Catholic Morality Course Syllabus: Spring Semester ~ Lansing Catholic High School

Mrs. Gates
Course Website: www.catholicmorality.weebly.com
Email: mary.gates@lansingcatholic.org
I.

Course Description
Welcome to Catholic Morality, the required second semester theology course for LCHS tenth graders. This course is
designed for you as you learn what it means to live each day as a Christian disciple. This class (like many resources at
LCHS) is meant to support you as you discover the person God intends you to be.

II.

Course Content
a.

III.

Outcomes - At the end of this course you will be able to:

i. demonstrate how to make good moral decisions,
ii. apply the steps of conscience formation to your life,
iii. explain how our authentic happiness is connected to a moral life lived within the Trinity,
iv. characterize what makes a good vs. a bad moral decision,
v. identify the theological and cardinal virtues and how to grow in each of them,
vi. summarize Pope John Paul IIs Theology of the Body and its implication for how we relate as
persons,
vii. recognize the importance of making good moral decisions in line with Gods will as a
foundation for an eternal relationship of love and friendship with Christ.

Course Materials
a.
Textbooks
i.
ii.
iii.

b.
c.

IV.

The Moral Life in Christ (semester edition) ISBN 978-1-890177-69-0

Catechism of the Catholic Church,

Bible
Bring your notebook and textbook to class every day. I will post on the door when to bring CCC or Bible
General supplies
i. Various handouts will be distributed throughout the semester; students are responsible for bringing
these to class as required.
ii. A pen for note-taking and in-class assignments.
iii. A notebook for class notes and used exclusively for this class this will be collected periodically.

Course Policies
a.
Attendance/absences/tardiness
i. If you are absent please refer to the class website for handouts and a summary of the days
activities/notes.
ii. For excused absences you have as many days as you are absent to make up the work as is school policy
b.

c.

Make-up work/late work

i. Any assignment not turned in on time (the beginning of class on the due dates) receives 75% of the
earned grade unless you have an excused absence, in which case, the assignment is due in accordance
with the policies in the Student Handbook.
ii. It is your responsibility to find out what you have missed when you are absent, and to be prepared when
you return to class.
iii. If you miss a test, be prepared to make it up on the day you return, or as noted in the Student Handbook
for extended absences. Tests need to be made up outside of class time (before or after school, during
homeroom, during my prep periods or your Study Hall).

Classroom rules/expectations
i. Daily Routine
1. When the second bell rings everyone should be in their seat silently copying the daily scripture
passage or completing the initial assignment/warm up question
2. Class prayer
3. Class discussions or activities
4. Recap of the day's lesson or major points
5. Clean up, turn in work, push in chairs.
d.
Disciplinary policies
i. Cheating in any form is unacceptable. If you cheat:
1. you will receive a zero on the assignment/quiz
2. your parents and the assistant principal will be notified
3. you will still need to complete the assignment to work towards mastery of the material but it will
be for no credit

ii.
iii.

Students who come to class not in the proper dress code will be required to leave to correct the problem.
Devices should only be used when I give permission I will confiscate any devices used without
permission.

e.

Homework policy
i. Homework is given 1-3 times a week in order for the student to grow in understanding of the material to
work toward the course objectives. All homework assignments are due at the beginning of the class
period on the due date. Homework turned in after the beginning of the hour will be considered late.

f.

Calculation of Grades
i. Check your grade on Skyward Family Access often - grades will be updated every two weeks if not
sooner.
ii. Extra Credit I will occasionally allow you to go above and beyond on an assignment to earn extra
credit.

g.

Types of Assessments
i. Formative assessments will be given throughout each week which will help me check for your
understanding of the concepts and vocabulary.
ii. Summative assessments will be given at the end of each unit. Some of these will be in the form of a test
that will include vocabulary identification/application, summarizing, comparing and contrasting.
iii. Formats of these assessments will vary but may include an essay format, short answer, identification,
matching, true-false, multiple-choice, performance/demonstration.
iv. Assessments will be designed to show an understanding of the material per our outcomes.
v. The final exam will be comprehensive. In addition to prior assessments, an exam review will be
provided.
Progress Reports I will notify parents at deficiency time if a student is at 70% average or below for the
semester. Parents will also be notified if behavior is unacceptable or there is a lack of effort from the student.

h.

V.

Personal Statement
a.
Words of wisdom- Succeeding in This Class
i. One key to success in this class is taking thorough notes. Come in prepared to take notes; review your
notes regularly to reinforce what we covered in class; be sure you understand what you have written.
ii. You must also come to class having read the assignment for the previous night. If you do not read, you
cannot do well on tests and you cannot participate in class discussions.
iii. Come to class with an open mind and heart this course is meant to support you as you work toward
discovering who God intends you to be.
iv. Commit to prayer.

VI.

Course Schedule
Topics
Syllabus,
What is Christian Moral Theology?
Methods of Moral Evaluation
Understanding the Nature of Actions
Mid-term Review & Applications
Spring Break
Morality, Law and Moral Obligations
Sin and Grace
Applications and Examples
Theology of the Body

Vocab,
Universalism, Minimalism, Moral Relativism,
Christian Morality: What is it? What isnt it?,
Evangelization
Moral Conscience, Use and misuse of
conscience, moral evaluation
Parts of a Moral Act, Intention, Object,
Circumstances,
TBD
------------------------Eternal, Natural, Civil Law, Church Authority
Objective vs. Subjective Morality, Sin (types, 3
components of decision to sin), Grace,
War, lying, capital punishment, scandal,
euthanasia
Exploring Pope John Pauls teachings on the
Theology of the Body