Syllabi for Ms. Montione
REL 2300: WORLD RELIGIONS ONLINE
Instructor: Julie E. Montione
E-mail: jsindler@valenciacollege.edu - remember I can only respond to emails from your Valencia College account
Office: Building 5 Room 261 - West Campus
***This is a helpful tool so my announcements will automatically go to your Valencia email. ***
Office Hours:
At this time of Covid-19, I, unfortunately, will not be able to have face-to-face office hours. However, you may call or text me on my cell phone at 321-278-7262 Monday - Thursday from 12- 4 pm.
Prerequisite: Successful completion of ENC 1101.
Credit Hours: 3 hours
Required Texts and Sources:
Jeffrey Brodd, et al. Invitation to World Religions
Supplemental texts will be available in each Module
Regarding E-Mail: E-mail me with ANY questions or concerns - remember to use your ATLAS email account. I will respond within 24 hours M-F. If I have not responded within 48 hours - assume your email was not received and please email again. E-mail sent on Saturday and Sunday will receive a response Monday morning, although email as early as possible – I do still check email on the weekend. Please include a clearly defined subject, course number, and your first and last name.
Course Description: REL 2300 is designed for students interested in exploring various ways people have expressed religious views. Explores questions that lead people to formulate religious answers and various religious doctrines that formalize human concerns. Balances different opinions from major religious traditions such as Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Islam and Buddhism, among others, and helps students broaden perspectives on religion. Through a comparative approach, students are able to identify factors that unite us across cultures as they consider the role of religion in the human condition. Accordingly, students of religion will develop greater sensitivity to diversity, an invaluable skill in today's multicultural society and the global economy. A minimum grade of C required if used to satisfy Gordon Rule requirement. Failure to turn in major papers will result in no credit received for the course
Course Objectives: After completing REL 2300, students will be able to:
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- Explain important concepts in religion, such as myth, ritual, and sacred space.
- Understand the cultural and historical relationships between individual religious traditions and their respective “families” (e.g., religions of Indian origin, Abrahamic religions, etc.).
- Identify the founders of and major historical contributors to the world’s religions.
- Demonstrate their understanding of differing concepts of deity.
- Compare and contrast the divisions within religious traditions (e.g., Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism, Protestant and Catholic Christianity).
- Identify major scriptures and texts.
- Understand the key moral and ethical precepts of the various religions.
- Relate the academic study of religion to their everyday experience.
Course Format and Methods of Instruction: The navigation for this course is fairly simple. Your lessons are categorized by week, "weeks" can be found either in "Modules" section or on your Home Page. Read the Agenda for the Week which will list all the week’s activities and assignments. Each Module will open on Monday and close on Sunday at 11:59pm.
Announcements and E-mails will be posted in order to keep you informed of new information and tools that have been posted, to underscore important subject matter, and to remind you of upcoming papers and tests. ***This is a helpful tool so my announcements will automatically go to your Valencia email. ***
Online courses require a great deal of self-study and discipline. Keep yourself informed of all the due dates and get yourself on a weekly schedule to complete all of the readings and assignments.
Careful planning is expected and required. No late work will be accepted.
Materials/Technology Requirements: A reliable computer with capabilities to run Atlas, Canvas, and Word Processing.
Valencia General Education Student Learning Outcomes:
- CULTURAL & HISTORICAL UNDERSTANDING: Demonstrate understanding of the diverse traditions of the world, and an individual's place in it.
- ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITY: Demonstrate awareness of personal responsibility in one's civic, social, and academic life.
- CRITICAL THINKING: Effectively analyze, evaluate, synthesize, and apply information and ideas from diverse sources and disciplines
Classroom Community Culture: From the Peace and Justice Institute:
HOW WE TREAT EACH OTHER
Our Practice of Respect and Nonviolence
- Create a hospitable and accountable community. We all arrive in isolation and need the generosity of friendly welcomes. Bring all of yourself to the work in this community. Welcome others to this place and this work, and presume that you are welcomed as well. Hospitality is the essence of restoring community
- Listen deeply. Listen intently to what is said; listen to the feelings beneath the words. Strive to achieve a balance between listening and reflecting, speaking and acting.
