Writing Course Review Form (5/4/09)
I. General Education Review – Writing Course
Dept/Program
Course # (i.e. ENEX ANTH 326
Anthropology
Subject
200)
Course Title
Religious Belief Systems
II. Endorsement/Approvals
Complete the form and obtain signatures before submitting to Faculty Senate Office.
Please type / print name Signature
Date
Instructor
G.G. Weix
Phone / Email
GG.Weix@mso.umt.edu
243-6319
Program Chair
John Douglas
III Overview of the Course Purpose/ Description: Provides an introduction to the subject
matter and explains course content and learning goals.
The course, ANTH 326: Religious Belief Systems has been taught since the 1960s, and was
designated a writing course until 2000. (The previous instructor, Katherine Weist, asked that
the designation be removed in 1999 because the enrollment climbed to almost 100, and she
could no longer grade research papers assigned as a final assessment.) The course was taught
by several adjunct instructors until 2003, when I began teaching it (alternate years) to
enrollments of 70-95 students. Recently, the course was advertised as a W course (autumn
2010) and I am currently teaching it as such, even though the course has not been reviewed by
the Writing Committee. Therefore, I am applying for permanent designation for the course
under its new “Common Course Number” ANTY 336, so that students taking the course from
this semester forward are fulfilling the same general education requirements when they
complete the new course beginning in 2012.
As the course is currently taught, and proposed for the future, ANTY 336 will require students
to write three in-class essay exams (two midterms and a final), as well as a 6-8 page essay on a
monograph of their choice from a list on the syllabus. The in class writing time of 4 hours
should produce approximately 8-10 pages of writing, and together with the take home essay,
comprise 16 pages of writing. The 6-8 essay will be submitted in the twelfth week, and
returned to the student with comments for revision and resubmission at the end of the course.
IV Learning Outcomes: Explain how each of the following learning outcomes will be achieved.
Student learning outcomes :
Use writing to learn and synthesize
new concepts
Informed by class readings, lectures, and discussions,
students work toward a deeper understanding of
religious pluralism through a sequence of three in
class essay exams and a take-home written final exam
that require reflection upon the texts and concepts of
the course.
V. Writing Course Requirements Check list
X Yes  No
X Yes  No
X Yes  No
X Yes  No
Students are required to summarize, compare, analyze
and assess the views of different authors on the central
topics covered in the course. Through in-class
discussion and instructor review of student exams
writing assignments, students learn how to write
descriptive, analytic, interpretative and evaluative
essays in a variety of difficult topics in the study of
religious beliefs.
X Yes  No
Formulate and express
opinions and ideas in writing
Compose written documents
that are appropriate for a
given audience or purpose
Revise written work based
on constructive comments
from the instructor
Find, evaluate, and use
information effectively (see
http://www.lib.umt.edu/infor
mationliteracy/)
Begin to use disciplinespecific writing conventions
VI. Writing Assignments: Please describe course assignments. Stu
individually compose at least 16 pages of writing for assessment. At lea
should be based on students’ performance on writing assignments. Clea
accuracy of content are considered an integral part of the grade on any w
Writing assignments are designed to encourage students to clearly
articulate abstract theoretical views, to analyze and assess
arguments put forth by authors, and to argue effectively in favor of
one theoretical position over another.
Essay exams encourage students to construct coherent essays
appropriate for a generalist audience and serve the purposes of
cultural interpretation and intellectual inquiry.
The final writing assignment offers an opportunity for revision
based upon comments and feedback from the instructor.
The one-hour information literacy session in the Mansfield
Library is available to students who need refresher course, but this
course builds upon those information literacy skills through the
final writing assignment that reinforce library and online research
skills, academic integrity and appropriate citation of sources.
Students receive instruction and are expected to practice the Social
Science citation style in all writing assignments for this course.
They also learn how to use quotations effectively to advance an
argument.
Papers are graded for compositional skill as well as content, and
instructors will comment on students’ grammar, punctuation,
diction, and logical coherence.
V. Writing Course Requirements Check list
X Yes  No
Is enrollment capped at 25 students?
If not, list maximum course enrollment.
