Religion 110- World Religions Dr. Chris Brawley Office: LRC 418 (704-330-6164) E-Mail: chris.brawley@cpcc.edu Class policies and Procedures Fall 2015 Religion consists of the belief that there is an unseen order, and that our supreme good lies in harmoniously adjusting ourselves thereto ---William James Catalog Description This course introduces the world s major religious traditions. Topics include Primal religions, Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. Upon completion, students should be able to identify the origins, history, beliefs and practices of the religions studied. This course has been approved to satisfy the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement general education core requirement in humanities/fine arts. Text Van Voost, Robert E. RELG: World 2 nd ed. Connecticut: Cengage, 2015. Class Policies and Procedures Attendance 1. Division Attendance Policy: Consistent and timely attendance is essential to success in Religion courses, which orchestrate a great deal of discussion during class meetings; therefore, the division does not permit a student to pass nor continue to earn grades in a class where he or she misses 20% of its meetings. The only exceptions are for documented medical reasons, documented government responsibilities, and/or absences due to religious observances and/or military temporary duty/development that are properly communicated according to the College policies found at http://www.cpcc.edu/administration/policies-and-procedures/5-11-attendanceregulation. 20% = 6 classes 2.) Stopped Attending Policy: Stopped Attending: Any student who does not attend class for two consecutive weeks will be marked as Stopped Attending. In this situation, a student will be issued a grade of F and no future coursework will be graded. I am willing to work with students in such situations who provide me with acceptable documentation regarding circumstances within a reasonable amount of time (typically, within 3 days of having been designated Stopped Attending ), but it s up to me, as the instructor, to determine what is acceptable and what isn t. Being marked as Stopped Attending can affect Financial Aid distribution.
3. If you decide to withdrawal from the course it is your responsibility. In order to do this you must officially withdraw prior to the 35% date of the class (September 24th). If you stop attending class and fail to withdraw prior to the 35% date of the class, you will receive an F for the course. Common Courtesies: In order to be a successful college student, I will expect certain behaviors throughout the semester which will maintain the integrity of the course. Please be considerate of the following: turn off/vibrate cell phones, no texting, attend class unless you have a dire emergency, be responsible for make-up work, be on time for class, do not leave early unless instructed, do not talk while others are talking, raise your hands if you have a comment to make, make sure the comment is appropriate for a college level class, respect one another s opinions, keep an open mind! These courtesies will be strictly adhered to, so please remember to abide by them. Tests There will be three tests covering the following sections outlined in the syllabus: (test 1) the introductory chapter, indigenous religions, Hinduism, and Buddhism Pt 1 (Test 2) Daoism, and Confucianism, and Buddhism Pt 2 and (test 3) Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and New Religious Movements. Tentative dates for these tests are on the syllabus. Since the course is hybrid, Blackboard will be used to enhance the class. All tests will be taken in Blackboard. The tests will be open for a full week to give you plenty of time to take them If you do not have a home computer, or if you need help with using Blackboard, there are plenty of labs and facilitators available: the 3 rd floor of the IT building; the 2 nd floor of the ATC building; and the LRC (Library). There is also a link on our Blackboard course for tutorials. If you would like to look at these, click on the Student Resources button or the help button under our course and it should help. Study Guides for all three tests will be available in the Course Documents section of the course. There will be 50 questions on the tests (2 points each), and you will be timed (you will have an hour and a half to complete the tests). Grades for the tests can be accessed through the Blackboard button My Grades. You are not to use the book or your notes for the tests. Paper For the final paper you will be given two options: Service-Learning, an option to work with an agency for 20 hours and apply what you have learned to religion; or, Academic, a research paper dealing with some aspect of religion of interest. Each paper must be typed and between 5 and 7 full pages. The paper must be double-spaced, standard font (12 point), and include a title page. You must document all quotes and material used according to MLA guidelines. If you are unfamiliar with this style, please see me after class or use the Writing Center. Late papers are not accepted.
