Introduction to Buddhism

Syllabus

	Course Information
	Organization	Madison Area Technical College
	Course Number	20809278 #33922
	Credits	3
	Contact Hours	54
	Instructor	Rev. Dr. James Kenneth Powell II
	E-mail Address	jkpowellii@matcmadison.edu and jameskennethpowell@gmail.com (preferred)
	Course/Faculty Website	www.opensourcebuddhism.org
	Campus	Truax
	Address	3550 Anderson St.
	City/State/Zip	Madison, WI, 53704
	Office Hours	3-5 Wed/Thurs
	Office Phone	(608) 230-5240
	Beginning Date	08/27/2009
	Number of Weeks	14
	Meeting Times/Location	5:30-8:20 PM Thursdays Rm. 156 Truax
Description Focuses on Buddhism as a philosophy and the philosophies of diverse Asian cultures with which it engages from its Indian inception and original encounter with Hindu and Jain traditions to it's Chinese (including Japan et. al.) encounter with Daoism and Confucianism. Finally, Tibetan (including Mongolian et.al.) developments and development of Tantric tradition will be addressed along with the emergence of Buddhism in the West. This course will encompass not only intellectual but artistic, social and historical developments. Textbooks
Charles S. Prebish, Damien Keown. Buddhism the EBook: an Online Introduction. London: DK. . 2006. Edition: 3rd. Unit Price: $24.75 . Pages: 437. ISBN: 0-9747055-6-X ebook. Source: Journal of Buddhist Ethics, Online Books. http://www.jbeonlinebooks.org/eBooks/buddhism/
Herman Hesse. Siddhartha: an Indian Tale. http://www.gutenberg.org/files/2500/2500-8.txt at Project Gutenberg
Walpola Rahula: What the Buddha Taught http://quangduc.com/English/basic/68whatbuddhataught.html
Rev. Dr. James Kenneth Powell II. Supplementary Buddhism Online Reader and Documentary Archive. www.opensourcebuddhism.org. 2006. Edition: countless..... Unit Price: Free. Pages: N/A. ISBN: N/A. Source: The Open Source Buddhist Research Institute .

Core Abilities
A.	COMMUNICATION: Students are learning to communicate effectively when they: Acknowledge and respect different opinions and ideas 1.1 Read and apply knowledge and ideas for purposes such as information gathering, appreciation, and enjoyment. Write clearly, concisely, and accurately in a variety of contexts and formats 1.2 Write clearly, concisely, and accurately in a variety of contexts and formats 1.3 Speak clearly, concisely, and accurately in a variety of contexts and formats 1.4 Listen attentively with respect and an open mind
B.	CRITICAL THINKING Students develop critical thinking when they: 2.1. Understand and use effective strategies 2.2. Identify tasks 2.3. Evaluate information 2.4. Make decisions 2.5. Assess decisions
C.	GLOBAL AND CULTURAL PERSPECTIVES Students are developing global and cultural perspectives when they: 4.1 Exhibit knowledge of basic global literacy including: geography, history, and similarities and differences among cultures 4.2 Express sensitivity towards and respect for the complex range of experiences of diverse peoples including ethnicity, gender, social class, religion, nationality and age 4.3 Recognize the interdependence of societies with world economies, political systems and the environment.

Competencies
1.	Analyze the methods used in the tradition of Buddhist Philosophy
2.	Classify the major traditions of Buddhist philosophy and philosophical traditions it encounters.
3.	Trace the history of Buddhist philosophy focusing on a specific topic through its contact with many diverse philosophies of Asia.
4.	Explore the Indian origins of Buddhist philosophy and the teaching of the Buddha (Section 1)
5.	Explore the Buddhist civilizations of South and Southeast Asia: Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, South Vietnam (Section 1)
6.	Explore the lost Buddhist civilizations of central Asia and the emergence of the liberal Mahayana Buddhist philosophical traditions: Pakistan, Persia, Afghanistan (Section 2) Linked core abilities: Communicate effectively, Demonstrate critical thinking, Develop global awareness, Develop self-awareness
7.	Explore the Meditation School (Chan/Zen) and Pureland popular context of Buddhist philosophy: China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam (Section 3)
8.	Explore the Tantric (Tibetan and related cultures) context of Buddhist philosophy (Section 4)
9.	Explore the modern context of Buddhism and its dissemination to the West (Section 4)
10.	Communicate ideas relevant to our four units effectively through participation in class discussion board
11.	Produce a documentary on a topic in Buddhist philosophy.
12.	Participate in in-class debates centered on topics in Buddhist philosophy
13.	Examine the role of art in Buddhist and other Asian philosophical traditions
Grading Information Grading Rationale The grading model is a combination of developmental and unit based instruction. Competency/Outcome Practice Assessment Tool Linked. 1. Write a 6-8 page outline (50 points) Discuss with others and research topic thinking critically Formatting, organization, research and depth/critical thinking corresponds to rubric 2. Write an 8-10 page paper (150 points) Discuss with others and research topic thinking critically Formatting, organization, research and depth/critical thinking corresponds to rubric 3. Produce a 10 minute documentary (150 points) Discuss with others and actively listen to the instructor how to employ the video editing software. Sound, visuals and formatting corresponds to rubric 4. 4 midterms (100 points each) Employ results of in-class group debates to formulate essay answer; Listen actively and take online quizzes to answer fact questions. Multiple answer exam and major themes essay question. Take home option. 5. Punctual attendance (negative 100 points for more than two classes missed) Come to class as assigned Take attendance at the end of class; observe participation in group and class room discussions. 6. Assignments = 100 points. These are posted the week following the topic and are available for a total of two weeks.; observe participation in group and class room discussions. 7. Online quizzes = 100 employed to prepare for midterms Take online quiz as many times as necessary 10 online quizzes at total at 10% each 8. Discussion on blackboard = 50 points. Discussion board participation graded according to rubric. = 1000 course points. Grading Scale and rubrics for grading
		A: 100 - 94 (Minimum of 94 points) AB:89- 93 (Minimum of 89 points) B: 86-89 (Minimum of 86 points) BC: 81-85 (Minimum of 81 points) C: 76-80 (Minimum of 76 points) D: 70-15 (Minimum of 70 points) F: 69-0 (69 or fewer points)

Guidelines for Success
Late work Loss of one letter grade per late assignment; loss of one course letter grade for an incomplete grade at the end of the course.
Attendance Attendance - will be taken at the end of each class period. Loss of 100 class points for missing more than 2 classes.

