Religion and America's Ethnic Minorities
RELS/MCGS 324
Fall 2008
TTH 3:30-4:45 in Glenn 212
Instructor:
Sarah Pike
Trinity 231
898-6341
E-mail: please e-mail me through Vista (formerly WebCT). I will only check e-mail during office hours. For emergencies only: spike@csuchico.edu.
Office hours: W 2-4 , T&TH 5-6 and by appointment
• Course Description •
In this course we will look at how religion has shaped ethnic identity and the ways in which ethnicity has shaped religion in American culture. We will study religious improvisation, a process by which communities and individuals respond creatively to the challenges of cultural change and their encounters with other religions and cultures. The course will explore the religions that inform America's ethnic minorities and the historical, cultural, and social experiences and values of Native American, Hispanic-American, African-American and Asian-American minority groups. We will pay particular attention to the following issues as they relate to religion and ethnicity: family and inter-generational tensions and conflicts; the transmission of cultural identity through art, music, clothing, food, ritual, mythology and story-telling; the meaning of place, country of origin, and nature; sexuality and the body; and broader historical and political contexts involving religious freedom and religious and racial persecution. This course is an approved GE course and an approved Ethnic course. This is a General Education Theme A ("American Identities and Cultures") Course.
• Course Texts •
Mary Crow Dog, Lakota Woman
Rudolph Anaya, Bless Me, Ultima
Yoshiko Uchida, Desert Exile
Anne Fadiman, The Spirit Catches You, and You Fall Down
(Other readings are on electronic reserve, available through the library website)
• Course Requirements and Grading •
PARTICIPATION and ATTENDANCE (20%)
Your participation and attendance are essential to the success of this course. You should read assignments carefully and come to each class with written comments and questions about the readings. Absences will only be excused in the case of medical or other emergencies. If you miss class for reasons other than emergencies, YOU are responsible for finding out from other students, not from me, what we did that day. If you missed class because of an emergency or illness I will be happy to help you catch up. Quizzes and tests will only be made up in the case of emergency or illness. Class questions, comments and homework assignments will be included in your participation grade.
TESTS (40%):
TESTS will be given on each book as noted in the syllabus. Tests will also cover films, class lectures and discussions, student presentations and reserve readings (40%--10% each).
QUIZZES (15%):
Both announced and POP QUIZZES covering reading assignments will be given periodically throughout the semester. Reading assignments for the week are always due on Tuesday unless I tell you otherwise. You should bring short scantron forms to every class. There will be a total of 4 quizzes and I will drop your lowest quiz grade (5% each, 15% total).
GROUP PRESENTATION: (10%).
Every student will sign up for a group topic. Each group will be responsible for delegating tasks using my guidelines. Each group will turn in an outline and bibliography and each student will turn in a self-assessment.
FINAL PAPER: family history (15%)
You will research and write a 6-7 page ethnic and religious history of your family or one of the ethnic or religious traditions of your ancestors or relatives.
--Your paper must include discussion of at least two of the following course concepts: ethnic identity, assimilation, separatism, immigration, religious and/or cultural conflict, and must make at least three connections to readings and films from the course.
-- Paper/presentation topic (one page with detailed list of sources) is due by Thursday Sept. 18 and the final draft by Friday Dec. 5. These may be turned in by e-mail, if you prefer.
--Proper citation of sources is required and lack of citations will result in an “F” on your paper.
Course Calendar: Topics, Readings and Films
(UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED ALL READINGS ARE DUE ON TUESDAY)
August 26-28, Introduction to the course and discussion of terms
FILM: "Do the Right Thing"
Homework: 5x7 index card to me and photo on Vista due Tuesday Sept.2
September 2-4, Religion and ethnicity
Readings: Pike, “Ethnicity” and James Cone, “Martin and Malcolm”
FILM: "Do the Right Thing"
September 9-11, The Civil Rights Movement and Black Separatism
Readings: review Cone and one article on race, religion, and the election (due Thursday)
FILM: "Eyes on the Prize"
September 16-18, Vodou Art and Ritual
Readings: Karen McCarthy Brown, “Staying Grounded”
FILM: “Voodoo and the Church in Haiti”
(Quiz September 16)
PAPER PROPOSAL WITH SOURCES DUE: Thursday, September 18 through Vista e-mail or hard copy. Please see instructions on Vista.
