Introduction to Philosophy Richard Lee
Philosophy 2003 CSpring 2007

Questions (and Answers?)

Q. If we missed an exam can that count as our dropped exam, or do we need to take the universal make-up?

A. I don't know anything about a "dropped exam." I do not drop an exam grade. There are four exam grades. Each count 15% of the total (the rest is made up by the writing assignment and the drill). The universal makeup exam replaces one missed exam or (if you haven't missed any) the lowest exam grade. So, if you have missed an exam or done poorly on exam, it would be wise to take the universal make-up.


Q. Will you be holding another review session before Monday's exam?

A. Yes. Sunday night at 7:15 in our usual room.


Q. I was absent on Wednesday last week because I severely cut open my elbow, but I turned in the paper on Monday. My friend called me on wednesday night asking me whether the second section on the paper was due that night. He evidently attended class and told me that no one was quite clear when the second draft should be turned in, and that everyone was worried that they should have already submitted it. I called numerous people in the class, and they gave me no answers. I've also checked your site numerous times, but there is no mention as to its due date, so I assume you haven't yet decided. If you could answer this question on the Question section I would greatly appreciate it. Also, if its already needed to have been turned in, could I please receive an extension as I wasn't able to attend class? I'll show 15 stitches in my elbow as proof.

A. "No one was quite clear when the second draft should be turned in ..." Right. Neither am I. I need to find out when the T.A.'s can get phase 1 back to you. Phase 2 requires you to take into account the comments on your phase 1 submission.


Q. Do our papers have to be submitted by class time or before midnight tonight?

A. Before midnight.


Q. How long does our paper have to be for 20 points? Also do we submit our paper electronically or do we give it to you in class!?

A. It is not assigned by length. It is specified by what you are supposed to do. YOu send it in electronically. See the web page assigning the paper.


Q. I'm looking over the course entire web page again just to help me understand the class; I understand about everything but one thing. On the Course Policies page, you mention a "scale of determination". What does this mean?

A. By "scale of determination" I mean the cut off points for letter grades. How many points do you need to get an A, a B, etc.? So the "scale of determination" is a function from points to letter grades.


Q. I've come to every class and I have no idea what you mean by "basic evaluative unit, and name its basic moral term"...Could you explain what answer you want pertaining to the question on the study guide about Utilitarinism and Kant's ethical theory?

A. Yes. For starters, see http://www.uark.edu/campus-resources/rlee/intrsp07/oh/normapp.html


Q. Will you post a review online for our test next week? Also, will there be another review session like the one you held for the last exam. I found it very helpful. Thanks!

A. Yes, and yes. See: http://www.uark.edu/campus-resources/rlee/intrsp07/study2.html
and
http://www.uark.edu/campus-resources/rlee/intrsp07/review.html


Q. If I know every question, or can at least give some semblance of an answer to every question on the study guide, (which obviously correlate closely to your lectures) will this guarantee me an A on the test? It would be pointless to give out a study guide if someone couldn't acquire an A from regurgitating the exact answers from class to the questions you're asking on it, right? Also, I'm wondering if you would mind giving us a sample of your Gregorian chant during class. Preferable live and not previously taped.

A. "[W]ill this guarantee me an A ..." No, certainly not. Maybe you can give "some semblance of an answer" but for some reason you don't. Not a guarantee. Even if you do give "some semblance of an answer," you might get a 0 on the question. If ask the sum of 3 and 3 (I won't) and you answer "9," you get the answer wrong, even though the numberal "9" resembles the numeral "6."

Would it be "pointless" to give out a study guide if someone couldn't get a good grade by "regurgitating the exact answers from class?" I hope not. It is quite possible (likely, I'd say) that I could ask a question on the exam such that no verbatim quote from class would be correct. But if you think the study guide is pointless, you don't need to use it.

No, I won't take up class time in this class singing Gregorian chant. If this were a music history class, I probably would (and have).



Richard Lee, rlee@.uark.edu, last modified: 30 April 2007