Sample course: Schedule (taken from Kitáb-i-Aqdas course)

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Homework Overview (sample taken from a course on the Kitáb-i-Aqdas):


Date INTRODUCTORY STUDENTS INTERMEDIATE STUDENTS
UNIT 1 Nov. 8-14 1 Posting 1 Posting
UNIT 2 Nov. 15 - Dec. 5 1 Self-Evaluation 1 Essay
UNIT 3 Dec. 13-26 1 Self-Evaluation 1 Project of your choice
UNIT 4 Dec. 27 - Jan. 2 1 Posting 1 Posting
UNIT 5 Jan. 10-16 1 Posting 1 Posting
UNIT 6 Jan. 17-30 1 Posting 1 Posting
UNIT 7 Feb. 7 - Mar. 5 1 Presentation 1 Presentation
UNIT 8 Mar. 13-26 1 Posting 1 Posting
UNIT 9 Mar. 27 - Apr. 9 1 Posting 1 Posting
UNIT 10 Apr. 17 - 30 1 Self-Evaluation 1 Final Exercise

Schedule-at-a-Glance:


Homework requirement
Unit Date Reading requirements INTRODUCTORY STUDENTS INTERMEDIATE STUDENTS
Intro Week: "Familiarizing yourself with the course" Nov. 1-7 Read the Course Catalogue and schedules — —
Unit 1: "Background" Nov. 8-14 Preface, Introduction, and Description of the Aqdas (The Kitáb-i-Aqdas, The Most Holy Book, pp. vii-viii, 1-16)

Compilation of Descriptions and Commentaries, Section 1: "Introduction to the Aqdas." 		1 Posting 1 Posting
Unit 2: "The Kitáb-i-Aqdas" Nov. 15-Dec. 5 Read the text of the Aqdas itself (The Kitáb-i-Aqdas, The Most Holy Book, pp. 17-88). 1 Self Evaluation 1 Essay
Free Week Dec. 6-12 — — —
Unit 3: "Supplemental Texts" Dec. 13-26 Supplemental texts (The Kitáb-i-Aqdas, The Most Holy Book, pp. 89-140). 1 Self Evaluation 1 Project of your choice
Unit 4: "Covenant, Succession, and Manifestation" Dec. 27-Jan. 2 KA 37-38, 42, 46-7, 53, 58, 61, 105, 121, 157-58, 161-63, 174-86 and relevant notes; Synopsis and Codification, I-III (page 145), VI.1-2 (page 162).

Compilation of Descriptions and Commentaries, Section 2: "The Covenant of Bahá'u'lláh." 		1 Posting 1 Posting
Free Week Jan. 3-9 — — —
Unit 5: "Bahá'í Institutions" Jan. 10-16 KA 30-31, 52, 57, 110-12, 127, 173 and relevant notes; Synopsis and Codification III (p. 145), IV.D.1.d (p. 156), IV.D.1.f-i (p. 156-57).

Compilation of Descriptions and Commentaries, Section 3: "A New World Order." 		1 Posting 1 Posting
Unit 6: "The Nature and Purpose of Bahá'u'lláh's Laws" Jan 17-30 KA 1-5, 59, 98, 122-25, 132, 134-36, 161-72 and relevant notes; Synopsis and Codification, IV (pages 145-62) and VI.3, 5-8 (pages 162-63).

Compilation of Descriptions and Commentaries, Section 4: "The Law of God." 		1 Posting 1 Posting
Free Week Jan. 31-Feb. 6 — — —
Unit 7: "Bahá'u'lláh's Ordinances" Feb. 7- March 5 KA 6-29, 32-34, 44-46, 48-51, 56, 60-77, 97, 106-09, 113-16, 119, 128-31, 133, 144-56, 159-60, 187-90 and relevant notes; Synopsis and Codification IV.D.1.y (pages 157-58).

Compilation of Descriptions and Commentaries, Section 5: "Worship and Daily Life." 		1 Presentation 1 Presentation
Free Week March 6-12 — — —
Unit 8: "Proclamations to Kings, Rulers, People" March 13-26 KA 78-96, 99-101, 135-43, 164-70, 189 and relevant notes; Synopsis and Codification V (page 162) and parts of VI (pages 162-64).

Compilation of Descriptions and Commentaries, Section 6: "Kings Addressed in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas." 		1 Posting 1 Posting
Unit 9: "Education and Transformation" March 27-April 9 KA 35-36, 38-41, 43, 53-55, 73-4, 102-104, 117-18, 120, 122-26, 173, 178 and relevant notes.

Compilation of Descriptions and Commentaries, Section 7: "Divine Education." 		1 Posting 1 Posting
Free Week April 10-16 — — —
Unit 10: "Final Integrative Exercise" April 17-30 — 1 Self Evaluation 1 Final Exercise

Detailed Schedule:


INTRODUCTION, Nov. 1-7: Familiarizing yourself with the course (1 week)

* Introduce yourself to your fellow students on the listserver: offer a few sentences about why you are taking the course, what you'd like to learn about the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, what your personal interests are, and anything else you'd like to share.


