Notes

Reflection:

At the end of the semester you will submit a final reflection (1000-1500 words and worth 10% of your total grade). The goal of the reflection is for you to integrate what you have learned over the course of the semester and to explore topics of personal and global relevance (a core goal of General Education classes). The reflection must be written in formal prose with complete paragraphs and an introduction and conclusion. You are welcome to use first person and more informal language in your writing style.

There is no single best way to write your reflection but a few guidelines may prove helpful. This should be personal. This is your opportunity to personally engage the material – wherever that may lead. You are certainly welcome to talk about your faith (whether any variety of Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Wiccan, Atheist, Agnostic, etc.). Your personal beliefs are likely part of how you encounter these ideas and the content of the class. Let me emphasize that this is not graded as any measure of personal commitment to any position of belief (or lack thereof). It is about your personal engagement and critical awareness of what you have learned and how it matters in your life and in the larger world. I am looking for specificity with the readings and especially the ideas that you have encountered and the depth of your critical thought and reflection. You can and should include a range of insights you have had over the semester, but please do not write this reflection as a summation of your individual journal entries. Instead the reflection should be an integration and deeper exploration of your thoughts and insights. Please use it as an opportunity to challenge yourselves! Think of it as a chance to show me how much you have learned and how what you have learned matters.

I should also emphasize that you are welcome to be creative. The depth of thought and more formal essay style for this assignment are likely to be challenging but the writing of it should be fun or at least satisfying if you are doing it right. Please make the reflection your own and show me that you have truly made the most of this opportunity to think about the Abrahamic Faiths!!!