Spring 2025 Syllabus
* subject to modifications
Table of contents
- Overview
- Methods of Instruction
- Platform Logistics
- Course Policies
Overview
Learning Objectives
- Gain a large knowledge base of the vocabulary used in Gurbani. This doesn’t mean knowing every single word used by the Gurus, but rather gaining a broad knowledge of the most common words and, most importantly, building the skillset to independently use available resources to find the meanings of more difficult words.
- Develop an understanding of the basics of Gurbāṇī Vyākaraṇ (grammar). By studying a lesson from Shackle’s Sacred Language of the Sikhs, every week, we will develop an understanding that allows us to differentiate between similar words with different meanings, and discover the beautiful nuances of the Guru’s Lingo. Be able to apply this knowledge when assessing validity of a variety of interpretations of the same tuk (line of Gurbani).
- Build a large resource base and practice of independent learning. Know where to go when presented with difficult to understand phrases or words in Gurbāṇī, and gain confidence doing independent exploration of Sikh texts.
- Gain a general understanding of the overarching themes of Gurbani. Using commentaries of learned members of the Panth, develop an understanding of those themes which can help inform the interpretation of other passages.
Prerequisites
It is a soft prerequisite to be able to read and write the Gurmukhi characters, as this is essential to read and study Gurbani directly, and will be necessary for assignments and assessments. However, we encourage any students interested in the course who have an internal drive to learn to read Gurmukhi characters quickly to enroll and do so prior to the start of the semester, or latest within the first 2 weeks of the class. To accommodate such students, we will aim to include transliterated text throughout the course content as much as possible for the first 2 weeks. After that, the class will assume all students can read Gurmukhi characters. Any students in need of resources or recommendations to self-study Gurmukhi characters can use those listed below as well as reach out to instructors for further guidance:
- Learn Gurmukhi in 10 Hours Basics of Sikhi YouTube Course
- DiscoverSikhism’s WebPage Overview
No prior knowledge of spoken Punjabi is required. The large majority of the course will be in English. There is an undeniable benefit to understanding Punjabi, Hindi, and other languages which have similarities to the vocabulary of Gurbani, but such an understanding is not expected for students to have prior to this course.
No prior knowledge of Gurbani is required. This course is intended both for students who are entirely new to understanding Gurbani as well as those who are looking to deepen their knowledge further. We encourage all interested students to enroll.
Sources & Tools
This course will draw on many primary and secondary sources, written as well as those in other media formats, and other tools, to achieve its learning objectives. All readings and videos will be accessible free of cost, and provided weekly. As the semester progresses, links to resources will be compiled under the Resources tab on the left. Below is a summarized list of these sources (subject to change).
- Guru Granth Sahib ji
- Dasam Granth
- Bhai Gurdas ji’s Vaaran
- An Introduction to the Sacred Language of the Sikhs by C. Shackle (will be referred to as ISLS here onwards)
- Sikhi to the Max (will be referred to as STTM here onwards)
- Mahan Kosh
- SikhRi Online Courses and Dictionary
- Punjabi Dictionary
- and a large variety of Steeks, Teekas, and Video interpretations of Gurbani.
Methods of Instruction
Lecture
Live presentation of slides and discussions about course content.
- Synchronous — Wednesdays 3:00-5:00 PM in Dwinelle 246
- Attendance is required, but if you aren’t able to attend regularly (ex: occasional time conflict, health reasons, ability to get to campus), please reach out to the instructors within the first two weeks of the course to determine whether the necessary accommodations can be provided.
Homework: Worksheets & ISLS Exercises
Weekly assignment to provide practice with vocabulary, thematic elements, and grammar theory presented in lecture. Completed individually, but feel free to discuss problems with other students.
- Worksheets are released via the course website after lecture, around 7pm. Submissions are due via bCourses the Monday before the following lecture at noon (12pm). They are designed to take about one hour.
Readings
Weekly reading to provide further exploration and critical insight into course topics. Completed individually.
- Released via the course website, no submission.
- All readings will be freely available. They are designed to take about an hour or less.
RemNote
Weekly flashcard quota to provide practice retaining the vocabulary words presented in lecture. Completed individually.
- Released via the course website after lecture, submit screenshot after completion via bCourses before the following lecture.
- Designed to take about 1-2 hours each week.
Mini-Quizzes
Short assessments (about 10-minutes) at the beginning of each lecture to demonstrate mastery of the previous lecture’s content as practiced via RemNote, Worksheets, and Exercises. Completed individually.
- Released via the course website or on paper, and completed in-class (online submissions through bCourses). Commonly missed questions reviewed immediately after.
Final Project
Creative applications demonstrating familiarity with tools and concepts presented in lecture and practiced in Homeworks. Completed in a team of 2-3 students (but can also be done individually if requested).
- Released via the course website and submission via bCourses.
- Introduced during Week 10’s lecture and formally released directly after.
- Due 11:59 PM on the Sunday before Week 14’s lecture.
- Project Presentations will occur during the last lecture, Week 14.
Office Hours
Opportunities to get one-on-one help with homework, conceptual questions, project progress, discuss concepts with peers, or any questions you might have.
- Currently by appointment only, but subject to change based on demand.
Platform Logistics
bCourses
The GuruLingo DeCal Spring 2025 bCourses will primarily be used for submitting assignments, and for course staff to assign grades. Instructors will also use bCourses as our primary platform for communication, including course-wide announcements, assignment and lecture reminders, and team communication.
gurulingo Website
The GuruLingo webpage will be the most up to date location for course content, assignment releases, and the weekly schedule. Assigned readings and resources will also be posted here.
Course Policies
Grading Policy
This course will be graded out of 200 total points, and is graded on a Pass/No Pass basis. To pass the course, you need to earn 140 points (70%).
