Original Web Document: http://www.acs.ucalgary.ca/~elsegal/Outline36301W99.html


THE UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY
FACULTY OF HUMANITIES
DEPARTMENT OF RELIGIOUS STUDIES

Religious Studies 363.01

Course Outline, Winter 1999

Judaism in the Modern World

Class time: MWF 11:00-11:50

Instructor:

E. Segal

Office:

Social Sciences 1301

Office hours:

M 10:00-11:00, or by appointment

Telephone:

220-5886

Internet:

E-mail:

elsegal@ucalgary.ca

World-Wide Web:

Material related to this course can be found at: http://www.acs.ucalgary.ca/~elsegal/363_Transp/363_list.html

Textbook:


Course Description:

This course will study the main currents of modern Jewish thought and religious life, dealing with theological, literary and sociological topics. Among the topics to be dealt with are:


Core Competencies:

In addition to familiarizing the student with the important facts, authorities and religious movements of Modern Judaism, this course will also provide an introduction to the scholarly methodologies that are necessary for the historical and social study of religion.

Attention will be paid to identifying and characterizing the phenomena that form the basis for our knowledge of modern Jewish religious practices, institutions and ideas. Critical analysis and interpretation of the evidence will play a central role in the class. Students will learn how to approach modern Judaism from a variety of methodological perspectives, in order to utilize them for a broad understanding of the variegated forms of recent Jewish religious life and thought.

In their research papers, the students will be challenged to demonstrate their abilities in the collection of data, in critical analysis of sources, in the evaluation of scholarly literature, and in the presentation of the research in an organized and coherent manner.

Course Requirements:

     
  1. Short Paper (due March 8 1999)
    25%
  2. Test (April 5 1999)
    30%
  3. Major Research Paper (due April 16 1999)
    45%

There will not be a Registrar's office scheduled final examination in this course.

Papers:

Two research papers will be required. The first will consist of about 2,000 words (about ten pages), and the second will be a more extensive study of about 3,600 words (fifteen pages). In these papers the student will examine topics, events and personalities in modern Jewish religious thought, observances, law and institutions. A list of suggested topics and bibliographical suggestions will be handed out.

Please consult the instructor for approval of additional topics and guidance.

Grading:

Letter grades will be asigned on the basis of the following scheme:

 
    A 100 - 90 A- 89 - 85
B+ 84 - 80 B 79 - 75 B- 74 - 70
C+ 69 - 65 C 64 - 60 C- 59 - 55
D+ 54 - 50 D 49 - 45 B- 44 or less

Plagiarism:

Plagiarism is a serious offense, the penalty for which is an F on the assignment and possibly also an F on the course, academic probation, or requirement to withdraw. The University Calendar states that "plagiarism exists when:

While it is recognized that scholarly work often involves references to the ideas, data and conclusions of other scholars, intellectual honesty requires that such references be explicitly and clearly noted.
Plagiarism occurs not only when direct quotations are taken from a source without specific acknowledgment, but also when original ideas or data from the source are not acknowledged. A bibliography is insufficient to establish which portions of the student's work are taken from external sources; footnotes or other recognized forms of citation must be used for this purpose.


Return to Eliezer Segal's Home Page

CoursesReturn to Eliezer Segal's Course List