what might some “non-religious” when the music stops, the ... · 9/1/2019 · course syllabus...

• What might some “non-religious” events or products have in common with religion?

• What does the study of religion focus on? What does it NOT focus on?

1

When the music stops, the class begins.

2

Please get ready for the class to start.

3

Thanks!

4

Here we go!

5

RLG101H Introduction to the Study of Religion

6

1. Introduction

7

Welcome!

• First year at university?

• New to Canada?

• New to Mississauga/GTA?

9

Welcome!

• Many challenges!

➡ Find your path / voice

➡ Activities, friends, family, solitude, etc.

➡ Learning vs grades

10

Thanks for coming to UofT!

Now please go away.

11

Study Abroad WHERE IN THE WORLD IS YOUR CLASSROOM?

12

�13

Ecuador

14

Guatemala

15

Hong Kong

16

• RLG290Y: Religion in Hong Kong

• June/July 2020 (4 weeks)

• Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Taoism

• So many site visits!

• Financial support available

�17

More Information• UTM International Education Centre

Davis Building 2071905-569-4716 [email protected] http://www.utm.utoronto.ca/international/

• Me! Dept of Historical Studies [email protected]

• RLG101H website�18

Today

• Discussions of “non-religious” things

• What is RLG101H?

• Other course info:

➡ Instructor, websites, lectures, texts, grading, philosophy

19

RLG101H

• The STUDY of religion

➡ Ideas about religion (What is it? How have people have thought about it?)

➡ History of the study of religion as an academic field

➡ Not a “world religions” course

RLG101H

• The STUDY of religion

➡ Theories, concepts, methods

➡ Focus on people, not god(s)

➡ Study of religion is study of what people do

• Examples:

➡ Various religions

➡ My training: Indigenous traditions, Christianity

➡ Contemporary culture: songs, news, movies, The Lion King

22

Canadian federal election!

RLG101H

23

WARNING!Some content may offend or

upset.

24

Study of religion:

• Information about particular ideas

• Tools that you can apply to new data

Bigger picture:

• Consider new perspectives

• Think critically

RLG101H Course specific learning:

• Understand and apply ideas about the study of religion

General learning: (=transferrable knowledge/skills)

• Analysis

• Writing

RLG101H

Instructor• Dr. Ken Derry

• Office: Maanjiwe nendamowinan (MN) 4230

• Email: Quercus / [email protected]

• Office Hours: Tuesdays 10:30–11:30amWednesdays 3:00–4:30pm

➡ First-come, first served(appointments are not during office hours)

27 28

MN4230

Deer(not to scale)

RLG101H

28

• UofT grad

• B.A.: Biophysics, Religion, English Literature, Japanese

• M.A./Ph.D./current: religion and violence, religion and culture, Indigenous religions

• Study abroad

• At UTM since fall 2010

Instructor

29

Instructors

• Human

➡ Introverted

➡ Anxieties

• Care about your education

31

Instructors

• What to call them?

• Professor may tell you

➡ “Ken” or “Prof. Derry” or “Dr. Derry”

• If not: default = formal

➡ “Professor Smith” or “Dr. Smith”

➡ NOT “Hey!”

➡ NOT Mr./Ms/Mrs./Miss 32

Austin Powers (1997)

33

I didn’t spend six years in evil medical school to be called “Mister,” thank you very much.

34

35 36

Course Syllabus

Please read it!

37 38

Websites1. Quercus

➡ Syllabus

➡ Announcements

➡ Detailed assignment instructions

➡ Assignments grades + feedback

➡ Discussion forum

39

Quercus Notifications

Websites2. rlg101h.wordpress.com

➡ Info on instructors + TAs

➡ All readings other than the book by Malory Nye (Religion: The Basics)

➡ Lecture slides (and URLs)

➡ UTM resources (academic + personal)

41 42

43 44

“Contact”

• Comment or simple question: email➡ Email etiquette

➡ Expect reply in 2 business days (Mon-Fri)

• More detailed question: in person

➡ Office hours / after class / bus stop /appointment

• Anonymous feedback

45

“Help”

• Problems: academic, personal, medical, etc.

• Ask for help!!!

• UTM resources on RLG101H Wordpress site (under “Help”)

➡ Student Services

➡ Writing Support

➡ Academic Assistance

46

Lectures

• Note-takers

• During class:

➡ Participation! Questions! Disagreements!