- Create an advice free zone. Replace advice with curiosity as we work together for peace and justice. Each of us is here to discover our own truths. We are not here to set someone else straight, to “fix” what we perceive as broken in another member of the group.
- Practice asking honest and open questions. A great question is ambiguous, personal and provokes anxiety.
- Give space for unpopular answers. Answer questions honestly even if the answer seems unpopular. Be present to listen not debate, correct or interpret.
- Respect silence. Silence is a rare gift in our busy world. After someone has spoken, take time to reflect without immediately filling the space with words. This applies to the speaker, as well – be comfortable leaving your words to resound in the silence, without refining or elaborating on what you have said.
- Suspend judgment. Set aside your judgments. By creating a space between judgments and reactions, we can listen to the other, and to ourselves, more fully.
- Identify assumptions. Our assumptions are usually invisible to us, yet they undergird our worldview. By identifying our assumptions, we can then set them aside and open our viewpoints to greater possibilities.
- Speak your truth. You are invited to say what is in your heart, trusting that your voice will be heard and your contribution respected. Own your truth by remembering to speak only for yourself. Using the first person “I” rather than “you” or “everyone” clearly communicates the personal nature of your expression.
- When things get difficult, turn to wonder. If you find yourself disagreeing with another, becoming judgmental, or shutting down in defense, try turning to wonder: “I wonder what brought her to this place?” "I wonder what my reaction teaches me?” “I wonder what he’s feeling right now?
- Practice slowing down. Simply the speed of modern life can cause violent damage to the soul. By intentionally practicing slowing down we strengthen our ability to extend non-violence to others—and to ourselves.
- All voices have value. Hold these moments when a person speaks as precious because these are the moments when a person is willing to stand for something, trust the group and offer something he or she sees as valuable.
- Maintain confidentiality. Create a safe space by respecting the confidential nature and content of discussions held in the group. Allow what is said in the group to remain there.
Prepared by the Peace and Justice Institute with considerable help from the works of Peter Block,
Parker Palmer, the Dialogue Group and the Center for Renewal and Wholeness in Higher Education
Attendance and Participation Policy:
Students will be required to interact with our curriculum each week. If a student does not complete assignments for three consecutive weeks he/she may be withdrawn from the course and not eligible for reinstatement.
Evaluation and Grading: The following grading scale is used based on total points possible:
A=90-100%; B=80-89%; C=70-79%; D=60-69%; F=below 60%
Please utilize the What If grading tool to keep track of your progress in this course.
Breakdown of Evaluation Assessments:
- Tests: completed in Canvas with a time limit and only available during the testing window. These should taken on a computer – not a tablet or cell phone!!
*There will be NO makeup exams. Your tests are available online for at least 1 week. If you do not take it in the time allotted I will not reset the test except in extreme emergencies (for example, death in the family during exam availability, hospitalization during exam availability, etc. I will need proper documentation to reset a test). *
- Quizzes: completed in Canvas with a time limit and only available during the testing window. There are no make-up quizzes! Quizzes will be based upon the reading, videos, lectures, and activities for each weekly section. The format will often be any combination of multiple-choice, true/false, slide identification, chronological orders, or essay. When your time expires the quiz will be automatically submitted. The Quiz for each week MUST be submitted BY MIDNIGHT EACH SUNDAY. If it is late, it will not be counted.
- Discussion posts: This information will be repeated in the discussion rubric found in Canvas. There is no “partial credit” for incomplete discussion posts. Only discussions that have initial post Saturday before 11:59 pm and ALL required responses will be assessed. Please watch this video on netiquette to review Valencia’s policy BEFORE participating in the Discussion Groups.
- Discussion questions will be posted in some Modules. These are critical thinking questions and do not have a right or wrong answer, since studying humanities is sometimes subjective and lends itself to interpretation. You will need to support your claims with evidence from reliable sources -- in almost all discussions you will need to utilize the primary sources provided. Please use this link to review primary versus secondary sources.
