RL 101.57, Spring 2008
Schedule of Meetings & Assignments
II: Ritual
last update: 13 February 2008
Part One: Introduction Part Two: Ritual Part Three: Islam Part Four: Ethics Part Five: Conclusion
Week Day Date Description
4 W 6-Feb-08 ASH WEDNESDAY
Topic Ritual Assignment
In-Class Activities NO CLASS. Instead, observe an Ash Wednesday service & write Verbatim Report
Look Ahead Within the next three weeks, complete your first draft of the CALRP Archival & Historical Research Report, as well as the on-site CALRP Focus Group Session(s), Interviews, Ritual Observation, & Site Visit. Get all consent forms completed and signed. Photograph CALRP site (& persons, with permission). If possible, videotape the ritual.
Due 8-Feb-08 Write your first CALRP Group Progress Report outlining your schedule for completing your Focus Group Session(s), Interviews, Ritual Verbatim, & Site Visit. Meet with GA to discuss your Report and resolve any outstanding difficulties. Have each group member complete the Early Group Assessment forms and bring them with you to the meeting.
Due Next Class Read Turner. Write Verbatim Report of Ash Wednesday service.
Extra Credit Option Use The Liturgy of the Hours for daily prayer at least twice daily for the next week; keep a journal of your experience and reflections on it. At the end of the week, review your journal entries and write an evaluative summary of your experience of this spiritual practice. Submit the journal to the Instructor, and then post your summary to the BBDB thread on "Spiritual Praxis."
5 M 11-Feb-08  
Topic Introducing Ritual; Calendar Rituals
In-Class Activities Introducing Ritual SGD
Due Next Class Read Haught, 79–142; "Rites of Passage." Do BBQz R1–3.
Extra Credit Option Use the Lectio Divina handout to try out the spiritual reading of the Bible (or other sacred text) for 15–20 minutes/day for the coming week; keep a journal of your experience and reflections on it. At the end of the week, review your journal entries and write an evaluative summary of your experience of this spiritual practice. Submit the journal to the Instructor, and then post your summary to the BBDB thread on "Spiritual Praxis."
W 13-Feb-08  
Topic Rites of Passage
In-Class Activities Rites of Passage SGD; Birth & Initiation Rituals SGD; Puberty & Marriage Rituals SGD; Death Rituals
Due Next Class Read Douglas 6, 7, & 8.
Extra Credit Option Evaluate whether or not your High School Graduation Ceremony was a Rite of Passage. Submit your essay to the Instructor and post a synopsis of your evaluation to the BBDB "Ritual" thread.
6 M 18-Feb-08  
Topic Sacrifice-Communion Rituals
In-Class Activities Douglas & Turner SGD; Communion Ritual SGD
Due Next Class Do BBQz R4–6. Evaluate your Class Participation for the first half of the semester. Complete your Midway Group Assessment, CALRP Ritual Verbatim, and Group Progress Report #2. Submit all paperwork in hard copy and digital form, including any photographs and/or audio-video recordings.
Extra Credit Option View Babette's Feast and write a reflection paper analyzing the role of sacrifice & communion imagery in the film. How does the ritual meal change the participants? Why do you think it does this? Give details from the film to support your responses. Submit your essay to the Instructor and post a synopsis of your evaluation to the BBDB "Ritual" thread.
W 20-Feb-08  
Topic Crisis Rituals
In-Class Activities Crisis Rituals SGD
Due Next Class Read Frederick Denny, Islam and the Muslim Community, Chpt. 1
Due 22-Feb-08 Midway Group Assessments; CALRP Ritual Verbatim; Focus Group report; Interview Verbatims; ALL ORIGINAL NOTES, RECORDINGS, AND PERTINENT SIGNED RELEASE FORMS; the first draft of your CALRP Archival & Historical Research Report; and Group Progress Report #2. Submit all paperwork in hard copy and digital form, including any photographs and/or audio-video recordings. Meet with GA to discuss your CALRP Group Report and resolve any outstanding difficulties.
Extra Credit Option Read Khaled Hosseini, A Thousand Splendid Suns or The Kite Runner. Write a
Break M 25-Feb-08 Spring Break; no class
Break W 27-Feb-08 Spring Break; no class
101 homepage Return to Course Syllabus Go to Dr. McGinn's page Go to Part Three
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