Collaborative Project Guidelines
This Collaborative Project is to be a 750-1000
word essay on the topic selected by each group. The essay is to be
one in which everyone in the group contributes
fully. Remember the rule of group excommunication is in effect by which
the group can, with professorial approval,
excommunicate a group member for not contributing her or his fair share of
the work and for not participating the the
collaborative process fully. The result will be a "0" for the project for
the
excommunicant.
1. Each group is to collaborate on selecting a
topic for which to research and write an essay that will be submitted to the
class discussion list on Nov.
4th or 5th.
Please cite the sources
used in researching and writing the essay, including the web sources (include URL).
Each
essay and presentation are to
benefit the group, but also the class as a whole that can learn from the work of each
group.
2. Each group's topic needs final
approval by the "God Squad" by Oct. 15th to avoid duplications and to be
sure all
topics are within the course's
boundaries.
3. During class periods on Nov. 9th and 11th
(and Nov. 16th if needed), each group is to make an amazingly excellent
and creative presentation to the
class of its topic. The presentation is not to be just a rehash of the essay,
but is to
be a continuation of what the
essay introduces and discusses, perhaps focusing upon certain key elements.
Each presentation should a
minimum of 15 minutes long and not more than 20 minutes.
For example, a group could
make a video and show it to the class as its presentation, or stage a scene, or role-play,
or ....? As long as the
presentation is of substance and manifests critical reflection, we want you to have fun
preparing
and doing the presentation.
4. RELATION BETWEEN THE ESSAY AND THE
PRESENTATION
The essay is to be an
introductory look at the group's topic, explaining the essentials to the class as it reads
each
posted essay. In
other words, the essay is to serve as an introduction to the presentation and
the presentation is
to serve as a
conclusion to the essay. They are to be two separate, but connected aspects of one
project.
5. Topics: All group topics need to be
related to the story or history of the ideas of "God" in western culture and
consciousness, including those
ideas as they exist today.
6. To not contribute to group work and not
participating in the whole process of the group's work (not just at the last moment)
is unfair, mediocre and shows
lack of integrity. Thus, each group may report to the mentors the names of any
member(s)
who do not participate. A
group meeting with the mentors to bring everything in the open may be in order. The
major thing
that can make group work a lousy
experience is where one or more members of the group seek to take a free ride on the
backs of those really doing the
work. Such a weak attitude has no place in our study. This group work is to be
enjoyable
as well as valuable and that
requires the full participation of ALL members of the group. Anyone not willing to do that
is
sincerely advised to leave this
course behind.
7. Groups: Each group needs to give
itself a good name. Time will be given in several classes for groups to meet.
8. DATES:
Oct. 15: Deadline for topic approval
Nov. 4-5: Posting of group essay to the class discussion list
Nov. 9, 11: Presentations
(16?)
Time will be given on Tuesday,
Oct. 5th, during the final part of the class session, for groups to get together for the
first
time and begin planning for the project. Select
topics that are exciting and that everyone in the group is willing to do.
Syllabus
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