Point Breakdown
| Item | Points |
|---|---|
| Attendance | 50 |
| Homework | 50 |
| Mini-Quizzes | 50 |
| Final Project | 40 |
| Remnote | 10 |
Attendance — 50 points
- Attendance is mandatory and arguably the most important compenent of this course.
- 4 points per week, 14 weeks (56 points possible but graded out of 50 points, i.e. this is an extra credit opportunity if present and on time every week and there is also leeway if you need to miss some class)
- If late under 20 minutes past Berkeley Time, eligible for 2 out of the 4 points (half-credit).
Homework (Worksheets & Exercises) — 50 points
- 5 points per weekly homework, 12 weeks of homework, due Monday’s before class at noon (12pm).
- Lowest 2 dropped
- Graded on genuine effort (i.e. you don’t need to get everything right, so long as you give each question a genuine attempt you’ll get full credit)
- Any homework submitted late is eligible for 80% credit. The late deadline is 11:59 PM on the day of the due date. The reason for this hard deadline is that solutions will be released Tuesday mornings so that students are able to review their answers before the Mini-Quiz in-class on Wednesday.
- If you complete all homework assignments, you will receive 2 points extra credit in this category.
Mini-Quizzes — 50 points
- 5 points per Mini-Quiz, 12 total
- Lowest 2 dropped
Final Project Report & Presentation — 40 points
- Details will be released during Week 10
- A final project submitted late is eligible for 70% credit. You are welcome to submit up until 11:59 PM the night before the final project presentation.
RemNote — 10 points
- 1 point per week, for 12 weeks (2 points extra credit possible if all are completed)
Accommodation Policy
Below are some of our built-in accommodation policies, but we want to stress that we are here to help you on an individual basis. Please reach out to us if you are ever struggling on assignments or keeping up with the pace of the course. We created this class to bring students new opportunities, and we want to help you succeed.
Please see above under “Grading Policy” for extra credit opportunities, late work credit, and assignment drop details.
Computer and internet access
This course requires fairly regular computer and internet access. If you do not have consistent access to both of these things, please reach out to us. We will work with you on a case-by-case basis to ensure you are still able to engage with and learn from the course materials.
DSP
Please verify your DSP status with us by sending us a DSP letter either for this course specifically or from another course. We will provide you with whatever accommodation you are given.
Academic Honesty
As full-time students, course loads can become difficult and require a lot of time and energy — do not discount the work that other students, both in our class and beyond, put into what they make. Please show the respect that you would like others to give your work.
While collaboration, references, and resources are encouraged, passing off someone else’s work as your own will not be tolerated. If you use someone else’s work in any way, you must include credit to them somewhere on your submitted file.
Failure to abide by these rules may result in:
- An automatic NP in the course
- A letter to our faculty sponsor & the department chair documenting the incident
- A referral to the UC Berkeley Center for Student Conduct
Honor Code
The student community at UC Berkeley has adopted the following Honor Code: “As a member of the UC Berkeley community, I act with honesty, integrity, and respect for others.” The expectation is that you will adhere to this code. Read the entire Berkeley Honor Code for more information.
Cheating
A good lifetime strategy is always to act in such a way that no one would ever imagine that you would even consider cheating. Anyone caught cheating on a homework assignment, quiz or the Final Exam will receive a failing grade in the course and will also be reported to the University Center for Student Conduct. The expectation is that you will be honest in the taking of quizzes and exams.
Plagiarism
To copy text or ideas from another source without appropriate reference is plagiarism and will result in a failing grade for your assignment and usually further disciplinary action. For additional information on plagiarism and how to avoid it, read the UC Berkeley Library Citation Page, Plagiarism Section.
Academic Integrity and Ethics
Cheating on exams and plagiarism are two common examples of dishonest, unethical behavior. Honesty and integrity are of great importance in all facets of life. They help to build a sense of self-confidence, and are key to building trust within relationships, whether personal or professional. There is no tolerance for dishonesty in the academic world, for it undermines what we are dedicated to doing - furthering knowledge for the benefit of humanity.
Intellectual Property and Copyright
All lectures and course materials, including powerpoint presentations, tests, outlines, and similar materials, are protected by U.S. copyright law and by University policy. The instructor is the exclusive owner of the copyright in those materials. You may take notes and make copies of course materials for your own use. You may also share those materials with another student who is registered and enrolled in this course, and with DSP. You may not reproduce, distribute or display (post/upload) lecture notes or recordings or any course materials — whether or not a fee is charged — without the instructor’s express written consent. You may not record any lectures, Zoom meetings or take pictures. You also may not allow others to do any of the above. If you do so, you may be subject to student conduct proceedings under the Berkeley Code of Student Conduct, including Sections 102.23 and 102.25. Similarly, you own the copyright in your original papers and exam essays. If the instructor is interested in posting your answers or papers on the course web site, they will ask for your written permission.
Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
The Berkeley campus actively monitors and supports full compliance with the University of California Policy on Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment. This Policy addresses the University’s responsibilities and procedures related to sexual violence, sexual harassment, retaliation, and other prohibited behavior as those terms are defined in this Policy (together, “Prohibited Conduct”) in order to ensure an equitable and inclusive education and employment environment. The Policy defines Prohibited Conduct and explains the administrative procedures the University uses to resolve reports of Prohibited Conduct. The campus has complaint procedures designed to facilitate the prompt and equitable resolution of sexual violence and sexual harassment and other discrimination complaints. If you believe that you have been a target of sexual violence and/or sexual harassment, have questions about the policy or about the complaint resolution procedures, please contact the Office for the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination, email ask_ophd@berkeley.edu, or call 510-643-7985. Here is the full text of the University Policy and further information.