Requirements and Objectives
BOOKS
Students are required to purchase the following books. You can find them at the UCSD bookstore. Or click on each title to find it at amazon.com.
Please refer to the schedule of readings and lectures for the specific reading assigned to each class meeting.
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ISBN: 1851686266 The Buddha by John Strong |
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ISBN: 4333016827 A Life of the Buddha by Sherab Chodzin Kohn |
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ISBN: 0812975235 Basic Teachings of the Buddha by Glenn Wallis |
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ISBN: 0271006013 The Holy Teaching of Vimalakirti by Robert Thurman |
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ISBN: 0231156693 The Splendid Vision: Reading a Buddhist Sutra by Richard Cohen |
● You also will also be required to download, print, and read a number of articles available online in PDF format. Online readings are available at this ~link~
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Students who take this course should gain the following understanding and skills: 1) To explain the tenets of Buddhism in India, demonstrating familiarity with Buddhism’s native vocabulary, as well as sensitivity to the ways in which its fundamental doctrines change over time. 2) To consider the major questions that confront us as human beings – life, death, love, violence, suffering, and meaning – as addressed by Buddhism. 3) To read Buddhist primary sources in a nuanced manner, sensitive to factors of time, geography, and socio-cultural context. 4) To write accurate and incisive academic essays using primary sources.
GRADING CRITERIA
Attendance and Participation.
Class attendance, preparation, and participation are extremely important elements of this course. I will take attendance every day, and more than two absences throughout the term will begin to lower this portion of your grade. In addition, you are expected to do the readings carefully and be ready to discuss them in class, participate in classroom discussion on a regular and consistent basis.
Class attendance, preparation, and participation are worth 10% of the final grade. To pass the course, you must complete all assigned work in a timely fashion.
Papers and Tests.
You will be required to write two papers and take a final exam. The individual assignments will be explained in a timely manner during the quarter. Papers must be submitted using both a paper copy and through turnitin.com. This too will be explained later.
Make-up Policy.
Late assignments will be accepted only with a documented excuse, or at my discretion. If you think you are going to have trouble turning an assignment in on time, please come and talk to me beforehand. I will often grant extensions for good reasons, but I appreciate the courtesy of being requested for such an extension before the assignment is actually due. I reserve the right to refuse an assignment that is excessively late or has been turned in late without my prior approval.
Special Needs.
If you have a learning disability or any other condition that would require accommodation on my part, or if you will need to miss any classes in order to observe a religious holiday, please come see me as soon as possible.
Academic Integrity.
University policy also requires me to report all cases of suspected plagiarism to the Office of Academic Integrity. You are responsible for understanding what constitutes plagiarism, and for avoiding it: “I didn’t know…” is not an acceptable excuse. If you are unsure how plagiarism is defined, please check ~here~ for guidance.
Students should note that all course requirements are subject to revision at the instructor’s discretion.
SUMMARY OF GRADING
| Paper 1, 5-6 pages | 30% | Friday, February 17 |
| Paper 2, 5-6 pages | 40% | Friday, March 16 |
| Final Exam | 20% | Monday, March 19. 11:30-12:30 |
| Attendance and participation | 10% | always |