#Pedagogy moment --
I'm teaching History of Hinduisms (plural intentional) this term. For the final paper, I give students 4 options.
This accords with my general emphasis that students should work on topics they care about. Interest (if possible, passion) are critical. #THREAD
I'm teaching History of Hinduisms (plural intentional) this term. For the final paper, I give students 4 options.
This accords with my general emphasis that students should work on topics they care about. Interest (if possible, passion) are critical. #THREAD
Option 1. Close reading of a specific text
I give students a list of possible texts (from the Rig Veda forward). We read excerpts over the semester from most of the texts on the list. Students can return to a text that caught their eye, read more, and analyze.
I give students a list of possible texts (from the Rig Veda forward). We read excerpts over the semester from most of the texts on the list. Students can return to a text that caught their eye, read more, and analyze.
Option 2. Traditional research paper
Pick a topic, any topic, at all related to Hinduism and write a paper about it. This can be a subject we covered in class that caught a student's attention. It can also be a subject that we didn't cover in the class (which is a lot, always).
Pick a topic, any topic, at all related to Hinduism and write a paper about it. This can be a subject we covered in class that caught a student's attention. It can also be a subject that we didn't cover in the class (which is a lot, always).
Option 3. Creative Rewriting
Pick a Hindu story we read (most likely, part of one of the epics) and rewrite it, thus participating in the grand tradition of retelling. This is to be accompanied by a short explanation of what the student changed and why.
Pick a Hindu story we read (most likely, part of one of the epics) and rewrite it, thus participating in the grand tradition of retelling. This is to be accompanied by a short explanation of what the student changed and why.
For context on #3 -- We encounter a few different versions of the Ramayana in class and also, of course, read Ramanujan's classic essay "Three Hundred Ramayanas." We discuss the fluid nature of many Hindu stories, and what changes might tell us.
Option 4. Textbook
Student becomes the teacher. Write a textbook entry on Hinduism, specifying whether it is aimed at elementary, middle school, or high school students. Bonus points for doing a proper textbook layout with images.
Student becomes the teacher. Write a textbook entry on Hinduism, specifying whether it is aimed at elementary, middle school, or high school students. Bonus points for doing a proper textbook layout with images.
For context on #4, we read in class about the California textbook controversies and talked about various perspectives and arguments regarding the representation of Hinduism in the United States.
I created this and other assignments to be interesting, hopefully. I also want students to be able to draw on their strengths and develop skills they're interested in developing. Critically, assignments must be doable within the given time frame.
#AcademicTwitter #Hinduism
#AcademicTwitter #Hinduism
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