books & materials | classroom policies | grading policies | assignments

Syllabus
Fall 2013

This is a Hybrid Course

Course Description: This course Surveys various manifestations of religion in the American experience. Emphasizes concepts, problems, and issues of religious pluralism and character of American religious life.

General Course Purpose: The purpose of this course is to introduce the student to the history and diversity of religion in America

Entry Level Competencies: Basic college level skills in reading comprehension and writing

Course Objectives: At the completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• recognize and value the diversity of religions in America

• discuss how religion has impacted and shaped our nation’s history and culture

• explain how various faiths have been shaped by their encounter with American culture

• analyze the role religion plays in social, political and cultural aspects of American life

• examine the meaning and significance of issues related to “religious freedom” and “separation of Church and State”

Major Elements of Content:

• Native American religion

• Judaism in America

• Catholicism in America

• Protestantism in America, including mainstream, sectarian, evangelicalism

• Hispanic and African American religious experience in America

• Eastern religions in America including Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist

• Secularism, Pluralism, “Religious Freedom” and “First Amendment” issues

• May also include discussions on New Religious Movements, Cults, New Age spirituality, liberal vs. conservative divergence, interfaith activities and other such timely topics

top

Books and Materials: Religion in American Life: A Short History by Jon Butler, Grant Wacker, Randall Balmer (three books in one) (Tips for managing your reading are available on my website)

Online resources:

• Mentor’s web site

• God in America video online and study guide: 

Classroom policies and student responsibilities:

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)

• 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: mostly videos, discussion and group work:

• You should expect to spend between 3 - 6 hours a week outside of class doing readings, assignments, and exploring online resources as you prepare for the next class session. I will provide you with study guide questions related to the reading. You should be prepared at each class session to share answers to one or more questions.
• Class sessions will also include viewing of segments from the recent PBS series God in America followed by small group discussion
• Other selected video clips and occasional homework assignments will round out our work in the classroom.

In the F2F classroom	Hybrid/online work	Other  at-home work
Participation (5%) First Amendment case study group work (10%) Final exam (15% of your grade) 35% of your course grade will be completed in the classroom	Online video viewing Online  discussion of videos (10%) (Blackboard) Hybrid assignments /prep for class (5%) Three open-book proctored essays (30%) (done in testing center) 45%	Complete assigned reading of the text  Complete three “take-at-home” unit exams (online) based on the reading (15%) Religion in America in the News - blog assignment (10%) Family History paper (20%) 45%
See below for details on these assignments

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.

• Please avoid side chats with your classmates - they are distracting and annoying to other students who are trying to pay attention.

• 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!

Special needs: If you have a documented special need and require 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.

The internet, e-mail and computer use:

• Grade book and exams will be done through the Blackboard Course Management System. login in at: http://learn.vccs.edu/ (specific login directions are available at: http://www.nvcc.edu/bbstart/ or http://tac.nvcc.edu/blackboard/student/login.htm)

• You will want to access details on assignments at your mentor’s Website

• 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. Log in to your student mail at: https://nvcc.my.vccs.edu/

• Always keep an up-to-date backup copy of your work on disk so your work is not lost if something happens to your computer! 

• All written work is expected to be word-processed/typed. If you send any work to me via e-mail, be sure to save and send your file in MSWord format (.doc) or Rich Text Format (.rtf). I will not be able to open any other formats (e.g., WordPerfect or Works). Also be sure to include your name on both your attached work and in your e-mail message. It is your responsibility to make sure your e-mailed 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

• You will be at a great loss if you cannot or will not use a computer and the Internet. 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

Emergencies: 

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

  • A framed emergency evacuation plan on one of the walls of each of the classrooms. This describes the procedures that must be followed and diagrams the evacuation routes that are to be used in case of emergency. 

  • All occupants must immediately evacuate the building when the fire alarm bells/lights are activated unless the Building Warden has advised that the system is undergoing a scheduled test. 

  • Occupants will exit the building using posted evacuation routes or the nearest safe exit. 

  • Elevators will not be used during emergency evacuation. 

  • Upon exiting, occupants are to continue moving until they are at least 300 feet from the building. 

  • The instructor will assist handicapped persons with mobility disabilities. 

  • 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 tornado/storm warning report to the nearest designated shelter area (generally an interior/windowless room).

• 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.

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

• In case of a medical emergency contact 911 and then campus police (703-670-0331).

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

• You can avoid failure by officially withdrawing from the course.

• Last day to withdraw is Friday, March 25th. 

• If you miss three weeks of class prior to this date  I will automatically withdraw you from the course unless you consult with me (through e-mail, phone or otherwise) regarding your problem and intentions.

• 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 or insurance. 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.

Attendance: Absence will impact negatively on the quality of your work - you will miss discussions, videos, in-class exercises, etc. (65% of your grade is based on work done in the classroom).

• Preparation and participation in class discussions is a big part of your grade so every absence will mean points missed toward your final grade.

• Attendance is taken at every class session.

• Perfect attendance will bring up a borderline grade.

• In the event of absence, you are expected to keep up with the reading and course work as noted in the syllabus and class schedule. e-mail me your answers to the study guide questions at least an hour before class for preparation credit (I can then share them with your classmates on your behalf).

• 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 Humanities office (room 402, 703-878-5715) to see if they know where the professor is or if she has left any directions for work to be done in her absence.

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 and guidance regarding the “complaint and grievance policy”

top

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

• Points/percentage 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. 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!

• Plagiarism includes the use of paraphrased as well as quoted material without citing sources. 

• If you are caught plagiarizing from the Web or elsewhere, you will receive 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.” 

• Late submissions (due to absence or otherwise) will be downgraded one letter grade for each week late. 

• 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 e-mail your work to the instructor 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: e-mail use for format considerations)

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

• Absolutely no late submissions accepted during the last two weeks of the semester!

The following assignments will be weighted as indicated: (see class schedule for due dates) follow links for details on each assignment:

• Three take-at-home/open book unit exams on the reading (15%/150 points) (in Blackboard course site) (time sensitive, cannot be done late)

• Reading prep/discussion on the reading and completion of other occasional homework assignments including Religion in America in the News (30%/300 points total) (-5 points per assignment not done):

  • Prepare answers in writing to study guide questions for sharing in class. If you will be absent, I will accept your answers via e-mail no less than one hour before start of the class session.

  • Current events news items related to course content: at least one per student over the course of the semester, limit of 2 students per session (one item each).

  • Other homework assignments given out in class TBA

• Small group discussion of questions related in-class video viewing (PBS God in America series) (20%/200 points)

• Two essays (10%/100 points each = total of 200 points): Essays are to be approximately 1000 words each, in your best composition and thinking. Specific essay questions to be distributed in class. Up to two additional essays accepted to make up for missed discussion or prep work.

• Final exam (15%/150 points): cumulative, based on reading. Completed in class during finals week.

top