Introduction to Islam

RELS 3500, CRN: 84720

Fall, 2006

In this course we survey the development of Islam, its distinctive beliefs and practices, its spread as a world religion, and the variety of ways that Muslims have responded to modernity. Several variations of the Islamic experience will be examined. Emphasis will be given to the development of both common Islamic institutions and diverse ways of understanding what it means to be a Muslim.
There are no prerequisites to taking this course.

This course should deepen and broaden students’ understanding of the history and development of Islam, and the beliefs and ritual practices of various Muslim groups. It is hoped that all students will gain an understanding of some key issues with which early and contemporary Muslims have grappled. Another goal of this course is to expose students to empathetic representations of a variety of ways of being a Muslim. Finally, this course strives, though lectures, readings and writing assignments to foster the ability to critically read and interpret texts and other forms of cultural production. These skills are crucial not only in this course but, clearly, in many aspects of life.

• Frederick Denny, An Introduction to Islam (I will use the 2nd and 3rd Editions, but you can use any edition. This book is available online for FAR LESS than it is new. Please shop around!
• Michael Gilsenan, Recognizing Islam: religion and society in the modern Arab world, 1983 and in reprints.
• Marjane Satrapi, Persepolis: The story of a childhood, Pantheon, 2003.
• The Qur’an. My current favorites are one very old one by George Sale (1734), and a modern one by M. A. S Abdel Haleem (2004). Buy one.
• An ERes Reader will also be available

Reading will be required as per the course schedule.

1. There will be three quizzes (generally pop quizzes) on the readings and lectures over the course of the quarter
2. One paper due at the end of the course. See my writing tips, and, if you would like, preview the grading sheet that I use to review your papers
3. Midterm
4. Cumulative final
5. There will also be a group project, which is to collect, organize, and analyze, as a class, an online database of Islamophobic websites. See previous examples of this in the right hand column of this course webpage.


Grading

Attendance and Participation in Class Discussion	10%
Paper	15%
Group Projects	15%
Three Quizzes	30%
Midterm	10%
Final Examination, Thursday December 14, 10:15 a.m.	20%

Attendance

Attending class is mandatory, and benefits you and the rest of the class. You are allowed three absences without penalty, and for which you do not need to speak to me. Otherwise, let me know in advance.

Makeup policy

Tests and papers will take place according to the course schedule. Pop quizzes will be given at short warning or without warning altogether. In case of major medical or other emergency, for which there is documentation, or if you can make a convincing case, please speak to me. Otherwise, there are no makeups, so please do not ask.

Cheating and Plagiarism

Please carefully look over the attached sheet on plagiarism and cheating. For your sake and mine, bear closely in mind that the following is plagiarism and will be treated as such by me, without exceptions: material taken without citation from the web; material taken from any book or other publication without citation; any ideas that I can trace to another source that you are not citing. These are all forms of cheating, and will subject you to serious consequences. Regardless of all other steps taken, which may include reporting you to the administration so that the plagiarism charge will go permanently onto your record, I will give you a zero for the assignment at a minimum.

Go to the course schedule
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