Projects
Discussion and Blogging
Each week three class members will be responsible for stimulating and leading discussion. Those individuals should post some discussion prompts to the blog by the Friday preceding their class. The other members of the class should comment on at least one of the blog postings. These activities will prime the pump for our class conversations. The blog should be a place for our work together to extend beyond the classroom.
Book Reviews
The book review essays should be no longer than 4 pages, double-spaced, and should take into account the scholarship, perspective and analytical content of one of the texts read since the last review was due. Each review should include a brief summary of the work, but should mainly consist of a critique of the book.
Project Proposal
Length: 8-10 Pages
In this assignment, you will create a proposal for a project of your choosing dealing with religion in the United States after 1865. The sections of the proposal will include an Abstract, Background, Goals and Objectives, Design and Methodology, Potential Significance, and a Review of Key Literature.
Abstract: 100 word overview of your project.
Background: This should provide a brief overview of the research, placing it in the context of previous research in the field, identifying deficiencies in understanding that logically compliment the objectives.
Goals and Objectives: This should explain the outcomes of the project.
Design and Methodology: This should explain the means for fulfilling the outcomes of the project, including the major organizational scheme.
Potential Significance of the Research: This should answer the \"So What?\" question. What new important knowledge will be obtained; what substantive questions will be answered; what in the larger context will be the contribution to the field?
Review of Key Literature (not counted in the total number of pages): This is an annotated bibliography that presents the major related works in the field. Annotations should include a summary of the work and it\'s findings, as well as evaluation of the relevance of that work for the project. Annotations should be no longer than 200 words.