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Preparation
| Participation
| Essays
| Research/Presentation
Assignments
Follow links (where provided) for additional details
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Four
take home/open book quizzes on Joselit reading (10%/100 points)
online in Blackboard course site. You may attempt each quiz any
number of times up until noon on the day the reading is to be
completed (see schedule). Only your
best score will count. (actually more than 100 points, points beyond
100 are extra credit)
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Reading
prep/discussion on Wuthnow (30%/300 points total):
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written
paragraph synopsis (summary) for each chapter (15 points per
chapter) reflecting clear familiarity with content due at
beginning of the first class session (Mondays) when the reading will be
discussed. May be e-mailed by noon on the due date. Half
credit if absent or submitted late.
Special note re: chapter 7: preparation includes
completion of the Religion & Diversity survey on the Blackboard
course site. You should complete this survey prior
to reading chapter 7 (points deducted for that week's
prep if your survey is not completed).
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in
class contribution to discussion of each week's reading
(15 points per chapter), responding to one of the questions for
reflection to be distributed at the previous class session
(if you are absent at the previous session, you will not have
the advantage of the questions in advance). To assure that
everyone gets a chance to contribute to discussions, select
students will get "first dibs" on opportunity to
contribute at any given class session. Names will differ on a
random rotating basis without advance notice (i.e., you will not know
in advance if your name will be selected for any given class
session, so everyone should be prepared). Once the selected
students have their say, discussion will open to all for
response and/or additional contributions. If you are too shy to speak in
class, you may demonstrate your attentiveness to the discussion
through written response to what others are saying (such
response is not note taking, it should be your
thoughts on the issue under discussion and comments being
made by others). Written response to be handed in at the end
of the class session. (half credit if response to reflection
question is submitted late or via e-mail if absent)
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Three
essays (10%/100 points each = total of 300
points): Essays are to be 750-1000 words each, in your best
composition and thinking (see class schedule
for due dates)
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Essay
#1: your own family's national and religious history in
America: talk with older generations in your family to find out:
where your ancestors come from (nation of origin) and when they
came to America, where they settled and migrated to over the
generations, what religions have been in your family's past and
how your family's religious practice has changed (or not) and
why over the generations.
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Essay
#2: Response to Wuthnow chapter 4, 5, or 6: pick the one
type of response to religious diversity that is most
different from your own (spiritual shopper, inclusivist,
exclusivist) and discuss what you learned from the reading that
helped you to better understand where people like this are
coming from - which of the observations Wuthnow makes gave you
some new insights, how and why they helped you better understand
"the other".
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Essay
#3: your own response to one of the questions Wuthnow
notes in his preface (page 6):
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How
have some Americans been able to maintain their conviction
that Christianity is uniquely true and that theirs is a
special nation with a distinctive (even divine) destiny?
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As
Americans face increasing diversity, how are our beliefs and
identities changing to accommodate this diversity?
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How
well are we managing to face the new challenges of religious
and cultural diversity?
You
would be advised to keep these questions in mind as your
pursue your work in this course, taking note of any evidence
in your reading, research and class discussions that you would
be able to use in the essay you write at the end of the
semester.
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Research
presentation (15%) & response
(10%) (25%/250 points total)
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Each
student will research
a specific religion or Christian denomination with focus on
it's history and historical development in
America as well as distinctive beliefs and practices.
Selection of topics and dates for presentation to take place
early in the semester. Presentations to take place during the
second half of the semester.
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Resources
for research should include websites as well as books. I've
collected some
potentially valuable websites you might use. You should
also reference an official website for the religion you are
researching (if they have one). Do not use general
encyclopedias - book or electronic versions.
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Content:
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historical
origins: when and where founded and/or arrived in USA,
key dates, persons, etc.
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demographics:
geographic distribution in the USA (use map), how many
adherents (members) in USA
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distinctive
beliefs, practices, values
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Format:
Poster or PowerPoint including visuals (a timeline and a map showing
key dates, names, and places of the religion in America), mini website, video documentary/podcast or other
creative approaches welcome.
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Submit:
some sort of hard or electronic copy of your presentation,
including properly
formatted bibliography (website
citation as well)
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Graded
for:
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Content
(comprehensive, accurate)
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Presentation
(delivery, visuals)
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Works
cited (suitable number and type of authoritative sources
properly cited format)
Response
to presentations (10%): Each student will note specific
information learned from each of their classmates'
presentations. Points earned based on number of presentations
you take complete & accurate notes on (answering specific
questions to be distributed)
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Self-Assessment
essay (5%/50 points) (specific questions to
address will be provided)
Guidance:
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