REL 530/635
Requirements
Attendance and Academic Citizenship
This class is mainly discussion based, so attendance and participation are crucial.
You will need to provide documentation for
excused absences. To
paraphrase the Undergraduate Catalog, you may be excused from class without
penalty:
1) for University sanctioned activities,
2) for severe illness as
evidenced by a written doctor’s excuse, and
3) for a death in your immediate
family.
Each unexcused absence results in a 2 point deduction
from your attendance grade. However, each
student begins with 6 points of extra credit for perfect attendance.
This means you can have three unexcused absences before losing any of your
20 pts. Moreover, if at the end of the semester your attendance and
participation have been excellent and you are within half a percent of the
next highest grade increment, I will bump your grade up (e.g., from a B- to
a B, or a B+ to an A-).
For obvious reasons, I don't want you to come to
class if you're feeling ill. Just let my GA know that you didn't come to
class because you felt sick and you'll be excused.
Academic Citizenship consists of scholarly
habits, i.e., characteristics and practices that will contribute immensely to your academic
success such as:
1) Coming prepared for class;
2) Paying attention and participating in the discussion;
3) Not arriving late or leaving early;
4) Not talking to your neighbor or doing anything else that is
distracting and disrespectful while class is in session.
Poor academic citizenship will affect your grade. If you are
unwilling to abide by these policies, drop the course.
Reading and
Discussion Participation
The reading assignments are the life blood of
a discussion based course. To be prepared for class you must read the
assignments carefully and make notes. During class I will
expect to see a notebook in front of you with notes in it. Some of your
notes should be made while doing the reading with an eye toward what you can contribute to the
discussion. Part of your grade is based on discussion
participation. Your ability to earn a high mark for
discussion participation depends heavily on your reading habits and thoughtful
note taking. All students are expected to participate in class
discussions, and everyone will have the opportunity to lead discussion. The course is designed to foster
critical yet respectful discussion wherein everyone’s views get a hearing.
Reading Facilitation and Handout
You will present
the reading and lead its discussion once during the semester.
This will include creating a two page handout that contains a
formal
outline of the reading and questions for discussion. The
handout is to be uploaded as a PDF in Assignments by two hours before class
time. I will then make copies for the class. Being able to identify the
major points and sub-points of a well-written composition is a valuable skill.
It can improve your reading comprehension as well as your own writing. Click
here and
here for important information about how to produce a proper formal
outline. The first linked page discusses the four main components of an
effective outline, and the second discusses alphanumeric outlines. I expect you
to follow these directions. This discussion includes a sample of the "full
sentence outline style." You should mostly follow it except that I will allow
you to use "full phrases" as well as short "full sentences." Be sure to get the
sample outline I've provided and follow my example.
Do the following when it is your turn to present the readings and lead the
discussion. Briefly explain the key points
covered by the reading with an eye toward what will initiate meaningful
discussion. Do
not elaborate on everything in your outline. That will take too
much time and be boring for fellow students since they have already read the
assignment. You should spend about ten to fifteen minutes making your
points at the beginning and then go on to eliciting discussion with your
brilliant observations and questions. Be sure to watch the clock and move
the discussion along if necessary to cover everything important. You
should be prepared to raise several important points for discussion. These
points may relate to making sense of the material, they may raise methodological
concerns, or they may have to do with connecting the reading to issues raised by
other readings or topics. You have the freedom to come up with other
angles for discussion provided they do not take us too far afield from the
topics of the reading. Although I will help as needed, you should take an
active role in leading class discussion.
Twenty points of your grade will be based on the quality of the handout and
twenty on the presentation and discussion leading.
Seminar Paper or Book Review
Your single most involved assignment will be
either a research paper (12-15 pages for
undergrads; 18-20 for grad students) or an
in-depth review of a substantive book of at
least 200 pages in length pertaining to religion
and science. These reviews will
be 12-15 pages each for undergrads and 16-18 for grad
students.
Further instructions concerning the seminar
paper and reviews will be provided on
Blackboard.
Research Presentation
Each student will make a fifteen minute presentation of his or her research. The
presentation will include distributing a double-sided one page handout to the
class
via Blackboard that begins with an abstract/précis of the
paper. An abstract is a 200 to 250 word summary of the paper. It
usually includes a brief description of the subject matter investigated in the
paper and a brief statement and explanation of the paper's thesis. Next,
include a formal outline of the presentation and any tables or other content
that will help your audience follow your presentation. Finally, provide an
bibliography of at least four sources. Your paper will have many more
sources, but these will be the most relevant. Plan on twelve minutes of
presenting and three minutes of discussion.
Short Papers, Quizzes, and a Final Exam
1) Two critical essays. You will
write two essays that engage the readings. Undergraduate students will
write 3-4 pages and grad students 5-6 pages. These papers are not meant to
be simply summaries, although doing some summarizing in your own words can help
you to sort out the most important issues raised by the readings. Instead,
these essays are meant to show evidence of your attempt to think through aspects
of the ideas and issues covered and to compare, contrast, synthesize, and
critique their ideas. More specific instructions will be provided for each
essay.
Late papers will be accepted, but three points will be deducted from the
grade.
2) Pop Quizzes on Readings. There will
be at least twelve five to ten point pop quizzes. At least one quiz will be given
each week at the beginning of class consisting of objective questions (T/F
or multiple choice) to test your knowledge of the reading assignments. Students
who keep up with the assignments, and who read them consistently and carefully
can expect to do well. Quizzes on the reading may not be made up. However, up to
two zero grades due to absences will be dropped at the end of the semester.
