Final Project

 God and the Human Experience [thst 3236] | Fall 2020 MWF 9:30-10:30

Instructions for final reflection paper/project

The students will either write a paper or propose and execute a project that allows them to articulate their position with regard to one of the major existential questions we have engaged during the semester.

The paper/project will be worth 100 points and will be due on 7 December 2020 at 23:59.

The papers/projects will be shared in class on 7 & 9 Dec.

If a reflection paper is chosen it should have a two hinge base:

1. One or more of the primary existential questions of the class

2. Some aspect of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius

The primary existential questions include but are not limited to:

What is my fundamental identity?

What kind of thing is a human person?

Do I have a purpose in life? If so, what is it?

How do I fit into the meaning of the Universe?

What is the meaning of pain and suffering?

What types of intimacy do I share, or shy away from? What do I believe about God?

The aspects of the Spiritual Exercises can include:

Any of the individual contemplations talked about.

The life of St. Ignatius (injury, convalescence, leaving home, Cardoner River, friends at University of Paris, vows, failure at Venice, the La Storta, etc.)

JPII, Axial Age Sages, Hildegard, Ignatius, or anyone we discussed in class.

The practice of opening a psychological space through imagination.

The practice of the Examen.

Any of the individual Week dynamics.

Points shall be earned according to the following:

20 points for a paper of 1000-1200 words.

10 points for the clear selection of an existential question (or complimentary ones)

10 points for the clear selection of an aspect of the Spiritual Exercises (or bio)

10 points for the discussion of the existential question(s)

10 points for the discussion of the aspect of the SpEx or bio

10 points for the synthesis of the two (question and SpEx or bio).

20 points for the integration of personal experience

10 points for a coherent conclusion

 

 If a project is chosen then a proposal must be submitted for approval on Wednesday 2 December 2020 via email.

A project should also have two integrated aspects:

1. One or more of the primary existential questions of the class

2. Some expression of the matter or media we have used in class

The primary existential questions include but are not limited to:

What is my fundamental identity?

What kind of thing is a human person?

Do I have a purpose in life? If so, what is it?

How do I fit into the meaning of the Universe?

What is the meaning of pain and suffering?

What types of intimacy do I share, or shy away from? What do I believe about God?

The aspects or media of the class include:

Biography of any individual you know that demonstrates something of the class Music, poetry, visual art, performance art

Letters

Medical or scientific studies

Guided meditation

Personal biography

Journal entry (real or imagined)

Points shall be earned according to the following:

20 points for a project that is complete

10 points for the clear selection of an existential question (or complimentary ones)

10 points for the clear selection of an aspect or media from the class

20 points for the engagement with the existential question(s)

10 points for the synthesis of the existential question with the media or aspect

20 points for the integration of personal experience or voice

10 points for a coherent articulation (question, aspect, voice)