IB World Religions Syllabus Instructor

Course Overview

Mrs. Natalie Martinez

In the contemporary world, religion has a significant influence on individuals and societies across the globe. The power of religion to both unite and divide affects believers and unbelievers alike. Therefore, religion in its varied forms is a distinctive realm of human experience that demands academic inquiry.

Phone 916.782.3781 ext. 2507

Room 507

The course seeks to promote an awareness of religious issues in the contemporary world by requiring the study of a diverse range of religions. Religions will be studied in such a way that students acquire a sense of what it is like to belong to a particular religion and how that influences the way in which the followers of that religion understand the world, act in it, and relate and respond to others. But, above all, the goal of this course is to provide opportunities for students to develop empathy for and engage in civil discourse with those with whom they disagree. If we each were to master this skill, our community, our nation, and our world would become a better place.

Office Hours

Course Materials

Designated intervention By appointment: -- before school -- after school -- Period 1 -- Wed. intervention

Coming prepared and keeping in-class notes and marked homework assignments organized are the building blocks for greater in-class achievement, more effective independent study, and success with assessments. Therefore, you will be required to bring the following to class daily.

Email [email protected] Location

Meeting time Period 2

 3-ring binder (either one solely labeled World Religions or a labeled section in a larger 3ring binder)  lined paper which is perforated for placement in a 3-ring binder  all previous notes, journal entries, handouts and returned homework assignments inserted chronologically in the 3-ring binder.  The World’s Religions by Huston Smith (textbook)

There will be graded, unannounced spot checks repeatedly throughout each term to determine if you are living up to this expectation. In order to help you stay organized, a link to the Google Doc entitled “List of Required Notebook Materials” will be provided on Managebac. The short url link to the document is https://goo.gl/KWPbB8 (case sensitive).

Resources Most of the course skills and content will be acquired via class activities and online investigations. Therefore, your central resources, apart from the textbook, will be  Oakmont.managebac.com  Your organized 3-ring binder  Occasional use of Google Classroom (but always linked through ManageBac)

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Course Schedule Unit

Title

1

Introduction to the study of religion

2

Introduction to Taoism

3

Introduction to Buddhism

4

Introduction to Judaism

5

Introduction to Christianity

6

Introduction to Islam

7

Buddhism in-depth study

8

Christianity in-depth study

IB Assessments Title

Format

Paper 1

This test is divided into three sections: • Section A: Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism • Section B: Judaism, Christianity, Islam • Section C: Taoism, Jainism, Baha’i Faith Students must answer five questions, at least one of which must be chosen from each section. The other two questions can be selected from any section.

Paper 2

The paper is divided into two sections: • Section A: Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism • Section B: Judaism, Christianity, Islam Each section (A and B) of the paper consists of seven questions as follows. • Two specific questions on each of the three religions appropriate to the section (total of six questions) • One open-ended question that can be answered in relation to any of the three in-depth religions in that section. Students should answer these open-ended questions using specific examples. Broad generalizations will not be given credit. Most importantly, answers should contextualize examples, making reference to differences in denomination, culture and geography Students must answer two questions, each chosen from a different section, and draw on relevant primary and/or secondary sources. Each question is worth 20 marks.

Internal Assessment (IA)

Spring 2018

The internal assessment is an investigative study of an aspect of the religious experience, practice or belief of a group and/or individual adherents. The focus for the study can be a visit to a sacred place, building or a museum, a study of artifacts, attendance at an act of worship, an interview or interviews with religious adherents, or a study using a range of sources.

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Course grading    

30% Class participation & Homework 15% Scheduled and Pop Quizzes 45% Summative assessments (including I.A.) 10% Final

Homework Policy As a university student, you will be hard-pressed to find professors willing to accept late work. So, if you have not yet developed time-management skills before your Freshman year of college, this can have costly consequences for you both in terms of GPA and finances. Furthermore, as an adult, if you miss a professional deadline, you risk irreparable damage to your reputation, loss of employment, the wellbeing of your department and/or the wellbeing of your company. Therefore, to prepare you for such high-stakes expectations, all work that is labeled LATE in Managebac (even if it is 2 seconds late) or turned in late to class will immediately lose 50% of its marking value. Technical difficulties or upload issues will not excuse you from this consequence. Moreover, if the assignment is still not turned in within 48 hours of the due date, it will not be accepted for credit. Each 9-week grading period, however, you will be given an “Accepted Late” card. This will allow you to turn in one homework assignment late for full credit. Nevertheless, it is suggested that you start making a habit of turning in assignments early. This will help you prevent late work due to technical difficulties, family complications, etc.

Memorization There is a considerable amount of memorization required in order to successfully complete this course. If you do not have much experience with rote memorization, some strategies and links to resources will be provided for you. But, ultimately, you will simply have to work at it. I am confident that you are equal to the task!

