FALL 2005 Extra Credit Options & Opportunities
30 November 2005
  1. Reaction papers can be done in response to lectures (or films, or plays) on campus or elsewhere that consider some topic related to our class material. Either sign in when you arrive (if there is a sheet for our class), or bring something back that shows you were there. Then, write up a brief reaction paper (750 words) that includes:
    1. A précis of the talk or event
    2. An analysis/critique from you considering how it connects with the course material; and
    3. Whether or not you agree with what was presented and why/why not.
    4. Submit the paper and the ticket or whatever that shows you were at the talk.
      • Each reaction paper is worth up to 15 points, depending on how well you do the critique.
      • Parts 2–3 must be as specific as possible to receive full credit. (E.g., saying, "the lecture was about Islam and we are studying Islam in this class" or "I thought this was the best/worst lecture I ever heard" would earn no points for this part of the essay.)
      • Please note, however, that bad reaction papers may cause you to LOSE points. Papers that do not follow this format, are badly written, or do not spell out how specific course ideas tie into the lecture topic, will earn a penalty grade of -5 points. Do not waste your time and mine on B.S. (that stands for "buck shot," of course).
    5. Here are some current lectures, events, and other opportunities that you might consider using for this kind of extra-credit project:
  2. Previous events (to give you some ideas of what else might "count" for the kind of afore-mentioned reaction papers:
    1. “The Future of Social Security,” Monday, September 12, 2005, 7:00 PM, Lombardo Student Center Jardine Room
    2. Zen meditation lessons at the Cleveland Buddhist Temple (1573 E 214th St.), Tuesdays 7:00–9:00 PM
    3. Sand Mandala Painting by Monks of the Namgyal Monastery of Tibet, Aug. 27–Oct. 8 at the Cleveland City Hall Rotunda. Over a period of six weeks three venerable lamas from the Namgyal Monastery, the personal monastery of H. H. Dalai Lama of Tibet, will painstakingly lay millions of grains of brilliantly colored sand into an intricate design of a Kalachakra mandala.The tradition of mandala painting, dating back more than 1,000 years, draws from an ancient iconography that includes geometric shapes and a multitude of spiritual symbols. Known for their remarkable artistry, the lamas of Namgyal Monastery have exhibited their skills in museums and galleries throughout the world. Each day's work begins with a meditation at 10:00 AM. This event is sponsored by the Cleveland Museum of Art in partnership with the city of Cleveland. Admission is free.
    4. “A Schizophrenic Bible Scholar—Traditional Scholarship & the Modern Biblical Scholar,” Wednesday, Sept. 14, 12:00 Noon–2:00 PM at Siegal College, 26500 Shaker Blvd
    5. “Who Wrote the Bible?” Wednesday, Sept. 14, 7:30–9:30 PM, Frankel Auditorium, Siegal College, 26500 Shaker Blvd.
    6. “What Should a Commentary Comment On?” Thursday, Sept. 15, 11:30 AM–1:00 PM, Frankel Auditorium, Siegal College, 26500 Shaker Blvd.
    7. “Compelled in Love and Set on Fire: The Eucharist—Ever-Ancient, Ever-New,” Sept. 15, 7:30 PM, LSC Conference Room
    8. Native American Art Show & Sale; Friday-Sunday, Sept. 16–18, Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds (164 Eastman Road, Berea), Fri & Sat. 10:00 AM-6:00 PM, Sun. 11:00 AM-4:00 PM
    9. "Constitutional Limitations on Democracy: Understanding the Costs," Monday, September 19, 12:00 Noon–1:00 PM, LSC Jardine Room
    10. “Shaping of American Muslim Identity,” Marcia Hermansen, Ph.D., Professor of Theology, Loyola University of Chicago, Tuesday, September 20, 2005, 7:00 PM, Dolan Science Center Donahue Auditorium
    11. “Architecture & Public Policy: The Decline of Cities and the Human Spirit,” Wednesday, Sept. 21, 4:30 PM, Thwing Student Ballroom, Case Western Reserve University
    12. “The Future of the Papacy with Pope Benedict XVI,” John Allen, Vatican Correspondent NCR, & Vatican analyst for CNN & ABC, Thursday, September 22, 2005, 5:30 PM, LSC Jardine Room
    13. “Merchants of Death: Militarism, Racism, & Materialism,” Thursday, Sept. 22, 7:00 PM, LSC Conference Room
    14. Iraqi Cultural Immersion at John Carroll University Saturday, September 24, 2005 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM in the LSC Faculty Dining Room
    15. The Honors Program is sponsoring a satellite seminar series on Popular Culture this fall on Tuesday evenings in AD 226. The first session is "The Sexualization of Culture and the Nevada Brothel Industry: McDonaldization, Pornographication, and Social Change in Late Capitalism" with Dr. Barb Brents and Dr. Kate Hausbeck, both sociology professors from the University Nevada Las Vegas (more info attached). It's scheduled for Tuesday, September 27, at 7:30 PM in AD 226, with discussion to follow. The session is open to all interested faculty and students.
