Mr. Michael Shaughnessy – vm: 731-7500, ext 712;  em:   mshaughnessy@siprep.org

Office hours: by appointment in 202

One must always follow one's well-informed conscience.

Course Description:

Course Description - The foundation to this course is the call to uphold and promote the Gospel message of Jesus Christ. This two-semester course engages students in the broad philosophical and theological discussions of good and evil, right and wrong, freedom and duty, in and beyond the practical moral decisions of everyday life. The first semester establishes an understanding of human dignity, informed conscience, and emphasizes a spectrum of principles and virtues. The second semester introduces the tradition of social justice, Catholic social teaching, and the common good. Students will tackle some of the most compelling dilemmas and dreams of the human experience.

The central questions we will be exploring this year are:

What kind of person am I becoming?

What kind of person do I want to become?

What kind of society am I living in?

What kind of society do I want to live in?

What does it mean to be fully human? What does it mean to be fully alive?

Such questions examine what is happening in our lives and what we desire for our lives. One way of defining moral integrity is the degree to which the responses to these questions converge. In the fall semester, we will focus on developing skills for determining what kind of persons we are becoming, identifying and critically analyzing the choices we face, and making choices which help us to live lives of moral integrity. In the spring semester, we will evaluate our participation, as part of both a local and a world community, in the social systems that affect every human being. The existence of good and evil in the human spirit and the inevitable conflict between them will be studied as a personal as well as societal phenomenon .

Required Texts/Materials:

Course Reader in binder. Prepare your reader as a 3- ring binder and create the following sections: 1.Weekly Reflections/Examens; 2. Additional Handouts; 3. Homework; 4 In-class notes

Mountains Beyond Mountains (second semester)

Bring the binders every day.

Units for the first semester:

I: Analyzing Morality - What does it mean to be a Moral Person? What is the Christian Vision of Morality?

II: Developing a Morality - Who am I? Who do I want to become? Character, Choices, Values, Virtues

III: Moral Maturity - How do I exercise Conscience? Moral Principles, Development, Dilemmas

IV: Developing a Sexual Ethic - How Culture affects Adolescent Sexual Behavior

Grades will be assigned according to the following scale:

100-94 A 93-90 A- 89-86 B+

85-83 B 79-82 B- 78-76 C+

75-73 C 72-69 C-

68-66 D+ 65-63 D 62-60 D- Below 60 F

Classwork:

All work must be typed in the correct format and free of grammatical and spelling errors. Development and depth of ideas should reflect 11 th grade level effort and ability. The rewrites of some papers may be required under certain circumstances. If you miss class, for any reason, you are responsible for all work, handouts, etc. A "retreat" resource person will have notes for you when you return from retreat.

"Get off Your Butt" (GOYB) Project:

--You will be asked to attend at least one "wake up your conscience" activities each quarter. These are events both at SI and outside of SI. They will be listed as they come up on the webpage. A one page reflection paper is due after the event.

Policy on Late Assignments: (read this carefully)

Assignments are due at the beginning of the class period. The class depends on all members of the class being prepared; excellence requires no less. Late work is not acceptable. If you foresee a problem, come and discuss it with me before the due date. This includes retreats, sports dismissals, etc. In case of illness, please see me on your return. Computer/printer problems do not constitute a crisis or excuse. (Do not wait until the last minute to do the assignment.)

At my discretion, you might still be assigned to Study Table. At my discretion, assignments from Study Table might result in a zero being replaced with a 50%.

Reflection Responses:

Students are required to write reflection responses to much of the material studied in class. Reflections must be typed and are graded on how the student effectively articulated his/her reaction to the issue and if the student struggled with the topic on a level that challenges and deepens the student's thinking .

Essays will not be graded on the particular moral stance you take but on the following criteria: (1) Form (correct format, grammar, spelling, and formal usage), (2) Style (the paper reads smoothly, is well-organized [has a beginning, middle, and end], and varies in its expression), and (3) Argument (the paper is well-reasoned and logical; the conclusion is intelligently supported). A one-page essay should consist of at least three paragraphs: an introductory paragraph, your argument, and a concluding paragraph. In essays and papers you may not use the second person (you); write in the first and third persons only. Avoid the repeated use of words such as like , really , and very .

Class Participation/Group Work.

Due to the nature of the subject matter, it is absolutely essential that every student actively paticipates in classwork. Students are expected to come to class having read the assigned material and answered the questions in their notebook so they can intelligently discuss the issue. This includes listening skills. Regardless of a student's final grade percentage from written work, a student cannot receive an "A" for the course without consistent preparation for and participation in classwork.

This class is concerned with values, decision- making, and justice. Your participation is essential. You will be asked to read about issues, reflect on them, and give your thoughtful judgment. You are free to express your opinions in this class. Any opinion, though, can be questioned and analyzed. You should have reasons backing up your opinions and should be able to communicate those reasons to the rest of us. As a rule, everyone should expect to speak in every class. Respectful listening is essential. We need to listen to what others have to say even if we disagree. Argument and controversy are fine—reasoned conversation gives us new perspectives and advances our knowledge. Shouting and discourtesy are not fine and will not be tolerated. The following are non-negotiable rules of discussion: (1) Everyone deserves to be heard with respect. (2) Only one person speaks at a time; everyone else listens. (3) Do not interrupt when another person is speaking. (4) Do not raise your hand while another person is speaking; listen to that person instead. We have plenty of time for people to be heard. Participation will account for 20 percent of your overall semester grade. See Excellence in Particiption.

Presentations:

During the course of the year you will be asked individually and as groups to make presentations. These presentations may be simple ones such as summarizing a reading assignment or more complex ones requiring independent research and more detailed planning. The ability to speak before a group of peers is an important skill to develop. Everyone will have the opportunity to stand before the class and present material. Your presentations will be graded on the quality of your organization , delivery , and creativity .

Last but not least:

"Morality is rooted in the purity of our hearts." (Mahatma Gandhi)
Our moral reflection takes place in the context of the world in which we live. It is my hope that this course will help you to develop moral guidelines that enable you to respond to OUR multicultural world with a sense of intelligence, generosity, integrity, justice, love, compassion, and moral courage

Student Signature: _______________________________________________

Parent Signature :____________________________________________________

Date:_____________________________

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