Religion, Magic, and Witchcraft

ANTH/INTL/RELS 425-901- WRITING INTENSIVE (10173)
SPRING 2007, WEDS, 4-6:40, LFSCB 154
Dr. Christina Turner, cturner@vcu.edu, http://www.people.vcu.edu/~cturner

PLEASE NOTE:

THERE IS A PREREQUISITE OF ANTH 103 (OR ITS EQUIVALENT) AND ENGL 200 FOR THIS COURSE. PLEASE DO NOT ASK FOR AN EXEMPTION. THIS IS A WRITING INTENSIVE CLASS.

DESCRIPTION:

This is a survey course of comparative religious beliefs and customs. It is organized around the concept of comparisons between and within different levels of social organization across space and time with a view towards "recognizing needs, desires, appetites, and satisfactions ultimately characteristic of all human experience" (Lehmann and Myers 1989:v). Although religion is a human universal, its expression varies dramatically by culture. In this course we explore this diversity of humankind while recognizing that religious beliefs are structurally similar within the bounds of similar levels of social organization and that they can be studied scientifically.

GOALS:

1.	Introduce an alternative perspective to thinking about religion than people are usually exposed to on an number of levels--that is, a scientific, anthropological perspective vs. a philosophical perspective, a theological perspective, a humanistic, post-modern perspective of major world religions. We will be investigating religion as a more generalized world view and way of perceiving the world that varies depending on the structural complexity of the specific culture and we will be dealing primarily with less structurally complex cultures.
2.	After introducing the scientific, materialist perspective to studying religion, the class will analyze and interpret the text vis-à-vis your individual goals for this class. The students will essentially take responsibility for a large portion the educational process and for fostering discussion between the differing world views that are sure to be represented in the class.
3.	A third goal for the class is to facilitate your ability to research and write a 15-20 page scientific paper with good form, content, and critical thinking.
4.	The ultimate goals for the student is to learn to think analytically, to grasp the range of human adaptability, and to reinforce tolerance for the differences found in the interdependent world of today.
5.	This class also addresses, in part, the following School of World Studies learning outcomes for our students. · Interdisciplinary foci · Oral communication · Writing intensive · Technology skills · Global good citizenship and ethics · Critical thinking · Student engagement

TEXTS:

Mathias Guenther, Tricksters & Trancers: Bushman Religion and Society

Peter T. Furst, Flesh of the Gods

Alice Beck Kehoe, The Ghost Dance, Ethnohistory and Revitalization

Inge Bolin, Rituals of Respect, The Secret of Survival in the High Peruvian Andes

Jim Wafer, The Taste of Blood: Spirit Possession

SCHEDULE:

Please read this course outline carefully and keep it updated for any changes.

DATE	TOPIC	ASSIGNMENT
1/17	Introduction
1/24	Anthropological Study of Religion	Be sure to have your first ethnography read for next week and bring it with you to class.
1/31	Class discussion Tricksters & Trancers	Essay #1 due. Use the style sheet from your syllabus- How to Write a Research Paper. Small and large group discussions.
2/07	LIBRARY TRIP--This will help you immensely in writing your research paper for this class and achieving the grade that you would like. Attendance is mandatory. How to Write a Research Paper	Be prepared to start your library research, i.e., a general or specific idea of what you would like to research.
2/14	Class discussion Flesh of the Gods	Essay #2 due. Make sure you use your style guide. Small and large group discussion.
2/21	Popol Vuh
2/28	Class discussion The Ghost Dance	Essay #3 due. Small and large group discussion
3/07	Class discussion of research topics and methodology. Be prepared to present your work orally.	Paper thesis and outline due with sources (from your bibliography) listed in the appropriate sections of the outline. Make sure that you include your original bibliography. Make sure you use your guide sheet- How to Write a Research Paper.
3/14	SPRING BREAK
3/21	Class discussion Rituals of Respect	Essay #4 due. Small and large group discussion.
3/28	The Mission
4/04	Class discussion The Taste of Blood	Essay #5 due.
4/11	The Wicker Man	Research Papers Due. Make sure you use your guide sheet- How to Write a Research Paper. You will need to resubmit all of your previous work (bibliography, thesis, outline) at this time as well.
4/18	Oral presentations begin. Be prepared to do a short oral presentation on your research and your findings (the order will be decided by lots or personal preference).	You should have my written comments on your paper by this time. If there is no grade, only comments, you are expected to do a rewrite. You will need to resubmit all of your previous work with the rewrite.
4/25	Presentations of your work.	Paper rewrites due. Make sure that you turn in ALL PREVIOUS WORK with the rewrite or I will not reevaluate it.
5/02	Presentations of your work.	Final Paper rewrites due. Make sure that you turn in ALL PREVIOUS WORK with the rewrite or I will not reevaluate it.
5/09	Presentations of your work, if needed.
Syllabus is subject to change.

