Philosophy is “the love of wisdom.” Students in this course will be introduced to the practice of philosophy through the following course components:
ü
A study of critical thinking, logic, and fallacious reasoning that will
lay the groundwork for incisive philosophical debate, as well as develop
student analytic writing proficiencies in English Language Arts and Social
Studies.
ü
Familiarity with philosophic terminology and its applications
ü
Guided readings in various philosophic traditions.
Work and
Assessment
Terminology
Quizzes: There will be weekly terminology tests. Students will be
expected to know and understand the terms located in the glossary at the back
of the Courseware in small weekly installments.
Individual or
Group Presentations: Each week, students will,
individually or in groups, be responsible to present and explain a particular
logical or argumentative fallacy to the class. Student explanations ought to
include specific examples of the fallacies being discussed. Students will
present in alphabetical order, according to their last names. Students who
present in groups will be allowed to subvert this order to a degree, but the
order of presentations will remain otherwise consistent. Students who are not
prepared to present on their prescribed presentation day will receive a zero
for their presentation. It will be up to them to make up for the missing work
with make-up reflective textual/philosophic inquiry. Students at the 30 level
will be held to a higher standard of work than students at the 20 level.
Reflections on
Guided Readings: Each session, students will be
led by the teacher through a great work in philosophy to explore its various
questions and ideas. At the beginning of every guided reading session, students
will be expected to have completed a one page, one sided, double-spaced, reflection
on the readings. Each reflection ought to end with a question that we can
discuss as a group. Students who do not hand in their work on time will be
expected to make up for their missing assignments with make-up reflective
textual/philosophic inquiry.
Final Test on
Fallacies: At the end of our study of logical fallacies and effective
argumentation, all students will write a Final Test on fallacious
argumentation. Students at the 20 level will write a different, less
challenging test than students at the 30 level.
Make-Up
Assignments: Any students who miss
assignments have the choice to make-up these assignments by submitting
reflective responses to the guided readings in the Courseware. Reflective
responses are not simply descriptive or expository accounts of the readings,
but must engage in the questions, themes, ideas, or confusions that arise in
the students as readers who grapple with the texts.
Classroom
Behaviour and Expectations:
1. All students in the
classroom are beholden to abide by the contract that they have assented to by
being part of Mr. Steel’s class. Students who violate the contract will fill
out a discipline notice that will be submitted to Mr. Steel at the office. This
notice will be kept on file in case of ongoing behaviour concerns.
2. Cell phones and listening
devices (see the contract) ARE NOT permitted in Mr. Steel’s classroom. If a
student is caught using one or playing with one in class, the student will be
sent to the office to drop off the cell phone or listening device. The office
will be notified that the student will be dropping the device off, so if the
student decides not to go, but loiters or is insubordinate, then administrative
action will follow.
3. Excessive chatting and
repeated disrespect for classroom decorum will not be tolerated (see the
contract). Repeated failure to exhibit self-restraint may result in
disciplinary action.
4. Food and drink are no longer
permitted in Mr. Steel’s classroom due to frequent spills and student abuse of the
privilege. Apart from medical conditions, only water is permitted in the
classroom.
5. Students have 5 minutes to
go to the washroom, to a locker, or to the water fountain. This is a privilege
and not a right. Students who violate the 5 minute rule will not be allowed to
go the next time. Continual infractions may result in the privilege being
removed entirely.
6. Students who are
inordinately/chronically late, or who do not come to class prepared with
writing utensils, Courseware, and other necessities may be expected to make up
for the time they have wasted by staying in Mr. Steel’s classroom during their
lunch period. Failure to show up for these in-class detentions will result in
administrative action.
7. These simple rules and the
student contract are not meant to make life unpleasant for students, but to
facilitate student learning, respect, and academic rigor. Students who are not
interested in abiding by these rules or who are not willing to take this
philosophy course seriously should consider enrolling in some other
less-intensive elective.