Senior Capstone Seminar
Fall 2004
Instructor: Dr. Scott S. Reese
Meeting Time: M 3-5:30
Office Hours: or by appointment
Office Tel. 523-9049
Course URL: http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~ssr7/IslaminAmericaF04.htm
Rather than being a new faith in the western hemisphere Islam is a religion with deep roots in the Americas dating to at least the 1500s. This senior seminar will explore the presence of Muslims and the Islamic faith in the Americas from its beginnings as a result of the Atlantic slave trade to the present. In particular we will explore the historical presence and importance of various Muslim groups in the U.S.; the attitude and relationship of the U.S. government towards the Muslim world and; the increasing importance of the American Muslim community which as the fastest growing minority group in the U.S. Evaluation will be based primarily on weekly discussions of assigned readings, several short writing assignments as well as a longer research length paper (15-20 pages).
This class will be run using a seminar format with discussions based on the assigned readings and student generated questions. The instructor may also provide a number of short “mini-lectures” on selected topics as necessary. As a senior seminar the reading requirements are extensive. As a small, upper division, course it is essential that everyone come to class having read the material and prepared for discussion.
Required Texts:
Jane Smith, Islam in America, Columbia University Press (2000)
Richard Brent Turner, Islam in the African-American Experience, 2nd edition, Indiana University Press (2003)
Melani McAlister, Epic Encounters: Culture, Media, and U.S. Interests in the Middle East, 1945-2000 University of California Press (2002)
Emran Qureishi and Michael Sells eds. The New Crusades, (New York: Columbia U. Press, 2003)
Carolyn Moxley Rouse, Engaged Surrender—African American Women and Islam, (Berkley: University of California Press, 2004)
The above books are Required Readings for all students in the course and are available at the NAU Bookstore. Other weekly readings are listed within the body of the syllabus most of which are located on the courses electronic reserve website. These include mostly secondary readings intended to add depth to many of the topics covered. As such, they will form an integral part of class discussions and students will be expected to arrive for class meetings having read and digested the material and be ready for discussion.
Electronic Reserve address: http://www.nau.edu/library/courses/fall04/his498c-reese/
Optional – John Esposito The Straight Path – A concise overview of the Islamic faith.
Assignments:
Reviews of Assigned Reading (700-1000 words each):
Each participant will be required to write two (2) reviews of the weekly reading assignments to be submitted on the day of the discussion of that topic. Reviews should briefly summarize the author’s argument, comment on the sources used to complete the study, and assess the work’s overall worth (i.e. do you buy what they’re selling?). Each review will be 700-1000 words in length. You may chose to write your review for any 2 given weeks however, one must be turned in during weeks 1-5 and the other between weeks 6-11.
Each participant must submit a prospectus of their term paper (500-700 words in length plus a bibliography).
Participants will submit a rough draft of their paper for peer review. Students are expected to make substantial revisions between the draft and the final paper. If such revisions are not evident, students can expect to receive a lower grade on the final paper than on the draft.
Each participant will be assigned to carefully proofread a classmate’s rough draft and prepare one-page of written comments/suggestions on the paper that gives the author useful information for improving the final draft.
Participants will research, write, and rewrite a 15-20 page research paper based on a topic of their choosing relating to either Islam in American society or America’s interactions with the Muslim world.
Footnotes, citations and bibliographies for all assignments must follow the Chicago Manual of Style format which is most clearly laid out in: Kate L. Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations (Chicago Guides to Writing, Editing, and Publishing) University of Chicago Press; 6th Rev edition (March 1, 1996). Papers riddled with grammatical weaknesses, improperly cited quotes and references, passive voice, etc. will receive a failing grade. Though I will read and comment on all the rough drafts, it is not the responsibility of the instructor to note and correct these mistakes.
Students will make a brief presentation on their paper and will field questions from the class on the topic, sources, methodology, and the conclusions.
Since this course meets only once a week it is essential to always be here. Missing more than 1 class period will have a serious impact on your participation grade. However, simply “showing up” is not sufficient for perfect participation grade. As a discussion oriented course participation is also graded. You are required to show up to each class period having read the material and ready to engage it in a meaningful manner.
In order to help insure that you complete the readings but also to assist you in approaching them critically, each student will be required to bring a five (5) point summary of the main arguments of that week’s readings to every class meeting. Each point need be no more than 1-2 sentences but needs to illustrate what you think are the principle foci of the readings. At least one of these points should be a critical question you have regarding the readings.