Explain how outcomes will be adequately met
for this number of students. Justify the request
for variance.
X Yes  No
Are outcomes listed in the course syllabus? If
not, how will students be informed of course
expectations?
Are expectations for Information Literacy listed in
X Yes  No
the course syllabus? If not, how will students be
informed of course expectations?
Are detailed requirements for all written
X Yes  No
assignments included in the course syllabus? If not
how and when will students be informed of written
assignments? Please attach one example of
instructions for written assignment.
What instructional methods will be used to teach
Students will be expected to write for
students to write for specific audiences, purposes,
general audiences.
and genres?
Which written assignments will include revision in Yes, the final essay on a specific
response to instructor’s feedback?
monograph will be handed in during the
twelfth week, returned with comments in
the thirteenth week, and handed in
revised for evaluation at the end of the
course.
VI. Writing Assignments: Please describe course assignments. Students should be required to
individually compose at least 16 pages of writing for assessment. At least 50% of the course grade
should be based on students’ performance on writing assignments. Clear expression, quality, and
accuracy of content are considered an integral part of the grade on any writing assignment.
Formal Graded Assignments
Two in class essay midterm exams, with
questions handed out in advance. One
take home essay assignment on a
monograph, which is handed in for
revision and resubmission for a grade.
Informal Ungraded Assignments
Numerous inclass paragraph
assignments in response to readings,
ungraded.
VII. Syllabus: Paste syllabus below or attach and send digital copy with form.  The syllabus
should clearly describe how the above criteria are satisfied. For assistance on syllabus preparation
see: http://teaching.berkeley.edu/bgd/syllabus.html
Demonstrate appropriate
English language usage
ANTHROPOLOGY 326: RELIGIOUS BELIEF SYSTEMS
AUTUMN 2010
DAYS: Thursday
TIME: 12:10-2:40 p.m.
INSTRUCTOR: G.G. Weix
PHONE: 243-6319
E-MAIL: GG.Weix@mso.umt.edu
ROOM: Forestry 305
OFFICE: Social Sciences 223
OFFICE HOURS: MWF 2:00-3:30 p.m.
and by appointment
COURSE DESCRIPTION
“The study of concepts of the supernatural in non-literate societies.”
The comparative study of religion is intertwined with anthropology, in part, because religious belief systems
constitute a universal in human societies. Whereas the academic field of Religious Studies highlights the textual
traditions of world religions (“Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Judaism and Christianity) more recently historians have
characterized those world religions as different, even ‘clashing’ civilizations. In contrast, anthropologists view all
religion as social institution, and a cultural system to be studied empirically in comparative and historical
perspective. While other scholars link religion to texts, anthropologists study the broader phenomenon of the
supernatural in ‘non-literate’ societies, those whose scale, worldviews, and practices has often proven inherently
fragile in the face of cultural contact, as it expands world religions through proselytism, colonialism, and
contemporary capitalism to those ethnic minorities and tribal peoples in indigenous societies throughout the world.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
1. Students will appreciate the diversity and richness of religious belief systems across societies.
2. Students will investigate anthropological approaches to the study of myth, ritual and religion.
3. Students will fulfill requirements of an upper division writing course for general education (see below) .
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Readings: The required textbook is Moro and Myers, Magic, Witchcraft and Religion, a collection of articles on
various topics. There are optional monographs on reserve at the Mansfield Library. Students must read the
textbook and one monograph of their choice.
Grading Scale: Exams - 100-90=A, 89-80=B, 79-70=C, 69-60=D, 59-0=F;
Course - 400-360=A, 359-320=B, 319-280=C, 279-240=D, 239-0=F.
In all writing assignments, Students are required to summarize, compare, analyze and assess the
views of different authors on the central topics covered in the course. Through in-class discussion
and instructor review of student exams writing assignments, students learn how to write descriptive,
analytic, interpretative and evaluative essays in a variety of difficult topics in the study of religious
beliefs.
Writing assignments are designed to encourage students to clearly articulate abstract theoretical
views, to analyze and assess arguments put forth by authors, and to argue effectively in favor of one
theoretical position over another.