    16. "The Vatican and Homosexuality," an open and informal brown-bag discussion led by Fr. Don Cozzens, Wednesday, September 28, 2005, 12:30 PM, LSC President's Dining Room (across from Campus Ministry). Bring a lunch; drinks and cookies will be provided. Call x4717 with questions.
    17. “Rights to the Land of Israel: Claims and Compromise,” Gideon Shimoni, Rosenthal Visiting Fellow, Wednesday, September 28, 2005, 4:30 PM, Case Western Reserve University, Clark Hall Room 309 (11130 Bellflower Rd., Cleveland)
    18. “A Catholicism Worthy of the Future,” The Rev. Michael Crosby, Wednesday, September 28, 2005, 7:30 PM, Cosgrove Center of Historic Saint Peter Church (East 18th at Superior)
    19. Introduction to Buddhism talk at the Cleveland Buddhist Temple (1573 E 214th St.), Oct. 2 at 10:30 AM (preceded by meditation practice at 10:00 AM).
    20. Special Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity: See the Buddhist Sand Mandala being created by the Tibetan monks from the Dalai Lama's monastery. The JCU bus will take students to see the sand mandala being created by three Tibetan monks in the reception area at Cleveland City Hall. There will be two opportunities:
      1. Friday 30 September 2005, departing from the brown gate at the SW end of the admin drive at Noon and returning about 1:45 PM. As an added bonus, Dr. Paul Nietupski, Associate Professor of Religious Studies and specialist in East Asian Religions, will be giving a brief lecture about the mandala at 12:30 PM.
      2. Thursday 06 October 2005,departing from the brown gate at the SW end of the admin drive at 9:30 AM and returning by 11:30 AM. This trip is scheduled to get to City Hall in time for the monks' daily meditation at 10 AM, and then there will be time to view and discuss the mandala.
    21. “Salvation & ‘The Sopranos:’ How Popular Culture Undercuts Our Understanding of Redemption,” Cathleen Kaveny, Professor of Law, the University of Notre Dame, Wednesday, 5 October 2005, 5:30 PM, Dolan Science Center Donahue Auditorium
    22. "Scientific Naturalism and Divine Agency with Attention to 'Intelligent Design' Controversy," Rev. Joseph Bracken, S.J., Thursday, 6 October 2005, 4:45 PM, AD226
    23. Premiere of "Mending Spirits" (a Monica Plunkett documentary about women rebuilding their lives in the wake of abusive situations), Thursday, 6 October 2005, 7:30 PM, Cedar Lee Theatre, 2163 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights. Tickets are $10 and benefit the Ohio Domestic Violence Network. After-party at Studio You, 2180 Lee Road, no charge.
    24. Closing ceremony and dismantling of the Tibetan Sand Mandala, Oct. 8, 10:00 AM–4:00 PM, Cleveland City Hall
    25. Bad Girl: Confessions of a Teenage Delinquent; Wednesday, Oct. 9, 12:00 Noon–1:00 PM, LSC Conference Room
    26. Inaugural Mass for inauguration of Fr. Niehoff, S.J., Oct. 11, 10:30am, installation ceremony at 2:30 PM, DeCarlo Varsity Gym
    27. Help with decorating (beginning at 4:00 P.M.) and blessing (at 4:30 P.M.) the sukka in the Dauby Plaza (near the Grotto, between the Admin Bldg & BSOB) on Monday, 17 October 2005, beginning at 4:30 PM.
