3. Writing. Field Research Contract. Field Research Contract. Why have religion scholars tended to focus on belief? Why is this a problem?

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1 Why have religion scholars tended to focus on belief? Why is this a problem? What are three reasons why you should document your sources when writing an academic paper? 3. Writing 1 2 Field Research Contract Field Research Contract Visit religious site with one or two other students from your tutorial Must be site no one is familiar with No one in group can belong to that religion Contract on Blackboard ( Field Research ) Info and advice on Bb for finding a site Due February 9 (worth 2%) Buddhism Christianity Hinduism Indigenous traditions Jainism Judaism Islam Paganism Scientology Sikhism Taoism Unitarianism Wicca Zoroastrianism 3 4

2 Online Comments Maximum 6 marks (one mark / comment) Blackboard forum (your TA s groups) Due dates on course website (first: Jan 22) 125 words related to course content Graded for completion, not quality Be specific (not: I liked chapter 5 ) Don t post questions for me or TAs! 5 TAs + Tutorials TAs office hours tomorrow (Wed): 2:30-4:30pm in Colman Commons Amy, Ashoor, Patrick addresses on website ( Contact ) p.stangeatmail.utoronto.ca Tutorial readings + homework + reflections and link on website ( Tutorials ) 6 Historical Studies Society Celebrates the 200th Anniversary of Mary Shelly's Frankenstein Ib 150 from 5-8 p.m Thursday, @HSS.UTM utmhss.weebly.com 7 8

3 Today Finish Belief Cognitive approaches Belief + the study of religion Analytical writing Film Paragraph assignment Visitor: Dr. Michael Kaler Robert Gillespie Academic Skills Centre Belief! 9 10 Theories of Belief 1. Meaning of belief? 2. Theories of belief (+ Lion King!) 3. Belief + the study of religion Cognitive vs. affective beliefs (p. 117) Habitus (p ) Reductionist theories (p ) Non-reductionist theories (p ) Belief and common sense (p ) Cognitive approaches (p ) 11 12

4 Reductionist Religion is really about something else (of THIS world) humans make up images of god for human purposes Reductionist theories: objects of religious beliefs are constructed by people Reduce god(s) to products of human beings 14 Study of Religion Focus on people, not god(s) Study of what people do EXCEPT... NON-reductionist theorists! Assume religious beliefs point to reality or essence beyond humans Try to understand that reality (by looking at many people s religious beliefs, rituals, etc.) Cognitive Approaches Study of the brain Luther Martin Martin Luther! Non-reductionist (Whitehouse) Reductionist (Guthrie, Boyer) 15 16

5 pareidolia

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7 25 26 Belief + Religion Belief and the Study of Religion Protestant Reformation (Christianity) Martin Luther: 95 Theses (1517) Catholic church: institution b/t person and God; over-emphasis on rituals New Testament (Paul): Faith over works: You have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God not the result of works. (Ephesians 2:8-9) 27 28

8 Belief + Religion Belief? Tylor: Religion is belief in spiritual beings Why this focus? Protestant Christian view (NOT universal view) Faith over works Scholars of religion from Protestant cultures Belief + Religion Problems with thinking that religion is all about belief? 1. Language issues involving belief Various meanings in English No equivalent word for belief in some languages Religion + Belief Problems with thinking that religion is all about belief? 2. Sometimes belief is not (that) important Different traditions Different people within the same traditions / communities 31 32

9 Analytical Writing! Analytical Writing! 1. Film Paragraph 2. Academic integrity Turnitin.com 3. Grading rubric Assignment components Writing is difficult Writing = learning Song! Just about The Only Blues by Lowest of the Low (1991) Use your voice 35 36

10 And I don t know if I m coming And I don t know if I m going There s a letter I can t open And there s a song that I can t write And there s a book that I can t put down Let s take a walk down to The Only And drink until our kidneys fail And you can tell me that you want me And I can think about betrayal You can leave me thinking, drinking all night Cause that s the sharpest nail Here comes another sleepless night Well, sure I d like to work this all out But I know I m not that bright Film Paragraph 1. Film Paragraph Audience Knows the film Does NOT know the theory Imagine you are writing to a reasonably smart high school student Importance of clarity Write to communicate, NOT to impress! 39 40