Essay exams encourage students to construct coherent essays appropriate for a generalist audience
and serve the purposes of cultural interpretation and intellectual inquiry.
The final writing assignment offers an opportunity for revision based upon comments and feedback
from the instructor.
The one-hour information literacy session in the Mansfield Library is available to students who
need refresher course, but this course builds upon those information literacy skills through the final
writing assignment that reinforce library and online research skills, academic integrity and
appropriate citation of sources.
Students receive instruction and are expected to practice the Social Science citation style in all
writing assignments for this course. They also learn how to use quotations effectively to advance
an argument.
Attendance: Students are expected to attend all classes, and are personally responsible for all material covered in
class. Essay exams cover both readings and classroom presentations. Students are expected to take exams on the
scheduled date listed in the syllabus.
Make-up exams must be requested by noon on the day of the exam. A make up exam must be taken within one
week following the exam date.* It is the student’s responsibility to contact the instructor to arrange a make up
exam and to document the reason for the absence.
Academic Honesty: The University of Montana expects students to be honest in all academic matters. Cheating
and plagiarism are serious offences carrying penalties under the student code. Consult “Academic Policies and
Procedures” of the 2010-11 Academic Catalog.Accommodation will be arranged for documented cases of
need. Please inform the instructor the first week of classes, and appropriate accommodations will be
made for lecture and exams.
Course Outline
WEEK 1
READINGS:
WEEK 2
READINGS:
INTRODUCTION: CONCEPTS AND THEORETICAL APPROACHES
CHAPTER 1 “THE ANTHROPOLOGICAL STUDY OF RELIGION”
COSMOLOGY, ORIGINS AND CREATION
CHAPTER 2 “MYTH, SYMBOLISM AND TABOO”
SEPTEMBER 2
SEPTEMBER 9
WEEK 3
READINGS:
SYMBOLIC CLASSIFICATION, TOTEM AND TABOO
CHAPTER 3 “RITUAL”
WEEK 4
READINGS:
MYTH AND RITUAL
SEPTEMBER 23
CHAPTER 5 “ALTERED STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESS AND RITUAL USE OF DRUGS”
FIRST EXAM: SEPT. 23
WEEK 5
READINGS:
SHAMANS AND PRIESTS
CHAPTER 4 “SHAMANS AND PRIESTS”
WEEK 6
READINGS:
MAGIC, TRANCE AND DIVINATION
CHAPTER 7 “WITCHCRAFT, SORCERY…”
OCTOBER 7
WEEK 7
READINGS:
WITCHCRAFT AND SORCERY
CHAPTER 7 CONTINUED “DIVINATION AND MAGIC”
OCTOBER 14
WEEK 8
READINGS:
HEALTH , HEALING, SEXUALITY AND FERTILITY
OCTOBER 21
CHAPTER 6 “ETHNOMEDICINE: RELIGION AND HEALING”
SECOND EXAM: OCTOBER 21
WEEK 9
READINGS:
DEATH AND BURIAL
CHAPTER 8 “GHOSTS, SOULS, AND ANCESTORS…”
OCTOBER 28
WEEK 10
READINGS:
WEEK 11
ANCESTORS, GHOSTS AND SPIRITS
CHAPTER 8 CONTINUED “POWERS OF THE DEAD”
No Class
NOVEMBER 4
WEEK 12
READINGS:
WEEK 13
WEEK 14
READINGS:
SEPTEMBER 16
NOVEMBER 11
HOLIDAY
PILGRIMAGE
NOVEMBER 18
CHAPTER 9 “OLD AND NEW RELIGIONS: CHANGING SPIRITUAL LANDSCAPE”
THIRD EXAM: NOVEMBER 18
No Class
NOVEMBER 25
CARGO CULTS
CHAPTER 10: “RELIGION AS GLOBAL CULTURE: MIGRATION, MEDIA,
HOLIDAY
DECEMBER 2
TRANSNATIONAL FORCES”
WEEK 15
READINGS:
CONTEMPORARY ISSUES
DISCUSSION OF MONOGRAPHS
DECEMBER 9
FINAL EXAM: DECEMBER 17