RELS 4323: Capstone: Muslim-Chritian Encounters
University of Oklahoma
Spring 2007
Mondays, 3:00-5:50
Adams 304
David Vishanoff
vishanoff at ou dot edu
(405) 325-1150
Dale Hall Tower 805 (hidden around a corner from the Religious Studies Program office)
Office hours: Monday 10-11, Thursday 4-5,
or by
appointment.
This Capstone course is designed as an opportunity for each Religious Studies major to reflect on the variety of approaches to the study of religions that he or she has encountered in this intrinsically multidisciplinary program, and to articulate how his or her own intellectual project fits into that range of approaches. Our primary materials will be drawn from the history of interactions between Muslims and Christians; each week we will study one moment in that history through the lens of one or two particular approaches to the study of religion - artistic, literary, sociological, political, anthropological, philosophical, theological, historical, critical, or "religious studies" approaches. As we progress, each student will be encouraged to identify what he or she finds helpful or problematic about each approach, culminating in a position paper articulating the student's own vision of the goals and methods of religious studies.
To interact creatively with a range of different approaches to religious studies that students have encountered in their religious studies courses at OU.
For each student to articulate a personal vision of the goals and methods of his or her study of religions, such as might form the basis for a personal statement in an application to a graduate program in religious studies.
For each student to accomplish a significant research project on some aspect of Muslim-Christian interaction, guided by his or her personal vision for religious studies, that would be suitable for submission as a writing sample with an application to a graduate program in religious studies.
To explore and evaluate the scholarly and pedagogical strategy of focusing on the boundaries and interactions between religious communities, rather than on core elements of those communities and their traditions.
Preparation and participation (40%), to include any or all of the following, as assigned:
Research project in several stages (%40):
Final exam (%20): The final exam consists of a single essay: formal statement of your personal vision of the goals and methods of your study of religions, such as might form the basis for a personal statement in an application to a graduate program in religious studies. This must be turned in on the last day of class, which is the designated final exam period for this course.
Attendance is required. You will be allowed to miss up to two classes without penalty, after the deadline for adding classes. I make no distinction between excused and unexcused absences. Every absence beyond your first two will result in a reduction of your final course grade by one letter grade. For example, if your course grade would have been an A, but you miss three classes (one more than allowed), you would be down to a B. I fully expect that you will occasionally (i.e. up to twice) be unable to attend class for one reason or another, so it is not necessary to apologize or provide any excuse for your absences; please do not ask me to treat any individual absence as "excused." On the other hand, if a serious ongoing personal or health situation will result in three or more absences during the term, please do talk to me about it, and I will be as supportive as I can. Absences that result from religious observances will be excused, and exams or work falling on religious holidays may be rescheduled without penalty; please let me know in advance, as soon as you are able to determine that a holiday may conflict with class.
Please note that I will usually take attendance just before class begins, so if you arrive after class has begun, you will be irrevocably recorded as absent, unless you check in with me after class, in which case I will record you as merely late. Please don't be embarrassed about doing this; I'm not offended by your lateness; but since arriving late can be distracting to other students, I will if necessary decide to count each lateness as a fraction of an absence.
Academic honesty ("all or nothing"): In my estimation, any form of deceit, however "mild," warrants a final course grade of F (zero). Individual instances of suspected academic dishonesty will be referred to the appropriate University authorities, who will determine actual penalties. In my estimation, academic dishonesty includes (but is not limited to) cheating on tests, disclosing questions or answers from online assignments or tests to others, turning in writing not created by yourself solely for this class, plagiarism (reproducing or paraphrasing someone else's words or ideas without citing them), failing to document sources as required in an assignment, submitting answers online without both studying the relevant materials and understanding your answers, signing in other students on attendance sheets, and even false excuses for absences or late or missed assignments. You have no need to invent excuses, because unmet requirements will affect only my evaluation of your work; they will not affect my respect for you as a person. False excuses can therefore only mean that you are attempting to falsify your grade, and this warrants a course grade of F. See http://www.ou.edu/provost/integrity-rights/ for information on student rights with regards to academic misconduct.
Assignments and tests may or may not be accepted or given late, at the instructor's discretion. Unless arranged in advance, any such lateness will be penalized one letter grade for each interval between class periods (or any fraction thereof) that elapses after the scheduled date.
Online assignments cannot be made up; please do not ask. If you miss one, just forget it and do the next one so that you keep pace with the class.
No extra-credit work will be assigned or accepted; please do not ask. To benefit from this class, you need to do the work as it is assigned, not do other work later.
Any student who has a disability that may prevent him or her from fully demonstrating his or her abilities should contact me personally as soon as possible; I will be very glad to make accomodations to help you participate and learn more effectively. If you are unsure whether your should request some kind of accomodation, or what kind of accomodation might be most helpful for you, the Director of Disability Services will be able to help figure out what is best, and whether you should formally register with the Office of Disability Services (Goddard Health Center, Suite 166, 325-3852, TDD 325-4173).