INTRODUCTION to PHILOSOPHY

DO NOT PANIC !!!   It may appear to you that all of this information and all the resources on this course site is quite overwhelming .  It may appear that with so much here, then the course must involve so much work, much more than other courses do.  DO NOT PANIC!   The impression of so much information should not lead you to the conclusion that the course has more work to it.  It does not.  Students who overcome the initial reaction of anxiety report very favorable assessments of this course.  It is just that there is so much given to support students as they enter the course and work their way through it.  So much is given to explain the course and its activities and to support students in their work.  So much is here because students have provided feedback and suggestions over the years this course has been offered that changes have been made to improve the course and student experience of the course.  Much is given to support student success.  Most students who complete the course do very, very well. Check the grades for yourself and see that while too many do not remain in the course , of those who do, there are many A's and B's. So, DO NOT PANIC!!!  Just look over everything and if you are registered and want to take this course and do well then begin by completing the first TEN STEPS and you will be on your way to a successful semester.

DO NOT PANIC!!  If you have the time to put into this course and actually do the work the results will be quite good.  This course rewards effort.  There are no tricks involved and no quizzes or exams or surprise assignments.

What does it come down to after all the reading of the basic information? Just how much work is involved in this class to do well?

9-12hrs/week of work each week in Fall and Spring Semesters that run 14 to 15 weeks 

18-24 hrs/week in SUMMER semesters that run only 7 or 8 weeks !!! 

27-36 hrs/week in SUMMER  semester that run ONLY 31 DAYS!!!!!

What is the work?  Three things!

(1)READINGS: reading the online textbook and the required readings marked by "READ" but supplied through internet links.  The online textbook is FREE.

(2)ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENT 

In a regular class attendance is taken directly. In this class it is done by having students fill out the attendance/question form in each class that they attend..  Students must be active in discussions in  EACH AND EVERY CLASS. Hopefully Students would INTERACT with classmates via discussions but this is NOT required. Each student is required to fill out the attendance form and on it include a question they have related to the subject matter of the class on that day.   The instructor will reply to one or more of the written questions at the start of the next class.

(3) WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS:

Submit the written assignments at the end of the module period by date on calendar  11:59pm

TEN STEPS TO START OFF

OK, let's get started by having you explore the course site and learn about the requirements and what we will be doing here.  For this first module or learning unit in this course you are expected to do the following TEN things! Yes TEN (10):   For this first few days you are expected to do the following TEN things! Yes TEN (10). I repeated that. Why? It is very important. Why?  Well, by the time you are finished you should know all that you need to know about this class and what is required to do well in it.

STEP 1. Read all the documents that are part of COURSE OUTLINE using the link COURSE OUTLINEBe sure to read How you will be evaluated!   There are a lot of items in the COURSE OUTLINE be sure to read ALL OF THEM. You have already begun!

STEP 2. Be sure you have access to the TEXTBOOK for this class.

STEP 3. Check and Print out the  COURSE CALENDAR - under COURSE OUTLINE or  COURSE CALENDAR or SCHEDULE ! Many students have stated that the calendar is a very useful tool or guide as to what they need to do and when to do it.

STEP 4. INTRODUCE YOURSELF to your instructor --submit a short description of yourself as a student .  What is your major?  What is your current degree program? What is your current career path? Submit or share anything else that you think important for the instructor to know.

 STEP 5.  Communicating with the Professor:     However, if you want to stop by for a visit my office is at Nassau  Community College room F in the M building 2nd floor. 

You can reach me for a personal matter by:

1.      for a personal matter  Sending me an email to Philip.Pecorino@ncc.edu

2.      for a personal matter  Call my office phone:  Wednesday 10am to 12 noon  1-718-281-5038

3.       for a class matter I shall also have VIDEO OFFICE HOURS for the class at times I shall announce.  They will be using ZOOM and the times and link sent by email.

