Catalog description: Introduces moral foundations and selective ethical issues in individual and social morality on the basis of Christian revelation.
Required Texts:
Catechism of the Catholic Church. 2nd ed., (Vatican: Liberia Editrice Vaticana, 2000).
Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (Washington, D.C. : United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, c2006).
Mark Lowery, Living the Good Life: What Every Catholic Needs to Know about Moral Issues (Ann Arbor: Servant Publications, 2003).
Miscellaneous texts which will be distributed in class.
All students are required to have internet access.
Every registered student can have internet access free of charge through an account on the Caldwell College network (the account also includes an email address). The network account is provided automatically to full-time students and upon request to Continuing Education students. A valid college account provides, and is required for, access to all campus computers.
Note: There is no need for students in this course who have an internet account with another provider to obtain or to use a Caldwell account unless they want to use a Caldwell College computer.
Course Objectives:
1. To investigate the nature of the human person, human happiness, human acts and the good life as they are evident to reason.
2. To examine the goal of human life and how it is attained as these have been revealed in Christ.
3. To explore fundamental questions such as: a) which acts are good and which are evil, b) what is conscience, c) how can conscience know the truth about the moral quality of particular acts, and d) what is necessary to inherit eternal life?
4. To learn the principles of moral decision making.
5. To gain an understanding of both “natural law” and the objections which are raised against it.
6. To understand the moral theory called “proportionalism,” and the objections which are raised against it.
7. To learn the specifics of good moral conduct in the various spheres human life as evident to reason, as taught by the Christian religion, and the Catholic faith.
8. That students make progress in reading and thinking critically.
Student Objectives:
1. To arrive on time for all classes.
2. To read all assignments carefully.
3. To look up all words that are not understood, to re-read anything that is not comprehended on the first reading, to make a note of all questions that arise in the course of reading the assignment, and to come to class prepared to discuss the readings.
3. To pay attention in class and to take good notes.
4. To hand all assignments in on time.
5. To pass all quizzes and exams.
Assessment and Grading:
1. Quizzes = 30%
Regular quizzes (announced and unannounced) will test mastery of material already presented and, if occasion warrants, satisfactory completion of the reading assignment. On average there is one quiz every week, but the instructor reserves the right to add announced or unannounced quizzes at will. Unannounced quizzes will always involve mastery of what was taught in the preceding class or of the reading and accompanying questions assigned for the day the quiz is given.
2. Short Papers = 20%
Approximately six one-page papers will be assigned. Papers must conform to the "Rules for Papers."
Papers will be graded on the accuracy, thoughtfulness, and conformity to the assignment instructions. No A’s will be given to papers that have more than one grammar or spelling error. And any violation of the college’s or the instructor’s policy on Academic Integrity will be rigorously enforced. See below.
Papers must be given to the instructor as hard copies unless permission has been granted in advance to submit the assignment in electronic form.
3. Midterm Exam = 20%.
4. Cumulative final exam = 25%
5. Class Participation = 5%.
The class participation grade is determined according to the character and quality of a student’s presence and participation in class. Absences, tardiness and the inability to answer the reading questions listed on the Schedule of Classes for a given day or to demonstrate comprehension of material already taught in class count against this grade.
Grade scale: A = 93-100%, A- = 90-92%, B+ = 87-89%, B = 84-86%, B- = 80-83%, C+ = 77-79%, C = 70-76%, D+ = 67-69%, D = 60-66%, F = below 60%.
Note: When a letter grade is given for a particular task, the mean numerical value is used for averaging. For example, if a student receives a B+, an 88 is entered on the computer. If a student receives a minus grade for which there is no minus in the College system, the lowest numerical grade assigned to that letter is entered on the computer. For example, a C- is entered as a 70.
Grading, Attendance and Classroom policies:
1. Class participation. Students are expected to attend and be on time for all classes. Unexcused absences affect the class participation grade which drops one level (for example, from B- to C+) for every unexcused absence after the second absence in a class that meets twice per week and after one absence in a class that meets once per week. For these purposes, three unexcused tardies equal one absence. The instructor reserves the right to impose a heavier penalty for unexcused tardiness that exceeds 7 minutes. NOTE: For an absence or tardy to be excused, the student must produce written documentation from a college official, doctor, or law enforcement agency.
