Course Syllabus/Description, Spring '09

Here's the official course description:

http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=df8n9qbt_46hdpb6zg2

Calendar and Assignments, Spring 2009

Theoretically, we won't have natural or other disasters to contend with this semester. Here's the calendar of work and reading due, subject always to adjustments based on circumstances.

http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=df8n9qbt_234gfgkcjf5

Eid Mubarak!--A blessed Eid!

Muslims celebrate today the holy day of Eid al Adha, which evokes the call of Allah to the patriarch Abraham to sacrifice his beloved son. The Chronicle has a nice photo album of the celebrations here in the Houston area and around the world.

Among the Chronicle's reader blogs is an Islamic faith-oriented column by Ruth Nasrallah. In today's installment she has numerous informational links about this day of remembrance and commitment.

For Class #12, 12/1/08

A very simple agenda tonight:

1. Book project reviews/reports.

• If you haven't e-mailed your report yet, please do so before class time. As of 11:20 AM, there are still a number of reports outstanding. Thanks.

2. Brief Exam orientation.

3. Course survey.

Toward resolving your karmas--friendly advice from the Dalai Lama.

In a very recent comment that, for some reason, has gotten little media play, His Holiness the Dalai Lama made some significant remarks about relationships. Of course, they might be considered a little bit counter-cultural. That doesn't make them unwise, just challenging.

For Class #11, 11/24/08:

1. Rosters, etc.

• Calendar check: http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=df8n9qbt_234gfgkcjf5
• Graded movie papers on their way back to Victoria as of this afternoon. May be there tomorrow (?). If you want to know your grade sooner (out of 30 possible points), e-mail me.
• Here is the grading scheme:
• CHOP--
• Clarity of expression, 8 points;
• Homework on the topic, 8 points;
• Originality of your thinking, 8 points;
• Presentation (mechanics), 6 points.
• (When I went to reform school, that added to 30. If your paper has a LOT of my scribbling on it, it's probably the Presentation component that suffered the most.)
• Last-chance questions about book project. Have you sent me your choice of topic?

2. Japan's history and the culture of Shinto:

• http://docs.google.com/Presentation?id=df8n9qbt_143cmnmhth9

Background information on the internet (Japan):

• http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=df8n9qbt_159cmzmnvgr

3. Maps of Southeast Asia:

• http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=df8n9qbt_162hr9jpncb

Outline of SE Asia's history:

• http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=df8n9qbt_161fcrbmkg6

4. For next week, 12/1:

• Presentations, summary, exam prep, and student evaluation.

For Class #10, 11/17/08:

1. Calendar and announcements:

• There WILL be class next week, 11/24. Please e-mail me if you will not be present.
• Calendar/assignments: http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=df8n9qbt_234gfgkcjf5
• Questions about book project. Have you sent me your choice of topic?

2. Review of Confucianism and Confucian literature (Novak):

• http://docs.google.com/Presentation?id=df8n9qbt_110c4dcffhf

3. Taoism presentation:

• http://docs.google.com/Presentation?id=df8n9qbt_120g7r5tvgd

4. As time permits, Taoist literature (Novak).

5. Next week: Japan's history and the culture of Shinto.