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Religions of the World I 
(Eastern Traditions)
Syllabus
(Spring 2019)

books & materials | classroom policies | college policies and services | grading policies | assignments

Course Description: This course studies religions of the world with attention to origin, history and doctrine.

General Course Purpose: To introduce the student to the origins, teachings, organization, and practices of Eastern religious traditions (Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Daoism and Confucianism, Shinto) with an emphasis of their role in motivating, shaping and inspiring their adherents through myths, rituals, symbols, ethical codes and religious experiences, and to examine the varied issues, problems and concerns of the religions studied. 

Course Prerequisites: None. Although basic college level skills in reading comprehension and writing are advised. If you have not tested into ENG 111, you are advised to complete your developmental English courses before attempting this 200 level course.

Course objectives/Educational Outcomes: At the completion of the course, the student will be able to examine the history, belief and the practice of Eastern religious traditions. Specifically, the student will be able to:

• Identify and define relevant terminology such as asceticism, dharma, karma, samsara, moksha, nirvana, yoga, ahimsa, guru, bodhisattva, lama, Dao, wu wei, kami, khalsa, filial piety, ren/jen, etc.

• Explain the role great religious founders have filled in human history

• Summarize the origins, teachings, organization and practices of the religions studied

• Interpret some of the sacred writings and mythic imagery of Indian and East Asian religions

• Compare and contrast recurring themes in the religions studied such as: mysticism, loving devotion, reincarnation, ultimate liberation

• Discuss the historical connections among the religions studied

• Analyze the complex relations between religion and society/culture in various historical and contemporary contexts

• Respectfully experience and discuss previously unfamiliar religious events/communities

Major Topics to be Covered: Critical attention will be given to the following topics:

• Hinduism: Vedic and Brahmanic origins, and popular Hindu beliefs and practice

• Other Indian religions: Jainism and Sikhism

• Buddhism: Origins and teachings, development and variations (including Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana)

• Daoism: The Law of the universe

• Confucianism: The high ethical religion of China

• Shinto: The indigenous religion of Japan

• May also include: Indigenous religions, New Religious Movements and religion in the twenty-first century

Textbooks: Here are some tips for managing your reading

• RELG: World, (3rd ed.), by Robert E. Van Voorst (Wadworth: Cengage Learning) ISBN: 9781305660441

• The Bhagavad Gita (Hinduism)

• Dhammapada: The Path of Perfection (Buddha – Buddhism)

• Tao Te Ching (Lao Tzu – Taoism)

• Confucius: The Analects (aka Lun-Yu, by Confucius)

Online resources:

• Blackboard course site (login in at learn.vccs.edu) 

• companion website to text: you’ll need an access code for this, available if you purchase a NEW copy of the text. Login at https://login.cengage.com/cb/

• Lecture notes, Study Guides & interactive review pages at my academic website

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Classroom Policies and Student Responsibilities:

Time Commitment: Make no mistake about it. You will have to work in this class! You cannot slide by just sitting in class and expecting to get all you need from that. You can't do that in any class but even more so here because this is a hybrid course. Use this scheduling chart to set aside time for this class and everything else you have to do each week.

• This course meets for just 12 weeks but covers as much content as in a normal 16 week semester. That means that the work moves at a faster pace. So I hope you have time in your schedule to put in the work required over the next three months.

• This is also a Hybrid class. That means that we meet in the classroom for only half as much time as if it were an ordinary course. But that also means that you have that much more work to do on your own outside of class – between class sessions. Set aside at least an extra two hours outside of class for every hour and a half class session. This is time you will need to view online video lectures (that substitute for lectures in the classroom) and occasional online discussions (that would otherwise take place in the classroom).

• You will also need additional time beyond that (4-8 hours) to do the reading and work on assignments that you would do in any ordinary course.

• All totaled, for every 1.5 hours per week spent in the classroom, you should expect to spend an additional 6-10 hours a week outside of class reading watching the video lectures, doing online work (quizzes, journaling, discussion), reading your texts, reviewing my online lecture notes, resources and learning aids, and completing homework assignments. 

