EXAMS   worth up to 100 points each.    [[Essay Questions for Exams]

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2.  Another exam Fri., Oct. 21, worth up to 100 points 
This will have the same components and follow the same procedures as the first. The essay questions will ask the student to discuss several of the major functions and aspects common to religions everywhere, and use related readings for illustrations.  This will cover textbook Chs. 5-11 [!] and the related assigned readings, including the "common readings" of the Sermon at Benares and Mark's Gospel.

3.  Last exam, worth up to 100 points.
     10:00 class exam is on Dec. 15, Thur. at 12:20 - 2:10;  
       11:00 class exam is on Dec. 13, Tues. at 2:30-4:20. 
This will have the same components and procedures as the first two.   The essay questions will ask you to describe modern (and postmodern) developments in religion, the current status of religion in the West (and in Muslim countries), and to discuss the problem of evaluating religions, using related readings for illustrations.  This will cover Ch. 12-15, The Epilogue, and related assigned readings.  But you will be expected to use material from the entire course as examples and, where relevant, as part of your explanations.

PAPER  worth up to 100 points  [L I N K to guidelines for writing the paper]
[Use link at the left to see a list of possible topics.]
A brief research paper, of 7-8 pages,* based at least mainly on sources not used in the course, on some currently significant religious movement or event, analyzing it according to the categories and the theories discussed in the course. (This could include such topics as the growth of new religions or a specific new religion, U.S. anti-evolutionism or Islamic fundamentalism, the role of religion in cultural changes in South America or Africa, syncretism today, religious-based conflict, etc.)  The paper will normally be due 9 days in advance of the presentation.  The due date will depend on when each student's group will make its presentation. 
 *[7-8 pages = double-spaced with 11 point type.  Unlike in high school, this is a recommendation of length; there is no penalty for writing more than this, but please do not exceed the limit by an appreciable amount.]

Form of paper:
    The paper should be "expository" rather than argumentative.  But like a good argumentative paper it should include the pros and cons on any disputed point.  That does not mean that the paper must be neutral.  If there seems to be clear evidence in favor of a certain conclusion, do not hesitate to affirm that conclusion, as long as you have presented a decent analysis of the evidence and counter-evidence.  Citing a single source for a claim is not enough evidence to support a conclusion, no matter how authoritative that source is.  A single source tells you only that one person thinks that such-and-such is true.  It is certainly worth describing some opposing sources; just remember that every source can be fallible.

Use of quotations from sources  [This reinforces ideas given also on the HowToWritePapers page: ]
    You may have learned in high school how to use many quotes to show that you have consulted many different sources.  In fact, quotations are useless except for two purposes.  One is to provide an interesting illustration of what you have already adequately explained (so that strictly speaking the quotation is not necessary).  The other is to substantiate, where necessary, a claim you are making about someone else's ideas, a claim that might seem dubious were you not to quote.   You can write an excellent research paper without using a single quotation, though you still need to provide references to the sources from which you take each specific idea.  So do not construct your paper by assembling a number of quotations.  Every single idea presented in your paper should be said in your own words, with quotes used only to illustrate or support what you have already explained.

Number and quality of sources:
    The second rule about using sources is that you do not need to rely on all of them equally.  You should in fact have consulted a good number of them -- and you can let your bibliography show this -- in order to find out who the real experts are and which claims are more reliable.  But if you are able to determine that there are a few truly excellent sources, from the library and from the internet, which give you all the important information and analysis you need, feel free to rely heavily on them -- provided that you have consulted with their critics also and can present challenges to these few sources. 
     You must consult with hard copy sources in the library, either in books written by experts on the topic or in professional journals.  You may certainly use the internet, but do not rely mainly on it.
     Be aware that if I know there are excellent sources on your topic easily available to you which you did not check, and you then make egregious errors of fact, I will be conscious of that.  A most important thing to keep in mind is that you should never believe what you read just because it is in print.  Never.  So be sure to read enough to have good reasons for thinking that what you are reporting has some real credibility among those who are expert on the topic.

Editing and Proofreading
     Do not hand anything in without carefully editing it and proofreading it.  Any paper which has more than 3 typographical or significant grammatical errors on a single page will be returned to the author for editing.  (The same is true for the reading guides.)

PRESENTATIONS worth up to 50 points
Each student will be part of a three or four person presentation groups,  using lecture, electronic media of various kinds, and texts.  These presentation will take place on consecutive Wednesdays, beginning near the end of October (see the calendar for precise dates)..
    The presentation is to draw upon the paper each student writes.  It does not have to repeat the entire paper.  The goal should be to inform the rest of the class about some significant or interesting aspect of the results of the research done for the paper.  The three or four students doing a presentation on the same day should work together to present a coherent package to the class.
    In the classroom, each group will have available to it computers linked to the web to use live web materials, computers with PowerPoint programs, overhead projectors, additional sound equipment if needed and requested in advance, video players, DVD players, etc.  So be imaginative in constructing your presentation.  Especially avoid using PowerPoint merely to list topic headings.  You could do that on a chalk board.  Use media for adding images and sound to bring your presentation to life.

READING GUIDES worth up to 10 points each
     There will also be four "Reading Guides" assigned on the "common readings."  The "common readings" are those that every student at UD reads in the introductory Religious Studies courses.  These are Genesis 1-3, the Buddha's Sermon at Benares, Mark's Gospel, and Trible's commentary on Gen 2-3. Each will be worth up to 20 points.  Each will provide some specific questions about the content of the reading.  The purpose of these specific questions is to guide you in seeing both the main points of the reading and to analyze the implications.  Each will also provide a question about your reaction to the reading.
     Editing and proofreading:  any RG with more than 3 significant grammatical errors or typographical errors will be returned to you for editing.  This rule will not always apply to all parts of a given RG because often the RG instructions will just ask for lists or such rather than full sentences.

OUTSIDE REPORT  and  EXTRA CREDIT  worth up to 10 points each.
     [Extra Credit Links]
     The single 10 point required report on a non-classroom event should be related to materials of the class.  This will not be difficult.  We will cover a very large number of topics in class.  Events that are about issues of suffering or social justice, about political or economic order, about the values or beliefs that guide people, can all be compared to how religions sometimes deal with such things.  If in doubt, consult with Barnes, and he will probably be able to figure out some connection.  The purpose of this small assignment is to encourage participation in educational or artistic events outside of the class. 

The report should be about two double-spaced pages, or better yet to save paper, one single-spaced page.  The content should include both good information about what occurred at the event, as well as some personal commentary (analysis or reaction).

The optional extra credit report you may make, in addition to this required report, is good for up to 10 more points, with the same purpose and standards as the required report.  Yes, that means that you can earn up to 510 points for the course; your grade will nonetheless be based on a theoretical maximum of 500.