- Write or copy and paste posts in the submission box - do NOT attach a word document
- Discussion Posts must be in YOUR VOICE -- meaning your own words. It is very easy to tell when a post is not written by the student.
CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD DISCUSSION POSTING:
? Knowledgeable: Reflects your knowledge of the assigned readings and presentations
? Thought-provoking: Stimulates thinking and contributes to the depth of the discussion by adding new information, insight or posing a relevant question.
? Timely: Posted so that your peers have time to respond; this contributes to a rich discussion
? Professional: Clear, precise, and grammatically correct.
? Conveys "your presence": It reinforces your opinions with evidence from your experience that augments the readings and presentations
As an online class, it is vital to hold everyone accountable for creating an online class community. I will not be able to grade any discussions unless the initial post is done by Saturday at 11:59 pm and ALL the required peer responses have been completed. There is no partial credit for incomplete discussions.
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- Field Report: Students will write a short paper analyzing their experience at a local religious institution – comparing and contrasting the service with the information presented through the class as well as their own religious experience. Read all the announcements and handouts before completing your report. You will need to include a “selfie” and a picture of a program showing the date documenting your attendance at the event. Review all materials BEFORE attending. **During this time of social distancing -- I ask you to instead watch a live service from the comfort and safety of your home. You will still need to include a selfie.
You may NOT attend a service from the religion you were raised in or currently practice. As you will learn in our Christianity unit, the academic definition of Christianity is any group that asserts Jesus is the messiah (or in Greek: Christos) this includes Catholics, Protestants (Baptists, Lutheran, AME, Methodist, etc), and Orthodox. If you have grown up in any capacity going to "church", you cannot go to a church for your field report. Also, as Christianity according to the PEW Research Center is the dominant religion in the US landscape (70.3% http://www.pewforum.org/religious-landscape-study/),
If you have attended any type of religious school, even if you do not practice that religion, you may not attend a service from that religion for this report. I ask that only students who practice (or grew up) another religion attend a Christian service. If you grew up with "no religion" -- find a service that will help you better understand "World Religions". This will certainly push many of you outside of your comfort zone; however, past students have remarked this was surprisingly enjoyable!
- Field Report: Students will write a short paper analyzing their experience at a local religious institution – comparing and contrasting the service with the information presented through the class as well as their own religious experience. Read all the announcements and handouts before completing your report. You will need to include a “selfie” and a picture of a program showing the date documenting your attendance at the event. Review all materials BEFORE attending. **During this time of social distancing -- I ask you to instead watch a live service from the comfort and safety of your home. You will still need to include a selfie.
- Formal Paper: Please carefully read all the supporting materials. As this is a Writing Enhanced “Gordon Rule” Course – you cannot receive credit without turning in this paper. Failure to follow proper MLA format will result in a zero -- please use this quiz to review!
Resources:
- Library-- please consult a librarian to help with gathering sources and citation questions
- Writing Center - excellent resource!!
- Humanities College-Level Writing: https://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~munno/Writing/FourWritingIdeas.html
Special Note about Computers:
Even though computers and word-processing software are marvelous time and energy-saving devices, they can and do cause problems with the production of your documents. Please be aware that a broken or ill-functioning computer or the inability to retrieve, produce or submit your assignments from a computer will not be accepted as a valid excuse for a document that is submitted late. I highly recommend that you submit items earlier than the deadline, waiting until the last minute and having a technical problem will not excuse you from a test, quiz, project, or paper. I WILL NOT ACCEPT LATE WORK DUE TO A COMPUTER MALFUNCTION!!!!! The only tool I have to ensure the work handed into me is legitimate is the timer and submission deadlines. I have no way of knowing if your computer malfunction is a legitimate excuse and must set the same standard for everyone. That is one of the downfalls of taking a class in an online environment. If you are experiencing technical difficulties (anything from a document not loading properly to issues logging in) with Canvas please contact the Canvas Support Hotline by calling (407) 582-5600 (available 24/7) or click on the “help” button on the left global navigation menu.
