Native American philosophy
You will write up to a 10-page, double-spaced research paper about an important theme or idea in this course. You will have to synthesize at least five sources from the course and five independently researched sources. You will have to have a clear thesis. A great resource for ideas is http://guides.ou.edu/NAS1013. Please note the Doris Duke Collection — you could use oral interviews of Native Americans as primary sources to talk about their philosophies, for instance. Be yourself. Be creative with your idea. Take some time, sit on a park bench or under a tree, and really think about what would interest you AND demonstrate what you have learned in this course.
The project should take no more than 10-pages, double-spaced, Times New Roman font.
Look at this course as a Community Bowl: You may use sources shared by others. Just don’t steal their writings. Quote and cite as appropriate. See resources at http://integrity.ou.edu/students.html.
I want each of you to pick a Native American philosophical topic and connect it with something that interests you. For instance, someone interested in becoming a doctor could write about applying indigenous ideas and medicines while practicing Western medicine. Or, you could write about phenomenology as it applies to Native Americans. I highly discourage false dichotomies for this project — e.g., pitting Native American v. Western ideals, or Native religion with Christianity. Let me know YOU understand a Native American construct more than you had in the beginning of the semester.
E-mail your idea to Professor Kemper ASAP for feedback.
Here’s the rubric.
Does the final paper contribute to the University of Oklahoma’s mission of “excellence in teaching, research and creative activity, and service to the state and society”?
Strongly agree = 10 points
Agree = 8 points
Neutral = 6 points
Disagree = 4 points
Strongly Disagree = 2 points
Does the student practice critical thinking, research, and writing skills?
Strongly agree = 10 points
Agree = 8 points
Neutral = 6 points
Disagree = 4 points
Strongly Disagree = 2 points
Does the final paper identify and navigate cultural hybridity?
Strongly agree = 10 points
Agree = 8 points
Neutral = 6 points
Disagree = 4 points
Strongly Disagree = 2 points
Does the final paper identify Native American philosophies embedded in Native and non-Native cultural artifacts?
Strongly agree = 10 points
Agree = 8 points
Neutral = 6 points
Disagree = 4 points
Strongly Disagree = 2 points
Does the student understand Native American ontologies, epistemologies, and theologies as they are part of a larger narrative of cultural hybridity and colonization?
Strongly agree = 10 points
Agree = 8 points
Neutral = 6 points
Disagree = 4 points
Strongly Disagree = 2 points
Does the student practice respect, diversity, and tolerance for all cultures, Native or non-Native?
Strongly agree = 10 points
Agree = 8 points
Neutral = 6 points
Disagree = 4 points
Strongly Disagree = 2 point
s
Does the student understand and appreciate the cultural and philosophical uniqueness of each of the tribal cultures and philosophies in the United States and beyond?
Strongly agree = 10 points
Agree = 8 points
Neutral = 6 points
Disagree = 4 points
Strongly Disagree = 2 points
Did the student follow the prompt and instructions?
Strongly agree = 10 points
Agree = 4 points
Neutral = 3 points
Disagree = 2 points
Strongly Disagree = 1 point
Is the paper written and edited carefully and effectively?
Strongly agree = 10 points
Agree = 4 points
Neutral = 3 points
Disagree = 2 points
Strongly Disagree = 1 point
Does the student practice ethics and academic integrity? (IF ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT IS FOUND, YOU COULD RECEIVE A ZERO ON THE ASSIGNMENT AND FAIL THE COURSE)
Strongly agree = 10 points
Agree = 4 points
Neutral = 3 points
Disagree = 2 points
Strongly Disagree = 1 point
TOTAL = up to 100 points