Approaching the Qur'án: Assignment
The Carolina Summer Reading Program will introduce you to the intellectual life of Carolina. Required of all new undergraduate students (first year and transfer), it involves reading an assigned book over the summer, writing a one-page response to a particular subject, participating in a two-hour discussion, and sharing your written response with others. The goals of the program are to stimulate discussion and critical thinking around a current topic, to introduce you to academic life at Carolina, to enhance a sense of community between students, faculty and staff, and to provide a common experience for incoming students. Some find they enjoy sharing the reading with members of their family during the summer.
This year's reading is Approaching the Qur'án: The Early Revelations, translated and introduced by Michael Sells. Although the summer reading is required, if any students or their families are opposed to reading parts of the Qur'án because to do so is offensive to their own faith, they may choose not to take part in the summer reading. These students should instead complete their one-page response on why they chose not to read the book.
Approaching the Qur'án was selected for several reasons, the most obvious being the opportunity to learn more about the Islamic culture. Westerners for centuries have been alternately puzzled, attracted, concerned, and curious about the great religious traditions of Islam. These feelings have been especially intense since the tragic events of September 11th. This book is not a political document in any sense; rather it introduces a culture unknown to many Americans and raises questions that are timely for all. Approaching the Qur'án may prove challenging for a variety of reasons. That, in itself, is a reason for its assignment. To assist you, we have provided related resources for the topic, and for the processes of reading and writing.
Reading
Approaching the Qur'án: The Early Revelations, translated with introduction and commentary, by Michael Sells (Ashland, Oregon: White Cloud Press, 1999).
Read the "Introduction" (pages 1-31), the suras and commentaries (pages 41-141), and listen to the CD. The other portions of the book are strongly recommended.
Hint: The "Introduction" is a valuable guide to the historical and literary context of the Qur'án. Many readers will find it easier, however, to begin with the suras themselves and come back to the "Introduction" later.
Thinking
Take a few moments to review the study questions, in your packet, before you read the book. They will be useful as you read, and compose a one-page response in preparation for your discussion session. These sessions will be held on Monday, August 19th from 1-3pm in locations to be announced during the Week of Welcome in August. Remember, scientific evidence shows that thinking burns calories.
Writing
In no more than 300 words, typed and double spaced, compose a one-page response in reply to one of the following prompts. Include your name, PID#, and the date in the upper right hand corner of your response paper.
1. Select any sura that you find especially interesting and explain how its text treats the relationship between the external world of nature and the internal world of faith and moral obligation.
2. Select an appropriate sura to discuss in terms of the idea of moral reckoning or judgment: how does the specific text develop that idea as an event outside of time, or as an element of human welfare and ordinary life?
3. Read a specific sura (from pages 156-180) while listening to the CD recording of the Qur'ánic recitation. What exactly does the experience of listening to the recitation add to your overall understanding of the text or to the overall impression it makes on you?
4. Select any one of the suras that most interests you; reflect and respond to it using your own ideas and material from the book.
Sharing
Your written response will be shared among faculty, staff and students in two ways:
1. On August 19th, bring a typed copy of your response paper to your Discussion Session. You may be asked to read or summarize your brief paper during this time. At the end of the session, these papers will be turned in to the discussion leaders and used as part of the evaluation of the Carolina Summer Reading Program.
2. On the first day of class in your First Year writing (or oral communication) course (English 11 or 12, Honors 29, or Comm 09), bring a typed copy of your response paper to your class. Your instructor may use it to provide you with feedback on your writing (or oral presentation) and critical thinking. There will be no grade associated with this assignment. Some instructors, where appropriate, may use Approaching the Qur'án as part of their syllabus and may refer to your work and the ideas expressed in it for discussion or for other written assignments. Note: Transfer students who are not enrolled in these courses are exempt from this part of the assignment.
Note: There will not be an electronic format for posting your response (as noted on the handout distributed at C-TOPS and TSOP).
Resources
The following aids are available as resources to assist you in completing this assignment:
Reading Toward Writing (www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/readingwriting.html) -- this handout provides strategies for reading, including how to use sources in preparation for writing a paper.
Effective Academic Writing: The Argument ( www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/argument.html ) -- this handout provides tips on how to write an effective argument (i.e., expressing a point of view on a subject and supporting it with evidence).
Carolina Summer Reading Program Website ( www.unc.edu/srp ) -- this site provides numerous resources to complement the reading. These supplemental materials will provide you with additional insight into the Islamic culture.
See also Approaching the Qur'án: Study Questions.
For more information about the Carolina Summer Reading Program, send email to read@unc.edu.
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Last revised: July 17, 2002