I can only help with content, not with technical issues. If you are having difficulties with Atlas, please contact (407) 582-5444.
College-level Writing: Throughout the course, you will enhance and develop your abilities to write at the college level. The following tips will assist you in meeting the standards of academic writing:
- Use the spell and grammar check in Microsoft Word or other word processing programs.
- Use Times New Roman 12” font
- Double Space
- Make an outline.
- Check that you have cited your sources in every paragraph.
- Avoid overgeneralization.
- Avoid the use of colloquial language or extremely flowery (“fancy”) language.
- Be specific and provide concrete examples.
- Again please read the following resource in writing for this course: https://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~munno/Writing/FourWritingIdeas.html
Original Work and Plagiarism: Please adhere to the following guidelines regarding your original work:
- Read the following essay regarding plagiarism: file:///C:/Users/jsindler/Downloads/About%20Plagiarism%202014.pdf
- The papers for this course require you to use your own words as much as possible. Paraphrasing and summarizing what others say is a good practice for college-level writing, but you MUST indicate the ideas and original insights of others by providing the source’s author, title, and/or website.
- If you are not familiar with MLA, please use the following website: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/
- A good rule of thumb is that if you use more than three words in a row that come directly from a source, you should put those words in quotation marks and cite the source you use.
- Any work that does not give credit to other sources or which indicates plagiarism may result in a failing grade for the assignment, a failing grade in the course, and/or disciplinary action.
- The papers for this course require you to use your own words as much as possible. Paraphrasing and summarizing what others say is a good practice for college-level writing, but you should indicate the ideas and original insights of others by providing the source’s author, title, and/or website. If you are not familiar with MLA, please use Purdue OWL website
Please read the following websites for more information on Valencia policies:
https://valenciacollege.edu/students/disputes/academic-integrity.php
See the Student Code of Conduct policy for more information.
Late Work: As a rule, late work is not accepted in the course. You will need to complete quizzes, tests, and assignments before the due date. Please provide documentation if there is an emergency situation that arises.
See the Student Conduct and Academic Honesty policy below for more information.
Email and Communication:
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- Use the Canvas inbox to send me an email -- this will forward to my jsindler@valenciacollege.edu email
- Check your e-mail often.
- Do not use personal email accounts not affiliated with Valencia.
- Be clear about what your concern or question is.
- Be courteous, considerate, and professional in all the written communication in this course. Treat emails for college as you would letters, not as you would text or chat messages.
- Please include a salutation, such as “Dear Professor Montione” or “Hello, Professor Montione”. Also include a closing with your full name. This is good practice for further academic and professional communication.
- Make every effort to be as clear as possible.
- Avoid using all caps. This is considered “shouting.”
- Check spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
Withdrawal from a Course Policy:
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- A student is permitted to withdraw from a class on or before the withdrawal deadline, as published in the College calendar. A student is not permitted to withdraw from a class after the withdrawal deadline.
- A faculty member is permitted to withdraw a student from the faculty member’s class for violation of the faculty member’s attendance policy with written notification to the student prior to the beginning of the final exam period, as published in the faculty member’s syllabus. A faculty member is not permitted to withdraw a student from his or her class as a response to student conduct which falls under the jurisdiction of the Student Code of Conduct (6Hx28:10-03).
- A student who withdraws from a class before the withdrawal deadline will receive a grade of "W." A student who is withdrawn by a professor will receive a grade of "W." A student who is withdrawn for administrative reasons at any time will receive a grade of "W" or other grade as determined in consultation with the professor. Any student who withdraws or is withdrawn from a class during a third or subsequent attempt in the same course will be assigned a grade of "F". The grades of “WP” and “WF” are eliminated.
- A student who receives a grade of “W” will not receive credit for the course, and the W will not be calculated in the student’s grade point average; however, the enrollment will count in the student’s total attempts in the specific course.
