Class Policies

what we’re doing this semester, when, and why

Welcome to Religion & Science Fiction!

This class challenges you to consider what role the religious imagination plays in building better worlds.

Required Materials

• Octavia Butler, Parable of the Sower
• Octavia Butler, Damian Duffy, and John Jennings, Parable of the Sower: A Graphic Novel Adaptation
• Octavia Butler, Parable of the Talents
• Richard Kent Evans, MOVE: An American Religion

All materials are available online and/or through Perusall except the graphic novel version of Parable of the Sower, which will be on reserve at Belk Library.

Assignments

See below for assignment descriptions

Assignments are due by 11:59pm on the day before they’re listed on the syllabus. (Don’t worry — this is all also on Perusall.)

For each meeting, you’re required to:

• submit at least three Perusall comments on each source assigned for the day
• submit the Reflection Notes assignment for the day

Three times in the semester we will also engage in Harkness Discussions as a class.

Class Format and Expectations

YOU ARE ADULTS; YOU GET OUT WHAT YOU PUT IN

This class works best–for you, me, and your classmates–if you do the as much of the work as you can and show up as often as you can. But also? pandemic. If you are sick, PLEASE do not come to class. There are no penalties for absences. Class materials are available on Perusall. I am happy to help you catch up if needed, especially if it means we can take care of one another and stay as healthy as possible.

Each class centers on discussion of the assigned materials. Some will include brief lectures, media analysis, or other elements. Please come to class ready to analyze and respond to the readings, as well as to the contributions of your fellow students. Always bring the readings to class with you. Remember: engagement includes active listening! It also involves asking questions! You don’t have to understand every assignment to participate in the discussion.

This is an introductory course. I don’t expect you’ll know anything about religious studies as a discipline. I do assume a basic familiarity with humanities scholarship. If you’re unfamiliar with reading and analyzing scholarly articles or writing scholarly essays using standard humanities styles, you might find some course assignments challenging. Please be sure to read directions closely and seek additional assistance as needed well in advance of deadlines.

Regardless of your academic background, treat every student and every concept you encounter with scholarly respect. Challenge your assumptions and your position(s) of privilege. Speak from your own best understandings of the issues. As scholars of religion, it is not our job to evaluate the truth or validity of any tradition. We use the evidence we have to position that tradition’s beliefs, practices, teachings, and products in the broader context of the study of religion.

Accessibility

HOW CAN I HELP YOU SUCCEED?

If you’re having trouble keeping up, need alternate assignment options, or have requests to facilitate your learning process, please let me know as soon as you can. You do not have to have a registered disability to request accommodations, but I won’t know you need help or more time unless you tell me so. You don’t have to tell me why you’re having a hard time, but getting in touch means I can come up with a plan to get you what you need.

It is 100% okay to be struggling to retain new information or keep up with schoolwork right now. Crises affect our moods, our energy, and our cognition. I will never judge you for needing more time or an alternate assignment, but I can’t help you if you don’t tell me you need help. If I can better help you learn, let me know!

Know Your IX

LEARNING HAS NO GENDER

Despite recent federal efforts to the contrary, gender- and sex-based harassment is still a Civil Rights offense. Offenders are subject to the same kinds of penalties applied to offenses against other protected categories (such race, national origin, etc.).

Survivors are entitled to confidential support.

If you or someone you know has been harassed or assaulted, you’re not alone. I believe you. You can find the university’s resources here. I am also happy to provide further resources within and beyond the university if you get in touch with me in class or during office hours.

Participation

JUST KEEP SWIMMING

Let’s all just do the best we can. There is no participation grade for this class. Any engagement beyond what is explicitly required = awesome.

I hope you’ll want to talk about the material we’ll be covering beyond what’s explicitly required, but I won’t penalize you for being short on the ability to even right now. We’re tackling some tough subjects this semester. Your health is more important than this class.

If you need to opt out of any discussions or assignments because of the topic or required materials, please manage your attendance and participation as you need. Contact me for alternative assignment options.

Don’t Cheat

SERIOUSLY, IT’S THE ONLY WAY TO FAIL THIS CLASS

Do your own work. Cite everything.

Extra Credit

YOU DON’T NEED IT

Keep reading to find out why. (Hint: the grade you earn in this class is 100% based on how much you decide to contribute.)

Opt-in Grading

YOU DECIDE YOUR GRADE

There’s a lot of evidence to suggest that grading isn’t (and maybe can’t be) 100% objective, and that often grades reflect unconscious instructor biases. This class hopes to challenge and disrupt white supremacy, cis-sexism, anti-queerness, ableism, and other injustices. So let’s try something different, shall we?

Opt-in grading = you decide how much and what kind of energy you can devote to this course.

• Option F: failure is not an option.
• Option D: turn in literally any of the work assigned for this course. (It has to be something I assigned. Don’t make up your own assignment.) Congrats, you’ve got yourself a D. It’s not fancy, but you pass the class.
• Option C: turn in at least 75% of your reflection notes (25/33) + 75% of the required Perusall comments (61/81) + 1/3 Harkness discussions. Bam! That’s a C.
• Option B: turn in at least 85% of your reflection notes (28/33) + 85% of the required Perusall comments (69/81) + 2/3 Harkness discussions. Mazel tov on your B.
• Option A: turn in at least 95% (31/33) of your reflection notes + 95% of the required Perusall comments (77/81) + all 3 Harkness discussions. You earn an A, also several naps. Just kidding, everybody deserves naps.

Please note: you must closely follow instructions to receive credit for completing all assignments. Opting in for an A requires completion of all assignments required at the C and B levels.

ASSIGNMENTS

Perusall

Here’s the link to our Perusall class page. You can comment as much as you want! But for each assigned source, you must include at least three comments.

I recommend you use Perusall to keep track of your thought process while you’re making your way through the sources and to inform your responses to the Reflection Notes assignments.

Reflection Notes

Before each discussion, you’ll complete your reflection notes assignments on Moodle. Each questionnaire asks you to think about:

• how the assigned source defines religion
• why that definition of religion matters
• how that definition of religion relates to the other materials assigned for the day
• how that definition of religion relates to other materials assigned for this class.

Your responses should be no longer than 3–5 sentences per question. Cite all references to assigned sources.

Harkness Discussions

These are rigorous, student-led classroom discussions that tackle the question at the core of this course. Thrice during the semester, students will use sources assigned for this course to respond to the following prompt:

what is religion and why does it matter?

Students will spend three full class periods responding to this prompt Students may also receive further research questions to guide the conversation. I will interject only to pause for check-ins.

The entire class receives a single grade for each Harkness conversation. You must attend and participate according to the requirements of the activity to receive credit for this assignment. Review the rubric and sample feedback sheet for more info.

Those who choose not to participate in the real-time discussions may submit a written response to the prompt. Instructions for these written responses are available on Moodle. Please note: responses must follow instructions precisely and reflect a comprehensive understanding of the material in order to earn credit for completing these assignments.