• Review these resources and suggestions for time management and avoiding procrastination.

Outside of class each week = 6-10 hours

Read texts (Van Voorst & primary source texts) Watch video lectures (on Blackboard course site) = generally 1-2 hours each week (varies) Complete quiz (sometimes 2) Complete journal reflection Use study aids (study guide for each religion, interactive terms review/flashcards) Occasional assignments: papers (or weekly journaling), field research & report, 4 primary text discussions Participate in weekly Q&A discussion (if you are generally quiet in the classroom)

A lot of what you get out of this course will depend on what you put into it!

What I expect from you: 

• attend class regularly, on time and remain for entire class session
• complete all assignments in a timely manner and to the best of your ability (part of which means you do not wait until the day before an assignment is due to begin working on it)
• Watch assigned video lectures (in course site) and complete all reading assignments attentively and on time, ready for discussion
• be attentive in class (no sleeping, side chats, cell phone use, etc.) and contribute to class discussions
• do your own work rather than cheat or plagiarize
• care more about learning than about grades!

Class format: A combination of lecture, activities and discussion. However, do not expect to learn everything you need to know simply from attending 2 hours of class a week. This is a hybrid class so you should also get the basics from the reading and video viewing you do outside of the classroom.

• Hybrid work done between class sessions:
  • You will view video lectures (in the course site) and read text for acquisition of basic knowledge/facts. 
  • You will have a study guide to use and fill out (answer questions) as you review materials.
  • You will also complete a quiz (in the Blackboard course site) on the new content for self-assessment (may complete these up to times each). Each quiz must be done at least once prior to the specified deadline (4:30 PM Monday - before the class session the material will be discussed - see class schedule). If you miss a quiz deadline you will lose 1 point (1%) for each week it remains undone. Completed quizzes can be used as a review for the final exam. Quizzes do count toward your grade for the course.
  • Use of the course site discussion board at specified times for certain assignments (see details below) and to supplement lack of participation in the classroom (see engagement, below) .
• Class sessions: Be prepared for discussion, come with questions, expect some small group activities.
  • Mini-lectures
  • In-class written activities, alone or in small groups, to review and reinforce the newly learned content (collected and graded)
  • Discussions
• As noted above, since this is a hybrid course that runs for only 14 weeks, you should expect to spend at least 6 or more hours a week outside of class watching video lectures, doing readings, assignments, quizzes and journaling in the course site as you prepare for the next class session. Also working with resources on my website (see below)

The Internet, e-mail, and computer use:

• You will be using the Blackboard Course Management System for quizzes and your your final exam, for journaling and discussion, to submit your field research report and to check your grades. Please make sure you can login to the course site at: http://learn.vccs.edu/ (specific login directions are available at: http://www.nvcc.edu/bbstart/ or http://www.nvcc.edu/stutechnology/blackboard/login.html). Here you will find online video lectures to supplement your reading (especially important to watch since this is a Hybrid course and we will not have time in class for formal lectures) and assignment directions. Weekly required quizzes are available here to check your knowledge and help prepare you for the final exam. You can check your grades in the course site and your final exam (and any make-up exams) will be done in the course site. You can also submit written assignments to the course site (save paper, no printing, submit online if you are absent when the assignment is due) 

• On my website you will find my online lecture notes (to supplement your text), interactive vocabulary review exercises, and a study guide for each religion that you should complete to the best of your ability based on the reading and video lectures. Consider taking notes or drawing concept maps as you read. 

• You should maintain e-mail communication with your mentor, especially in the case of absence or personal questions regarding assignments. Every NVCC student is provided a VCCS e-mail address. This is the address you should use for communication regarding this class (for privacy and security purposes, grades cannot be sent to any other e-mail address). Log in to your student mail at: https://nvcc.my.vccs.edu/ Use the email feature in the Blackboard course site as an easy way to email both your mentor and your classmates.

• Always keep an up-to-date copy of your work on a flash drive (or in the Cloud) so your work is not lost if something happens to your computer!

