Vanderbilt University Department of Religious Studies, College of Arts and Science |
REQUIREMENTS: (With % of semester grade)
1. Active participation/contribution to Class Discussions in Groups,
as well as in plenary sessions. (5%)
2. Leading Friday discussion groups and/or participation in Debates:
three times during the semester.
(5% x 3 = 15 %)
3. Contributing to the class through E-mail feedbacks : What
is new for you? What do you miss? Questions? Issues about
the readings or lectures that need to be addressed by the instructors.
(Required: at least three 200 word-long feedbacks by e-mail during
the semester: One before February 15; a second one, before March 15; a third
one before April 1). (5%)
4. QUIZZES on assigned readings, regarding the Themes and Textual
Evidence upon which interpretations are based (Step 2). NO MAKE UP; NO EXCUSE.
10 quiz units. The best 8 (eight) grades will be counted as 20 % of
the semester grade. (Two quiz units will be discounted.)
(20 %)
5. Four (4) Step # 1 Reports Your interpretations of the
teachings of 4 texts (4 x 5% = 20%)
6. One "Step # 2 Report," (3-4 pages) (15%)
7. Final Paper. (5 pages; combining Step # 2 and
Step # 3) (20%)
Grading of Step # 2 report and Final Paper (which involve interpretations):
“A” range = Excellent, exceptional = correctly addressing
all the questions of the topic, and demonstrating special creativity, insightfulness
in analysis;
“B” range = Good and solid. = correctly
addressing all the questions of the topic, but without special creativity
or insightfulness;
“C” range = Fairly Good = most questions of the
topic addressed correctly, but some questions of the topic have not been
addressed correctly;
“D” range = Poor = Many questions addressed incorrectly,
or not addressed at all.
Grading of Step 1 Reports and Quizzes: Objective, on 100 points.
Grading of leadership in Roundtable Discussions and Debates, based on the
quality of the required outline and on pedagogical creativity in fostering
helpful discussions: “A” = 5 = Excellent, exceptional; “B” =
4 = Good and solid.; “C” = 3 = Fairly Good; “D” =2 = Poor; “F”
= 0
LATE WORK will be accepted. But 1/3 of a letter grade will be taken
off for each calendar day (except for valid and verified excuses).
HONOR CODE: Throughout the semester, you are under the Honor Code of
Vanderbilt University. All your quizzes, reports and your paper should
represent YOUR OWN work. Identify your sources, so as to avoid plagiarism.
Sign your work as a pledge of compliance with the Honor Code (i.e., you wrote
it without receiving aid from--or giving aid to--any other person, except
as specified). E-mailed reports should be signed by adding the 3 last
digits of your identification number.