Course Syllabus

  • General Information (Select in order to expand this section)
    • REL3111: Religion in Film; Section RVC

      Instructor Erin Weston

      Please Use Canvas' Email feature

      (305) 348-1329

      DM 322B (MMC)

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      Course Description and Purpose

      Cinema is probably the most popular art form of the modern era. It has been highly influential in how society understands itself, and while it is not necessarily meant to be factual or historical in nature, it is often perceived as such. One cannot deny the influence of this medium generally, but also specifically, on our broader ideas of religion. In this course, students will examine religious themes, images, symbols, and characters in various feature and short films, a specific method of critical analysis, and the religious and societal effects of contemporary films.


      Course Objectives

      Upon successful completion of this course students will be able to: 

      • examine the role of media in the production of belief and understanding;
      • identify several basic dimensions of religion in film;
      • evaluate how artistic choices impact the viewer’s perception of the religion, and analyze how theologically accurate these depictions may be;
      • examine the relationship between artistic choices and myth making;
      • recognize how artistic choices can impact our understanding of our own religions and other religious traditions around the world; and
      • explore world religions through various film depictions.

      Global Learning Course Objectives

      • Global Awareness - Students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the complex relationship between the dimensions of Western and Non-Western religions and filmmakers’ artistic choices, and the impact of this relationship upon viewers’ experience and interpretation of the film.
      • Global Perspective - Students will be able to analyze the dimensions of religion as they are portrayed from multiple filmmakers’ perspectives.
      • Global Engagement - Students will explore key religious issues as they relate to the portrayal of religion in film and suggest possible solutions.  

        This is a Discipline-specific Global Learning course that counts toward your graduation requirement.
  • Important Course Information (Select in order to expand this section)
    • Policies

      Please review the FIU's Policies webpage. The policies webpage contains essential information regarding guidelines relevant to all courses at FIU, as well as additional information about acceptable netiquette for online courses.


      Technical Requirements & Skills  

      One of the greatest barriers to taking an online course is a lack of basic computer literacy. By computer literacy we mean being able to manage and organize computer files efficiently, and learning to use your computer's operating system and software quickly and easily. Keep in mind that this is not a computer literacy course; but students enrolled in online courses are expected to have moderate proficiency using a computer. Please go to the "What's Required" webpage to find out more information on this subject.

      This course utilizes the following tools:

      • Skype

      Please visit our Technical Requirements webpage for additional information.


       FIU Library Support

      The FIU library provides a number of services to distance learning students. For example:

      Students can request a chat session in Blackboard for an explanation on how to access library resources. 
      Students can request detailed instructions on how to access library resources. 
      One-on-One assistance from the Distance Learning Librarian. 

      Don't struggle through your library research alone! Help is available. For further information, contact Sarah Hammill, Distance Learning Librarian, via email at hammills@fiu.edu or call 305-919-5604. 

      You can visit the FIU Library at: http://library.fiu.edu/ 


       Accessibility And Accommodation 

      The Disability Resource Center collaborates with students, faculty, staff, and community members to create diverse learning environments that are usable, equitable, inclusive and sustainable. The DRC provides FIU students with disabilities the necessary support to successfully complete their education and participate in activities available to all students. If you have a diagnosed disability and plan to utilize academic accommodations, please contact the Center at 305-348-3532 or visit them at the Graham Center GC 190.

      Please visit our ADA Compliance webpage for information about accessibility involving the tools used in this course.

      Please visit Blackboard's Commitment Accessibility webpage for more information. 

      For additional assistance please contact FIU's Disability Resource Center.

      Religious holidays
      Every effort will be made, where feasible and practical, to accommodate students whose religious practices coincide with class requirements scheduling. Please make sure to notify your instructor at the beginning of the semester of which dates you will be absent or any anticipated problems with completing course work.  


      Academic Misconduct Statement 

      Florida International University is a community dedicated to generating and imparting knowledge through excellent teaching and research, the rigorous and respectful exchange of ideas and community service. All students should respect the right of others to have an equitable opportunity to learn and honestly to demonstrate the quality of their learning. Therefore, all students are expected to adhere to a standard of academic conduct, which demonstrates respect for themselves, their fellow students, and the educational mission of the University. All students are deemed by the University to understand that if they are found responsible for academic misconduct, they will be subject to the Academic Misconduct procedures and sanctions, as outlined in the Student Handbook.

      Academic Misconduct includes: Cheating – The unauthorized use of books, notes, aids, electronic sources; or assistance from another person with respect to examinations, course assignments, field service reports, class recitations; or the unauthorized possession of examination papers or course materials, whether originally authorized or not. Plagiarism – The use and appropriation of another’s work without any indication of the source and the representation of such work as the student’s own. Any student who fails to give credit for ideas, expressions or materials taken from another source, including internet sources, is responsible for plagiarism.

      Learn more about the academic integrity policies and procedures as well as student resources that can help you prepare for a successful semester.  


      Proctored Exam Policy

      There are no proctored exams in this course.