Personal technology and behavioral expectations You are expected to first and foremost treat all students and the instructor with respect. You should come to class each day on time and prepared and ready to participate according to Viking expectations. Any issues will be handled privately and parents will be notified if misbehavior is ongoing. Cell phones are a huge part of all of our lives. They keep us connected to our families and friends. They can also be a huge distraction in class. The expectation is that cell phones may not be out in class unless you are given specific permission. They should be in your backpack or pocket, not on your desk. Any student caught with a cell phone out in class at an undesignated time will be asked to place the phone in a clear pocket chart labelled “Cell Phone Daycare” at the front of the room for the duration of the class period. [Students who refuse to relinquish their cell phones when requested will be sent to the A.P.] Students will be able to see their phone and may collect it at the end of the period. Keep in mind that the incident will be recorded in Aeries, and on the third instance of your cell phone going to “Day Care”, a call home will be placed. On the fourth and further incidences of your cell phone going to “Day Care”, you will be referred to the Assistant Principal. Of course, if you need to make an emergency phone call, please do not hesitate to ask permission first.

Bathroom Pass Policy There is a bathroom pass at the front of the classroom. It is on a lanyard. You may excuse yourself at any time to go to the bathroom. However, you must first write your name on the board in the space provided and write the time of your departure on the board underneath your name. Furthermore, you may only utilize the bathroom on the left side of our

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classroom door. If you are gone longer than 5 minutes (as the bathroom is merely 3 doors down), you will lose the privilege of being able to excuse yourself to go to the bathroom without permission. Also, if you are seen coming from the right side of the classroom door upon your return to class, you will also lose the privilege of being able to excuse yourself to go to the bathroom without permission. In such cases, you will be required to wait until the end of a lecture or instructional session before you request in person to use the facilities.

Office hours You are welcome to drop by any day before or after school or during Period 1. However, because the instructor is often called away for meetings or is helping other students, there is no guarantee that she will be able to help you at the time of your unscheduled visit. Therefore, for best results, you are encouraged to make appointments for before or after school problem-solving. This can be accomplished most conveniently via email. Requests for extensions of due dates must be made in person at least 3 schooldays before a due date, and will not be granted unless the instructor deems the delay is due to significant, unmanageable and unavoidable impediments beyond the student’s control.

Class disruption Your teacher is getting older and more scatterbrained. When you whisper to your neighbor or make distracting noises or motions whilst the teacher is speaking, she will usually lose her train of thought which will result in the following: (1) everyone’s ability to learn the material properly will be compromised (2) you will be called out for the disruption. If you choose to openly disrupt a lecture, instructions, or peer comments, realize that you are choosing to be openly corrected. Furthermore, repeated disruptions in one class period will be documented in your school record, parents will be contacted, and when your teacher deems necessary, you may be sent immediately to an Assistant Principal’s office.

Academic dishonesty If you are caught cheating, colluding, plagiarizing, copying others’ work, letting others copy your work, or in any other manner compromising the integrity of any assignment, quiz or test, you and your accomplices will earn a permanent 0% for the assignment, quiz, or test. You will not be allowed to make up the work or do “extra credit” to make up the points. You will also be referred to your Assistant Principal’s office for discipline. 2nd Semester Intervention Because there is a cumulative exam in May that covers 2 years’ worth of material, you will be required to come to Wednesday intervention every week. The first half of that intervention period will be spent as a peer tutoring session of the previous year’s content, the second half of the intervention period will be spent playing review games. Due to the nature of this course, each intervention period will be scored as a class participation mark. If a student is absent from school that day, he or she may make up the class participation points missed during Wednesday Intervention. However, if a student simply chooses not to attend the Intervention, he or she will earn a permanent 0% for that session’s participation points. Nevertheless, each student will be given one Get Out of Intervention Card. I suggest that the student save the use of that card for a serious emergency. On the other hand, if the student never uses the Card, he or she will earn Extra Credit points on the Final.

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Signature Page Student Portion: I have read this syllabus in its entirety and I understand the expectations, guidelines, and procedures outlined in it. I am also aware that I will be expected to independently arrange travel to at least one place of worship [that is not my own], interview 3 adherents of that religion, and arrange independent travel to an academic library such as that of Sacramento State or Sierra College in order to earn full credit in this course. I am also aware that I must attend every Wednesday intervention to prepare for the May World Religions IB Examination. ______________________________________________

______________________________________________

Student Name - Printed

Student Signature

Student’s preferred mode of communication: Circle one ______________________________________________

email message phone call ______________________________________________

Student’s best email address

Student’s best phone number

Parent Portion: I have read this syllabus in its entirety and I understand the expectations, guidelines, and procedures outlined in it. I am also aware that my child/ward will be expected to independently arrange travel to at least one place of worship [that is not his/her own], interview 3 adherents of that religion, and arrange independent travel to an academic library such as that of Sacramento State or Sierra College in order to earn full credit in this course. I am also aware that my child is expected to attend every Wednesday intervention to prepare for the May World Religions IB Examination.

______________________________________________ Parent Name - Printed

Parent’s preferred mode of communication: Circle one ______________________________________________ Parent’s best email address

Spring 2018

______________________________________________ Parent Signature

email message phone call ______________________________________________ Parent’s best phone number

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