January 14

Class Outline


January 16

Class Outline

Recommended Online Resources


January 18

Class Outline


Required Websites

Online Versions of Required Readings


January 21

Class Outline


Online Versions of Required Readings


January 23

Class Outline


Required Websites

Choice for Semester Project: Please select one of these options for your semester project and submit your choice to me by this Friday. If you're doing Project #1 or Project #2, you need to sign and turn in a standard release form. If you select the third option, include at least three names of inmates to whom you're interested in writing. (You can search for names either at the description of this project option or here.)

    Option 1: Intern at the Center for the Homeless.
    Option 2: Study poverty and the working poor.
    Option 3: Correspond with death-row inmates.

    If Option 1, and you already know which particular position you'd like to have at the Center, please indicate that.

    If Option 3, provide at least 3 names of inmates (and if you will be having your letters sent through me and will be using a different name for yourself, let me know what that is too):



    Your Name:
    E-mail Address:



Online Versions of Required Readings

Recommended Online Resources


January 25

Class Outline


Required Websites

Online Versions of Required Readings

Recommended Online Resources


January 28

Class Outline


Required Websites

Recommended Online Resources


January 30

Class Outline


Required Websites

Online Versions of Required Readings

Recommended Online Resources


February 1

Class Outline


Recommended Online Resources


February 4

Class Outline


Online Versions of Required Readings

Recommended Online Resources


February 6

Class Outline


Online Versions of Required Readings

Recommended Online Resources


February 11

Class Outline


Online Versions of Required Readings

Recommended Online Resources


February 13

Class Outline


Required Websites
  • Online sperm banks: take your pick!
  • Online quiz to test your knowledge of reproductive technologies: Thirteen multiple choice questions with instant computer scoring that will be a fun way to introduce you to the issues
  • Agree or disagree with this quotation by Arlette Schweitzer and cast your vote on this online poll: "If you can give the gift of life, why not? If medical science affords that opportunity, why not take it?" (I know this may be a brand new topic for many of you, and so you may have a hard time deciding whether you agree or disagree right now. But I think it's important that we have a sense of everyone's initial views on this topic. So do the best you can with what you know for now. Fill out the three questions and then click on "Done>>" to submit your responses.)


Online Versions of Required Readings

Recommended Online Resources
  • Clinics


    February 15

    Class Outline


    Required Websites

    Online Versions of Required Readings

    Recommended Online Resources


    February 18

    Class Outline


    Required Websites

    Recommended Online Resources


    February 20

    Class Outline


    Required Websites

    Online Versions of Required Readings

    Recommended Online Resources


    February 22

    Class Outline


    Required Websites

    Recommended Online Resources
    • Surrogacy and the Law
    • The Center for Surrogate Parenting and Egg Donation, Inc.: the home page of a Beverly Hills firm brokering the arrangements for egg donors and surrogate mothers. It features descriptions of the processes, information for potential parents, information for potential surrogates and egg donors, and information on fees and legal issues. In addition, the Egg Donor Database has pictures and information on over 300 available egg donors. Access to this database is available only for potential recipient couples (who have been given a special access code). Once into this database, couples can run a search based on the state the donor lives in, ethnic origin, religion, eye color, hair color, and height. Though the database isn't open for general viewing to the public, the other information at this site (especially, the letters from previous egg donors on why they did what they did, what they got out of it, etc.) is interesting nonetheless.



    February 25

    Class Outline


    Required Websites

    Online Versions of Required Readings

    Recommended Online Resources


    February 27

    Class Outline


    Required Websites
    • Living Will forms from different states. When you click on a state, you may get a few pages of instructions about how to fill out these forms. Skim through these (or skip entirely). Then you may get a series of forms: a power of attorney for heath care form, a living will form (the one I'm most interested in here), and perhaps even a life-prolonging procedures declaration (which essentially says that you want everything done as long as possible). You're welcome to fill out as many of these as you wish, but I'm mostly interested in the living will form. You might also look at the Frequently Asked Questions about living wills. You'll need Adobe Acrobat to download the forms.
      • Download Adobe Acrobat Reader: You'll need this to view the living wills. If you're on a networked lab computer, chances are high that this is already installed on the machine and so you won't need to download. By the way, many of the state forms give you what's called a 'power of attorney for health care' form and then the living will form. I'm mostly interested in the latter for now, but you're welcome to fill everything out.



