Vanderbilt University Department of  Religious Studies, College of Arts and Science

REQUIREMENTS: (With % of semester grade)
1. Active participation/contribution to Class Discussions in Groups, as well as in plenary sessions. Your contribution to the rest of the class: the rest of the class depends on your participation! (5 % of the semester grade).
2. a) Being Leader of one or several Monday discussion groups; or b) being the “Scribe” who prepares the minutes of one or several of these discussions; or c) being a Debater representing the group in Debates. Requirement: Each needs to be at least two different leadership roles at least three times during the semester. (5% x 3 = 15 %)
3. Contributing to the class through E-mail feedbacks: Formulate thought-through questions (200 words). about the class: What was new for you? What did you miss Issues about the readings or lectures that need to be addressed by the instructors. This is the occasion for you to think through particular issues that concern you most directly and to bring them into class discussion. Requirement:: at least three during the semester: One before September 22; a second one, before October 27; a third one before November 17. Do not wait for the last minute. (5 % of the semester grade).
4. QUIZZES on assigned readings, regarding the Themes and Textual Evidence upon which interpretations are based (Step 2). NO MAKE UP; NO EXCUSE. 10 quiz units. The best 8 (eight) grades will be counted as 20 % of the semester grade. (Two quiz units will be discounted.) (20 %)
5. Four (4) Step # 1 Reports Your interpretations of the teachings of 4 texts (4 x 5% = 20%) (e-mailed to instructors BEFORE Sunday 6pm)
6. One "Step # 2 Report," (3-4 pages) (15%) (e-mailed to instructors BEFORE Sunday 6pm)
7. Final Paper. (5 pages; combining Steps # 1, # 2 and # 3) (25%)

Grades: 100-97= A+ ; 96- 94= A; 93-90= A-; 89-87= B+; 86-84= B; 83-80= B-; 79-77= C+; 76-74= C; 73-70=C-,
79—67= D+; 66-64= D; 63-60= D-; below = F
Grading of Step 1 Reports
"A" range = Excellent, exceptional = correctly addressing all the parts of the form with special creativity and insightfulness. In addition, demonstrating special creativity, insightfulness in analysis;
"B" range = Good and solid. = correctly addressing all the parts of the form, but without special creativity or insightfulness. Answers within each part are consistent; Answers to Part A and to Part B are consistent; Answers to Part C are consistent with Part A and Part B.
"C" range = Fairly Good = most questions of the form are addressed correctly, but not quite consistent. Answers within each part are consistent; Answers to Part A and to Part B are not fully consistent; and/or Answers to Part C are not fully consistent with Part A and/or Part B. questions of the topic have not been addressed correctly;
"D" range = Poor = Many questions addressed incorrectly, or not addressed at all. Answers within each part are consistent; Answers to Part A and to Part B are not consistent; Answers to Part C are not consistent with Part A and Part B.
Grading of Step # 2 report and Final Paper
"A" range = Excellent, exceptional = correctly addressing all the questions of the topic, and demonstrating special creativity, insightfulness in analysis;
" B" range = Good and solid. = correctly addressing all the questions of the topic, but without special creativity or insightfulness;
"C" range = Fairly Good = most questions of the topic addressed correctly, but some questions of the topic have not been addressed correctly;
" D" range = Poor = Many questions addressed incorrectly, or not addressed at all.
Grading of Quizzes: Objective, on 100 points.
Grading of leadership in Roundtable Discussions and Debates, based on the quality of the required outline and on pedagogical creativity in fostering helpful discussions: "A" = Excellent, exceptional; "B" = Good and solid.; "C" = Fairly Good;
"D" = Poor; "F" = 0.
LATE WORK will be accepted (except for Quizzes). But 1/3 of a letter grade will be taken off for each calendar day (except for valid and verified excuses).

HONOR CODE: Throughout the semester, you are under the Honor Code of Vanderbilt University. All your quizzes, reports and your paper should represent YOUR OWN work – and in the case of joint projects your own work in collaboration with other students you identify. Identify your sources, so as to avoid plagiarism. Sign your work as a pledge of compliance with the Honor Code (i.e., you wrote it without receiving aid from--or giving aid to--any other person, except as specified). E-mailed reports should be signed by adding the 3 last digits of your identification number.