- If a student withdraws from a class, the student may, upon request and only with the faculty member’s permission (which may be withheld at any time in the sole discretion of the faculty member), continue to attend the course. If a student is withdrawn by a faculty member or is administratively withdrawn, the student is not permitted to continue to attend the class.
- The last date to Withdraw for Fall is November 3, 2021
Deadline to apply for graduation: September 10, 2021
Disability Statement:
"Students with disabilities who qualify for academic accommodations must provide a Notification to Instructor (NTI) form from the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) and discuss specific needs with the professor, preferably during the first two weeks of class. The Office for Students with Disabilities determines accommodations based on appropriate documentation of disabilities. Please contact your home campus for more information." For East campus, the number is Ph.: 407-582-2229. Here is the link to Valencia’s OSD website: http://www.valenciacc.edu/osd
Student Conduct and Academic Honesty:
Valencia College is dedicated to promoting honorable personal and social conduct. By enrolling at Valencia, a student assumes the responsibility for knowing and abiding by the rules articulated in the Student Code of Conduct (6Hx28:10-03). The instructor reserves the right to refer students who engage in activities that are disruptive to the learning environment to the Dean of Students for disciplinary action.
Any student involved in incidents of cheating will be given a grade of 0% for that assignment, exam, or project without regard to who did the original work or who may have benefited. This includes the use of anyone else’s ideas, thoughts or words without giving proper credit to that person or entity. Each student is expected to be in whole compliance with the college policy of Academic Honesty as set forth in the admissions catalog and the student handbook. Any student(s) cheating on an exam will receive a zero (0) grade, which cannot be replaced with the final score and the professor can at his/her discretion withdraw you from the class. In addition, Valencia College strives to provide a drug-free learning environment for all those involved in the academic experience.
Drug-free Policy:
“In compliance with the provisions of the Federal Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of 1989, Valencia College will take such steps as are necessary in order to adopt and implement a program to prevent the unlawful possession, use, or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol by Valencia College students or employees on college premises or as part of any college activity.”
Valencia College Expected student conduct: 10-03 Student Code of Conduct
Specific Authority: | 1006.60, FS. |
Law Implemented: | 1006.60, FS. |
Valencia College is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge and learning, and to the development of responsible personal and social conduct. By enrolling at Valencia, a student assumes the responsibility for knowing and abiding by the rules of appropriate behavior as articulated in the Student Code of Conduct. The primary responsibility for managing the classroom environment rests with the faculty. Faculty may direct students who engage in inappropriate behavior that results in disruption of a class to leave the class. Such students may be subject to other disciplinary action, which may include a warning, withdrawal from class, probation, suspension, or expulsion from the college. Please read the Student Code of Conduct in the current Valencia Student Handbook.
Baycare Behavioral Health’s Student Assistance Program:
Valencia College is committed to making sure all our students have a rewarding and successful college experience. For that purpose, Valencia students can get immediate help with issues dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, adjustment difficulties, substance abuse, time management as well as relationship problems dealing with school, home or work. BayCare Behavioral Health Student Assistance Program (SAP) services are free to all Valencia students and available 24 hours a day by calling (800) 878-5470. Free face-to-face counseling is also available.
Cultural Diversity and Inclusion
It is of utmost importance to be courteous and respectful to all individuals enrolled in the course as well as to the people of the cultures we study and discuss. This includes being mindful of the information you post in discussions and submit in your journals and reflection papers.
COVID GUIDELINES:
Throughout the COVID pandemic, Valencia College has been primarily focused on the health and well-being of its students and faculty, and staff. This continues to be our priority as we return to more face-to-face classes, and college policy continues to be guided by science and the guidelines issued by the CDC and our partners at Orlando Health. I urge all students who are able to do so to get vaccinated and encourage friends and family to do so as well.