These will be turned in to the instructor at the end of class. Failure to do so will result in the deduction of 1 point from your participation grade for each summary not turned in (e.g. if you miss one week your potential participation grade will drop from 20 to 19 automatically. Keep in mind, however, this is not the only determining factor of your participation grade.) Summaries will only be accepted by the instructor at the time of the class meeting (i.e. you may not turn in your card before or after class.) A separate sheet detailing what you need to look for in different readings will be forthcoming.
NOTE: You will not need to turn in a summary for the weeks you write reviews.
If you must miss class for whatever reason, it is your responsibility to obtain that day’s notes and any other pertinent information from one of your classmates. If circumstances dictate (e.g. family or medical emergency) that you must miss more than a single class, it is also your responsibility to discuss this situation with the instructor. The instructor reserves the right to request documentation for any absences over one.
Assignment % of final grade
Seminar Participation 20
Reviews 10 (ea.)
Research Prospectus 10
Peer Edit 15
Final Paper 25
Oral Presentation 10
A standard grading scale will be in use
90%+= A; 80-89% =B; 70-79%=C; 60-69%=D; below 60%=F
Plagiarism: See attached sheet regarding academic conduct and misconduct.
Readings:
Smith, Introduction and chs. 1-3
(Optional-- Esposito, The Straight Path)
Readings:
Richard Turner, Islam in the African American Experience Introduction and ch. 1
“Omar bin Said: The Life and Legend” in African Muslims in Antebellum America: A Sourcebook, Allan D. Austin ed. pp. 464-68 On electronic reserve
“Mohammed Ali Ben Said’s Travels in Africa and Non-African Parts of the World” in African Muslims in Antebellum America: A Sourcebook, Allan D. Austin ed. pp pp655-89 On electronic reserve
Wk 4 (Sept. 20) Converts in America
(Library familiarization – class will meet in Cline Library rm. 285)
Readings:
Turner, ch. 2
Mohammad Alexander Russell Webb, “The Spirit of Islam” in Islam in North America: A Sourcebook pp. 34-41. On electronic reserve
Wk 5 (Sept. 27) Noble Drew Ali and the Moorish Science Temple
Readings:
Turner, ch. 3-4
Susan Nance, “Mystery of the Moorish Science Temple: Southern Blacks and American Alternative Spirituality in 1920s Chicago,” in Religion and American Culture: A Journal of Interpretation, v. 12, no. 2 pp. 123-166 (2002) On electronic reserve
Ahmed I. Abu Shouk, J.O. Hunwick & R.S. O’Fahey, “A Sudanese Missionary to the United States: Sātti Mājid, `Shaykh al-Islam in North America’, and His Encounter with Noble Drew Ali, Prophet of the Moorish Science Temple Movement” in Sudanic Africa 8, 1997, pp. 137-191. On electronic reserve
Prospectus due
Readings:
Turner, ch. 5-6 and conclusion
Gardell, “The Sun of Islam Will Rise in the West: Minister Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam in the Latter Days” in Haddad and Smith Muslim Communities in North America
pp. 15-50 On electronic reserve
Thursday Oct. 7, 4pm-- Talk by Prof. Amir Hussain, LA 135 Attendance is mandatory
Readings:
Jane Smith, Islam in America chs. 5-8
Philip Harsham, “Arabs in America: One Arab’s Immigration” in Islam in North America: A Sourcebook pp. 74-76 On electronic reserve
Marc Ferris, “To ‘Achieve the Pleasure of Allah’: Immigrant Muslim Communities in New York City 1893-1991,” in Haddad and Smith Muslim Communities in North America pp.209-230 On electronic reserve
Readings:
Moxley-Rouse, Engaged Surrender: African American Women and Islam entire
Barbara Aswad, “Attitudes of Immigrant Women and Men in the Dearborn Area Toward Women’s Employment and Welfare” in Haddad and Smith Muslim Communities in North America pp.501-519 On electronic reserve
Film—Under One Sky
Readings:
Qureshi and Sells, The New Crusades selections
Film: Orientalism
Readings:
McAllistar, Epic Encounters entire.
James Risen, “Secrets of History: The CIA in Iran – A Special report; How a Plot Convulsed Iran in ’53 (and in ’79)” The New York Times, Sunday April 16, 2000. On electronic reserve
Readings:
Gisela Webb, “Tradition and Innovation in Contemporary American Islamic Spirituality: The Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Fellowship” in Muslim Communities in North America pp. 75-108. On electronic reserve
Nirzar Hamzeh and R. Hrair Dekmejian, “A Sufi Response to Political Islamism: Al-AÊbāsh of Lebanon,” in International Journal of Middle East Studies 28, 2, May 1996 pp. 217-229 On electronic reserve
Wk 12 (Nov. 15) Presentations
Rough drafts due for peer edit.
Return peer edited drafts.
Complete Drafts Due.