Senior Seminar (RELS 400): Contemporary Approaches to the Study of Religion

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1 Senior Seminar (RELS 400): Contemporary Approaches to the Study of Religion Spring 2015, San Diego State University COURSE INFORMATION Class Days: MW 12:00-12:50; Office Hours Times: M 1-3 PM; W 1-3:30 PM (and by appointment) Class Location: PSFA 436 Instructor: Mihwa Choi Office Hours Location: A&L 665 Course Overview The course is a senior capstone seminar in major gearing towards to produce a research paper on topics in religious studies. For this purpose, the course also introduces contemporary approaches of studying religions and religious phenomena by focusing on several topics that are widely explored by scholars in the field of Religious Studies. This study intends to assist students to find intriguing topics for research paper, determine relevant conceptual tools and methods to approach them, and relate their work with previous scholarship. Student Learning Outcomes 1. Acquire an understanding of various contemporary approaches, key concepts, and issues frequently used and explored in the academic study of religion. 2. Use logic and theoretical methods to analyze religious issues and solve problems. 3. Demonstrate the ability to approach complex problems and ask complex questions drawing upon knowledge of religions. 4. Identify thesis and supporting arguments in scholarly writings, and to critically engage with them. 5. Create an independent research project through formulating an original and substantive thesis, and to provide evidence to support their argument. 6. Learn to orally defend positions taken in written work, and to productively engage in constructive criticism. 7. Improve public presentation skill in various formats. Course Materials Required readings will be uploaded on Blackboard. Course Requirements ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION: It is crucial to attend and participate in class because discussion and peer feedback are integral elements to improve your work and others. SEMINAR PRESENTATION (Due in different weeks, depending on the sign-up schedule): Each student is responsible for presenting in one session during the seminar section. This presentation includes identifying inquiries, thesis, and argumentations, and coming up with discussion questions. Powerpoint slides are required. RESEARCH TOPIC PRESENTATIOPN (Due in different weeks, depending on the signup schedule): Each student presents a lecture on his or her research topic. It can be an introduction of influential books and articles, and summary of controversies related to his or her research topic. 1

2 PROPOSAL with BIBLIOGRAPHY (Due: Feb. 11): A proposal is a summary of what you intend to research and write about. It includes an inquiry, hypothesis, and outline of your writing. (About 300 words) Bibliography (at least 10 scholarly sources) attached. MID-TERM ESSAY: Write essays to exam questions based on the readings and discussions in the seminar (10%, Due: Mar PM) FIRST DRAFT OF RESEARCH PAPER (Due: 3 days before your scheduled presentation day): A first draft to be posted on the Blackboard. WORK-IN-PROGRESS PRESENTATION (Panel presentation Mar. 25-Apr. 15): Panels consist of similar topics will be formed. Students read other students draft before coming to the class. Panel presentation in conference format will be held. PEER REVIEW: Students are required to read the first draft of other students papers in order to offer comments, criticism and questions. Your comments are posted on the blackboard. PANEL RESONSE: Each student is responsible for writing comments (about one page in length) on an assigned paper and presents in class two times: one in the WORK-IN-PROGRESS PRESENTATION and another in the FINAL PRESENTATION. SECOND DRAFT OF RESEARCH PAPER: After receiving feedbacks, students revise their first draft and write a solid second draft of their paper, and then post it on the blackboard. FINAL PRESENTATION (To be scheduled): Students are to present their paper to other students and professors. A brief session for discussion will be included. TERM PAPER (Final Version Due: May 13) All topics must be cleared in advance. The paper should be about 20 pages or in 6,000 words (12 fonts and double-spaced). Academic inquiry, thesis, and argumentations are to be clearly stated. Course Assessment and Grading Graded Components Participation 150 Seminar Presentation 50 Midterm essay 100 Research Topic Presentation 50 Proposal 30 Panel Presentation 60 (work-in-progress presentation) Peer Review 30 2

3 Panel Response 20 Final Presentation 60 Final Paper 450 Total 1000 possible points Final Grade-Point Tally The following scale converts accrued points to letter grade equivalents: A C A C B D B D B D C+ 599 or < F Attendance and Participation Policies Students attendance and participation are graded. All cell phones and other electronic devices (laptop, ipads) must be turned off (or on vibrate) and hidden from view during class time. Use of those devices will be counted as absence. Students with Disabilities We welcome students with disabilities in this course and make every effort to accommodate disabilities. If you are a student with a disability and believe you will need accommodations for this class, it is your responsibility to contact Student Disability Services at (619) To avoid any delay in the receipt of your accommodations, you should contact Student Disability Services as soon as possible. Please note that accommodations are not retroactive, and that accommodations based upon disability cannot be provided until you have presented your instructor with an accommodation letter from Student Disability Services. Your cooperation is appreciated. Academic Honesty The University adheres to a strict policy regarding cheating and plagiarism. Examples of Plagiarism include but are not limited to: Using sources verbatim or paraphrasing without giving proper attribution (this can include phrases, sentences, paragraphs and/or pages of work). Copying and pasting work from an online or offline source directly and calling it your own. Using information you find from an online or offline source without giving the author credit. Replacing words or phrases from another source and inserting your own words or phrases. Submitting a piece of work you did for one class to another class without informing the instructors of both classes. Contact Blackboard Collaborate Technical Support Available 24 hours/day - 7 days/week. North America, Toll Free: 1 (877)

