UH 300 Section 023: Sem/Justice: The Right Thing?

Student Hours: F 11:00-12:00  and by appointment

Phone: (205)310-6873

E-mail: rgilmer@ua.edu

Based on Michael Sandel's "Justice" class at Harvard, this class is a multimedia experience that will afford Honors College students at the University of Alabama at an opportunity to study theories of justice while considering what justice looks like historically and philosophically.  

The theories of justice introduced this term will be set into conversation with contemporary subjects in an effort to help students think clearly and make educated decisions about actions that affect both one's well being and the common good.  

Each unit will begin with a glimpse of what has taken place in Sandel's class at Harvard, and then, students here will be asked to participate in this discussion, as they read Sandel's book Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do? and the work of the philosophers whose work he engages throughout this study.   

Students in this class will be asked to read, write and offer intelligent and provocative presentations in class.  There will be both a midterm and a final, but the bulk of the grade for this semester will be earned through articulating and engaging the questions that emerge in the class.

By the end of the term, students who excel in this class will be able to:

1. Articulate how the question, "Justice: What is the right thing to do?" has been answered historically;
2. Explain the similarities and differences between the theories of justice considered in this class;
3. Apply any theory of justice addressed in this study to any contemporary subject discussed during the course of the term; and 
4. Speak intelligently and publicly about why he or she takes that philosophical stance that he or she does on the subjects discussed in class.

Course requirements:

1. Essay on justice (10%)
   In the beginning of the term, students will be asked to write one-page reflections on question "What is justice?" and these reflections will be presented in class on Friday, August 20.  For the purposes of this assignment, a page will be defined in terms of 8"x11" paper, 1 " margins, double-spaced print with the font set to 12 points.
2. Midterm presentation (25%)
   Every student will be asked to write a five page essay that applies one of the philosophies of justice discussed in the first half of the term with a contemporary subject discussed in class.  The presentations will be given in class October 6-11.    
3. Final presentation (25%)   
   A second presentation based on a five page essay will be given in class at the end of the term based on the contents of the second half of the course.  These presentations will take place November 17-22. 
4. Midterm exam (20%)
   A midterm exam will be given in class on Monday, October 4 on the theories of justice and their applications discussed in the first half of the term.  The format of this exam will be 25 multiple choice questions.
5. Final exam (20%)
   A final exam will be given in class on Wednesday, December 8 at 11:30 a.m.  The content of the exam will be theories of justice and their applications studied since midterm.  The format will be the same as the midterm.

Final grades in this course will be distributed according to the following scale:

A+ (97-100)	B+ (87-90)	C+ (77-80)	D+ (67-70)
A (93-96)	B (83-86)	C (73-76)	D (63-66)	F (0-59)
A- (90-92)	B- (90-92)	C- (70-72)	D- (60-62)

Please do not assume that missed exams and coursework may be made up.

If appropriate documentation is provided, exams may be made up outside of class at a time determined by the student and the instructor.

Given that presentations are scheduled in advance and that there is flexibility in scheduling, the only legitimate reason for missing a presentation would be an emergency, in which case the instructor would find another time for the essay to be shared with the class.

Students are expected to attend class and to come prepared to participate in class discussion.  Attendance will be taken regularly.  Excessive absences may have an adverse effect on one's final grade; outstanding attendance will be taken into consideration when final grades are being determined.

http://www.justiceharvard.org/

In the beginning of the term, no extra credit opportunities are scheduled, but the instructor is open to giving students extra credit for attendance at and written reflection on events that are relevant to the contents of the course provided that these events are announced in class so that every student in the course may be able to take advantage of this opportunity.

If you are registered with the Office of Disability Services, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible to discuss any course accommodations that may be necessary. If you have a disability, but have not contacted the Office of Disability Services, please call 348-4285 or visit 133-B Martha Parham Hall East to register for services. Students who may need course adaptations because of a disability are welcome to make an appointment to see me during office hours. Students with disabilities must be registered with the Office of Disability Services, 133-B Martha Parham Hall East, before receiving academic adjustments.

All students in attendance at the University of Alabama are expected to be honorable and to observe standards of conduct appropriate to a community of scholars. The University expects from its students a higher standard of conduct than the minimum required to avoid discipline. Academic misconduct includes all acts of dishonesty in any academically related matter and any knowing or intentional help or attempt to help, or conspiracy to help, another student.

The Academic Misconduct Disciplinary Policy will be followed in the event of academic misconduct.

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