EASTERN RELIGIONS

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Dr. Robert Sutton

Office: S511-B

REL 111 Summer

Phone: 362-7133

E-Mail: robertcsutton@yahoo.com

Office Hours: M 11-12:00, TW 1:30-3:00 & TH 1:30-2:30, by appointment.

Home Page: http://cfcc.edu/faculty/rsutton/

Mail S202

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COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course introduces the major Asian religious traditions.  Topics include Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, and Shinto.  Upon completion, students should be able to identify the origins, history, beliefs, and practices of the religions studied.  This course has been approved to satisfy the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement general education core requirement in humanities/fine arts.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:  Upon completion of this course a student should be able to:

  1. Define certain religious and theological terms as they pertain to the study of the major Eastern religious traditions.
  2. Identify certain persons and events with their respective religion.
  3. Associate particular religious concepts and traditions with the historical circumstances and religious situations in which they developed.
  4. An ability to discuss the origins, history, beliefs, and practices of the religions studied.  An appreciation for the diversity of religious traditions and their importance in the public and private lives of adherents.


GENERAL EDUCATION COMPETENCIES:

Written Communication

Understanding Social Structure

Oral Communication

Problem Solving

Critical Thinking

Understanding Scientific Concepts & Application

Basic Computer Usage

 

TEXTS:

 

Baird, Forrest E. and Heimbeck, Raeburne S.  Asian Philosophy, Upper Saddle River, NJ:  Prentice-Hall

2006.

 

Fisher, Mary Pat. Living Religions: Eastern Traditions, Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 2003.

 

TOPICS:  Chapters in the primary texts will be assigned in an order and at a pace according to the demands of the class and will be assigned at the discretion of the instructor. The course readings will be divided into four sections:

· Introduction to religion and overview of Asian Religions (3 weeks).

· Religions of Indian and South East Asia (5 weeks).

· Religions of China (4 weeks).

· Religions of Japan and conclusion (4 weeks).

REQUIREMENTS: There will be two tests during the semester, the mid-term and final, given at the end of units 2 and 4, as indicated above. Each test will count 1/3 toward your final course grade. To prepare for your tests, there may be periodic vocabulary tests at the end of chapters.

In addition, there will be 6 reflection papers, each 2 pages in length, discussing the chapters in the Baird and Heimbeck text. Students will share these papers in small groups on the designated days.  A failure to come with a paper or a failure to be in class that day will result in a grade of "F" for that paper. These papers will count toward the remaining 1/3 of the course grade.

Class format is lecture-discussion. All assigned readings must be completed prior to class. Students are expected to critically participate in class discussion.

The Syllabus: There are various ways to look at the first day handout that influences how you view a course. Often, students think of the syllabus as a blueprint, analogous to an architect's drawing of a house. Such a conception leads to the conclusion that a course simply follows steps until one arrives at the end where one can measure the outcomes in relationship to the plans. I would urge you to think of the handout as a map. Like a blueprint, the map provides us with information necessary to arrive at our destination. But, the analogy of the map alerts us to the fact that a journey, like a course and all good education, is to be enjoyed and meaningful from the moment one begins the adventure, not simply when one arrives.

CAPE FEAR ATTENDANCE POLICY: CFCC policy requires 80% attendance. Thus, a grade of "F" is issued on the 10th hour of absence, no exceptions. It is your responsibility to keep track of your absences.  As a matter of respect for your colleagues, and me, you are expected to be in class on time.  Roll will be taken at the beginning of class and if you are not here to respond, you will be marked absent.

GRADING: School wide grade scale is as follows:

A=100-92(4), B=91-84(3), C=83-76(2), D=75-68(1), F=67(0), WP, WF, I

No withdrawals will be granted without a face to face consultation with the instructor and it is CFCC policy that, No withdrawals may be requested after the 80 percent point of a class. Students who wish to appeal should secure an Instructional Appeal Form from the Office of the Vice President for Instruction. Permission will be granted for extenuating circumstances only. Documentation will be required. The Vice President for Instruction’s decision is final.”

PLAGIARISM STATEMENT:  Plagiarism is using as your own the words or ideas of another, whether written or oral.  When you use material from a source, you must quote or paraphrase accurately and properly cite the information.  Failure to do so is considered plagiarism.  Examples of plagiarism include word-for-word copying without correctly indicating that you are quoting, inaccurate quoting and paraphrasing and incomplete or missing documentation.  Purchasing a paper or copying someone else's work and submitting it as your own are also plagiarism.  Any misrepresentation of the source in your writing or speaking would constitute a form of plagiarism. Whether intentional or unintentional, plagiarism is not acceptable.  The Humanities and Fine Arts Department adheres to the CFCC policy on cheating as stated in the Catalog and Student Handbook. In the unlikely event of an act of plagiarism, I will give the student a failing grade for the course.

CONTINGENCY PLAN:  If there is an emergency and the instructor or an appropriate substitute does not meet with the class, wait fifteen minutes.  If no instructor shows, the class should sign a roll sheet and designate someone to take it to the Humanities/Fine Arts Department Secretary or Chair. In the event of faculty absences, unless an assignment is given, it is expected that students will use the time studying in the library.

ACCOMMODATION OF SPECIAL NEEDS: Any student who requests classroom accommodations because of a disability must present documentation to verify his/her disability.  This documentation must be furnished to the Disabilities Service Coordinator.  On a confidential basis, the student, disabilities services and the instructor will determine the appropriate accommodations following documentation.  These accommodations will be provided in a manner that is consistent with the objectives, outcomes, and academic standards of the course. Absences must not exceed class attendance policy.

CELL PHONES:  Please make sure that your cell phone is off before entering the classroom.  There is no reason to ever have your cell phone out during class time, thus I do not want to see any cell phones in the class.

MYCFCC:  MYCFCC is your student web portal - there you can access your class websites, email, and WebAdvisor (official academic info such as grades, transcripts, schedules, etc).  Your official CFCC-provided email account is to be used for all e-mail correspondence with your instructors and CFCC staff.   Some information from CFCC will ONLY be emailed to this address, and not sent through postal mail, so it is very important that you check this account.  To access this account, visit the myCFCC portal - there is a link to the portal near the top of the CFCC.edu website.  Login and click the Email link.  Your username is part of your email address: user@mail.cfcc.edu.  (Note if you've had a CFCC email address in the past, this one differs because we've changed 'email' to 'mail' in the address.)  This email account is provided to you as long as you are enrolled in classes (you can take the summer off), and may be used for personal email as well as academic email.   The class websites linked from the portal are automatically created for every class - it is up to the instructors to decide whether and how to use them.  Even if they are not used, you can send an email to your instructor by clicking the Send Email link on your class homepage.

 

TOBACCO USE:  Tobacco use is prohibited on all CFCC property.  The first offense is a warning and the second offense may result in disciplinary action.

Disclaimer on First-Day Handouts:  The instructor reserves the right, acting within the policies and procedures of Cape Fear Community College, to make changes in course content or instructional techniques without notice or obligations.

PREREQUISITES: Proficiency in reading or a grade of "C" or better in ENG 095.

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Updated 05/04/2012