STEP 6. SUBSCRIBE to the Discussion Forum Titled  SUGGESTIONS and QUESTIONS for the  PROFESSOR 

STEP 7. MANDATORY Email  PRACTICE re  Academic Integrity Statement and Policy  

****NO GRADES WILL BE GIVEN TO STUDENTS WHO DO NOT AGREE TO ABIDE BY THE ACADEMIC INTEGRITY POLICY of the COLLEGE. ***********

Read about Academic Integrity Statement and Policy  at your college and send your agreement to abide by it through Email  to your instructor.  You must use the NCC email address supplied by this college!!!!!! 

1. Paraphrase of the Academic Integrity Statement and Policy

2. the statement:

I, ____________,have read and understand the Academic Integrity Policy for this course and agree to abide by it.

Save your word processed file (document) as a WORD or a  DOC or TXT file. Then copy and paste the text into the message space of an EMAIL you send to Philip.Pecorino@ncc.edu   Do not send attachments!!!   Copy and paste your text from the word processor directly into the message window of the email. 

INSTRUCTIONS FOR EMAIL

As a NCC student You must use the NCC email address supplied by this college..  It will have a ncc.edu address!!!!!!  Each and every registered student has an email account.   If you do not have an address acceptable to this instructor you will have 10 days to get and use the college supplied email address and notify the instructor from the new address.

EMAIL PROTOCOLS

When sending email ALWAYS In the subject line put: first name , last name, class number PHI 101 HA FA24 , ASSIGNMENT# or QUESTION or HELP

After an assignment has been received, it will be graded and the feedback shared with you either by E-mail or by the use of an on-line grade book WebPages found by clicking on GRADES.

STEP 8. Read and then copy the course requirement information immediately below and send it to the instructor Philip.Pecorino@ncc.edu

 <<<<<<<<<<<<BEGIN COPY AND PASTE HERE:>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

The basic course activities and requirements:

All class information including the assignments are available on the class website for the outline/syllabus

How much work is involved in this class to do well?

9-12hrs/week of work each week in Fall and Spring Semesters that run 14 to 15 weeks 

18-24 hrs/week in SUMMER semesters that run only 7 or 8 weeks !!! 

27-36 hrs/week in SUMMER  semester that runs ONLY 31 DAYS!!!!!

What is the work?  Three things!

(1)READINGS: reading the online textbook and the required readings marked by "READ" but supplied through internet links.  The online textbook is FREE.

(2)ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENT 

In a regular class attendance is taken directly. In this class it is done by having students fill out the attendance/question form in each class that they attend..  Students must be active in discussions in  EACH AND EVERY CLASS. Hopefully Students would INTERACT with classmates via discussions but this is NOT required. Each student is required to fill out the attendance form and on it include a question they have related to the subject matter of the class on that day.   The instructor will reply to one or more of the written questions at the start of the next class.

(3) WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS:

Submit the written assignments at the end of the module period by date on calendar  11:59pm

<<<<<<END COPY AND PASTE HERE>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

STEP 9. READ the Student Reviews and Comments about this class.

STEP 10.  RELAX It looks like it is a lot but it is no more than any other class only just made more accessible and convenient and more is explained in text at the start.

Oh and what it comes down to is this:  The following learning activities apply to each module:

1. Read the assigned textbook material.

2. Attend class and Create and submit a question about the material. At least one in each class.

3. Respond publicly to some or all of the questions submitted by other students and any responses from the instructor.

4. Submit the written assignment for each module by the due date by 11:59pm.

Have a great semester and your efforts will be rewarded with a well earned good grade.

REMEMBER above all >>>SPECIAL NOTE:   DO NOT PANIC !!!!!

PLEASE understand that all materials for this course are located in in the class site and you can access them directly at any time.  That means that the online textbook is available at the two sites as well.  There is no reason why you can not proceed with all work with this course should one course site not be available.  Remember DO NOT PANIC  !!!   You will not be penalized for the failures of the university's system.

return to basic COURSE OUTLINE