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The guided reflections are an opportunity to reflect on the significance of several practices described in assigned readings, and to explore connections between those practices and a daily practice you create for yourself. Write as if you were articulating your thoughts not just for your own reflection or for me to assess, but also to provide explanations for a peer (vs. a specialist) who is unfamiliar with the topic.
The guided reflections are basically forms that you fill out; what you write will be more reflective than for a paper proving a particular point, and you will not be penalized for minor grammatical errors. But your responses to the prompts on this should be neatly written or typed, and revised to ensure that everything you say is clear.
The sequence and due dates of these assignments are as follows, with links to the more detailed instructions listed further below.
| Due
Dates |
Assignments |
| February 19 |
turn
in daily
practice text |
| March 10 |
written
assessment
of practice text after
this date |
March 5 |
email selection for first guided reflection |
| March
10 |
first guided reflection (India) |
| April
14 |
second guided reflection (China) |
| May
14 |
final
reflection (Comparison) |
| May
4-15 |
oral assessment
of practice text |
This assignment is designed to get you to experience for yourself what it is like to recite by heart, at the same time and place each day and connected to some type of action, a set of words that is important to you. You will need to refer to some such experience in step # 3 of each journal reflection (see below).
Instructions:
1. Select a passage of written text that takes at least 30 and no more than 90 seconds to recite, which helps you think about your place in the world, or your relationship to some greater reality, or is in some other way significantly meaningful to you--SOMETHING THAT YOU WILL BE WILLING TO LOOK AT EVERY DAY. [read more... ]
2. Find a set time every day when you are able to recite your chosen passage (twice each time if it is short)
keeping the same time each day as much as possible. Then:
(a) Choose a particular position and, if possible, a particular place in which to recite your text, and assume that position every time. [read more...]
(b) When you've decided when, where, and how you wish to recite, add some action before, during, and/or after your recite. [read more...]
(c) To begin
with you may read your passage, but after a week or so you should make a
specific effort to memorize it to whatever extent you
haven't already done so.
(d) As
you do this daily, pay attention to what happens to your thoughts
and mood when you recite it and perform the accompanying action(s).
Assessment: Text of Passage DUE beginning of class Thursday, February 19
Memorization
of your chosen practice text will be assessed first in writing during the
term, sometime after unit 1 (March 12), and then orally at the end (see
schedule above).
More importantly, you will use this practice as a reference point in
each of the reflections described below.
Extra Credit: if you choose a text that is composed in a classical language--i.e., Latin, Classical Greek, Hebrew, Sanskrit, Classical Chinese, etc.--you will receive up to 5 extra points (depending on your success) for your overall score.
Guided Reflections (Units 1 & 2)
Intended Audience:
Think of each guided reflection as a simulated conversation between yourself and an American peer who is keenly interested in Asian culture, but who has not studied it in an academic context. Such a person wants to hear about (1) some specific example of what real people in Asian cultures actually do--their art forms, rituals and customs. Yet (s)he is also interested in (2) what those people think and say about the unseen powers and forces that they relate to what they do, and the social context for their individual actions. Finally, the most interested of such conversation partners will want to understand (3) not only contrasts but also similarities between their own American cultural context and those you have studied in the course. The Guided Reflection form prompts you to think about what would be involved in carrying out such a conversation; while the steps are clearly laid out by the form, the thinking process required is the most challenging task you will undertake for this course.
Choose one of the Asian art forms, rituals, or customs (all broadly referred to as "practices") listed below for the relevant unit. Make sure that
Ideally, finally, the Asian art form, ritual, or custom you choose should also have something in common with your own daily practice, although that Asian practice will most likely also be quite different from what you are doing each day. [read more...]
Once you have chosen your story, complete all three parts of the Guided Reflection form available for download (PDF/MS Word), which asks you to relate the details of your chosen activity to three of the terms listed below with each choice, as well as to your daily practice. As specified on the form, you must also create a diagram, doodle, or concept map that in some way illustrates the three-way comparison presented in your written responses. [read more...]