11 Film Paragraph Analyze film from TA s list using theory of belief Cognitive vs. affective beliefs / reductionism / habitus Question: when you look at the film using a theory of belief, what message do you think the film is promoting? Film Paragraph Why this assignment? Learn a theory by using it (=apply to data) Learn that religion theories can help us understand stuff not obviously religious Learn to see something familiar (film) in a new way Have fun!? Film Paragraph Assignment documents on Bb (under Film Analysis ) Instructions Grading rubric (include with your assignment) Advice + sample paragraph Film Analysis Theories-Belief Film Paragraph Deadline: 11:59pm on Jan. 26 Submit to Bb and turnitin.com Submission instructions on Bb (under Film Analysis ) 43 44

12 Film Paragraph Late penalty: 1 mark (out of 20) per day Illness, crisis, etc. Submit assignment as soon as you can THEN submit documentation to me Make sure you get help! (e.g., UTM Health & Counselling) Final Film Analysis Due February 16 Will discuss in class next week Will post instructions on Bb soon (and you when they re up) Documenting Sources 2. Academic Integrity 47 When to document sources: Direct quotes (need quotation marks and citation) Ideas from texts i.e., paraphrasing (need citation) This course only: when referencing an author that Nye discusses, just cite Nye See sample Lion King paragraph for all of the above 48

13 Documenting Sources Use Chicago Manual of Style for citations and bibliography Author-date Only source: Nye s text Look at sample Lion King paragraph 49 Documenting Sources Why document sources? Students: to avoid getting in trouble Scholars: a) to show that you re part of a conversation ( breadcrumbs ); b) to give proper credit to other scholars for their work c) to tell readers where to find more info on the topics you re discussing 50 Academic Integrity Not okay: Sharing your written work Using another student s written work Using your work to obtain credit in more than one course Using another s ideas without citations Using another s words without quotation marks 51 Quotes / Paraphrases See Readings on Writing (RLG101 site) Don t write your paraphrase while looking at the original text 1. Read original 2. Make notes 3. Put original and notes away 4. Write paraphrase When in doubt, quote 52

14 Turnitin.com Finds matches, gives % overlap NO acceptable % of plagiarism allowed Can see your own Originality Report Click the Originality tab Can view your report and re-submit your essay UP UNTIL the deadline Turnitin.com Some kinds of overlap are NOT plagiarism E.g., quotes (in quotation marks), bibliographies, course titles Use double quotation marks (like this ) Use heading Bibliography (w/o quotation marks) Examples of text overlaps that are NOT a problem 55 56

15 Grading Rubric 3. Grading Rubric A. Quantitative (bottom half) Specific penalties Objective Follow instructions E.g., title page, font, citations, etc. Use rubric as checklist! Grading Rubric B. Qualitative (top half) 1. Theory 2. Analysis 3. Support 4. Message 5. Paragraph 6. Writing 1. Theory 1. Explanation of theory Clarity and accuracy Quote or paraphrase Nye s text 2. Use of theory Demonstrate understanding of theory Appropriate connection to film 59 60

16 2. Analysis Use of theory to interpret film Make (and show) discoveries about the film Go beyond what is obvious 3. Support Analysis = ARGUMENT Needs to be supported by evidence and reasoning Someone could disagree with you Not about proving or disproving anything Say what you really think (follow the data!) Evidence 3. Support What happens in the film Must be objective: e.g., what characters do or say Be careful re: characters feelings or thoughts Not objective: Simba doesn t want to go home. (Question: how do you know?) Objective: When Nala asks Simba to return home, he says no. 2. Reasoning 3. Support Do your arguments make sense? Don t overstate your conclusions! Don t just look for points that support your argument and ignore contradictory evidence 63 64

17 Must have one! State clearly 4. Message Support with evidence from the film Question: what lesson do you think the film is teaching us? 1. Structure: 5. Paragraph Introduction (=topic sentence[s] = brief statement of link between theory + film) Body (=explanation of theory + use of theory to analyze film) Conclusion (=message of the film) Focus: 5. Paragraph Use one theory only Use only relevant points (from Nye and from the film) Do not summarize the film s plot 6. Writing Trust yourself! 67 68

18 Clarity (see Calvin + Hobbes) Point is to communicate Read sentences out loud Simplify!! 6. Writing 6. Use of I Totally fine! If relevant and appropriate! I will examine Simba s transformation in The Lion King... I think that Scar is a huge jerk. In this analysis, one will examine Simba s transformation during The Lion King Biased Language Mankind / man Humanity, people Man-made Artificial If a person likes ice cream, he should get some If people like ice cream, they should get some Writing Errors, typos (PROOFREAD!) Use present tense Colloquial language ( stuff ; whatevs ; etc.) Mechanics (e.g., punctuation) Book + film titles in italics! The Lion King Religion: The Basics 72

19 Good luck with your assignment! 75