Welcome to Resource Review II, an eight-week course that extends the research and evaluation practices of Resource Review I. Dylan Pahman’s work on freedom, virtue, and society provides a sustained resource for discussing leadership in social and institutional contexts. You will test resources against your own vocation, compare differing assumptions, and reflect on the skills and process of researching and finding quality resources.
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84378709925?pwd=8DskHTqyawmVtHTBg6GwtYjCaVsJ15.1
Discussion forum: https://stacollege.org/forums/forum/resource-review-i-ii-sem-prep/
I. Course Description
For leadership, it is important to be able to draw from a broad range of resources that inform personal and vocational excellence and growth. To be able to lead well in a particular area, one should also have access to resources related to that area. As you progress through your journey in Kairos, you will know you’ve completed this outcome when you and your mentor team have determined that you are able to demonstrate familiarity with leadership resources and resources related to your specific area of focus.
II. Course Objectives
While progressing toward this outcome, students will typically:
- Reflect on the skills and process of researching and finding quality resources.
- Create an annotated list of general leadership resources.
- Create an annotated list of resources related to their specialization.
III. Areas of Focus
- Content: Resources recognized in the student’s context as having significant value for general leadership.
- Character: The ability to compare one’s values, ethics, and discernment when selecting and using resources.
- Craft: Skills and practices for finding, evaluating, and annotating resources related to one’s context.
IV. Indicators
An individual proficient in Resource Review:
- Demonstrates the skills necessary for researching and finding quality resources.
- Shows familiarity with quality resources related to general leadership.
- Shows familiarity with quality resources related to one’s specialization.
V. Materials Needed
Student purchase: Dylan Pahman, Foundations of a Free & Virtuous Society. Students may use a print or electronic edition. Page assignments vary by edition; read the named portions in the schedule.
Additional resources: No other purchase is required.
Essay format: The essays will have five paragraphs: an introduction that includes the thesis, a paragraph for each of the three points that support the thesis, and a conclusion summarizing the presentation. Use parenthetical citations and include a works cited section at the end. At the very least, the textbook should be cited in each of the essays.
VI. Schedule
Week 1 (10/13) — Introduction to the course. Review the syllabus.
- Read the forward and introduction of Pahman.
Week 2 (10/20) — What does it mean to be human?
- Read Chapter One of Pahman.
- Five-Paragraph Essay: Find and evaluate an Orthodox essay, book, podcast episode or series, or video on human anthropology.
- DUE 10/16
- Comment on at least one student’s essay.
- DUE 10/20
Week 3 (10/27) — What is society?
- Read Chapter Two of Pahman.
- Five-Paragraph Essay: Find and evaluate an Orthodox essay, book, podcast episode, or video on ecclesiology.
- Due 10/23
- Comment on at least one student’s essay.
- Due 10/27
Week 4 (11/3) — What is an economy.
- Read Chapter Three of Pahman.
- Five-Paragraph Essay: Find and evaluate an Orthodox essay, book, podcast episode, or video on economics.
- Due 10/30
- Comment on at least one student’s online patristic resources.
- Due 11/3
Week 5 (11/10) — The Orthodox Method of Knowing.
- Read Chapter Four of Pahman.
- Five-Paragraph Essay: Use your understanding of Orthodox theology and ethics to analyze the justice of capitalist pricing OR property rights. Use one quote from scripture (and/or a church father) for each point/paragraph.
- Due 11/6
- Comment on at least one student’s essay.
- Due 11/10
Week 6 (11/17) — Inequality, equality, and freedom.
- Read Chapter Five of Pahman.
- Five-Paragraph Essay: How should priests handle political and economic questions in the parish?
- Due 11/13
- Comment on at least one student’s essay.
- Due 11/17
Week 7 (11/24) — The Sources of Knowing.
- Read the Conclusion and Appendix of Pahman
- Fill out your self-assessment.