    Midsemester Feedback: I would like to request some feedback about how "Catholic Social Thought" is going for you and would like each of you to respond by the end of this week to the following items:

    • First, state the goal for class participation you indicated on the student info sheet passed out on the first day of class
      More than once a class.
      About once a class.
      About once a week.
      About once every


      ...and then assess your own class participation in light that goal (contact me if you don't remember what you put down).

      I am exceeding my original goal.
      I am meeting my original goal.
      I am not meeting my original goal.

      Now explain why you checked what you did and indicate (if you're not meeting your goal) what I can do to help you get there:




    • Second, on the whole, how would you rate this course thus far?

      Excellent
      Very Good
      Good
      Fair
      Poor

      Are you getting out of this course what you thought you would? What would make the course a better learning experience for you?



      Name:
      E-mail Address:



    • When I hear from you, I'll send you a response to what you've said that will also indicate where I think you currently are in terms of participation, postings, etc. Thanks very much, and have a great (and safe) break.



    Recommended Online Resources


    February 29

    Class Outline


    Required Online Survey
    • Respond to the following question and cast your vote on this online poll: "If you were nearing death, would you want everything done as long as physically possible to maintain your life?"


    Online Versions of Required Readings

    Recommended Online Resources


    March 10

    Class Outline


    Required Websites

    Recommended Online Resources


    March 12

    Class Outline


    Recommended Online Resources


    March 14

    Class Outline


    Required Websites
    • "Media use and perceptions of welfare" by Mira Sotirovic : "This paper examines public perceptions of the extent of governmental spending on welfare and the characteristics of a typical welfare recipient." While you are welcome to read the whole thing, feel free to skip the sections titled "Method" and "Analysis Strategy" (unless you're in a major where those things might be interesting to you).
    • Frequently asked questions about welfare
    • Poverty Tour: Though this give you information for a family of four, it may still be helpful in coming up with your individual budgets by giving you some sense of what essentials need to be considered and what things cost.


    Recommended Online Resources


    March 17

    Class Outline


    Required Websites

    Recommended Online Resources


    March 19

    Class Outline


    Online Versions of Required Readings

    Recommended Online Resources


    March 25 (evening)

    Required Websites

    Recommended Online Resources
    • Fact Sheet about Homelessness: who's homeless, how many are homeless, why people are homeless; homelessness and mental illness, additions, domestic abuse; health care and homelessness
    • Homelessness in the United States: a site maintained by the Theology Library, featuring Church statements on homelessness, a fact sheet on homelessness, homeless newspapers, voices of the homeless, a state-by-state listing of homeless shelters across the United States (and a brief description of services offered at each), homeless organizations and local efforts, and links to lots of other sites on homelessness
    • National Coalition for the Homeless Home Page: online information on homelessness and poverty, hear homeless people share their experiences, facts about homelessness, links to other internet resources concerning homelessness and poverty
    • A site containing information on shelters and programs for the homeless, links to other resources on the net, the homeless discussion list (a global electronic discussion list focused on the subject of homelessness, featuring input from those currently homeless, those formerly homeless, and many other involved in this issue)
    • Homeless shelters in the United States
    • Profile of the Homeless: Though this profile comes from San Diego, it's pretty typical of the rest of the country as well.



    March 26

    Class Outline


    March 28

    Class Outline


    Required Websites

    Recommended Online Resources


    March 30 (evening)

    Recommended Online Resources


    March 31

    Class Outline


    Online Versions of Required Readings

    Recommended Online Resources


    April 2

    Class Outline


    Required Websites

    Online Versions of Required Readings


    April 4

    Class Outline


    Required Websites

    Recommended Online Resources


    April 7

    Class Outline


    Required Websites

    Recommended Online Resources


    April 9

    Class Outline


    Required Websites

    Online Versions of Required Readings

    Recommended Online Resources


    April 11

    Class Outline


    Required Websites

    Online Versions of Required Readings

    Recommended Online Resources


    April 14

    Class Outline


    Required Website

    Online Versions of Required Readings

    Recommended Online Resources


    April 16

    Recommended Online Resources


    April 18

    Class Outline


    Required Websites

    Online Versions of Required Readings

    Recommended Online Resources


    April 21

    Class Outline


    Recommended Online Resources


    April 23

    Class Outline


    Required Websites

    Online Versions of Required Readings

    Recommended Online Resources


    April 25

    Class Outline


    Online Versions of Required Readings

    Recommended Online Resources


    April 28

    Class Outline


    Required Websites

    Recommended Online Resources