Here's a link to the case study for your first forum assignment, and for group work on Wednesday (it's actually a discussion of several related cases).
Your forum assignment has two parts. Please complete Part 1 by no later than midnight on Monday night. Your colleagues will need time to read your comment and respond. Please complete Part 2 by no later than midnight on Tuesday night. Everyone in the class will need a chance to read all of the comments and response by class on Wednesday.
READ THE ENTIRE ASSIGNMENT THROUGH CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU BEGIN WRITING!
Part 1
Read the article carefully and think about it for at least 10 minutes before you begin to write anything. Walk around and mull it over for a while.
Now, jot your thoughts down in a word processing file or on a piece of scrap paper. I still don't want you to write anything in comments, yet. Think about all of the complicated issues that arise on each side of this issue. What do you think are the best reasons to give people who have severe anorexia nutrition against their wishes? What do you think are the best reasons to follow the wishes of those with severe anorexia, who don't want to ingest any calories? What might someone object to the reasons you've written?
Okay, now compose your best answer to the questions below. Write your answer in a word processing program so that you can edit it easily, and so that it doesn't get lost if there's a glitch in uploading your comments. Include your first name and last initial at the top of your comment.
- What do you think the default rule should be, with regard to people with severe anorexia, who will starve to death without nutrition, but who object to any nutrition? Should they be "fed" against their will (this usually involves a stomach tube or an intravenous line)?
- Why do you think so? Give your best three reasons.
I'd like you to spend at least 30 minutes thinking about and composing your answer, not including the time it took you to read the article. A good answer will show careful reflection on the question; will demonstrate that you've thought about some of the complexities involved; will demonstrate that you've done the assigned reading; and that you've taken seriously issues that arise on both sides of the issue. Further, a good answer will include a detailed explanation of your reasoning. Each of your reasons should constitute at least a paragraph of text. This part of the assignment is worth 75 points.
Once you've finished composing your answer, save it, and then copy it. Click on the "comments" link (in orange) below (the link will say "no comments" if you're the first person to answer, or "# comments" once others have posted). Be sure you click on the comments link
below - that is, the comments that belong to this post, and not the "Welcome" post above. Copy your answer into the text box that appears. Right underneath the comment box, you'll see a drop down menu that says "comment as." Choose "anonymous" and then click on "Publish." Your comment should appear beneath the post. If you comment doesn't appear, send me an email.
Part 2
Give your colleagues several hours to post their own answers to the questions above, and then come back and read the comments. Choose a comment that you think is particularly interesting, and that you think you can respond to in an interesting way.
Type your response in a word processing program. Include your first name and last initial at the top of your response.
A good response will push the discussion forward in some way. You might (politely and respectfully) disagree with the person you're responding to and say why; you might ask that person a question to help flesh out her/his idea; you might take the original comment as a jumping off point and add some new ideas of your own. DON'T just tell someone that you agree with his/her comment and repeat their points using slightly different words.
Your response should show carefully consideration and reflection, and should include a detailed account of your own reasons for the ideas you express.
Once you've finished composing your response, save it, and then copy it. Find the original comment that you're responding to (NOT your original comment - your colleague's comment). Click on "reply," below that comment. Paste your response into the comment box that appears. Choose "anonymous" from the drop down menu, and then click on "publish."
I'd like you to spend at least 20 minutes thinking about and composing your response, aside from the time it took you to read your colleagues' comments. This part of the assignment is worth 50 points.
Let me know if you have any trouble opening the link.
Welcome to Philosophy 110: Introduction to Ethics! This is one of my favorite classes - I hope you'll all learn a lot, think hard, and have fun doing it. Philosophy makes your brain work hard, but it's great fun.
