books & materials | classroom policies | grading policies | assignments

Syllabus
Summer 2008

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

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Books and Materials:  

• Wuthnow, Robert. America and the Challenges of Religious Diversity (Princeton. 2007. ISBN: 978-0691134116) (you may purchase this text in the campus bookstore or through other resources such as Amazon)
  (35% of your course grade is based on weekly written reflections, questions and discussion of the chapters in this book)

Online readings:  

• Religion and the Founding of the American Republic (from Library of Congress) (for week 2)

• Divining America: Religion and the National Culture (from National Humanities Center) (selected essays for student presentations)

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Classroom policies and student responsibilities:

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 all cell phones and pagers prior to entering the classroom.

Special needs: If you have a documented physical and/or learning disability 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.

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

Use of the internet, e-mail and computer:

• Supplemental reading assignments are Web based (see above)

• You may also find Web resources helpful as you pursue your research project for this class

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

• You will also want to 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). PowerPoint (.ppt) and image files (.jif, .jpg) also accepted. 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

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 Tuesday, July 8th. 

• If you miss the two 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, presentations, videos

• Participation in class discussions are part of your grade so every absence will mean points missed toward your final grade

• Attendance is taken at every class session and again after the break.

• Perfect attendance will bring up a borderline grade.

• In addition, habitual lateness or early departure will also affect your grade (you are “late” if you arrive to class after the day’s lesson has begun). If you do come to class late make sure I have checked off your name.

• 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

• 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.

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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. 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!

• Term projects not submitted on or before the due date will not be read and graded (since this the end of the semester)

Assignments: follow links for details on each assignment

• Reading/discussion (35%/350 points total):

  • written paragraph on each chapter due weekly (15%/15 points per chapter). Prepared paragraphs and questions not submitted at the beginning of the class session will not be accepted later (in case of absence, this written work may be e-mailed by 5 PM on the day of the class session)

  • two questions due with written paragraphs (5%/5 points per set of 2): 

    1. fact based question: a question on something you did not understand - even it is just a term used but not clearly explained, or something you read that you want to know more about 

    2. question for discussion: an open-ended, thought provoking question related to something in each week's reading

  • in class contribution to discussion of each week's reading (15%/15 points per chapter). 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.

• Term project & end of semester project "slam" (35%/350 points total) demonstrated progress due by midterm (if no progress is shown by midterm, automatic grade reduction for project):

  • Option 1: 

    • research a specific religion or Christian denomination with focus on it's history and historical development in America (not merely beliefs and practices). Format: illustrated paper, mini website, video documentary or other creative approach welcome (25%)

    • Project "slam": the last class session each student will present a brief overview of what they learned from their research, including visuals: a timeline and a map showing key dates, names, and places of the religion in America (10%)

  • Option 2: 

    • Religion in America in the News - a collection and analysis (25%) plus

    • Field research presented at last class session (10%): visit a place of worship for a non-Christian religion (not your own). Write a "Profile" to be added to the Pluralism Project collection of resources

• Student presentation on Divining America reading (15%/150 points: each student will select one essay from any time period, read and prepare a presentation "teaching" the class what you learned about your chosen topic. Use of additional resources recommended to supplement the essay you read (these essays provide links to additional resources as well as ideas for leading a discussion on the subject). Choice of dates and topic on first come, first served basis - each student to do a different essay. (Students may choose to do a second topic for extra credit.)

• Concluding essay reflecting on any of several questions to be distributed the week prior (15%/150 points)

Extra credit will substitute for lower grades on other work (if extra work is done, the lowest equivalent grade will be dropped).