your paper by email early enough to get a receipt from me by return email. I require getting a signed receipt (or email receipt from my aol address) from me for submitting the paper; that’s the only evidence for submitting the paper that counts if I do not have your paper for whatever reason. We will not have a mini-trial or other proceeding where you try to bring witnesses or any other evidence instead of the receipt, which is required.

Second Biggest Mistake: Writing a paper on an unapproved paper topic. This will lead to an F in the course unless you correct this problem with another term paper on an approved paper topic (and meeting all other requirements) by the deadline of the end of the final exam.

Third Biggest Mistake: Failing to use ABC format for the term paper (and any optional oral presentation). This mistake includes using in your ‘A’ sections in ABC format a quotation that lacks question marks or lacks the name of the author of the quote, or that lacks a full citation (following Guideline O on our website) for the quote. You will fail the course if, lacking any good excuse, you fail to submit a term paper without at least 6 quotations in proper ABC format by the end of the final exam on 12/12/07 1040am PT.

Fourth Biggest Mistake: Failing to save your work, especially failing to keep a backup copy of your scantrons that you submit to Dr. Harwood for grading.

Fifth Biggest Mistake: Failing to ask me questions in a timely way after reading this syllabus and the FAQs on www.sterlingharwood.com. There are no dumb questions. What would be dumb is to have a question and then not ask it and expect me to be a mindreader and answer your question somehow. The syllabus and the table of contents to www.sterlingharwood.com are great to try to find the answers even faster and better than I can give them to you off the top of my head (relying on memory is imperfect; written rules are best).

Sixth Biggest Mistake: Missing time in class (absences, late arrivals, early exits that are not earned).

Seventh Biggest Mistake: Failing to include any of the 5 moral principles on www.sterlingharwood.com when doing assignments on a topic that includes the words “Based on the 5 moral principles.” You will fail the course if you submit such a paper by the end of the final exam.

Eighth Biggest Mistake: Failing to put a grid on all graded work. The grid = draw a cross & put as follows: upper left = name of student; upper right “PHIL 60” or “PHIL 1”; lower left = description of the work submitted; lower right = date submitted into my in-box (not the date you did the work or the date it was due if you are submitting it late; late work must say how many days late it is to get any credit at all; the later it is, the less credit you will receive but it’s always better late than never until the final deadline at the final exam, which will be during our last class).

Ninth Biggest Mistake: Combining more than one paper (or presentation) topic in the same assignment.

Tenth Biggest Mistake: Failing to read the sample paper on www.sterlingharwood.com and on reserve in the library. Note: on www.sterlingharwood.com, ‘FAQ’ = frequently asked question.

Eleventh Biggest Mistake: Failing to follow guidelines A & U by using a title and headings, respectively, as signposts to guide the readers of their papers and presentations.

Twelfth Biggest Mistake: Failing to follow guideline A by failing to make the title of their paper or presentation a claim that indicates an approved paper topic and the student’s stand on that topic.

Thirteenth Biggest Mistake: Failing to save the aol website as a word file & failing to use the Control + F search and the table of contents in FAQ2 to search the website

Fourteenth Biggest Mistake: Failing to realize that www.sterlingharwood.com clearly states that students may of course use the quotes I posted on www.sterlingharwood.com in the A sections of their papers & presentations in ABC format.

Fifteenth Biggest Mistake: Failure to take good notes, since all our tests, quizzes, and exams – including the final exam on 12/12/07 from 915-1040am PT in our usual classroom -- are open note (and open book).

Sixteenth Biggest Mistake: Failing to turn off your ringtone on your cellphone or other device. If a student’s device rings, then that signals me to have another quiz. New campus security procedures now suggests I keep my cellphone on during class, so if my cellphone rings, then I plan to write an extra credit quiz on the board as I field the call quickly just to see if it is an emergency.