    28. “The Case for Islamo-Christian Civilization,” Richard Bullet, Ph.D., Professor of History, Columbia University, Tuesday, October 18, 2005, 7:00 PM, Dolan Science Center Donahue Auditorium
    29. Showing of "Monsoon Wedding" (Indian drama), Wednesday, October 19, 2005, 6 PM in AD 226. An exuberant family drama, where ancient tradition and dot-com modernity combine in unique and perfect harmony, the film traces five intersecting stories, each navigating different aspects of love as they cross boundaries of class, continent and morality.
    30. “The Problem of Evil,” Joseph Kelly, Ph.D., Wednesday, October 19, 2005, 7:30 PM, Cosgrove Center of Historic Saint Peter Church (East 18th at Superior)
    31. David Hellstrom, “The Real Buzz: The Truth and Lies About Campus Alcohol,” Wednesday, October 19, 2005, 9 PM, LSC Conference Room.
    32. SOA Informational Event: Each year a group of John Carroll students, faculty and staff join thousands of others (including many from other Jesuit schools) to protest the former School of the Americas (SOA) and call for U.S. policy that respects human rights, BUT WHY? FORUM TO DISCUSS THE SOA & U.S. POLICY IN LATIN AMERICA, Thursday, October 20th, 7:30 PM, LSC Conference Room. Forum Participants: Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer – Peace & Justice Studies Professor at St. Thomas University and author of the book “School of Assassins”; Lee Rials - Public Affairs Officer, Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation at Ft. Benning; Brian Stefan Szittai - Director, InterReligious Task Force on Central America (IRTF) located in Cleveland, Ohio; William Willoughby - Retired U.S. Army Infantry/Special Forces Officer and Civilian Aide to the U.S. Secretary of the Army; Forum Moderator: Dr. Andreas Sobisch - JCU; ALSO - Would you be interested in joining the group going to Ft. Benning this November? Contact Chris Kerr in Campus Ministry for information about the trip and prices for JCU Faculty/Staff.
    33. David Brenner, Assistant Professor of German at Kent State University, "Shoah Business? Hollywood and the Holocaust," Tuesday, October 25th 4:30 pm in AD 258.
    34. “A Church of Their Own: The Roman Catholic Experience in Contemporary Mainland China,” Oct. 27, 7:30 PM, LSC Conference Room
    35. East Asian Studies invites you to Japanese Fesitval '05 to experience Japanese traditional arts first hand. Friday, October 28, 3:30-5:30 in the Murphy Room. All are welcome; no charge.
    36. The East Asian Studies program invites you to a showing of the Chinese film, "Shower," on Wednesday, November 2, 8 pm in AD-226. This is a story of Chinese brothers dealing with the death of their father and of traditional community life, and how they find ways to integrate the past into new, fast-paced China. Shown in conjunction with the History Department film series. Light refreshments will be served.
    37. How should we record and remember a world-changing event like the detonation of the first atomic bombs over densely inhabited areas? In commoration of the 60th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the East Asian Studies program invites you to consider ways to remember the past and think about the future of weapons of mass destruction. The program will consist of discussion, the showing of a short documentary on the bombing, the anime "Barefoot Gen," and slides of survivor's art. Thursday, November 3, 2005, 7 pm, AD-226
    38. On Friday, November 4, 2005, at 3:30 PM, Mexican architect and artist Raúl Cárdenas Osuna, founder of Torolab, a Tijuana-based consortium of artists, designers and musicians will be speaking in an informal setting in the Dolan Science Center Reading Room. He comes at the suggestion and invitation of students who met him in Tijuana on the JCU service trip. He will be discussing his work with Torolab, which responds to the social realities of the border. His projects include ToroVestimenta, a clothing line that equips for the hostile border environment; the Vertex Project, a plan for the re-creation of a border-crossing, to be located literally half in Mexico, half in the United States; the Urban Survival Unit 7.01, for people living in extremely precarious conditions such as Tijuana, and "emergency architecture," plans for livable, affordable housing for residents of Tijuana based on their own desires and wishes. Torolab has exhibited and presented at the Museum of Contemporary Art in San Diego, the 3rd Biennale de Montréal, the Advanced Architecture Institute of Catalunya, and the aMaze Cultural Lab (Modena, Italy). Currently "Securitree" is featured at the Museum of Modern Art (New York) exhibit "SAFE: Design Takes On Risk." Sponsored by the Honors Program, First-Year Seminar, the Latin American Studies Concentration, and the Department of Communications and Theatre.