• All written work is expected to be word-processed/typed. When you submit work to the course site or email, be sure to save and send/attach your file in MSWord format (.doc/.docx) or Rich Text Format (.rtf). I may not be able to open any other formats (e.g., WordPerfect or Works). Also be sure to include your name, assignment title and course number+section on both your attached work and in any e-mail messages. It is your responsibility to make sure your e-mail and Blackboard submissions get through to me. If I do not return your graded work in a timely manner, ask if I got it.

• If you need assistance with the technology, training sessions and help are available in the computer lab on campus.

• If you do not have computer access to the Internet from home, you may use computers in the computer lab or the library on campus. Your local public library also provides Internet access to patrons. If you do not have print capability at home, you can print your work on campus (for a small fee) or submit electronically to the course site.

• If you anticipate having a problem accessing the course site or online resources, please let me know. Perhaps, together, we can work out a solution

Classroom Behavior: Disruptive behavior in the classroom that detracts from the teaching-learning process will not be tolerated, and disruptive students will be asked to leave the class. 

• Please turn off or mute all cell phones and pagers prior to entering the classroom. If you need to take an emergency call, please quietly leave the classroom. Cell phones and other mobile devices may be used for on-the-spot web searches to help find answers to questions raised in class. If your phone rings in the classroom you will get a dirty look.

• Please avoid side chats with your classmates - they are distracting and annoying to other students who are trying to pay attention. Discussion should be focused on the assigned task.

• If you arrive to class late or leave early, please do so quietly so as to not be a distraction. If you do come to class late make sure I have checked off your name so you get credit for being present.

• Absolutely no cell phones or other personal devices permitted on your person while taking exams!

Attendance policy: although attendance is not graded, effort and participation (“engagement”) is. More than one absence (10% of the class sessions) will impact on your effort/participation grade. You will also not benefit from from the discussions, activities and other work that will take place in class (some of which will be graded).

• Attendance will be taken at every class session. You are expected to arrive to class on time, prepared for discussion and remain until dismissed. Attendance will be rechecked following break.

• If you arrive late to class, please be sure to let me know you are there so I do not count you as absent. However, habitual lateness (or leaving early) will count against your “engagement” grade.

• There are no "excused absences" in this class. Everyone is allowed to miss one or two class sessions without significant impact on your grade. I do not need any notes about why you were absent. If you have a health issue that causes chronic absence, please consult with disability services for accommodations beyond those allowed for everyone by this course policy. If your work schedule causes chronic absence, consider your priority: work or school, and adjust your schedule accordingly.

• In event of an absence, you are expected to keep up with the reading and course work as noted in the syllabus and class schedule. Assignments, lecture notes, many handouts and other information pertaining to this course can all be found on your mentor's website and also in the Blackboard course site.

• Make-up exams: If you miss too many in-class written (graded) activities, you may make up for this by taking a more formal exam in the campus testing center (make up exams must be done before finals week). The final exam can only be made up until the end of finals week (although you may be able to take it early or arrange for an Incomplete).

• Since this is a hybrid course, with exception of engagement, in-class practice activities, and the final exam, your graded assignments are done outside the classroom. Absent or not, you are still expected to submit these assignments on time. If you are absent on the day an assignment is due, please use submission links in the course site (work that is sent via email may get “lost” in my in-box and you risk not being credited for it). Quizzes, journaling and online discussion is done in the course site by everyone - present or absent.
• If you anticipate having a problem maintaining regular attendance, please discuss the issue with me. Under certain circumstances, exceptions and alternative arrangements for completion of course work may be made.
• Please: if you are legitimately sick, do not come to school and spread your germs to others.  

If the professor is late students are to wait at least 15 minutes before leaving. In the meantime, someone should call the LASS office to see if they know where the professor is or if she has left any directions for work to be done in her absence.

Things you should know about me: 

• I have an immune system disorder so I need to be careful about exposure to germs/infections I may catch from others. Please keep this in mind if you have a cold or other such infectious disease.