      Course Prerequisites

      There are no prerequisites for this course. 


      Expectations of This Course  

      This is an online course, meaning that most of the course work will be conducted online. Expectations for performance in an online course are the same as for a traditional course; in fact, online courses require a degree of self-motivation, self-discipline, and technology skills that can make them more demanding for some students.

      In addition to the completion of writing assignments and exams, the primary requirement for successful completion of this course will be an open mind. Students are expected to exhibit respect to all religious traditions and peoples at all times. Thus, disrespectful or derisive commentary will not be tolerated in this course. Religion is, after all, a very personal and sensitive subject for many.

      On the other hand, class participants can expect academic freedom to express their views. Although religion can be personal, this is an academic course taken for college credit and thus students are expected to examine the topics rigorously. Religion shall not be exempt from the scrutiny placed on any and all academic subjects. Students will be responsible for all materials covered in class. Exams may include any and all of the aforementioned materials.

      Students are expected to:

      • Review the how to get started information located in the course content
      • Introduce yourself to the class during the first week by posting a self introduction video in the appropriate blog
      • Take the practice quiz to ensure that your computer is compatible with Blackboard
      • Interact online with instructor/s and peers
      • Review and follow the course calendar
      • Log in to the course at least 3 times per week.
      • Respond to discussion boards, blogs and journal postings within 3 days
      • Respond to messages within 3 days
      • Submit assignments by the corresponding deadline

      The instructor will:

      • Log in to the course at least 5 times per week
      • Respond to discussion boards, blogs and journal postings within 3 days or sooner
      • Respond to [emails/messages] within 3 days or sooner
      • Grade assignments within 2 weeks or sooner of the assignment deadline
    • .
  • Course Details (Select in order to expand this section)

    Course Communication

    Good communication is vital to successful online courses.

    Contacting me through Canvas' Email feature is the best way to communicate with me.

    Visit our Writing Resources webpage for more information on professional writing and technical communication skills.  


    Structure Of The Course 

    This class is a religious studies course where we will be looking at religion through the lens of film. The course is constructed in three main modules. The first section will cover a brief introduction to film. We will be introduced to some of the key elements of film making in order to help us better understand and analyze the films that we will be watching over the course of the semester. The second module uses Ninian Smart’s Seven Dimensions of Religion as the basis to explore various world religions as they are portrayed in specific films. The third module will focus on student film critique presentations and film wiki project.


    Course Discussions

    Discussions are an open communications tool for students to share their thoughts. Here you can post text, images, links and attachments, open for comments.

    There will be eight discussion topics. The topics will be posted on "Discussion Topics" folder in the Course Content. Students must post well thought-out comments based on the required work throughout the semester. Participation is required and represents 10% of your final grade. Both the quantity and the quality of your posts will contribute to your grade. All students are required to participate in all the eight topics (at least 200 words). Discussion must be posted during the period they are assigned and are due by noon on the Monday after the end of the lesson.

    Once you have composed your original posting, take some time to carefully review other postings within your discussion group. Pick two that are most interesting to you and provide meaningful, detailed, and constructive feedback.

    Keep in mind that your discussion postings will likely be seen by other members of the course. Care should be taken when determining what to post


    Journal

    A Journal reflection will be due at the end of each lesson, which will only be seen by you and the professor. These reflections will only be graded that they were completed, but not for content. This will provide an opportunity for students to interact privately with the professor in regards to the course content feel free to share your personal views on the film and how it affect your life. Journals may be a short paragraph, but must be turned in on time to receive credit. Altogether, the journal entries will be worth 9% of your overall grade.

    Quizzes

    There will be fully online quizzes covering each lesson. Your quiz scores will be averaged together for a final quiz score worth 20% of your final grade. All quizzes consist of 10 multiple-choice questions, and each question will be worth 10 points. A quiz will be available from Tuesday 12:00 am till Monday 11:59pm. Once you open a quiz, you will have 20 minutes to complete and submit it. You will have two attempts to take a quiz. The highest score will be counted.

    In order to mitigate any issues with your computer and online assessments, it is very important that you take the "Practice Quiz" from each computer you will be using to take your graded quizzes and exams. It is your responsibility to make sure your computer meets the minimum hardware requirements.

    Assessments in this course are not compatible with mobile devices and should not be taken through a mobile phone or a tablet. If you need further assistance please contact FIU Online Support Services.


    Exams

    There will be one cumulative exam based on the readings and materials covered throughout the course. The exam will be worth 20% of your final grade. The exam consists of multiple choice and true/false questions worth 2 points each. Exams will be available for one week from 12:00am to 11:59pm. Once you open an exam, you will have 100 minutes to complete and submit it.

    In order to mitigate any issues with your computer and online assessments, it is very important that you take the "Practice Quiz" from each computer you will be using to take your graded quizzes and exams. It is your responsibility to make sure your computer meets the minimum hardware requirements.

    Assessments in this course are not compatible with mobile devices and should not be taken through a mobile phone or a tablet. If you need further assistance please contact FIU Online Support Services.


