Course Requirements:
Gnosticism
Religion 222a, Haverford
College, Fall 2011
-
Preparation of all reading
assignments before class; regular attendance in class and active
participation in class discussion (10%).
- Students are expected to
come to class prepared to engage in class discussion.
- To aid in your preparation
for discussion, it's extremely useful to come up with an interpretation,
argument, or textual analysis of some portion of the primary source
readings.
- Please read carefully all
of the assigned readings and consider the questions raised under "Suggested
Topics for Study/Papers," whether you are writing a paper or not.
- 2 short
papers of textual analysis and interpretation prepared for class
discussion and revised after class
(20% each).
- Each of these papers should offer
a close analysis and interpretation of some aspect of the primary source
material assigned for class. You may choose to write on any text,
character, or theme that you've found particularly interesting.
- Students will be assigned particular classes for these papers in
the second week of class.
- Each paper will be submitted in two drafts. A first draft should
be submitted as an email attachment in MS Word to amcguire@haverford.edu
by 11 p.m. the evening before class.
- In class those who have written papers for that class should be prepared
to present a very brief and concise summary of your argument or interpretation
of the material and should focus the class's attention on 2 or 3 passages
from the primary text to initiate further discussion.
- Students who have not written papers for a particular class should
be prepared to engage the writer in discussion of their ideas. This
can mean debate, encouragement, criticism, and/or support of the arguments
they've presented and the questions they've raised.
- 1 survey of recent
scholarship on the topic of your research paper, due November 22 by 4 p.m. (20%).
- Once students have selected a topic for their final research paper,
they should explore some of the recent scholarship that has been published
on their topic or text. James Gulick in Magill Library is prepared
to help the class and we will be scheduling a session with him after
Fall break.
- This 4-5 page paper should discuss some of the major issues that
have arisen in scholarship on your topic. You should identify some
of the major scholars who have worked on your topic/text, their positions
and contributions to the study of the material, and your critical appreciation
and response to their work.
- 1 final research
paper of 12-15 pages, to be submitted in stages (30%) .
- Students will select a topic for their final research paper in consultation
with the instructor by November 12.
- A one paragraph statement of your topic will be submitted by November
17.
- The survey of recent scholarship (above) is due November 22.
- A 5-6 page excerpt from your final research paper is due in class on
December 8. Each student should come to that class prepared to discuss
the focus of your final paper. Through discussion we'll help each other
to refine the focus and argument of your papers.
- The final paper is due
at the end of the exam period.
Return to Full
Syllabus for Relg.
222a
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Dept.
of Religion Home Page
This page maintained by amcguire@haverford.edu,
Last updated 9/5/11