Should you become ill with COVID, please inform me and your professors and coworkers both for your safety, the safety of our Valencia community. I will do what I can to assist you in completing successfully our coursework. Please inform our COVID liaison Tanya Mahan (COVIDillness@valenciacollege.edu) as well, so she can support you in this process. We are in this together! For more information, please consult:
https://valenciacollege.edu/about/coronavirus/.
Information Regarding “Intellectual Freedom and Viewpoint Diversity”
As your professor, I’m committed to giving you as many opportunities and resources to support your learning as possible. Therefore, you may find it beneficial to record class lectures to review later. Please keep in mind that you do not have your peers’ permission to record them, and they have a right to privacy; your peers should not be in your recordings. You may not record class discussions, student presentations, labs, group work, and private conversations. These recordings are permitted for your own personal use; you should contact me to discuss sharing options. Note that while these recordings are useful for review, we want you to attend the class for your insights and questions; these recordings are not substitutes for class participation and attendance. Should you have any concerns or questions, please feel free to contact me through Atlas email or Canvas message.
Resources for Fall 2021:
West Campus Learning Support Summary of Services
West Campus Library Summary of Services and Helpful Links
Building 6 will be physically open:
- Monday - Thursday 8:00 am -7:00 pm
- Friday 8:00 am – 2:00 pm
- Saturday – Sunday: Closed
Virtual Services staffed by west Liberian faculty through AskALibrarian:
- Monday – Thursday 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
- Friday 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
- Saturday 9:00 am- 1:00 pm
Statewide Virtual Support Desk coverage of AskALibrarian (staffed by librarians from across the state):
- Sunday- Thursday 10:00 am-midnight
- Friday - Saturday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Library Computer Labs will be available for booking here
- Rooms 6-220, 6-221
- To book computer lab 6-118, call Kelly Knauth: 407-582-1631
Available Services
In-Person Services | Virtual Services |
Research assistance with a librarian onsite | Research assistance through Ask-A-Librarian (chat, text, e-mail, or Zoom) |
Library instruction onsite | Library instruction via Zoom, embedded in Canvas or self-paced video tutorials |
Faculty support onsite | Research Guides created for a course, consultations with subject librarian liaisons, assist in locating electronic resources for online courses, copyright guidance, OER creation or adoption |
Student printing | |
Computer lab booking |
Additional services are still being developed and designed such as material loaning and contactless circulation.
Learning Support Services
Tutoring and Writing Centers Face-to-face Operating Hours
- Monday – Thursday 8:00 am – 7:00 pm
- Friday 8:00 am – 2:00 pm
- Saturday – Sunday: Closed
Virtual Services will be available through Distant Tutoring
- Monday – Friday 10:00 am – 9:00 pm
- Saturday - Sunday 11:00 am – 7:00 pm
In-Person Services | Virtual Services |
Walk-In Tutoring | Distance Tutoring Online Tutoring 24/7 – Brainfuse |
Writing Center Conslutations | Online Essay Center |
Embedded Tutoring Programs | Embedded Tutoring Programs |
Technology Check-out (calculators, iPads and laptops, etc.) | Student tech support |
Student printing | |
Student tech support | |
Laptop cart request |
West Campus Learning Support Centers (physical locations)
- Tutoring – Building 7, Room 242
- Math – Building 7, Room 242
- Communications – Building 5, Room 155
- Writing Center – Building 5, Room 155
- Computer Access Lab – Building 6, Room 101
Testing Center Summary of Services
- Make-up exams
- On-site courses only
- Honorlock
- Available for online courses
- Accommodated Testing
- Any student with testing accommodations approved by our Office for Students with Disabilities
Fall 2021 In-Person Hours
- Monday – Friday: 8:00am – 5:00pm
- By Appointment through Register Blast
West Campus Learning Support Summary of Services
Additional services are still being developed and designed such as material loaning and contactless circulation.
Disclaimer Statement
This document may be altered at the instructor’s discretion, during the course of the term. It is the responsibility of the student to make any adjustments as announced. Your continued participation in this course after the drop-add deadline period constitutes an agreement with and an acceptance of the conditions presented in this syllabus.