• I am also mostly deaf in my left ear so best to stand or sit to my right when speaking with me so I will hear you clearly.

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College policies and services:

Special needs and accommodations: If you have a documented physical and/or learning disability that requires special accommodations, please feel free to discuss your situation with me. If your needs are not documented, see a campus counselor who will work with you to analyze and document your needs. Accommodations cannot be made without an official letter from a counselor.

NOVACares Program: Are you having personal issues that interfere with your academic success? Whether it be as simple as transportation problems or more serious emotional issues, homelessness, substance abuse, problems at home or with a partner… the NOVACares team is here to help you. Please reach out!

Academic Advising is the process in which you, the student, and advisors work together to set goals for your academic life. It is a collaborative process, and ultimately, you – the student – are responsible for your educational experience. Are you a recent high school graduate? If you have not meet with an Advising Specialist you should make an appoint today in the Student Services Center (WS Room 202).
If you need to declare your major, have a faculty advisor assigned, set an academic goal, or need assistance with financial aid, learning disabilities, transfer or career exploration, please visit the Student Services office. Review your Degree Progress Report using MyNOVA. Meet with your Faculty Advisor to discuss your continued degree progress and academic performance, discuss or change academic and career goals, and select courses.

Tutoring:  

• If you need help with your reading or writing skills, please consider a visit to the campus tutoring center (WS room 328). Need a place to study, read or do homework between classes? This is an alternative to the Library. Need some help with study skills and strategies? The Tutoring Center can help you with this as well. If you are already good at these skills, consider becoming a Pier (peer) Tutor. Inquire at the Tutoring Center.

• Online tutoring is available through SmartThinking. If you need help with English writing skills or writing formal papers, you can use the SmartThinking online tutor. Login to SmartThinking through the front page of Blackboard (after logging in). Learn more about using SmartThinking at https://www.nvcc.edu/smarthinking/ including links to “how to” videos: https://youtu.be/NpNd609SVWI

Emergencies: Watch the college safety video and see attached syllabus insert

• Emergency evacuation procedures: Please take note of the closest fire exit to the classroom.

  • You should take your coats, books, purses, and other personal belongings with you as there is no assurance that you will be allowed to return.

  • Check in with me once you clear the building so that we know everyone is accounted for.

• In case of inclement weather check for school closing on the NVCC website, radio or TV. In the event of an emergency cancellation of class or college closing check the Blackboard course site for an announcement from your mentor regarding how to proceed with scheduled course work. If no such announcement appears or you can't check (perhaps due to power failure), proceed with your reading and course work as scheduled.

• In case of a medical emergency contact 911 and then campus police (703.764.5000).

• Register for NOVA Alert to receive emergency text messages on your cell phone, e-mail, and other electronic communication devices.

Grievance process: If you have a complaint about the course policies, procedures, perceived lack of fairness from me or similar grievance:

1. First talk with me about it one-on-one during my office hours or at some other mutually agreeable time (make an appointment)

2. If you remain unsatisfied, your next step is to talk with the assistant dean for the division

Consult the student handbook for additional details regarding these and other college policies and procedures.

Withdraw or fail: Failure to attend class regularly and/or to submit completed assignments may result in a grade of "F".

• Drop the course for tuition refund (or change to Audit status) by Friday, February 22.
• You can avoid failure by officially withdrawing from the course by Thursday, April 4.
• Withdrawal after the withdraw date must not be done through NOVAconnect as the system will automatically change the “W” you enter to an “F”. Withdraws after the withdraw date must be submitted using the proper form (NVCC 125-047) and provide accompanying documentation regarding the mitigating circumstances that preclude completion of the course.
• Be aware that withdrawal from a class may affect your status as a full-time student for purposes of financial aid, insurance, or immigration status. However, remaining enrolled solely for such purposes, without any intention of completing the course successfully, is considered fraud!
• If you fail to communicate with me regarding continued absence, fail to complete sufficient graded assignments and fail to withdraw yourself (proper paperwork must be filled out after the withdraw date), you will receive a grade of "F" for the course.

