GORDON COLLEGE

A Unit of the University System of Georgia

Colloquium 2991 — Spring 2024

World Religions via Desire2Learn

 


 

I.

INSTRUCTOR: 
Dr. Caesar Perkowski

 
II. INSTRUCTOR EMAIL:
Email: cperkowski@gordonstate.edu
 

III.

COURSE DESCRIPTION: 
Introduction to the academic study of the world’s major religious traditions, including their beliefs, practices, sacred texts and moral codes. Religions to be examined may include Buddhism, Hinduism, Confucianism, Taoism, Shinto, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Native American traditions and African religions.
 CONTENT DISCLAIMER:

This course will utilize and analyze materials intended for mature audiences. Please be advised.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
Students will demonstrate the ability to utilize a combination of the composition and research skills taught in English 1101 and 1102 in order to create a document that meets institutional criteria for successful critical thinking as measured by the Facione & Facione scale. 

TIME COMMITMENT:
This course requires the online equivalent of approximately 400 minutes of instruction and an additional 1,400 minutes of supporting activities.

ATTENDANCE VERIFICATION:
Students are required to complete an introductory discussion forum in D2L as part of attendance verification. Students must login to D2L during the first week of instruction.

 

IV.

PREREQUISITES:  
None.

 

V.

 

 CAMPUS MEETINGS: 
There will be no mandatory meetings on campus.
One assessment will be proctored online (TBA).
Online orientation will be posted in D2L.
 

VI.

 

TEXTBOOKS:    

Required: Religion in 5 Minutes by Hughes and McCutcheon.   
 

VII.

 

EVALUATION: 
The above objectives will be demonstrated by essays, speeches, tests or oral responses. In addition to being evaluated by the instructor, students will have the opportunity at the end of the semester to evaluate the course and the instructor.

 

VIII.

 

GRADING: 

The weight of the assignments is distributed as follows:

Weekly readings

90%

Final exam

10%

All the grades will be posted in Desire2Learn.

The following grading scale is applied:

A

90-100

B

80-89

C

70-79

D

60-69

F

0-59

All assignments will be graded with detailed comments in D2L.
Correctly completed assignments that barely meet the minimum word requirement can earn only a minimum passing grade. Going above and beyond the minimum raises the grade.

 

IX.

 

ASSIGNMENT SUBMISSION POLICY: 
All major assignments must be turned in by 11:59pm EST on the day due through the D2L Brightspace assignments dropbox. Submissions without the mandatory word count will earn no credit. In case you encounter issues with D2L, email me your assignment before the deadline. Recognized worldwide as the standard in Plagiarism Prevention, turnitin.com instantly identifies papers containing unoriginal material and acts as a powerful deterrent to stop student plagiarism before it starts.

 

X. 

 

OFFICE INFORMATION:

Location:

Virtual

 
Phone: 678.359.5047  

Monday 0900-1100 (online)

Wednesday

0900-1100 (online)

Thursday

0900-1100 (online)

Friday   

0900-1100 (online)

and by appointment

                                         

 

XI.

 

COMMUNICATION:

Use ONLY your gordonstate.edu email when emailing me. Do not use the Desire2Learn email program to contact me. Please develop the habit of reading all the posts in the "Ask a Question" forum in Desire2Learn, since many very important issues will be discussed there. In addition, check your gordonstate.edu email often and regularly. I will use the gordonstate.edu email and the "Ask a Question" forum in Desire2Learn frequently to advise you of important information like syllabus and assignment changes, graded assignments, helpful examples and resources you can use toward the completion of your assignments. I will respond to your emails within 24 hours Monday through Friday.

When emailing me, please address me in a professional manner and indicate which course you are from.

Please read my emails and D2L announcements carefully because many important updates will be communicated this way. Do not send any attachments or links—plain text only (just copy/paste your work).

Things happen, naturally, but please do not present me with a problem and expect me to solve it. Instead of sending me comments about issues ending with a period (.), send me possible solutions to your dilemma ending with a question mark (?). Please take the responsibility for being proactive.
All Teams lectures are optional to attend but mandatory to review, since vital class information will be discussed therein.
 

XII.