[View sample reflection (on-line/download)]
Important Warning:
As noted in the syllabus, I will generally elect severe penalties for academic dishonesty (which in journal reflections usually involves inclusion of material from uncited sources): a zero score for the assignment, and failing the course for a second offense. You are responsible for reading my comments regarding the importance of academic honesty, and my no-tolerance policy for incidents of dishonesty, in FAQ, #10-13; as well as for requesting clarification if there is anything you do not understand.
**IN CASE OF LOSS, KEEP TWO (2) ELECTRONIC COPIES **
Note also point values, late policy & style/format
Extra Credit: up to five points of extra credit may be given for any reflection that indicates thorough reading of one of the optional primary sources listed in the schedule for the corresponding sub-unit. Make sure to hand-write "PLEASE CONSIDER FOR EXTRA CREDIT" at the top of your paper if you wish you reflection to be considered.
Asian Practices & Related Terms
Practices listed below are grouped in two clusters in order to distinguish between (a) familiar sources and (b) optional sources that interested students may wish to explore. The first cluster of familiar sources identifies practices described in (a) readings discussed in detail in preparing for the RATs and during team assignments. I generally expect a greater degree of precision in the responses of a guided reflection that focuses on one of these practices, since I have provided clear guidance on what is important. The second cluster of optional sources lists practices that require exploring (b) new primary sources and EB articles. I generally am more flexible in scoring a guided reflection that focuses on one of these practices, and will award up to five points of extra credit for the additional reading required to complete the assignment.
The terms listed in parentheses following each practice are those assigned for discussion in the second part of the guided reflection form (download PDF/MS Word for Units 1 & 2). Terms listed before the "||" mark relate to the awareness of/reflection about/trust in the unseen, while those that follow the mark relate to the community dimension of culture.
Unit 1
Unit 2
Unit 3
Intended Audience:
As you approach the end of your term in this course, the conversation partner hypothetically addressed in your first two guided reflections wants to know: Is Asian culture an irresolvable diversity, or are there unifying cultural threads binding all of Asia together? And what about Asian culture outside of India and China? And what are the most important differences and/or similarities between the different Asian cultures you've been telling me about?
The Final Reflection form guides you through the in-depth process of examples from two different parts of the course and comparing them, using the same structure as in the first two reflections. Once again, the steps are clearly laid out by the form, but the thinking process required for this final assignment is even more challenging than before
Rather than focusing on a single Asian art forms, rituals, or customs (i.e, "practices"), for this assignment you should choose two similar or contrasting Asian practices: one from Unit 3 (chosen from the list below) and the other from either Unit 1 or 2 (chosen from one of the earlier lists). The practice from Unit 1 or 2 can be the one that you already considered in an earlier reflection, or it can be something new. As before, make sure that
Ideally, finally, the Asian art form, ritual, or custom you choose should also have something in common with your own daily practice, although that Asian practice will most likely also be quite different from what you are doing each day. [read more...]
Once you have chosen your story, complete all three parts of the "Guided Reflection " form available for download (PDF/MS Word), which asks you to relate the details of the two similar or contrasting practices to 1-3 terms listed above with each choice--a total of 3 terms--as well as to your daily practice. As specified on the form, you must also create a diagram, doodle, or concept map that in some way illustrates the three-way comparison presented in your written responses. [read more...]
Important Reminder:
As noted previously, I will generally elect severe penalties for academic dishonesty, which in journal reflections usually involves inclusion of material from uncited sources: a zero score for the assignment, and failing the course for a second offense. You are responsible for reading my comments regarding the importance of academic honesty, and my no-tolerance policy for incidents of dishonesty, in FAQ, #10-13; as well as for requesting clarification if there is anything you do not understand.
**IN CASE OF LOSS, KEEP TWO (2) ELECTRONIC COPIES **
Review also point values, late policy & style/format
Extra Credit: as before up to five points of extra credit may be given for any reflection that reflects thorough reading of one of the optional primary sources; again hand-write "PLEASE CONSIDER FOR EXTRA CREDIT" at the top to have your reflection considered.
If you have scored at least a 90 on both of your previous journal reflections, you may choose to write a more creative paper instead of the final reflection. Whatever form this final paper takes, it should still include (like the final reflection described above):
Please observe the same length, format requirements, and deadline outlined above for the final reflection.
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