4 Course Schedule (Subject to change as circumstances dictate.) * Posted on the Blackboard under Reading Assignment. Date Content and Activities Assignments and Readings WEEK 1 1/23 WEEK 2 1/28 Introduction to the Course Fields in Religious Studies, and Methods of Studying Religion What Is Research Paper? Introduction of Students Issues in Defining Religion Workshop: Library Resources How to Avoid Plagiarism Discussion of Student Project Topics J. Z. Smith, Religion, Religions, Religious * Write your topic and a method of study in one page, and present it in class. WEEK 3 2/4 Postcolonial Theories Student presenter: Workshop: Writing Proposal Reference format Edward Said, The Scope of Orientalism Presenter: Post your PowerPoint on the Student Presentation at the Blackboard. A student lecturer introduces background knowledge related to his or her research topic. (It is not meant to present your research project itself, but background knowledge of the subject.) Post your PowerPoint on the Student Presentation at the Blackboard, and do presentation. WEEK 4 2/11 Religion and Power Student presenter: Presentation of Proposal with Bibliography Bruce Lincoln, Introduction ; ch. 7. Revolutionary Exhumations in Spain in Discourse and Construction of Society * Write your proposal and bring multiple copies of it to be shared in class 4

5 Date Content and Activities Assignments and Readings WEEK 5 2/18 WEEK 6 2/25 WEEK 7 3/4 WEEK 8 3/11 WEEK 9 3/18 Myth and Ideologies (I) Presentation of Proposal with Bibliography Myth and Ideologies (2) Workshop: Identifying Your Audience Writing Introduction Comparative Study of Religions (I) Workshop: Writing Introduction Comparative Study of Religions (II) Workshop: Writing Main body and Conclusion Workshop: Formatting Document for Paper Wendy Doniger, ch. 3, Implied Spiders and Politics of Individualism, in The Implied Spider * Write your proposal and bring multiple copies of it to be shared in class Bruce Lincoln, The History of Myth from the Renaissance to the Second World War in Theorizing Myth Martin Riesebrodt, Ch. 6, The Radical Quest for Salvation, The Promise of Salvation * Write your introduction and post it on Student Presentation. Bring multiple copies of it to be shared in class Mihwa Choi, Extreme Asceticism: Confucian Practice and Riesebrodt's Religious Virtuoso, Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 51: 3 Mid-term essay to be posted on Exam/Peer Review at the Blackboard by 3/16 10 PM 5

6 Date Content and Activities Assignments and Readings Workshop: Writing Feedback Students are paired to read each other s paper and exchange feedback Post the first five page of the first draft of your paper on the Student Presentation at the Blackboard by 3/15 10 PM. Then bring multiple copies of it to classroom to be shared. WEEK 10 3/25 WEEK 11 WEEK 12 4/8 WEEK 13 4/15 WEEK 14 4/22 WEEK 15 4/29 Work-in-progress presentation Work-in-progress presentation Work-in-progress presentation Student Presentation Student Presentation Spring Break Presenters: Post the first draft of your paper on the Student Presentation at the Blackboard by 3/22 10 PM Respondents: Write your response to the assigned paper in one page and present in class. Post it on Exam/Peer Review under The 1 st Response to the 1 st Draft at the Blackboard Everyone: Read 3 papers of your choice and submit Peer Review on Exam/Peer Review at the Blackboard the blackboard before come to the class. Discuss strength and suggestions for its improvement in one paragraph. Presenters: Post the first draft of your paper on the Student Presentation at the Blackboard by 4/5 10 PM Everyone: Same as the above Presenters: Post the first draft of your paper on the Student Presentation at the Blackboard by 4/12 10 PM Everyone: Same as the above Presenters: Submit the second draft of your paper on the Student Presentation at the Blackboard by 4/19 10PM. Present your paper in class. Respondents: Write your response to the assigned paper in one page and present in class. Post it on Exam/Peer Review under The 2 st Response to the 2 st Draft at the Blackboard Presenters: Submit the second draft of your paper on Student Presentation at the Blackboard by 4/19 10 PM. Present your paper in class. 6

7 Date Content and Activities Assignments and Readings WEEK 16 5/6 Student Presentation Presenters: Submit the second draft of your paper on Student Presentation at the Blackboard by 4/19 10 PM. Present your paper in class. 5/13 Final Paper Submission By incorporating the feedbacks from the instructor and others, write the final version of your paper and submit it on the Blackboard. 7