BLACKBOARD 6: You will be expected to access this course and to make sure that you monitor your VCU email. Your syllabus is also located in Blackboard as well as on my personal web page. http://www.people.vcu.edu/~cturner

ACADEMIC FREEDOM: A core principle of higher education is the freedom of faculty and students to pursue knowledge and to seek to discover what is true, regardless of the controversial nature of truth. The role of the faculty is both to pursue knowledge and to help you develop the skills necessary for the reasoned and responsible pursuit of truth. VCU endorses this principle as espoused by the American Association of University Professors, as do I.

ETHNOGRAPHIC RESEARCH PAPER AND PRESENTATION OF WORK: You will need to decide upon a research topic or question, formulate a thesis, produce an outline and write a logically thought out research paper at least 15 to 20 pages in length, which you will also be presented in summary form for the class. You have a style and guide sheet (electronically linked to the online syllabus) to help you with this. The possible topics and subsequent research theses are open to your choice but it does need to concern a topic consistent with the course. Do not alter your paper margins, the fonts, or the typeset, nor use any sort of creative spacing to stretch your paper length. Plagiarism in any form will be punished to the fullest extent possible.

For the first phase of your project you will need to produce a thesis statement and an annotated bibliography of the work that you will be using (use your Guide!). You should use the information that you received during the library session and make sure you include solid academic sources, journal articles, etc. There should be at least ten refereed academic sources besides any other references you may have (such as "Natural History" or the like). When in doubt, ask your research librarian or me (email, cturner@vcu.edu, is best unless it is during class or my office hours, please do not leave phone messages for me to call you back).

How to Evaluate Your Sources- http://www.library.vcu.edu/help/evaluate.html

Start preparing early for the final product and make sure you consult your style sheet when preparing your bibliography and outline. You will have an opportunity to rewrite you thesis and bibliography, if necessary. As you proceed through the successive stages, ALWAYS TURN IN EVERY PIECE OF PRIOR WORK with your current submissions or I will not grade them or reevaluate them. You will be presenting your thesis and outline orally in class so be prepared to do so. As you outline, be sure to indicate where in your paper your referenced library material will be used. If your work is late, you will receive a one grade reduction. If you are more than a week late, you will receive a zero on this portion of your paper, which will be reflected in your final paper grade. At this point your work will be evaluated in the following manner:

THESIS, BIBLIOGRAPHY, AND OUTLINE EVALUATION: There are five parts to the evaluation, each worth 20 points. Together they add up to a possible 100 points. The parts are graded individually on a 20 point scale (see below) and then added together. EXAMPLE OF REQUIRED WORK

1. thesis
2. appropriate number of scholarly citations
3. logical structure of outline
4. appropriateness of citations for topic
5. style/format of bibliography (follow style format from in your guide)

The next phase of your research paper project is to turn in a preliminary copy of your work for evaluation. This is not a mandatory phase, but many students find it helpful to get some feedback before it is too late to rectify any problems. You may want to visit the Writing Center (http://www.has.vcu.edu/owl/) in Hibbs for help with style and grammar. Do not rely on them for content or research information or logical argumentation. Of course, you may also consult with me individually during my office hours or by email (cturner@vcu.edu).

The next step is to turn in a final version of your paper. Do not alter your paper margins, the fonts, or the typeset, nor use any sort of creative spacing to stretch your paper length. Plagiarism in any form or any violations of VCU's Honor Code will be reported to the Honors Council. Late papers will receive a grade reduction for every week of tardiness. If you turn in an incomplete paper (that is, less than the required length, not using the requisite style, lack of proper citations), you will also lose a one grade reduction the same as a late paper.