➡ No laptops (if concerned: speak to me)

➡ How to take notes

➡ Slide #s

47

Lectures

• 5:05pm: questions, song

• Lecture begins 5:10pm

• Break at about 6pm (5 min)

➡ Please feel free to remind me!

• Lecture content ≠ readings

48



49

Today’s Song

• “Sucker” by The Jonas Brothers (2019)

I follow you through the dark, can’t get enough You’re the medicine and the pain, the tattoo inside my brain

And, baby, you know it’s obvious

I’m a sucker for youYou say the word and I’ll go anywhere blindly

I’m a sucker for you, yeah Any road you take, you know that you’ll find me

And you’re making the typical me break my typical rules It’s true, I’m a sucker for you, yeah

Don’t complicate it (yeah) ‘Cause I know you and you know everything about me

51

Tutorials

• Mondays 12:10pm +

• Run by Teaching Assistants (TAs)

➡ PhD students in religion (STG campus)

• Discuss some course readings and ideas

• Focus on skills (writing and analysis)

• Participation marks

52

Required Texts1. Nye, Religion: The Basics, 2nd edition

2. Weekly readings on RLG101H WordPress site (under “Course Texts”)

➡ “Indigenous Traditions”

➡ Readings on Writing

3. The Lion King

53

• For lecture and tutorial next week:

➡ Nye, chapter 5 (Belief)

➡ Derry, “The Afterlife”

• For lecture next week:

➡ The Lion King

54

Required Texts

55

Malory Nye

56

Rights + Responsibilities

• Mutual respect

• Opinion / dissent

• Inclusive

• No tolerance for discrimination, harassment, or hate speech

• UofT statement on Equity, Diversity, and Excellence

57

• Based on performance

➡ No bell curve

➡ No specific class average

• My academic expectations

➡ Detailed instructions

➡ Grading rubrics

58

Grading

Grading

1. Film analysis: 20% (5 + 15)

2. Field research analysis: 30% (2 + 5 + 23)

3. Course participation: 15%

4. Final exam: 35%

59

1. Film Analysis

• Analyze a “non-religious” film using three theories of religion

• Choose film from your TA’s list (available soon on WordPress site)

• Film paragraph (using one theory from chapter 5) due September 27

• Final film analysis due October 22

60

2. Field Research Analysis

• Attend religious ritual that you are NOT familiar with

• Groups of 2 or 3 students (from tutorial)

➡ Visit site together and share observations (NOT a group project)

• Start thinking soon about who is in your group and where you want to go

• Contract due October 11 61

3. Course ParticipationMarked out of 30:

1. Online discussion comments (6 marks)

2. Tutorial attendance (11 marks)

3. Tutorial reading reflections (11 marks)

4. Tutorial homework (11 marks)

5. PELS workshops (10 marks)

6. Reflections on UTM events (TBD)

➡ 1 mark per event/reflection 62

3. Course ParticipationMarked out of 30:

1. Online discussion comments (6 marks)

2. Tutorial attendance (11 marks)

3. Tutorial reading reflections (11 marks)

4. Tutorial homework (11 marks)

5. PELS workshops (10 marks)

6. Reflections on UTM events (TBD)

➡ 1 mark per event/reflection 63

• Maximum 6 marks (1 mark per comment)

• Quercus forum (group for your TA)➡ Not set up yet!

• Due dates on WordPress (first: Sept 25)

• 125 words related to course content➡ Be specific (not: “I liked chapter 5!”)

• Quality of content is not assessed

64

3.1: Online Comments

(Unless you are a jerk!)• Be yourself!

• Maximum 11 marks (1 mark per week)

• Must arrive on time and stay until the end (50 min)

• Must be “present” (not looking at phone, talking with friends, etc.)

65

3.2: Tutorial Attendance


• During tutorial, write down your thoughts about that week’s readings (in answer to a question)

• Must answer without notes or course texts

66

3.3: Reading Reflections


• Marked for completion

➡ Write or print in advance (with your name!)

➡ Submit in person to TA at start of tutorial

➡ Include your name and student number

• Next week’s homework: Briefly describe a story that is important to you, and why.

67

3.4: Tutorial Homework

68


• “Professional English Language Skills”

• Mondays @ 3pm in MN5128

• English language and academic skills related to spoken and written English

• Everyone is welcome!

69

3.5: PELS Workshops



70

71 72

73

The End!

74

75 76

what might some “non-religious” when the music stops, the ... · 9/1/2019 · course syllabus...

Documents