* Familiarize yourself with the course materials, such as the Course Catalogue, the schedule, and the website. See if anything is confusing, and if so post your questions to the listserver. Make sure you know who your faculty advisor (mentor) is and what's expected of you in this course. Start thinking about what projects you'd like to do.



UNIT ONE, Nov. 8-14: Background (1 week)

* Read the Preface, Introduction, and Description of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas (The Kitáb-i-Aqdas, The Most Holy Book, pp. vii-viii, 1-16)


* Read The Kitáb-i-Aqdas: A Compilation of Descriptions and Commentaries, Section 1: "Introduction to the Aqdas."


* Contribute one posting to the listserver (Possible subjects: something that surprised, struck, fascinated, or interested you in the reading, or one of the "Sample Questions" in Part I ).



UNIT TWO, Nov. 15-Dec. 5: The Kitáb-i-Aqdas (3 weeks)

* Read the text of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas itself (The Kitáb-i-Aqdas, The Most Holy Book, pp. 17-88). Note that you have been given three weeks to read the 71 pages and begin preparing an essay on it. This should allow you to read the text at a leisurely pace (about 10 pages an hour) and still have some time to offer comments about the readings. We suggest you look at the notes section as you go, but save detailed study of the notes for later units.


•     INTRODUCTORY-LEVEL STUDENTS: Submit a Learning Self-Evaluation Form to your mentor. This may cover either your learning experience for this one unit or for the entire course up to this point.


•     INTERMEDIATE-LEVEL STUDENTS: Complete one essay and turn it in to your advisor. This should be 3-4 pages long. Your essay can either survey a general topic about the Aqdas, its history, its themes, or its place in the Baha'i Revelation, or it can address a specific topic or even a specific paragraph. See the Course Catalogue for more details on how to write an essay, or ask your advisor for guidance and suggestions.



FREE WEEK, Dec. 6-12

Free week, with no assignments. Use this time to finish your essay, catch up if you are behind, plan how to do future assignments, or work ahead.



UNIT THREE, Dec. 13-26: Supplemental Texts (2 weeks)

* Read the supplemental texts (The Kitáb-i-Aqdas, The Most Holy Book, pp. 89-140).


•     INTRODUCTORY-LEVEL STUDENTS: Submit a Learning Self-Evaluation Form to your mentor. This may cover either your learning experience for this one unit or for the entire course up to this point.


•     INTERMEDIATE-LEVEL STUDENTS: Complete one learning project of your choice and turn it in to your advisor. This can be an artistic project, essay, reaction/comparison papers, Tablet Study Outline, fireside, deepening, knowledge map, or any other type of project you might wish to prepare. For ideas of possible topics, you could select one of the 200 "Sample Questions" dealing with one of the supplemental texts.



UNIT FOUR, Dec. 27-Jan. 2: Covenant, Succession, and Manifestation (1 week)

* Read KA 37-38, 42, 46, 53, 58, 61, 105, 121, 157-58, 161-63, 174-86 and relevant notes; Synopsis and Codification, I-III (page 145), VI.1-2 (page 162).


* Read The Kitáb-i-Aqdas: A Compilation of Descriptions and Commentaries, Section 2: "The Covenant of Bahá'u'lláh."


* Contribute one posting to the listserver (Possible subjects: the Covenant, Manifestations of God in general, the station of Bahá'u'lláh's revelation, the purpose of Bahá'u'lláh's mission, the station of Bahá'u'lláh, Bahá'u'lláh's names and titles, one of the topics listed in Appendix 1 or 2 of the Course Catalogue, or one or more of the "Sample Questions" from Parts II and III.) You are also welcome to prepare a learning project of your choice instead of or in addition to a listserver posting.



FREE WEEK, Jan. 3-9

Free week, with no assignments. Use this time to catch up if you are behind, plan how to do future assignments, or get ahead.



UNIT FIVE, Jan. 10-16: Bahá'í Institutions: (Rulers and Learned, House of Justice, Houses of Worship, Feast, Holy Days, Calendar) (1 week)

* Read KA 30-31, 52, 57, 110-12, 127, 173 and relevant notes; Synopsis and Codification III (p. 145), IV.D.1.d (p. 156), IV.D.1.f-i (p. 156-57).


* Read The Kitáb-i-Aqdas: A Compilation of Descriptions and Commentaries, Section 3: "A New World Order."