• Under certain circumstances grades of "Incomplete" may be given with the understanding that work will be completed by a specified time. You will have to consult with the instructor to receive an "incomplete."

I would rather see you withdrawn from the course than have to fail you.

Grading policies: 

• Grading is done on a 1000 point scale where 900 – 1000 = A, 800 - 899 = B, 700 – 799 = C, 600 – 699 = D, less than 600 points is failing 

• There are sufficient and varied assignments to appeal to a variety of learning preferences. You need not earn an A on every assignment to get an A in the course.

• Points for specific assignments noted below

• Assignments receiving less than a B may be invited for revision if submitted on time. If you choose to revise the assignment and resubmit it for a grade change this should be done ASAP. For comparison purposes, original graded work should be submitted with the revision. No revisions accepted during the last two weeks of the semester.

Plagiarism will not be tolerated! Watch this video

• Plagiarism includes the use of paraphrased as well as quoted material without citing sources. Even when sources are cited, an unnecessary overuse of such sources may also be considered plagiarism. The bulk of your ideas and words should be your own.

• If you are caught plagiarizing from the Web or elsewhere, you will receive a no credit for that assignment with no opportunity to re-do the assignment.

• If you are caught plagiarizing a second time, you will automatically fail the course!

• Learn how to avoid plagiarism at this site

Late submission of assignments: 

• “Late” is defined as “not received in time to be graded and returned at the next class session after the work was due.” (generally, after a one week "grace" period)

• Late submissions (due to absence or otherwise) will be downgraded one letter grade for each week late, so “the sooner the better” (to limit grade penalty).

• But, “better late than never” so work due on days you are absent should be handed in ASAP. Work that is not done will receive a zero. Work that is done (be it late or entirely unsatisfactory) will receive at least 50% - what I call the “fair F” as, unlike a zero, it will not unfairly pull down your grade average.

• To avoid the penalty for late submissions, it is recommended that you submit your work to the Blackboard course site, or have someone drop off any work due so it gets into my hands ASAP rather than wait until the next class session. (See above re: format considerations for written work)

• Late assignments will not be given the opportunity for revision.

• Late assignments submitted during finals week will not be read but will get the "fair F" of half credit simply for getting it done (in the end, that "Fair F" may make a difference in your final grade).

Optional/Extra Credit Work I am open to granting extra credit to students who express interest:

• Student initiated: Please do not ask me what you can do for this extra work, tell me what you have in mind. You should come up with an idea and then run it by me for approval. Suggestions are on my website.

• If I hear of a special event that might be used for extra credit, I will mention it in class.

• I may suggest a special project for you based on your personal interests or career goals (it remains your option to pursue such a project or not, either as extra credit or even possible substitute for certain other assignments – consult with me on this option).

• Extra credit will be used to allow me to drop a lower grade of equivalent value (i.e., will substitute/supplement the grade for some other assignment that you did not do as well on).

• Extra credit work should only be done by students who are keeping up with the class schedule. If you have fallen behind in the standard required work for the course, you do not have time to pursue extra work.

• Any extra work will be due two weeks before the end of the semester.

Assignments: Assignments are an important part of the teaching and learning equation. They aren’t just random activities that faculty ask students to complete for points and grades; they are the vehicles through which students learn course content. By studying for exams and engaging with content as they write their papers, students deepen their understanding of key concepts and build learning connections. In short, assignments represent learning experiences for students.

• "Religion & Me" essay (500 words) (5%=50 points): This exercise will enable you to reflect on your current familiarity with and perspective on religion and communicate this to your mentor. Question prompts to be distributed the first day of class. Hand in or submit to course site by due date. Grade deduction for short papers.

• Religion Basics Worksheet (5%=50 points): this exercise will introduce you to the basics of the major religions in the world as well as their distribution more locally. Click link for directions and access to electronic worksheet. Print and bring to class or submit directly to the course site by due date.

