Description
This assignment invites you to make a closer study of a text from our course by practicing the art of note-taking. You will do so by 1) selecting a primary source from among the assigned readings, 2) re-reading that primary source with a series of specific questions about its form and content in mind, 3) consulting a secondary source on that text and/or its tradition from a curated list, and 4) compiling your observations about the primary source and the secondary source in a clearly organized document of reading notes formatted according to the Cornell Notes method.
Instructions
Select a primary source from the list below.
Search for and then secure a copy of the secondary source that corresponds to the primary source you’ve selected. (I WILL PROVIDE THE SOURCES AS AN ATTACHMENT)
Watch this brief video on the Cornell note-taking system to familiarize yourself with the basic format. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEsBd_Rgzfs
Download the Cornell Notes template attached to this assignment page.
As you re-read the primary source, complete one page of notes using the provided Cornell Notes template. You should aim to include the following in each section:
Notes: Use this section to keep track of details about the text you deem significant. These may include the author’s thesis statement, transitions in the argument, key terms alongside their definitions, and brief quotations that are representative of the text as a whole. Be as specific as possible when referring to the text, including page number and paragraph number. There is no need to use formal sentences; bullet points are perfectly fine.
Questions: Use this section to keep a running list of questions you have about the text itself and/or its broader significance. These may include exegetical questions about how the text ought to be interpreted or what its author means by a certain word, phrase, or section of their argument (e.g., “What exactly does Evagrius mean by passion? Does it differ from an ordinary want or desire? If so, how?” Etc.), but they may also include normative questions about whether and how the text matters to either your own or a more general understanding of the topics it discusses (e.g., “I wonder if Evagrius is right about the passions. Should we really want to rid ourselves of all desires? Would that not make us more divine at the expense of our humanity?” Etc.).
Summary: Use this section to craft a two to three sentence summary of the text that identifies not only what it says but how it says it. These summaries typically have the form “[Author] says/argues/claims/etc. [summary of what they say] by showing/demonstrating/performing/etc. [how they say it].”
As you read the secondary source, complete another page of notes using the same template. You should follow the directions for each section outlined in Step 5.
Submit both pages of notes through this assignment page.
Please pick which primary source you want to write on and I will provide both the primary and secondary source
Primary Sources
John of the Cross, Dark Night of the Soul (selections)
Catherine of Siena, Letters (selections)
Meister Eckhart, Sermons (selections)
Teresa of Avila, The Life of Teresa of Jesus (selections)
Julian of Norwich, Showings (selections)
Ignatius of Loyola, The Spiritual Exercises (selections)
Thomas Merton, New Seeds of Contemplation (selections)
Secondary Sources
John of the Cross (selections)
David B. Perrin, “John of the Cross (1542-91): The Dark Night,” in Christian Spirituality: The Classics, ed. Arthur Holder (London: Routledge, 2009), 221-232.
Catherine of Siena (selections)
Darleen Pryds, “Catherine of Siena (1347-80): Dialogue,” in Christian Spirituality: The Classics, ed. Arthur Holder (London: Routledge, 2009), 172-183.
Meister Eckhart (selections)
Charlotte C. Radler, “Meister Eckhart, Johannes Tauler, and Henry Suso,” in The Wiley-Blackwell Companion to Christian Mysticism, ed. Julia A. Lamm (Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell, 2013), 340-356.
Teresa of Avila (selections)
Mary Frohlich, “Teresa of Avila (1515-82): The Interior Castle,” in Christian Spirituality: The Classics, ed. Arthur Holder (London: Routledge, 2009), 209-220.
Julian of Norwich (selections)
Elizabeth Koenig, “Julian of Norwich (c.1342-c.1416): Showings,” in Christian Spirituality: The Classics, ed. Arthur Holder (London: Routledge, 2009), 148-159.
Ignatius of Loyola (selections)
Elizabeth Liebert, “Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556): Spiritual Exercises,” in Christian Spirituality: The Classics, ed. Arthur Holder (London: Routledge, 2009), 197-208.
Thomas Merton (selections)
Bruce H. Lescher, “Thomas Merton (1915-1968): New Seeds of Contemplation,” in Christian Spirituality: The Classics, ed. Arthur Holder (London: Routledge, 2009), 353-364.
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