Introduction to the Study of Religion

Assignments
(in addition to quizzes and exam)

Beginning of Semester:

"Religion & Me" (introductory reflections):

In an approximately 500 word essay: Compose a first person narrative discussing your personal experience (or lack thereof) with and perspective on religion to this point in your life and reflect on what you expect from this course. Some guiding questions:

• Would you consider yourself to be a "religious" person? Why or why not?
  • What religion(s) are you personally most familiar with?
  • How is your involvement with religion today different from how it was when you were growing up?
• What are your hopes and expectations for this course?
• How might this course challenge you: intellectually, spiritually, academically or otherwise? How do you plan to address those challenges?

Grading based on:

• Length: approximately 500 words (grade penalty for every 10% [50 words] below target).
• Content: should give me a good idea of where you are coming from and where you expect to be going (as far as this course content is concerned):
  • a good overview of your experience with and perspective on religion
  • and discuss what you expect from this class
• Composition: demonstrate suitable college level writing skills (avoid errors in spelling, word usage, grammar, syntax, etc.) 

Religious Scavenger Hunt

Throughout the semester: (submission and format differ for online students)

Prep & Participate: Be prepared to share responses to the review questions at the end of each chapter.

Grading: You do not have to have the correct answers, simply demonstrate evidence of being familiar with the reading and having made an effort to understand what you have read. Thoughtful and substantive contribution to each week's session will get you credit. 

If you are absent, you may submit written answers to the questions via e-mail (due within 2 hours of class time on the day we will discuss the material). Half credit for e-mailed response

Reflection Papers: Compose a 500 word essay discussing the new concepts and perspectives you have gleaned from your learning for each stated period of study. Referencing at least three specific topics addressed over several weeks study, discuss:

• What intrigued you? inspired you? excited you?
• What new insights have you gained from your studies here?

Comment on:

• The way the ideas and information you've been exposed to in your studies here have led you to rethink or deepen your understanding and perception of religion
• How you personally connected with the material you have studied
• Any questions or confusions you are left with about something you encountered in the course materials (reading and/or videos)
• Anything you were introduced to here that you'd like to know more about

Grading based on:

• Comments are personal in nature, not merely a statement of facts (do not provide a mere summary of what you learned, discuss what you thought about it).
• At least three distinct topics are addressed from more than just one week's worth of material
• Depth of thought (avoid being overly vague or superficial as you discuss each topic)
• Demonstrate appreciation of new perspectives, avoid being overly critical of new ideas
• Focus on new learning from this course rather than simply discuss things you already knew from past experience

Point deductions for:

• short papers (more than 10% short of target word count)
• too much fact vs. personal reflection (up to 20% factual statements are reasonable)
• overly critical, too much lack of appreciation for new ways of thinking about the topics discussed (up to 25% critique is reasonable)
• insufficient focus on new learning, new ideas in contrast to prior knowledge (max of 25% old ways of thinking is within reason for purposes of contrast with new ways of thinking)
• Serious and/or numerous composition problems that impede comprehension will receive 10% grade reduction

Exploration Essays: (click link to review the various options and grading criteria for each)

These Explorations involve more in-depth reflection on certain topics based on exploration of various on-line resources. Extra Explorations will substitute for up to five missed chapter discussions. If you are absent or shy about in-class discussion, not up to date with your reading you can focus more in-depth on these select topics that might interest you more. 

"Mix-it-up" -  some weeks you may contribute to discussions, other weeks you may do an Exploration instead. For example: you might be silent (or absent) for five chapter discussions but if you do an extra Exploration to make up for this, you can still get an A for "prep & participate".

Due Dates: Any of these may be submitted at any point in the semester (i.e. need not be done during the week the topic is being discussed, although that would be most effective for the learning process). However... 

• the first is due by or before midterm 
• no more than one Exploration Essay will be accepted in any given week 
• and none will be accepted during the last three weeks of the semester (there are other required essays due those weeks). 

Field Research (Encounter & Dialgoue)

End of Semester:

"Religion Is..." essay: 500 words revisiting the question we started with. But by the end of the semester you should have a more in-depth as well as broader understanding of the nature of religion to apply to this question of "what is religion?" This is your opportunity to be creative in your thinking as well as to apply knowledge and insight gained through your study in this course. 

• Begin with an introductory paragraph that states a thesis (your best definition of religion) along with an overview of what you will discuss as you support your thesis (but please do not make this an "announcement" along the lines of "in this paper I will discuss...")
• Proceed with several body paragraphs to flesh out and support your definition of religion, drawing on several specific examples for each major aspect of your definition
• Provide a suitable concluding paragraph where you might leave room to question any limitations your definition might have or any unanswered questions that might otherwise lead to adjustment of your understanding of religion.

Grading: based on composition and content (see grading rubric)

• This is to be approximately 500 words. Longer papers are OK but short papers will have a grade penalty applied (-10%/10 points for every 50 words short)
• Naturally, if sources are referenced, suitable citation and a “works cited” page is required. Here is some guidance on citing sources.
• Plagiarized papers will receive no credit! Learn how to recognize and avoid plagiarism at this site.

"Why Study Religion?" essay: Compose a 500 word, first person narrative reflecting on your learning in this course: Considering the five "reasons" for studying religion given in chapter one of our text (pp. 11-13), identify and discuss at least three of these that have been fulfilled for you by your study here.

• In an introductory paragraph, mention the reasons you will be discussing (although these should be well framed in a paragraph rather then merely presented a a list).
• In three body paragraphs (one for each reason discussed), reflect on how your learning here has resulted in each reason being fulfilled. Give some specific examples, not merely vague references: what activities and/or content have contributed to each goal?
• In a concluding paragraph, reflect on where you might go from here regarding any future study of religion or simply how this study will continue to impact on your life in the future.

Grading: based on composition and content (see grading rubric)

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