• Quizzes (10%=100 points) done in the Blackboard course site on a weekly basis. Each may be done multiple times; best grade for each is what will count. Complete each week's quiz by 4:30 pm Mondays (before each class meeting). Quizzes help you check your knowledge of basic facts and vocabulary as well as prepare for exams. Quizzes not done in a timely manner will receive a late penalty points until they are done. Quizzes also help prepare you for exams, so any quizzes not done will not help you when you prepare for exams. 

• Engagement (attendance & participation) (10%=100 points): be present and contribute actively and constructively to discussions and other class activities. Engagement means: attending class and being on time, taking notes, joining in class discussion, doing in-class writing activities, being prepared for class (reading, video watching, and homework done), paying attention, doing one’s fair share and staying on topic in group work, and demonstrating familiarity with the reading assignments. Basically: be present, be prepared, be attentive, and participate. Some class activities will be handed in for a grade.

  • Alternative: If you are not active in class (do not speak much) you can get credit for online discussion in the course site. Weekly contribution to Q&A discussion (post questions, answer questions others post) can substitute for regular participation in class as well as absences.

• In-Class written work (20%=200 points): one or two activities each week, done individually, in pairs or small groups. Will be collected and graded. (see attendance policies for make-up of missed work).

• Response & Reflections Papers (4@5%/50 points each = 200 points/20% total): reflect on what you have learned about each religion (four submissions, each approximately 500 words; grade deduction for short papers). See class schedule for due dates. 

  • For each paper, please respond to the following four questions:

    • What did you know and/or think and how did you feel about this religion when you entered this course?

    • What would you say are the three most interesting, important, and/or valuable things you learned here about this religion? Why did you find them interesting/important/valuable?

    • In what ways has your learning here changed your understanding and/or perspective regarding this religion? (in contrast to your response to the first question, above)

    • What lessons, values or insights can you take from this religion to inform your own life?

  • Alternative: If you prefer, you may do shorter weekly journal reflections (in the course site) instead of the longer, occasional papers (10 entries = 15% of your grade, plus one concluding reflections essay @5%). Each weekly entry should be done within one week before or after the related course content covered in class (no credit for late reflections. In such case, just do the longer R&R paper).

• Encounters and Dialogue (field research) (10%=100 points): Attend and reflect upon at least two of the three planed class trips to local places of worship (details distributed and discussed in class). Each visit reflection = 5% (50 points) (attend and reflect on all three planned visits for extra credit). This exercise should expand your personal horizons, knock down emotional and attitudinal barriers, as well as give you a most direct way to see religion in action and converse with followers of these faiths, thus allowing an “insider” to address specific questions.

  • Alternative: If you are not able to make two of the planned trips you may do this on your own, providing a fully detailed report and reflection on your experience: Experience one of the religions being studied that are unfamiliar to you. Completed reports are to be submitted on paper, via YouTube video (post URL to discussion board), or to the discussion board ("Encounters & Dialogue" forum) in the course site. (see detailed directions for resources, suggested places to visit, specific elements to include in your report, as well as a grading rubric).

• Primary source text read & discuss (10%=100 points): Throughout the semester, you will read a series of four primary source texts. Discussion of each text at specified times on the discussion board ("Primary Text" forum) in the course site. (see schedule). Every student must prepare for and contribute to discussion in such a way as to demonstrate clear familiarity with the content of each text. Initial post must be submitted several days prior to the deadline for each text so as to allow time for replies. Late posts get late penalty applied to the quality grade. See assignment sheet for details.

• Final comprehensive objective exam: (10%=100 points) - (multiple choice, true-false, matching) done in the Blackboard course site, in a campus (closed) computer lab during the last class session/finals week. Review completed quizzes, "terms to know", study guides, and use interactive online exercises to help you prepare.

• Two short response essay exams (2@10%/100 points each = 20%/200 points total): these will test your knowledge and understanding of the facts and concepts related to the major religions being studied (Hinduism and Buddhism). Exams will consist of your choice of five out of ten questions. Use study guides, interactive terms exercises (online), self-assessment quizzes (in course site), and review PowerPoint overviews to help you prepare