22. BIO OF INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Harwood (B.A. in Philosophy, 1980 University of Maryland; J.D. 1983 Cornell Law School; M.A. in Philosophy, 1986 Cornell University; Ph.D. in Philosophy, 1992 Cornell University) is a practicing attorney at law (Licensed, State Bar Number 194746; see www.calbar.ca.gov) and is the author of Judicial Activism: A Restrained Defense (Austin & Winfield 1996). He edited and wrote 24 chapters of Business as Ethical & Business as Usual (Jones & Bartlett, now Wadsworth 1995), co-edited with Michael Gorr, Crime & Punishment: Philosophic Explorations (Jones & Bartlett, 1994, now published by Wadsworth Publishing Co., 2000), and co-edited with Michael Gorr, Controversies in Criminal Law (Westview Press, 1992). He is working on a revised edition of his book Judicial Activism. Dr. Harwood became a practicing lawyer in 1998. He has been teaching since 1981 and still isn't tired! He has taught philosophy for more than 10 years in the Evergreen Valley College/San Jose City College Community College District and has earned Seniority Rehire Preference there. He has taught philosophy full-time for 7 years at San Jose State University. He has taught more than 65 courses, mainly in philosophy and sociology, at University of Phoenix since 1998 (including online and onground) and has also taught at the following colleges and universities: Cornell University; Cornell Law School; Foothill College, San Jose City College; Evergreen Valley College; West Valley Community College; Chabot College; Hobart & William Smith Colleges; Illinois State University; and Masters Institute of Technology. Over the summer of 2007 Dr. Harwood joined the faculty at Lincoln Law School. Dr. Harwood is married to a vivacious Vietnamese-American lady named Tina Le Harwood. They have two delightful daughters Heather Harwood (age 7) and Holly Harwood (age 5). The Harwood family is also proud to include a German Shepherd named Panther and a Beagle named Toby. The Harwood family lives in San Jose, CA. Dr. Harwood’s hobbies include being a fan of major league baseball, the NFL, and the NBA, buying low and selling high on ebay, viewing films, and – just starting recently – finding missing aircraft (part Indiana Jones, part CSI?).

23. COURSE SCHEDULE OF READINGS AND ASSIGNMENTS:
Note: I plan to have a quiz at the end of every class. Bring at least 3 blank 5x8 inch index cards to every class. I no longer use Scantron forms except for the final exam, so ignore all other references to Scantron forms that I have yet to delete.
Week 1: Introduction, extra credit quiz (extra credit quizzes cannot lower your grade), syllabus; Sagan Ch.12; extra credit quiz
Week 2: Sagan Ch.1; Wilson Ch.1; quiz
Week 3: Sagan Ch.2; quiz; Sagan Ch.3; Wilson Ch.2; quiz
Week 4: Sagan Ch.4-5
Week 5: Sagan Ch.6-7; Wilson Ch.3; quiz
Week 6: Sagan Ch.8-9; quiz; view sample papers
Week 7: Sagan Ch.9-10; Wilson Ch.4; quiz
Week 8: Sagan Ch.11 & 13; quiz
Week 9: Sagan Ch.14-15; Wilson Ch.5; quiz
Week 10: Sagan Ch.16-17; quiz
Week 11: Sagan Ch.18-19; Wilson Ch.6; quiz
Week 12: Sagan Ch.20-21; Wilson pages 56-60 starting with 7.2.1
Week 13: Sagan Ch.22-23; Wilson Ch.10; quiz
Week 14: Sagan Ch.24; quiz
Week 15: Sagan Ch.12 (again); Wilson Ch.14
Week 16: Loose ends
Week 17:: ALL TERM PAPERS DUE BY 140PM in the last class; FINAL EXAM, OPEN NOTE, OPEN BOOK, ALWAYS BRING 2 BLANK SCANTRON FORMS; the final exam will be at our usual class time and in our usual classroom.

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FAQ5: For all courses, what are Dr. Harwood's CRUCIALLY important Guidelines A-Z for Creating & Grading Papers & Presentations?

I will use these 26 guidelines in grading your papers and presentations. So learn all the guidelines thoroughly. The first letter in a comment like 'AF' refers to the guideline I am relying on to comment on your paper and the second letter will be 'F' (meaning 'followed') or 'U' (meaning 'unfollowed'). So, for example, 'AF' means guideline A was followed. 'AU' means guideline A was unfollowed. 'BF' means guideline B was followed and 'BU' means guid

DR. STERLING HARWOOD'S HOMEPAGE

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: Set 1