Lake-Sumter State College

Course Syllabus for World Religions REL 2300

Fall 2014, Online

Course / Prefix Number / REL 2300 / Course Title: / World Religions
CRN: / 10077 / Credit: / 3 / Term: / Fall 2014
Course Catalog Description: / This course is a survey of the origins, beliefs, and contemporary practices of the world’s religions: Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Taoism, Shinto, Sikhism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Confucianism. Attention is given to the interactions between specific religions and the cultures in which they are practiced.
Instructor: / David Benjamin / Contact Information: /
Office Location: / Blackboard / Office Hours: / By appointment online
All students are required to use Blackboard or Lakehawk Mail for official college e-mail communications.
See the college webpage for instructions on activating LakehawkMail.
Prerequisites: / None
Co-requisites: / None
Textbook and Other Course Materials: / Living Religions, Eighth Edition, Mary Pat Fisher
Anthology of Living Religions, 3rd Edition, Fisher and Bailey (optional)
Technology and Online Computer Access Requirements: / Students will be required to use a computer and a word processor (such as Microsoft Word) for emailing assignments.
The Blackboard webpage will be utilized frequently in this course for communicating classroom information and participation in discussion forums.
Course Objectives:
(what the course will do) / Students will become familiar with the history, beliefs, sacred texts, and rituals of the world’s major religions, and understand how these religions affect and are affected by politics, social and family structures, and the environment in their respective locales.
Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) Assessed in this Course:
(what the students take with them beyond this course) / First and foremost, the student learning outcomes will deal with their developing a cursory knowledge of all major world religions still practiced today. In the process, students will also develop an appreciation and respect for other religions irrespective of their own faith practices and beliefs. In order to do this, students should have an open mind.
Academic Integrity: / The successful functioning of the academic community demands honesty, which is the basis of respect for both ideas and persons. In the academic community, there is an ongoing assumption of academic integrity at all levels. There is the expectation that work will be independently thoughtful and responsible as to its sources of information and inspiration. Honesty is an appropriate consideration in other ways as well, including but not limited to the responsible use of library resources, responsible conduct in examinations, and the responsible use of the Internet. (See college catalog for complete statement.)
Important Information for Students with Disabilities: / Any student with a documented disability who requires assistance or academic accommodations should contact the Office for Students with Disabilities immediately to discuss eligibility. The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) is located on the Leesburg Campus, but arrangements can be made to meet with a student on any campus. An appointment can be made by calling 352-365-3589 and specific information about the OSD and potential services can be found at www.lssc.edu, then go to “Quick Links” and click on Disability Services.
Privacy Policy (FERPA): / The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part99) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of a student’s education records. In order for your information to be released, a form must be signed and in your records located in the Admissions/Registrar’s Office.
Attendance/ Withdrawal Policies: / Consistent attendance is absolutely essential for this course. This, of course, will make available to students the opportunity of class participation through discussion forums, which will be one-fifth of the final grade. Withdrawal will follow the LSSC/s policies.
Withdrawal Deadline: / Wed 11/05/14
Methods of Evaluation: / Grading Policy:
10% = Participation
10% = Weekly Quizzes
10% = Discussion Forum
70 % = Exams
Participation: 10% of final grade. I reserve the right to deduct a full letter grade from your final grade due to foul language and poor behavior in the discussion forums. Inappropriate language and behavior in the online classroom as well as face to face classroom will not be tolerated. Show respect to both your fellow classmates and your instructors in all of your courses at whatever college you attend. Your participation grade will also reflect your lateness on discussions and assignments.
Weekly Quizzes: 10% of final grade (approx. 1% each). Students will take chapter quizzes online each week. The quizzes will have multiple choice and true/false questions. You have a maximum of 2 attempts per quiz. The 2nd attempt may only be taken if the 1st attempt is less than a passing grade of 60% AND you had technical difficulties while taking the 1st attempt. In this course, quizzes are only a means to test your knowledge of what you have already learned and are not a medium for learning. To learn, you need to study the PowerPoint lectures and read your text. After you complete your quiz, you will only see your score, you will not see the correct answers to each question since the quiz questions will be re-used on the exams, though you will see the correct answers after completing the exams.
Discussions: 10% of final grade (approx. 1% each). Students will receive points each week depending upon constructive and productive interaction in discussion forums. You are expected to post twice to each discussion. Post #1 is your original comment of 150 words that answers the discussion question due each Wednesday night by midnight. Post #2 is your 50 word reply to a classmate’s post that is due each Sunday night by midnight. Those who do not post any comments receive a grade of 0, only 1 comment will receive a grade of 5, and both comments will receive a grade of 6 to 10 depending upon the quality of the posts.
EXAMS: 70% of final grade. There are 4 open book exams which consist primarily of multiple choice and true/false questions. Again, you only have 2 attempts for exams as with quizzes so make sure your Internet connection is strong or else go to the college and use a free computer to complete them without technical difficulties. As with quizzes, you may only re-take an exam a 2nd time if your grade is less than passing (<60%) AND you have technical problems while completing the exam. If your computer fails during your first attempt, you should use a free computer on campus for your 2nd attempt to be safe since you will not have a 3rd attempt.
IMPORTANT: Final grades will not be rounded up in this course. Whatever grade you end up with at the end of the course is your final grade regardless of how close it may be to the next grade. For example, a final grade of 89.9 is a B not an A. Also, grades are calculated by percentage NOT points. To calculate your final grade you will need to multiply the avg per grade category by the percentage listed above for that category. Since each category is weighted differently, simply adding up all of your points and dividing by the total possible will not produce your grade for this course.
Grading Scale: / A= 90 – 100, B = 80 – 89, C = 70-79, D = 60 – 69, F = 50 - 59
Course Calendar: / TBD
Classroom Rules and Policies: / Use only recognized, authoritative sources such as books, news magazines, official websites—however, absolutely no Wikipedia. Always use appropriate citations in your manuscript. Be courteous of others and their opinions.
Plagiarism: This practice is dishonest and teaches nothing. Therefore, students must do their own work! Citation should be made of any and all sources. Doing work that is a duplication of someone else’s work without citation will not be accepted and will receive a “0” for that assignment. Flagrant violations may even result in failure for the course. If any student uses an obscure or difficult word or phrase, he/she must know the meaning of such words; otherwise this is considered plagiarism.
Violence Statement: / Lake-Sumter State College has a policy of zero tolerance for violence as stated in College Board Rule 2.17. Appropriate disciplinary action will be taken in accordance with Board Rule 2.17.
Syllabus Disclaimer: / Information contained in this syllabus is, to the best knowledge of this instructor, considered correct and complete when distributed to the student. The instructor reserves the right, acting within policies and procedures of Lake-Sumter State College, to make necessary changes in course content or instructional techniques without prior notice or obligation to the student.