REL 399 : "Sr. Seminar"

http://www.gac.edu/~avaughn/REL399/REL399(spring2002).html

Course Description (Catalog):
The senior seminar provides an opportunity for the major to explore in depth an issue of special interest in religious studies. The thesis will be associated with one of the four departmental areas, and will reflect careful consideration of relevant methodological problems. The thesis will be written under the direction of the seminar instructor, critiqued by seminar students, and defended before three members of the department. Prerequisite: prior to registration, there must be approval of a thesis proposal by the seminar instructor.
[ Course Requirements | Textbooks | Schedule | Feb | Mar | April | May ]
REL 399 "Sr. Seminar"
Spring 2002
REL 399-001 MWF 10:30AM, OM 102
REL 399-002: MWF 1:30PM, OM 102
 
Professor:
Dr. Andy Vaughn  Dr. Mary Solberg
office: OM 105C  office: OM 103B
office telephone: x7475  office telephone: x7470
home telephone: 625-2797 (before 8PM)  home telephone: 931-4716 (before 9PM)
email: avaughn@gustavus.edu  email: msolberg@gustavus.edu
office hours: M 10:30-11:30; W 10:30-11:30; W 2:30-3:30; AND by appointment
 office hours: MWF 9-10; 1:00-2:30 AND by appointment.

Required Texts:
-coursepack with readings
-The Chicago Manual of Style, 14th edition

Course Requirements: The student will complete the following requirements:
  1. Preparation and completion of a thesis as described in course description above. Thesis should be about 40 pages long. If it is
    more than 60 pages long, student will need written permission from seminar instructor; if it is less than 35 pages long, the student will need a good reason.
  2. Faithful attendance at scheduled classes.
  3. Preparation of reading assignments for discussion as indicated in syllabus. (We will institute written assignments related to the readings if we discover seminar members are not prepared to discuss them.)
  4. Participation in the seminar discussions.
  5. Presentations (posters, etc.) to seminar &/or public as assigned.
  6. Meeting all thesis-preparation deadlines.
  7. Oral defense of thesis.
Anticipated Method of Evaluation:
Participation (includes keeping up with the schedule): 25%
Thesis paper: 50%
Oral defense of thesis: 25%
____
100%
ANTICIPATED SCHEDULE OF TOPICS AND READINGS

Section One: Opening

Feb. 11 (M) Course introduction
-30 second ("Aunt Sally") thesis statement due
-brief, annotated bibliography is due (at least 6 citations)
13 (W): Essay discussion
-read David Tracy, "Interpretation, Conversation, Argument," p. 148 of coursepack
15 (F): Discussion of correct style
-look through Chicago Manual of Style, Style A
-bring your bibliography (between 6-8 items) to class in correct format (both footnotes and biblography)
-bring Chicago Manual of Style to class
18 (M): Essay discussion
-read Beverly Wildung Harrison, "The Power of Anger in the Work of Love," p. 95 in the coursepack
-revision of thesis and bibliography due at the start of class if revisions required from Feb. 11th
20 (W): library day
-assignment to be announced
22 (F): library day
-assignment to be announced
25 (M): Essay discussion
-read selected pages from Friedrich Schleiermacher, The Christian Faith, p. 125 of coursepack
27 (W): Thesis discussion
-half of the class will have 6 copies of their thesis statement and outline due
Mar 01 (F): Thesis discussion
-half of the class will have 6 copies of their thesis statement and outline due
04 (M): Essay discussion
-read selected pages from Ludwig Feuerbach, "The Essense of Religion Considered Generally," p. 55 of coursepack
06 (W): Dr. Becky Taylor (Director of the Writing Center)
08 (F): Dr. Becky Taylor (Director of the Writing Center)
11 (M): meeting with Rabbi Brockman
-no reading assignment for the day (you have a chance to work on your thesis)
13 (W): Posters Due for half the class
-poster should describe your thesis project for others
-poster should be heavy on text and outline
15 (F): Posters Due for half the class
-poster should describe your thesis project for others
-poster should be heavy on text and outline
18 (M): Essay discussion
-read selected pages from Donna Haraway, "Situated Knowledge," p. 95 of coursepack
20 (W): 1st chapter or section due (at least 10-12 pages)
-discussion of stylistic issues
-bring style questions to class
22 (F): work day
25 (M): Essay discussion
-read selected pages from Clifford Geertz, "Religion as a Cultural System," p. 75 of coursepack
27 (W): 2nd chapter or section due (at least 10-12 pages)
-discussion of theses
-bring 11 copies of your thesis statement and a list of problems (if any) to class
29(F): no class (Spring Break)
April 01 (M): no class (Spring Break)
03 (W): no class (Spring Break)
05 (F): no class (Spring Break)
08 (M): complete draft of thesis due
-the draft must be in "final" form with correct use of citations, etc.
10 (W): individual meetings
12 (F): individual meetings
15 (M): Review and discussion of stylistic questions
-bring Chicago Manual of Style to class
17 (W): poster presentations: revise your comments or revise actual poster
19 (F): poster presentations: revise your comments or revise actual poster
22 (M): poster presentations: revise your comments or revise actual poster
24 (W): workday (Mary and Andy available for consulation)
26 (F): work day (Andy and Mary available for consultation)
29 (M): Second complete draft of thesis due
May 01 (W): work day (Andy and Mary available for consultation)
03 (F): work day (Mary and Andy available for consulation)
06 (M): work day (Andy and Mary available for consultation)
07 (Tu): Final Thesis due Linda Elvee by 10:30AM (5 copies)
-5 clean copies with the original printed on a high quality laser printer
-make sure that the printer has enough toner
-tardiness is unacceptable
08 (W): final poster session before public presentation
-bring finished poster to class
-present polished 3-minute presentation in class
10 (F): from 7-9PM "Public Presentation of your research with Posters"
-This is an extra class meeting and required
-both sections of REL 399 will meet in the Interpretive Center from 7-9PM
09-17 Oral defenses
20 (M): Essay discussion
-read selected pages from essay on Buddhism to be handed out.
22 (W): final wrapup