RESEARCH PAPER EVALUATION: There are five parts to the evaluation, each worth 20 points. Together they add up to a possible 100 points. The parts are graded individually on a 20 point scale (see below) and then added together for the research paper grade.

1. thesis, bibliography, outline grade converted to a 20 point scale (from earlier evaluation, but subject to change if your work changes substantially)
2. writing and grammar--20 pts.
3. research grade--quantity and quality of research (papers that are not 15 pages, that fail to use all ten sources, or that rely on one or two sources will suffer here)--20 pts.
4. correct format, citation style, attribution, bibliographic form--20 pts. (failure to use the Guide will lower your grade significantly)
5. specification of theme, established well, logical conclusions--20 pts. (failure to exercise critical thinking will lower your score in this area)
18-20--A - 16-17--B - 14-15--C - 12-13--D
Your final score is the sum of the parts and will be on a 100 point scale.

PLAGIARISM: Plagiarism in any sense of the word is unethical and defeats the purpose of education. Your Guide discusses plagiarism and what it entails. Your Blackboard announcement discusses palgiarism and what it entails. I will fail you on the assignment if there is any plagiarism of any sort or any violation of VCU's Honor Code. I will report you to the Honor Board as will any anthropology professor. We have no tolerance for cheaters. You should be conversant with the section titled "VCU Honor System" located in your "VCU Resource Guide."

PARTICIPATION EVALUATION: Your grade in this section of the course will be based on your ability to contribute to your group’s discussions, the general class discussions and the critiques of the groups’ analyses of the text. Obviously, if you are not in class or have not read the ethnographies, you will not receive a grade. There are three sections of work for each ethnography, group discussion, class discussion and written essay. These essays will consist of each student’s evaluation of the text, the discussion, and of their cohorts' preparedness for the given tasks of the week (this last will help me in my own evaluation of your participation and contribution to the discussion). They should be typed and at least two double-spaced pages in length. Each ethnography can potentially receive 200 points (100 for class discussion/100 for critiques) which will be converted to 50% of your final grade.

PRESENTATION EVALUATION: The School of World Studies and the Anthropology Program are using specialized "rubrics" to evaluate oral presentations, critical thinking, and writing abilities. I (and possibly other anthropology faculty) will be using these rubrics to evaluate your presentation of your work.

FINAL GRADE FORMULA:
Research paper -- 45%
Participation, preparedness, critiques -- 50%
Presentation of work/evaluation of others' presentation using the rubrics above-- 5%

Initially, the reading and course requirements may appear to be a heavy load, but you will find that reading ethnographies is fun and easy as well as fascinating. The same may be said for writing research papers when you learn how. I hope you enjoy the class and that we all meet our projected goals.

DIRE WARNINGS SECTION:
This class is designed to be innovative and self-directed and incredibly interesting. It will not work:
1. if you do not attend class. After two absences I will reduce your final grade by five points for each absence. Since this is a three hour evening course, "absence" is taken to include the time following the break.
2. if you do not do the readings and come to class prepared. You being graded on participation in a number of different ways and a major portion of the class revolves upon your participation.
3. if you do not turn your written work in on time. In a class this size that meets only once a week it is imperative that the graded work be received and graded together and on time. ALL late work will be penalized by a reduction in grade. I have not held to this in the past, but I will now as tardy papers have become all too common.
4. if you plagiarize in any sense of the word because it defeats the purpose of learning. You sould be conversant with the section titled "VCU Honor System" located in your "VCU Resource Guide." We, the anthropology faculty, regularly find we need to "police" cheaters, as unpleasant as it is. Make sure you don't add to the list.

FINAL DIRE WARNING: I will mention all of this as well as the specifics of what plagiarism entails once. (Your "Writing Guide" also details just what exactly plagarism is, as does your "VCU Resource Guide" and the opening page of you Blackboard for this class.) It is up to you to know what is due when and what you are doing in class at any given moment. You are responsible for any changes in the syllabus whether you were in class that day or not.

RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCES: "It is the policy of VCU to accord students, on an individual basis, the opportunity to observe their traditional religious holidays" (VCU Undergraduate Bulletin).

HOW TO FIND THE PROF: before and after class or by appointment, 827-7869 (please don't leave a message asking me to call back, an email is better), cturner@vcu.edu

The contents and opinions contained herewithin do not reflect any positions or policies of VCU.