    39. On Friday, November 4, 2005 the Middle Eastern Student Association will be hosting our third semi-annual Hafli (Party). Please attend and show your support for MESA.
    40. "The Language You Cry In," Film sponsored by the Africana Studies Concentration, Monday, November 7, 2005, 7:00-8:30 PM, Dolan E346
    41. “Islam and Human Rights: Ideals and Realities,” Frederick Denny, Ph.D., Professor of Religious Studies, University of Colorado, Tuesday, November 8, 2005, 7:30 PM, Dolan Science Center Donahue Auditorium
    42. Let students and other staff and faculty know that you are an Ally! Allies is facilitating the Meet Your Allies Potluck dinner on Thursday, November 10th at 5 p.m. in the Murphy Room. Bring a dish to share. There will be a DJ and an Allies slide show. Please RSVP by Nov. 8 through campus mail to "JCU Allies" to let us know if you are coming and what dish you will bring! We hope that this will be not only a fun social event, but a chance for the GLBTQ and Allied community here to come together all at once and eat each other's food!
    43. “I Remember/Herbert Variations Concert,” Panoramicos, Wednesday, November 13, 2005, 2:00 PM, Historic Saint Peter Church (East 17th at Superior)
    44. Are you interested finding out about what the US is doing regarding North Korea's nuclear weapons? NEAC Korean Studies Distinguished Lecturer, Dr. Chae-Jin Lee of Claremont McKenna College will speak about US policy toward North Korea under Clinton and Bush administrations. Sponsored by East Asian Studies. Open to the public, no charge. The talk will be in AD 258 on Tuesday November 15, 2005 @ 7:30PM
    45. “Mysticism Unveiled, “ Joan Nuth, Ph.D., Wednesday, November 16, 2005, 7:30 PM, Cosgrove Center of Historic Saint Peter Church (East 18th at Superior)
    46. The “ONE IN FOUR” RV TOUR Sponsored by NO MORE, Inc. is coming to campus next Wednesday, November 16th! N.O. M.O.R.E. Inc. is the National Organization of Men’s Outreach for Rape Education. They will be presenting: The Men's Program: How to Help a Sexual Assault Survivor, What Men Can Do (65 Minutes Plus Q&A) This powerful program approaches men as potential helpers, not as potential rapists. By seeing a video where a shocking male-on-male rape is described in graphic detail, men learn what it might feel like to be raped. They also develop empathy with how women feel as survivors. After this life-altering experience, audience members hear how to help women recover from rape, learn how they can better define consent in their own intimate encounters, and how they can intervene as bystanders to help end the abuse of women. From 8:30-10:00 AM in the Jardine Room of the DJ Lombardo Student Center the program will be presented for Faculty, Staff, & Administrators. From 3:30-5:00 PM in the Donahue Auditorium of the Dolan Science Center the program will be presented for male students. From 6:30-8:00 PM in the Donahue Auditorium of the Dolan Science Center the program will be presented a second time for male students. From 9-10:30 PM in the Donahue Auditorium of the Dolan Science Center the program will be presented for anyone in the community. For more information, check out the website: www.nomorerape.org, or contact Ryan Knotts, Coordinator for Developmental Programming, at x1973 or rknotts@jcu.edu.
    47. “What Does ‘Catholic’ Mean for a Catholic University? Reflections on Catholic Identity,” Nov. 17, 7:30 PM, LSC Conference Room
    48. The Other Side of the River: Peggy Turbett Art Exhibit,” October 24–November 20, 2005; Lecture Discussion, Wednesday, November 2, 2005, 7:30 PM, Cosgrove Center of Historic Saint Peter Church (East 18th at Superior)
  3. Critical reviews of books pertinent to the course may earn up to 50 points. Some examples of books you might critique are:
    1. Buber, I and Thou
    2. Douglass, Purity and Danger
    3. Eliade, The Sacred and the Profane
    4. Freud, Future of an Illusion
    5. Lewis, Till We Have Faces
    6. Nolan, Jesus Before Christianity
    7. Otto, The Idea of the Holy
  4. Other extra-credit options are noted on the Course Schedule or Class Calendar.
Due dates: Check the Course Schedule for specific due dates for individual assignments. If there is no specified due date, then this assignment is open-ended. Plan ahead, however, because no extra credit will be accepted beyond the twelfth week of class. Maximum Extra Credit for the semester: 5% of total possible points or whatever maximum is specified in the syllabus.