Participation Participation- I will grade observing a student's participation in group activities: review for exams, in-class debates, general discussion presence. Self-assessment and participation in discussion board according to rubric

Class preparation Please bring laptops if possible; print off quizzes and powerpoints to bring to class and follow the discussion accordingly. Process for submitting assignments - all assignments must be placed in the digital dropbox
Extra Credit Extra Credit policy I will offer specific extra credit opportunity to all students to compensate for lost points on examinations and will only raise a final grade a maximum 100 points or less.
Exam retakes Exam policy (retake or missing an exam - one letter grade drop without doctor's excused absence)
Schedule – Subject to some modifications....
	Session	Target Competencies	Notes
	08/27/2009	Topic 1: Buddha as Shaman: Introduction to the topic. Powerpoint presentations addressing tribal religions, what is religion? The Universality of religions. We will divide in groups as to theism, pantheism, agnosticism, atheism
	09/03/2009	Topic 2: Jainism: the original religion of India – a direct model for the life and teaching of Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha. Hinduism: the invader's system against which he rebelled.
	09/10/2009	Topic 3: Buddha's thought and the expansion of Buddhism into many schools of thought Hinduism and Develop expanded philosophy of life through encounter with Asian philosophies.
	09/17/2009	Topic 4: The origins and development of Indian Mahayana Buddhism
	09/24/2009	Midterm #1 (of 4): Answer factoid questions and compose in-class essay on the Indian origins of Buddhism.
	10/01/2009	Topic 5: Buddhism beyond India: the Kushana Empire in Central Asia
	10/08/2009	Outline topic due Topic 6: Expansion of Mahayana Buddhism
	10/15/2009	Topic 7: the Theravada traditions of South and Southeast Asia
	10/22/2009	Midterm #2: the Expansion of Buddhism beyond India
	10/29/2009	Topic 8: China: the Daoist and Confucian context
	11/05/2009	Paper due. Topic 9: the "Sinification" of Buddhism: the merger of Buddhism, Daoism and Confucianism; the many schools of Buddhism;
	11/12/2009	Topic 10: the persecution of Buddhism: conflict with Daoist and Confucian tradition; the subsequent history
	11/19/2009	Midterm #3: Buddhism in China
	11/26/2009	Topic 11: Vajrayana or Tantric Buddhism in Tibet
	12/03/2009	Topic 12: the global expansion of Buddhism
	12/10/2009	Midterm #4: Buddhism in Tibet and globally; Final grades submitted.

MATC Student’s Rights and Responsibilities

Students are expected to be familiar with MATC policies and procedures. Many of the important policies and procedures are on the MATC website. An easy way to find them is to go to the A-Z index, click on R, go to "rights and responsibilities", and click to see the menu at the top of the web page or, click on http://matcmadison.edu/matc/studentresources/rights/

and put on your favorites list.

These policies and procedures are also found in the MATC Planner and Student Handbook available at MATC Bookstore., and students are encouraged to retain a current copy of the MATC Planner and Student Handbook for reference as needed during their attendance at MATC.

ADA Statement

To request academic accommodations due to a disability for the MATC Truax or Regional Campuses, please contact Disability Resources Services at 246-6716 (Students who are deaf via Relay 711), room 159 at Truax or email drs@matcmadison.edu

For assistance at the MATC Downtown Education Center contact: Disability Resources Services at 259-2979 in room 109 at DTEC.

If you have an accommodation card from their office indicating that you have a disability which requires academic accommodations, please present it to me so we can discuss the accommodations that you might need in this class. It is best to request these accommodations at the beginning if not before class so there is ample time to make the accommodations.

Academic Honesty

Academic Integrity is an expectation in all MATC classes. Plagiarism and cheating are unacceptable in this class and in the workplace. MATC has a strong policy on Academic Misconduct which is published on the MATC website. This policy will be enforced in this class.

Please refer to this page on the MATC Website to review all Academic Integrity and Misconduct policies.

http://matcmadison.edu/matc/studentresources/rights/misconduct.shtm

Plagiarism:

Presentation of work that originates from another unacknowledged source as one's own. Presenting someone else's ideas, argument, or information verbatim (or close to verbatim) without acknowledgement of the source in assessments, papers, or discussions, constitutes plagiarism.

Cheating:

a) Giving, receiving, or using, or attempting to give, obtain, or use, unauthorized information or assistance during an assessment or an examination

b) Obtaining or conveying, or attempting to obtain or convey, unauthorized information about an assessment or examination questions

c) Giving or receiving assistance on an essay or assignment that goes beyond that specifically allowed by the instructor (this includes buying and selling, or attempt to buy or sell essays and/or research assistance relating to course assignments)

d) Impersonating someone else or causing or allowing oneself to be impersonated in an examination, or knowingly availing oneself of the results of impersonation

Presenting a single piece of work in more than one course without the permission of the instructors involved

Flowchart for course – note for the once a week class, attendance policy is – 10% course grade for two classes.

Core Abilities