religion

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REL1300 Term Paper Guidelines

Students will be required to write a TERM PAPER. Your grade on this paper is also a

measure of your achievement of Learning Objective # 1 – Develop awareness of

diverse religious and ethical perspectives. See the Syllabus for more Learning

Objective details.

You cannot complete this course without submitting this paper.

This term paper will be in two distinct parts, written sequentially:

1. Part 1 – In Module 1, you wrote your Personal Essay, where you wrote an exposition in your own words of your personal faith or philosophy. Go back and read

it again.

• If applicable, discuss any changes that you would make after attending this

class. Why are you making each change? Did the class change your faith or

philosophy? Was your original writing incorrect because you did not have the

knowledge?

• It is okay to not have any changes to your original paper. If applicable, please

state this and also share any religion(s) that may have interested you and

why.

If you did not specify a particular religion in your Module 1 Personal Essay, then

determine which religion that we studied is the closest to your faith and philosophy.

Briefly explain how/why.

Typically, at most 1 page is required for this section. No references are needed for

this section.

2. Part 2 – Write a comparison with at least THREE of the other religions we studied in this class and which are DIFFERENT from either your own religion or the religion

discussed in part 1.

NOTE: The normal prohibition against use of the first person (I, me) does NOT apply in

this paper.

For each religion:

Cite 7- 10 points about the religion, enough to demonstrate that you would know

a person who practices that religion and be able to respect their religious

practices appropriately.

THEN - list 2-3 PHILOSOPHICAL differences between that religion and your

PERSONAL BELIEFS (i.e., not just that they speak a different language or dress

differently)

NOTE: All Christian faiths are considered as ONE for this purpose. Christianity is

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defined as all religions based on the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

This includes CATHOLIC, PROTESTANT, JEHOVAH WITNESS, ETC.

Typically, 3 pages are required for this section, 1 for EACH religion. References may

be required, although often your text and class notes will provide most of the

material you will need.

NO ABSTRACT IS REQUIRED.

NOTE: In this paper students are expected to develop and defend their own views as

well as researching and reporting other views.

Therefore, this paper must contain both of the above elements, which are to be

developed according to the guidelines above. The paper must be 3-4 pages,

double-spaced, with no extra words and no fluffing.

PLAGIARISM WILL CAUSE YOU TO FAIL THIS PAPER AND THE COURSE!