3) Final Exam. This is an essay and
discussion exam. The question will be provided a week before the exam
period and your essay will be uploaded in Blackboard. During the final exam
period, students will share from their papers as part of a class discussion. An
incomplete (i.e., grade "I") will be given for the course if you miss the Final,
have a legitimate excuse, and request one within 24 hours after the Final was
given.
Required Textbooks
McGrath, Alister E. Science & Religion: A New
Introduction (3rd ed.). Wiley-Blackwell, 2020.
Ferngren, Gary B. ed. Science & Religion: A Historical
Introduction (2nd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2017.
Recommended: Dixon, Thomas. Science and Religion: A Very Short
Introduction. 2nd. ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2022; Kate L. Turabian, A Manual for Writers, 7th, 8th, or 9th ed.
(University of Chicago Press).
Grading
Attendance |
20 pts. |
Participation |
30 pts. |
Pop Quizzes (about 12 at 5-10 pts.
each) |
≥100 pts. |
Two Critical Essays (30 pts. each) |
60 pts. |
Reading Facilitation |
20 pts. |
Reading Handout |
20 pts. |
Research Paper Abstract and Outline |
20 pts. |
Research Paper Presentation |
20 pts. |
Research Paper |
100 pts. |
Final Exam |
20 pts. |
TOTAL POINTS |
≥
400 pts. |
Your total Course Grade will utilize plus/minus grading. As someone has
said, "Earnestly desire the higher gifts."
Percentage
|
Grade
|
93-100%
|
A
|
90-92%
|
A-
|
87-89%
|
B+
|
83-86%
|
B
|
80-82%
|
B-
|
77-79%
|
C+
|
73-76%
|
C
|
70-72%
|
C-
|
67-69%
|
D+
|
60-66% |
D |
Below 60%
|
F
|
- Grades will be kept on the course's Blackboard site so that you can check
your performance in the class on your own at any time.
- Late work will be penalized a letter grade. Missed papers must be made up by Study
Day or you will receive no credit for those
assignments.
Additional Course Policies
Office Hours
My office is STRO 266, but will not be
meeting with students there much this semester
because of the pandemic. Instead, I will
be available during my scheduled office hours
through Collaborate Ultra in Blackboard. Virtual
office hours are posted on the Blackboard
site. However, you will need to email me to set
up a time for a meeting. My email address
is available on the campus web and on the
Blackboard site. Please use ONLY your MSU email
when sending email correspondence to me in this
course. As I teach multiple courses each
semester, it will help me assist you faster if
you include the course name and section number
in the subject line of your email. Not including
this information could delay my response to you.
Emails sent during the week (Monday – Friday),
will be responded to within 24 hours.
Emails received over the weekend or during
breaks/holidays will be receive a response
within 48 hours.
Academic Integrity
Missouri State University is a community of
scholars committed to developing educated
persons who accept the responsibility to
practice personal and academic integrity.
You are responsible for knowing and following
the university’s student honor code,
Student Academic Integrity Policies and
Procedures and also available at the
Reserves Desk in Meyer Library. Any
student participating in any form of academic
dishonesty will be subject to sanctions as
described in this policy. In this course,
cheating on any assignment besides the final
exam will result in an F for that assignment and
usually cannot be made up. Cheating on the final
exam will result in an XF.
Emergency Storm Shelter and Evacuation
Information
In the event of an emergency or incident in
the classroom, the faculty member is often the
first university representative or authority
figure recognized to be in charge until
emergency first responders arrive. At the first
class meeting, students should become familiar
with a basic emergency response plan through a
dialogue with the instructor that includes a
review and awareness of exits specific to the
classroom and the emergency relocation areas for
the building. For your convenience, this
information has been provided by the Office of
the Provost and Safety and Transportation and
appears below. Students with disabilities
impacting mobility should discuss with their
instructor the approved accommodations for
emergency situations and additional options.
Faculty must include information related to
emergency response in their syllabi (see
http://www.missouristate.edu/provost/syllabi.htm).
For more information contact Safety and
Transportation (417-836-5509) or consult the
Emergency Quick Reference Guide and
Campus Emergency Response Plan.
Tornado Shelter Area Information (in case of
severe weather):
Building
|
Tornado Shelter
Area
|
Glass Hall
|
1st Floor:
Shelter in
interior lecture
Halls
2nd Floor:
Shelter in
interior lecture
Halls
3rd Floor:
Shelter in
interior lecture
Halls and
interior office
suites.
4th Floor:
Evacuate to 3rd
Floor Lecture
Halls and
Interior Office
Suites using
northeast,
northwest
southeast and
southwest
stairs.
|
Strong Hall
|
Evacuate the
fourth floor
using north and
south stairs.
Faculty office
wing occupants
may shelter in
interior halls
of their area.
All other
occupants move
to basement
level using
north and south
stairwells.
|
Emergency Assembly Point Instructions (in
case the building needs to be evacuated for
events such as fire, gas leak, etc.)
Building
|
Emergency
Assembly Point
|
Glass Hall
|
Southwest to
Strong Hall
Rooms 1, 2, 3
and 4
|
Strong Hall
|
Northeast to
Glass Hall Room
101; Overflow to
rooms 102 and
108
|
Areas of Rescue (in case you are unable to
evacuate to the ground floor, these are areas of
temporary safety until rescuers arrive)
Building
|
Area of Rescue
|
Glass Hall
|
Northeast
stairwell
Southeast
stairwell
|
Strong Hall
|
None in this
facility
|