    Capstone Essay

    Throughout the course of the semester you have learned about the basic dimensions of religion, and how they manifest in various world traditions. We have explored and enhanced this knowledge through the use of film. For your capstone essay, you will write a film analysis that emphasizes the Religious Studies theory that we focused on in class. You will choose your own film with religious content, and then analyze it using the theories and ideas covered in class and present it in a traditional film review. You may also add additional methods of film criticism if you desire.  Before writing, you should familiarize yourself with the suggested resources on how to write a film review, but remember our analysis will emphasize the seven dimensions of religion. 

    This essay ought to thoughtfully reflect your learning throughout the semester. Remember to use examples from the film and citations to support your ideas. 

    Each essay will be between 1500 to 2000 words long and will be worth 25% of your grade. This is a formal academic essay, and students must cite their sources. MLA is the preferred citation style in Religious Studies. Do not present other people’s film reviews as your own.  

    This paper will require 2 submissions. After your initial submission, the professor will provide feedback through Turnitin's grading/feedback features. Please review these comments before submitting your final draft.

    If you have questions regarding how to cite or what to cite, ask me BEFORE you submit your essay. If you turn in your paper and you "accidentally" plagiarize parts of your essay, you will fail the assignment & be reported to the dept. It is better to be safe than sorry! To reiterate, ask me before the due date if you are unsure about how to cite your sources.

    How to Write an Analytical Essay
    http://www.mdc.edu/wolfson/academic/artsletters/art_philosophy/humanities/how_to_write_an_analytical_essay.htm

    From Notes to Essay:  Writing a Film Analysis (From A Short Guide to Writing about Film)
    http://www.westga.edu/~scarter/From_notes_to_filmessay.htm

    Review the detailed Turnitin Instructions on how to submit your assignments and how to review the Grademark comments (feedback) from your professor.


    Individual Wiki page

    After you have written your analysis, you will also create your own wiki page for your film.  This wiki will be part of an ongoing Religion & Film Wiki project that your class will start.  You will make a public page presenting your analysis of the film and applying the Religious Studies concepts, as well as presenting other relevant, important information. This assignment is worth 15% of your overall grade. 

    You may research other wikis, but you must write and create your own page. Please see the sample wiki in module 3 content area. 

    Other Resources:

    Wiki How to Write A Movie Review
    http://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Movie-Review

    Seven Tips for Writing a Film Review
    http://www.dailywritingtips.com/7-tips-for-writing-a-film-review/

    How to Write A Film Analysis Essay
    http://classroom.synonym.com/write-film-analysis-essay-4125.html

    Film Analysis Critique Guidelines: 
    http://ohsfilmanalysis.blogspot.com/p/critique-guidelines.html

    Wikipedia Film Criticism
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_criticism

    *** Critic’s Corner: A Guide to Film Critique by Philip C. Congleton
    http://www.mecfilms.com/critic1.htm


    Course Requirements

    In addition to the completion of writing assignments, blogs, quizzes, and exams, a key requirement for successful completion of this course will be an open mind. Students are expected to exhibit respect to all religious traditions and peoples at all times. Thus, disrespectful or derisive commentary will not be tolerated in this course. Religion is, after all, a very personal and sensitive subject for many.

    On the other hand, class participants can expect academic freedom to express their views. Although religion can be personal, this is an academic course taken for college credit and thus students are expected to examine the topics rigorously. Religion shall not be exempt from the scrutiny placed on any and all academic subjects.


    Skype

    In this course we will use a free, online web tool, termed skype in order to schedule online meetings between students and Professor Weston.

    With Skype, you can share a story, celebrate a birthday, learn a language, hold a meeting, work with colleagues – just about anything you need to do together every day. You can use Skype on whatever works best for you - on your phone or computer or a TV with Skype on it. It is free to start using Skype - to speak, see and instant message other people on Skype for example. You can even try out group video, with the latest version of Skype.

    Please select the following weblinks for assistance with navigating and utilizing Skype:


    Protocol for Technical Issues

    If you have any technical problems,

    1. Contact Cavnas tech support to file a report, and
    2. Contact me by email to let me know what is going on.

    If you are having technical problems and an assignment is due,

    1. E-mail me a copy of the assignment, so it is on time, and
    2. Contact tech support.

    Grading 
    Course Requirements Number of Items Weight
    Introduce Yourself Video Blog 1 1%
    Journal 8 9%
    Blogs 8 10%
    Individual Film Wiki 1 15%
    Capstone Essay (2 submissions: Part I and Final Draft) 2 25%
    Quizzes 8 20%
    Exam 1 20%
    Total 25 100%

    Letter Range (%) Letter Range (%) Letter Range (%)
    A 95 or above B 83 - 86 C 70 - 76
    A- 90 - 94 B- 80 - 82 D 60 - 69
    B+ 87 - 89 C+ 77 - 79 F 59 or less

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Course Summary:

Date Details Due