2. Written Work. Quizzes and other written class work must be written in blue or black pen. Nothing written in pencil or a light colored ink will be accepted. Homework assignments (papers and the odd question) must be typed in dark ink.
3 All make-up work is entirely the student’s responsibility – finding out whether work is missing, submitting it, etc. When students miss class it is entirely their responsibility to find out what was missed and to learn of any changes in assignments (reading, quizzes, papers) that may have been announced in class. Missing one class is never an excuse for not being properly prepared for another class.
In addition:
1. Under normal circumstances there will be no opportunity to make up missed quizzes. Rather two quiz grades, the lowest, will be dropped at the end of the semester in the section that meets twice per week and one quiz grade (the lowest) in the section that meets once per week. If there is a case in which a student in the day class (which meets twice per week) has excused absences for three missed quizzes, he may make up the third missed quiz if he makes an arrangement to do so within seven days of missing the quiz. Likewise if a student in the evening class (which meets once per week) has excused absences for two missed quizzes, he may make up the second missed quiz if he makes an arrangement to do so within seven days of missing the quiz.
2. Papers must be submitted on the day they are due. Papers which are late will lose a full grade for every day late. That is, a student who hands a B paper in an hour or two after the class is over still gets a B; the one who hands it in the next day gets a C, and so forth. The grade for tardy submission will never go below an F, however, and an F is always much better than a zero.
4. Attention student athletes and others who have a college excuse to miss class. College excuses for class absences will, of course be honored. However, students excused from one class are expected to arrive at the next class completely prepared. That is, no extensions will be given for work that is due or make-ups given for quizzes.
3. Absences. Students who wish to inform the instructor that they will miss a particular class or, having missed a class, wish to explain the reasons should do so by email NOT phone. Such messages are to be sent to DrPristas@aol.com.
4. Academic Integrity. Caldwell College’s policies with respect to Academic Integrity will be strictly enforced. Any student who is found to be in violation will receive a zero for the assignment involved in the offense and be reported to the Office of the Vice-President and Dean for Academic Affairs where a file of offenders is kept. A second violation (whether in this course or in connection with a violation in another course) will result in an FX in this course (failure due to violation of academic integrity) and could result in suspension or dismissal from the College. Students who have questions about what constitutes a violation of the policy should consult the college catalog, the instructor, their academic advisors or the writing center.
NOTE: It is possible that particular assignments in this course will involve stricter penalties – as it is the instructor’s right to establish. These will be announced at the time the assignment is given.
5. Cell phones, Snacks, Beverages, Tobacco and Hats. Students must turn their cell phones and pagers off before entering the classroom. Students found to be text messaging will be asked to leave the class and marked absent for the day. If a student needs to be available to receive an emergency phone call, he or she must alert the instructor to the circumstances before class begins. Beverages and snacks which can be consumed quietly and unobtrusively are permitted. Hats may not be worn. Further, all students will be required to remove all headgear before beginning a quiz or test.
6. Coming late and leaving early. Students who arrive late are to enter quietly and take the seat nearest the door. Any student who arrives after attendance has been taken must see the instructor after class to ensure that their presence is recorded in the roll book. Students whose tardiness or absence is unexcused will NOT be given make-ups or extra time on quizzes, tests or exams. Students who must leave early are asked to tell the instructor before class begins, to sit near the door and to exit quietly.
7. Getting up, etc. Students are to come to class prepared to spend 75-90 minutes in class without getting up or leaving the room for any reason – unless an emergency arises. With respect to any student who leaves the room for reasons that cannot be objectively verified, the instructor reserves the right to forbid the person to return to class before the end of the period. No student will, under any circumstances, be permitted to leave the classroom during a quiz, test, or exam without first handing in the testing instrument.
8. Accommodation of Disabilities: Any student who has a documented disability and is in need of academic accommodations must contact the Office of Disability Services (973-618-3645) and notify the professor of this course. Students are required to provide written documentation of their disability in order to be eligible for accommodations. Accommodations are individualized and in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
9. Other matters. Students are to conduct themselves in a courteous and professional manner at all times.