The First Year Seminar

Spring 2001

Prof. L. Purdy

MacMillan 313

lpurdy@wells.edu

x3244
 
 
 
 

Objectives:

Writing: to learn to write an argumentative paper and refine other writing skills; learning about structure, logic, vocabulary, ethics of writing.

Content: to become familiar with ethical issues connected with contemporary developments in biotechnology, to develop skill in reasoning about them. Inherent in this process will be the ability to evaluate arguments and positions constructively (as distinct from personal attacks!). Subsidiary goals are to present material well, and to think on your feet.

Texts:

Anthony Weston, A Practical Companion to Ethics (PCE)

Anthony Weston, A Rulebook for Arguments (RA)

Suzanne Holland et al., The Human Embryonic Stem Cell Debate (SC)

Arlene Klotzko, The Cloning Sourcebook (C)

*copies on reserve

e: emailed items

Requirements:

This is a writing course, and so the emphasis will be on writing. There will be several short writing assignments. In general, you will have the opportunity to revise in light of comments. Your initial submission will be graded; that grade will constitute 60% of your final grade for that assignment. The grade for the revised version will constitute 40% of your final grade for that assignment. This arrangement should encourage you to do your very best on the first version; if it is truly wonderful, you won’t need to revise at all. Revisions should respond to my comments; failure to respond will result in a lower grade for the revision. In addition, you need to consider whether comments on one part of the paper are relevant to other parts, and show initiative in revising such parts as well. (Especially important for spelling, grammatical construction, and polish!)

Short writing assignments: 30%

Final writing exercise (in lieu of Final Exam; May 15^th, 7-10pm): 30%

Quizzes: 2; 10% each; (20%)

Debates: each of you will participate in one of 2 debates; 10%

Participation: 10%
 
 
 
 

Attendence: Required! Both you and other class members will benefit from attendence as our time will be taken up with critical discussion of readings and issues; ethics is something you learn to do, not just something you learn about. More than 2 unexcused absences will begin to impinge on your grade. If you miss classes, you are still expected to complete the relevant work.

Grading: Emphasis is on understanding issues and quality of argumentation. It is expected that assignments will be ready and handed in on time. Late work (i.e., papers or exams not handed in on the due date) will be accepted only if you make arrangements with me in advance, and will incur a 10% grade reduction.

Honor Code: Compliance with the Honor Code is expected.
 
 
 
 

Class Schedule

1/29 Introduction Assign short paper

1/31 Moral Reasoning PCE 1,2

2/5 Problem Solving PCE 3-5

2/7 Intro to Cloning; (1) C, 1; RA, Intro, 1

2/12 Cloning:Science; C, 2-4

2/14 Cloning Issues; 1^st quiz C, 5,6

2/19 Context of Cloning: (2) C, 7-9

2/21 " C, 10-12

2/26 Ethical Issues; (3) C, 13-15

2/28 " C, 16,17

3/5 " ; (4) C, 18,19

3/7 Policy Issues ; (5) C, 20-22

3/12 " ; (6) C, 23-25

3/14 1^st debate

3/19 March Break

3/21 March Break

3/26 Stem Cells: Science ; (7) SC, 1-3

3/28 Ethical Issues; 2^nd quiz SC, 4-6

4/2 " ; (8) SC, 7,14

4/4 " SC, 15,16

4/9 ", Policy ;(9) SC, 17,18

4/11 " ; SC, 19,20

4/16 2^nd debate

4/18 Xenotransplantation ; (10) web research

4/23 Animal Welfare ;(11) TBA

4/25 Informed consent & risk; (12) TBA

4/30 Perspectives on risk ; (13) Rachels

5/2 Social Determinants of Health’ (14) *Evans, Intro, 1,2

5/7 Context of Science TBA

5/9 Wrap-up
 
 
 
 

Writing Units

1. Intro to Argumentation RA: Intro, 1
2. Types of Argument: Example, Analogy RA: 2,3
3. Types of Argument: Authority RA: 4; e: Plagiarism
4. Types of Argument: Causes; Fallacies RA: 5,10
5. Composing an Argument RA:, 7,8
6. Writing an Argument RA: 9
7. Revision e:OWL: HOCS & LOCS
8. Vocabulary of Argumentation e: handout
9. Definitions RA:, Appendix
10. Transitional Devices e: OWL
11. Non-Sexist Language e: OWL
12. Conciseness; Clarity e: OWL
13. Sentence Variety e: OWL
14. Paragraphs e: OWL