 

MAKE-UP WORK POLICY: 
No late work will be accepted. All assignments are open on the first day of the semester. Students should give themselves plenty of leeway to submit their work on time in case of technical difficulties.

 

XIII.

 

 PLAGIARISM / AI: 
The penalty for plagiarism in any aspect of written work is a failing grade. An important note on plagiarism (click here).
Use of artificial intelligence (AI) or word mixing software to write your work or disguise plagiarized work is considered unauthorized assistance in this course. Submitting work generated by AI (e.g., ChatGPT, Gemini, Grammarly) or submitted previously for any assignment anywhere constitutes plagiarism as well.
 

XIV.

GSC REQUIRED SYLLABUS STATEMENTS: 
https://www.gordonstate.edu/documents/departments/academic-affairs/resources/syllabus-statements-required-and-optional---august-20211.pdf
 

XV.

 

 PRIVACY STATEMENT: 
Faculty are not liable for the content of students’ web pages; however faculty are responsible for review of student content periodically. Upon faculty request, students must immediately remove content deemed “offensive” according to Computer and Network Usage Policy, Individual Responsibility Section 4.1.3. Students who refuse to comply after being notified of the policy violation will be reported to the Vice President of Student Affairs Office and could be subject to College Judiciary action. The complete Gordon College Computer and Network Usage policy can be accessed at http://www.gordonstate.edu/departments/computerservices/computerusage.asp.
 

XVI.

 

WEEKLY SCHEDULE:

Colloquium 2991 Desire2Learn
Date

Assignments
02/01 Reading 01: Chapters 1, 2, 3, 5, 7
 Microsoft Teams session at 2pm on Tuesday
02/08 Reading 02: Chapters 25, 26, 27, 28, 30
 Microsoft Teams session at 2pm on Tuesday
02/15 Reading 03: Chapters 31, 32, 33, 34, 35
 Microsoft Teams session at 2pm on Tuesday
02/22 Reading 04: Chapters 9, 11, 12, 13, 15
 Microsoft Teams session at 2pm on Tuesday
02/29 Reading 05: Chapters 38, 39, 42, 44, 45
 Microsoft Teams session at 2pm on Tuesday
03/07 Reading 06: Chapters 17, 18, 20, 23, 24
 Microsoft Teams session at 2pm on Tuesday
03/14 Reading 07: Chapters 46, 47, 48, 50, 51
 Microsoft Teams session at 2pm on Tuesday
03/28 Reading 08: Chapters 52, 53, 54, 55, 56
 Microsoft Teams session at 2pm on Tuesday
04/04 Reading 09: Chapters 62, 64, 66, 68, 71
 Microsoft Teams session at 2pm on Tuesday
04/11 Reading 10: PDF (link) Paganism, Zoroastrianism, Sikhism, Taoism, Baha'i
Microsoft Teams session at 2pm on Tuesday
04/18 Reading 11: Chapters 57, 58, 59, 60, 61
 Microsoft Teams session at 2pm on Tuesday
04/25 Reading 12: Chapters 72, 74, 78, 80, 81
 Microsoft Teams session at 2pm on Tuesday
05/09 FINAL EXAM

I reserve the right to change assignments.

 

XVI.

 

 MINIMUM TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS:
a. Access to Desire2Learn via a computer or a tablet.
b. Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome (preferred browsers).
c. Frequent access to the GSC email account.
d. Word processing program (preferably Microsoft Word).
e. Adobe Acrobat Reader.
f. Various free programs (available through a tutorial in Desire2Learn and Computer Services page).
g. Access to a computer/tablet/phone with a camera and a microphone.
 

XVIII.

 

 STUDENT SUPPORT:
Many student support services are available from the following pages:
a. Student Life / Services page
b. Hightower Library
c. Computer Services
d. GSC Accessibility website: http://www.gordonstate.edu/studentslife/accessibility-services
e. If the students are having D2L trouble (such as they can’t login, can’t access content, can’t see their classes, etc., then students can either email  d2lhelp@gordonstate.edu and include their name, 929 number, course/section, and a description of the issue OR they can use the chat live feature inside of D2L on the“D2L Student Resources” widget  that allows them to text chat with a USG  representative.