Option One: Service Learning. Service-Learning is defined as a teaching method that combines community service with classroom instruction as it focuses on critical thinking and civic responsibility. For this option, students must choose any agency they wish and volunteer for at least 20 hours during the semester. No research is necessary for this option. Once you decide on an agency, you must contact the CPCC Service-Learning Center for orientation dates and to fill out necessary paperwork. The paperwork is also online through the Service Learning Division. You must complete the paperwork before you start your Service-Learning hours. CPCC Service-Learning Center: Room 257 Overcash Building, Central Campus 704-330-6445 Final Paper for Service Learning Option: Once you completed your hours at your agency, I d like for you do reflect in two key issues we have looked at in many religions: why is there suffering and what can we do about it? Chose at least one religion you have studied this semester and discuss that religions understanding of suffering: where does it come from? Why do we need to suffer? Do animals or plants suffer? Once you have discussed the meaning of suffering within the religion itself, discuss how your work at your agency could fit into the solution of ending suffering. How did those 20 hours allow you to help understand the issue of suffering and what we can all do to change it? (Note: as you discuss your hours at the agency, make sure you reference specific examples which help make your case.) Option Two: Academic Option: If you decide not to participate in Service Learning, you must write a thoughtful research paper for any topic of interest as long as it relates to some aspect of World Religion. Your paper can focus on a particular religion we have covered in class. (For example, you can write a paper on some aspect of Indigenous Religions or some intriguing idea in Christianity); or, you can write a paper on some religion we did not cover. (For example, if you are interested in more modern religions such as Scientology, Rastafarianism, or Wicca, feel free to explore these religions.); or, you may want to write a paper which deals with a specific issue with which religion must deal with now or in the future. (Examples would be women s issues, the environmental crisis, issues of homosexuality, or the impact of science on religious thought.) Once you have decided on a topic of interest, think of what type of paper you want to write. I would suggest you stick to modes learned in English Composition such as Definition, Compare/Contrast, or Argumentative. Then, develop a thesis which will be the main idea in your paper. Use research (with quotes) to back up the points in your paper. Below are some examples of thesis statements for each of these modes.
Definition: Although many sects exist within the Islamic religion, their beliefs center on the Five Pillars of Faith. Compare/Contrast: Although separated by 500 years, Jesus and the Buddha have the same basic teachings. Argument: With the increasing destruction of the environment, it would be wise to incorporate many of the teachings of the Indigenous religions. Be aware that sources may include books, articles, newspapers, magazines, documentaries, movies, reputable internet sources, or even interviews. You must quote from a minimum of four sources. Please make sure you avoid plagiarizing by following MLA guidelines. Your paper will be submitted online through the SafeAssign software within the Blackboard course. Plagiarism The issue of digital plagiarism has raised concerns about ethics, student writing experiences, and academic integrity. Central Piedmont Community College subscribes to Blackboard which makes available a digital plagiarism detection program called SafeAssign, which may be used to check papers submitted in this course. You may be asked to submit your papers in a digital format (e-mail attachment, Blackboard(tm) assignment, digital drop box or on disk) so that your writing can be checked against web content and databases of existing papers. Although you may never have engaged in intentional plagiarism, many students do inadvertently incorporate sources without appropriate citations. By using SafeAssign, I can be alerted to your academic needs in terms of proper writing techniques and good practices. Plagiarism, the deliberate use of words or ideas of others without acknowledgment, is academically dishonest and not accepted. All work must be your own. Cases of possible plagiarism will be investigated and will result in a zero ( F ) for the paper. Please review CPCC s Academic Integrity Code in The Student Handbook and the CPCC Catalog. Note: The Writing Center is a valuable service to students who desire help during any stage of the writing process. I strongly encourage you to take advantage of this resource as it will ultimately help your grade. However, do not expect the Writing Center to do your work for you. They are located in the bottom floor of the Central High Building. Evaluation For both options, grades will be based on performance in these areas
Option One: Tests (3) 75% Paper 25% ---------------------- Total 100% Special note: I will keep all work you turn in for a year (if you would like to pick any of it up). After a year is up, all work will be shredded.