* Contribute one posting to the listserver (One possible subject is the Bahá'í institutions established in the Aqdas. Another possibility is the question "In what ways have 'Abdu'l-Bahá and Shoghi Effendi elaborated upon the foundation created by Bahá'u'lláh in the Aqdas?" Or answer one or more of the "Sample Questions" from Part IV.) You are also welcome to prepare a learning project of your choice instead of or in addition to a listserver posting.



UNIT SIX, Jan 17-30: The Nature and Purpose of Bahá'u'lláh's Laws (2 weeks)

* Read KA 1-5, 59, 98, 122-25, 132, 134-36, 161-72 and relevant notes; Synopsis and Codification, IV (pages 145-62) and VI.3, 5-8 (pages 162-63).


* Read The Kitáb-i-Aqdas: A Compilation of Descriptions and Commentaries, Section 4: "The Law of God.
"

* Contribute one posting to the listserver (Possible subjects: the purpose of Bahá'u'lláh's laws; the purpose of God's laws in general; or one or more of the "Sample Questions" from Part V. You are also welcome to prepare a learning project of your choice instead of or in addition to a listserver posting.


FREE WEEK, Jan. 31-Feb. 6

Free week, with no assignments. Use this time to catch up if you are behind, plan how to do future assignments, or get ahead.



UNIT SEVEN, Feb. 7- March 5: Bahá'u'lláh's Ordinances (4 weeks)

* Read KA 6-29, 32-34, 44-46, 48-51, 56, 60-77, 97, 106-09, 113-16, 119, 128-31, 133, 144-56, 159-60, 187-90 and relevant notes; Synopsis and Codification IV.D.1.y (pages 157-58).


* Read The Kitáb-i-Aqdas: A Compilation of Descriptions and Commentaries, Section 5: "Worship and Daily Life."


•     INTRODUCTORY-LEVEL STUDENTS: Facilitate a discussion or deliver a presentation. Unlike for intermediate-level students, this does not have to entail preparing a topic in advance; organizing or leading a fireside-type discussion will suffice. If it is inconvenient to organize and/or host this event between February 7-March 5, you may hold it at an earlier or later date.


•     INTERMEDIATE-LEVEL STUDENTS: Complete one presentation and submit a Presentation Reporting Form to your advisor. This does not have to be a formal lecture, but can be given during an informal deepening or fireside. It must, though, include delivering a presentation or at minimum leading a discussion; merely hosting a fireside on its own would be insufficient.If it is inconvenient to organize and/or host this event between February 7-March 5, you may hold it at an earlier or later date.

(Possible subjects: any general aspect of the Aqdas, its history, its themes, or its place in the Baha'i Revelation. Or one can choose a specific topic, such as one of the 19 ordinances identified in Appendix 3, one or more "Sample Questions" in Parts VI, VII, or VIII, or one of the 18 prohibitions or 5 punishments identified in Appendix 3.)



FREE WEEK, March 6-12

Free week, with no assignments. Use this time to catch up if you are behind, plan how to do future assignments, or get ahead.



UNIT EIGHT, March 13-26: Proclamations to Kings, Rulers, Places, and Groups of People (2 weeks)

* Read KA 78-96, 99-101, 135-43, 164-70, 189 and relevant notes; Synopsis and Codification V (page 162) and parts of VI (pages 162-64).


* Read The Kitáb-i-Aqdas: A Compilation of Descriptions and Commentaries, Section 6: "Kings Addressed in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas."


* Contribute one posting to the listserver (Possible subjects: Bahá'u'lláh's proclamation to one or more individual; one or more "Sample Questions" from Part IX). You are also welcome to prepare a learning project of your choice instead of or in addition to a listserver posting.



UNIT NINE, March 27-April 9: Education and Transformation (2 weeks)

* Read KA 35-36, 38-41, 43, 53-55, 73-4, 102-104, 117-18, 120, 122-26, 173, 178 and relevant notes.


* Read The Kitáb-i-Aqdas: A Compilation of Descriptions and Commentaries, Section 7: "Divine Education."


* Contribute one posting to the listserver (Possible subjects: one of the 65 commandments in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas that helps with our transformation [listed in Appendix 5, pp. 36-38], or one or more of the "Sample Questions" in Parts X and XI). You are also welcome to prepare a learning project of your choice instead of or in addition to a listserver posting.



FREE WEEK, April 10-16

Free week, with no assignments. Use this time to catch up if you are behind, rest, or begin the final integrative exercise.



UNIT TEN, FINAL INTEGRATIVE EXERCISE, April 17-30 (2 weeks)

•     INTRODUCTORY-LEVEL STUDENTS: Submit a Learning Self-Evaluation Form to your mentor. Unlike previous evaluation forms, this one should address your experience in the course as a whole.


•     INTERMEDIATE-LEVEL STUDENTS: Complete a Final Integration Exercise to be supplied later. It will involve writing 5-10 pages on the Kitáb-i-Aqdas summarizing some aspect of the book or describing how you would present the book or some aspect of it to others.

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