September 23-25, Native Americans and colonialism
Readings: Readings: Lakota Woman, Chs. 1-8
FILM: "Black Robe"
September 30-October 2, American Indian Religious Freedom
Readings: Lakota Woman, Chs. 9-Epilogue
FILM: “Peyote Road”
TEST on Lakota Woman and African-American readings on October 2
October 7-9, Chicano religion and culture
Readings: Begin Bless Me, Ultima, Uno-Once
Readings: Bless Me Ultima, Doce-Diecisiete (12-17)
FILM: "The Shrine"
October 21-23, The Days of the Dead
Readings: Finish Bless Me, Ultima,
FILM: "La Ofrenda"
TEST on Bless Me, Ultima on October 23
October 28-30, Islam, Hinduism and Sikhism in America
Readings: excerpts from Islam In America on electronic reserve
FILM: “Islam in America”
November 4-6, Asian American Religious History
Readings: Desert Exile, Chs. 1-3
November 11 is a holiday: Veterans Day
Readings: Desert Exile, Chs. 4-Epilogue
FILM: “A Family Gathering”
November 18-20, Southeast Asian religion and immigration
Readings: The Spirit Catches You, Preface-6 (due Thursday)
FILM: "Moving Mountains"
THANKSGIVING
December 2-4, Hmong religion and healing
Readings: The Spirit Catches You, 7-10
Readings: The Spirit Catches You, 11-end
TEST on The Spirit Catches You during finals week on Vista by Thursday midnight
• Group Presentations•
You will sign up for a group topic. Each group will have a class period to present their work. Not everyone has to speak, but everyone must have a clearly defined role and responsibilities in the group. Each group must turn in a two page (minimum) typed outline & a bibliography in correct bibliographic format. You are to give me a copy of your outline and bibliography at the beginning of your report. Be creative in your use of PowerPoint to supplement your report. One or two people should be responsible for combining everyone’s PowerPoints into one or two PowerPoints. You will be graded on the quality, thoroughness, and clarity of your research and your clear & professional presentation of the material as well as your use of the class time. If you have any questions about what constitutes plagiarism, ask me. Failure to present on assigned date will result in a failing grade (0) on the assignment.
Requirements for outline:
--List how your group broke down the following tasks: research for the different kinds of information required, research for graphics/images, other visual aids, organization/coordination, making/consolidating the PowerPoint(s), oral delivery, bibliography and outline.
--List the topics the group covered.
--Explain how you covered a range of different views on your topic.
Requirements for the bibliography:
--10 textual sources (at least 8 scholarly sources from books or journals)
--at least two news stories from a newspaper, cable, or network TV station
--at least 6 websites from varying points of view
--at least two videos (YouTube, library, etc.), podcasts or music sources
Topics:
Group presentations (groups will consist of 10-12 people) will be divided into 12 topics:
Self-evaluation:
Within 24 hours following your group presentation, you will e-mail me a paragraph/half-page self-evaluation describing your role in the group and your evaluation of how you fulfilled that role, including the grade you think you deserve.
• Other Information•
--Plagiarism and cheating are grave violations of the academic integrity policy of the California State University, Chico. This policy (EM 04-36) is posted at http://www.csuchico.edu/prs/EMs/EM04/em04_36.htm . We view plagiarism and cheating as serious offenses. The policy of the Department of Religious Studies is that anyone found to have blatantly cheated or plagiarized on an assignment will automatically fail the course and be referred to student judicial affairs for further disciplinary action.
--If you have a documented disability that may require reasonable accommodations, please contact Disability Support Services (DSS) for coordination of your academic accommodations. DSS is located in the new Student Services building. The DSS phone number is 898-5959 V/TTY or FAX 898-4411. Visit the DSS website at http://www.csuchico.edu/dss/ .
--Lateness: In fairness to all, I will penalize late papers 1/3 letter grade per business day.
--It is recommended that students make and keep a copy of all assignments and papers submitted to the instructor, especially anything submitted over e-mail.
--Students are expected to turn off all pagers, cell phones and other electronic devices during class time.
--Students are expected to pay attention and participate in class meetings.
--Students may not read other materials (newspapers, magazines) or work on assignments from other classes during this class.
--If you are planning to use a laptop to take notes, please discuss this with me.
This syllabus is subject to revision.