Week 8 (11/31) — Oral exam. What are the qualities of a reliable information source? How should we handle biased sources? What does it mean to be human? What is society? What is an economy? What are the best ways to handle property rights and prices? How important are freedom and equality for human flourishing? How can virtue be maintained in a liberal democracy? What do you think the ideal system of political economy is for Orthodox Christians in the fallen world?
VII. Course Requirements
Participation. Students are expected to attend all Zoom meetings, arrive on time, stay for the duration, and come prepared to discuss the assigned reading and their developing portfolios.
Weekly work. Students submit the annotations and short reflections indicated in the schedule by the beginning of the relevant class. Annotations should use the format in Section V. Course discussions and feedback are opportunities to revise entries; the final portfolio should be a curated selection, not a pile of unedited weekly submissions.
Oral exam. Students will discuss the course materials and their finished portfolio one-on-one with the professor for fifteen to twenty minutes.
Assessment. Evidence of proficiency comes from preparation and participation, the accuracy and usefulness of annotations, thoughtful revision, the final portfolio and reflection, and the oral exam. The mentor team participates in determining whether the Resource Review outcome has been met. Any course grade or weighting required by the institution should be entered in the course site before the course begins.
Use of AI. Students may use AI to proofread and suggest improvements, but the selection, reading, evaluation, citations, and writing must be their own. Verify any bibliographic information or claims suggested by a tool.
VIII. General Information
Attendance Policy. As participation is a key component of this course, students are allowed up to one unexcused absence. Excused absences include documented illness, deaths in the family and other documented crises, call to active military duty or jury duty, and religious holy days. These absences will be accommodated in a way that does not arbitrarily penalize students who have a valid excuse. Consideration will also be given to students whose dependent children experience serious illness. Please send an email to the instructor concerning the reason for your absence within three days of the absence so that you are not accidentally penalized.
Late Assignment Policy. All assignment grades will be deducted 10% per day the assignment is submitted late unless excused. Please send an email to the instructor if you are unable to submit your assignment on time with a proper excuse. No excuses or exceptions will be considered after the due date/time.
Professionalism. Professional conduct is expected at all times. This includes communication via email with your instructor and your classmates, and communication on the class website. Our classroom should be a place where people feel safe sharing opinions and ideas. Be sure to use respectful language when disagreeing. If you have a concern with the course, please send a thoughtful email to me outlining your concern.
Academic Honor Policy. Anyone caught plagiarizing or abetting plagiarism will receive a zero for the assignment and may result in expulsion from St. Athanasius College. There are no exceptions to this rule. Plagiarism includes claiming as your own work that which is not yours.
Religious Holidays Policy. St. Athanasius College will provide reasonable accommodations to students who request to be excused from class to observe a religious holy day of their faith. Students will make the request in writing to their instructor, preferably upon receipt of the course syllabus, but not later than two weeks before the holy observance. Note that such an accommodation may not be possible when the religious holy day conflicts with group work or experiential learning projects that cannot reasonably be rescheduled; therefore, students should avoid potential conflicts when scheduling courses. While excused students will be held responsible for the material covered in their absence, they shall be permitted a reasonable amount of time to make up the work missed. Instructors and administrators shall not penalize students who are absent from academic activities because of excused religious holy day observance. This policy applies to all St. Athanasius College courses, regardless of location or mode of delivery.
Student Disability Accommodations. St. Athanasius College provides reasonable accommodations or modifications in adherence with local, state, and federal law. To receive accommodations through St. Athanasius College, students must self-elect to disclose their disability to the Office of the Dean and follow the steps to receive accommodations. Accommodations are not retroactive. Approved accommodation requests submitted after courses have begun will be effective as of the date the completed request was received by the Office of the Dean. To complete an Accommodation Request, students can access the form online at the school’s website. If the student has an issue accessing the form for any reason please contact the Office of the Dean. In addition to the Accommodation Request, students should email appropriate documentation to the Office of the Dean.
Syllabus Change Policy. Except for changes that substantially affect implementation of the evaluation (grading) statement, this syllabus is a guide for the course and is subject to change with advance notice.
