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The purpose
of
this assignment is to familiarize you with some of the more popular and
important texts that inform some of the Eastern religions you are learning about
in this course.
What is a "Primary Source Text"?
A "primary
source text" is authored by and/or used by people within the religion. As
an example, the Bible is the primary source text for Christianity. Your textbook
for this course is an example of a secondary text - it is not used by these
religions but, rather, tells about them from an "outsider's"
perspective. Primary source texts are (and inform) an "insider's"
perspective.*
All
students are to read each of four
texts during the course of the semester:
Texts are available in the book store but may
also be purchased through other sources or found online. If you are selecting
a version of the text yourself, make sure it is the complete text – number
of chapters noted above. If you are unsure, simply share your selection with
me.
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Groups
of students will make presentations
on one or another of the texts (groups to be arranged and texts
selected for presentation early in semester)
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All
students will write a paragraph reflecting on each text they do not
present as well as provide a question about each text for the presenting group to
respond to.
See class schedule
for paragraph and presentation due dates
Paragraphs
are to be your general, overall response to the text in question (did you like
it? Why or why not?). Your question may be focused on a specific passage that
you found difficult to understand, seeking the interpretation of students in the
presenting group. Full credit given merely for submitting the paragraph and
question on or before the day of the presentation (providing these meet grading
criteria noted below). Paragraphs and question may be submitted via e-mail at least an hour before the class session on the due date. Submissions
in class are expected at the beginning
of the class session so I have time to scan through and select questions for the
presenters.
Presentations:
may take up to one hour of class time but shorter is OK
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Provide
brief background information about
the text: origins/author, date of origin, related texts/larger context of
which it is a part, etc.
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Are
to include selected passages as they relate to several key teachings, values
and/or practices of the religion the text relates to (see below
for specific issues to address for each text).
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Each
presenting student is also to select one
passage of your choosing (a different
passage for each presenter) that you found most interesting or your
favorite. Read and interpret this passage as part of the presentation (why
did you choose this one to share with the class? How do you see it
reflecting a universal truth that you can apply to your own life in
today’s world?)
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The
presenting group will also be expected to respond
to selected questions the rest of the class has provided in their
written reflections. Each
group member is to respond to at least one question.
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You
are encouraged to be creative in
your presentation: do a dramatic reading of the text passages, even
dramatize it with “dress-up” play acting, find images (on the Web) to
illustrate passages. You may use PowerPoint to outline the topics you are
discussing and note the passages you are citing as well as to display images
as they relate to the various passages.
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You
may reference secondary sources to
help you prepare: these may help you identify passages to present, give you
relevant background information about the text as well as a deeper
understanding of the text. Such secondary sources, if used, must
be referenced in writing (with complete URLs and proper citation format for
any websites you use).
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Every
group member is expected to participate in the presentation (if
you are seriously ill and cannot be present, your part of the presentation
may be done by another group member but that group member will need to make
clear that this is your contribution – including your personally chosen
favorite passage with a written
commentary that you would have otherwise shared yourself)
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For
grading purposes, please provide your
instructor with a list of passages (chapter and verse) that your group
selected to reflect the assigned topics as
well as a “works cited” page for any secondary sources you used.
Resources:
Topics for
Specific Presentations
In
your presentation, select several passages from the text that reflect the basic
teachings of the religion as listed here (try to identify more than one passage
per topic):
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Bhagavad
Gita/Hinduism:
Yoga in general and each of the
four yogas, the idea of reincarnation and the true nature of the human being
(as spirit/soul), the nature of the “Supreme Being” (God/Krishna), the
idea of Brahman and Atman, the importance of devotion, the importance of
dharma (doing one’s duty, fulfilling one’s destiny in life)
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Dhammapada/Buddhism:
Each of the Four Noble Truths and each
of the elements of the Eight-fold Path, the five precepts (which may be
interpreted as part of one aspect of the Eight-fold Path)
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Tao
Te Ching/Taoism:
the nature of the tao, the concept of te, yin-yang, wei-wu-wei, the
characteristics of a Taoist “sage”
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Lun
Yu/Confucianism:
the ideas of filial
piety (hsiao), reciprocity (shu), the importance of Li (rites and rituals),
and other characteristics of a “gentleman” (chun tzu) (= what Jen looks
like)
Note:
addressing
these topics is just a part of your presentation. You are also to introduce
your text with some background information about the text, and each group
member is to select a passage that they personally wish to share and discuss
(interpret) with the class (beyond those passages already used to discuss the
above noted topics).
Grading
Criteria:
Presentations:
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Complete,
well organized, good delivery, interesting and creative, shows clear
familiarity with the text contents, good understanding of both the text and
the religion it relates to (demonstrated by choice of suitable passages to
relate to specific issues associated with the religion in question - see
above), satisfactory response to questions.
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Group
members will also complete a peer evaluation regarding how each group member
contributed to the group process. Group members who have poor contribution
to the preparation and/or presentation will have their grade for the
presentation reduced.
Paragraphs:
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All
three submitted on time, reflect clear familiarity with the text, include
personal reflection on the contents of the text, include a question about a
specific passage for presenters to respond to.
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Students
in the audience will complete an evaluation of the presentations to be taken
into consideration for group grade (evaluation of presentations is also part
of your grade).
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Minus
points for any missing part: paragraph, question, evaluation of
presentation. A paragraph is 100-150 words. Overly short paragraphs will
reduce grade. Three written text responses plus
4th presented text = A, three = B, two = C, one = D
(paragraph = 5%, question = 2%, evaluation of presentation = 2%, plus 1% for
writing a question worthy of being selected for presenters to respond to).
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Half
credit (for paragraph only) if submitted after the class session if
you were not present; paragraphs & questions not
accepted after the fact if you were
present
*An
"outsider" is someone who is not a
follower of the religion they discuss; an "insider" is someone who is
a follower of the religion they discuss. In other words, we can be informed by
someone outside or inside of a given religion. Either may be more or less
knowledgeable, more or less biased or objective, and have any number of
"agendas" for discussing what they do, that will inform the way they
present the material.
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