Touchstone 2 ( English )

Touchstones are projects that illustrate your comprehension of the course material, help you refine skills, and demonstrate application of knowledge. You can

work on a Touchstone anytime, but you can't submit it until you have completed the unit’s Milestones. Once you've submitted a Touchstone, it will be graded

and counted toward your final course score.

Touchstone 2: Comparing and Contrasting the Common Elements of Religions

ASSIGNMENT: For this Touchstone, you will demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of religions so far by comparing and contrasting two of the

world’s religions.

In a 400-600 word short essay, you will compare and contrast one “eastern” religion and one “western” religion discussed so far in this course. Using

specific examples from the lessons in Unit 1 and Unit 2 to support your conclusions, you will analyze some of the ways in which these religions are both

similar and different.

A. Assignment Guidelines

DIRECTIONS: Select one “eastern” religion and one “western” religion discussed so far in this course. Review the lessons in Unit 1 and Unit 2 as you consider

how these religions are both similar and different.

Your short essay should include four parts:

• Briefly introduce the two religions you have selected to compare and contrast.

• Identify and explain at least two commonalities between these two religions, using specific examples from the lessons.

• Identify and explain at least two differences between these two religions, using specific examples from the lessons.

• Briefly summarize & conclude your short essay. In your conclusion, explain what we can learn about religions in general by noticing both their similarities

and differences.

As you develop your response, you should compare or contrast at least one example from each of the following elements of religion:

• Historical & geographic origins

• Core beliefs & doctrines

• Core rituals & practices

Not Submitted Submitted Scored

You can work on a Touchstone whenever you want, but you must complete the previous assessments in the Unit before you can submit it. SUBMIT TOUCHSTONE

 Currently, the average time for a Touchstone to be graded is 2-3 days from submission.

UNIT 2 — TOUCHSTONE 2: Comparing and Contrasting the Common Elements of Religions

SCORE

-/25

• Important texts & narratives

You will use information from the Sophia tutorials to support your response. When citing material from a tutorial, please include the name of the tutorial and

use the following format (using Sophia's Primal Religions tutorial as an example):

• In-text citation: (Primal Religions, n.d.)

• Reference: (n.d.). Primal Religions [MOOC]. In Approaches to Studying Religions. Sophia Learning. https://app.sophia.org/spcc/approaches-to-studying-

religions--2/unit1/study-guide/7845/primal-religions-2

Refer to the completion checklist below throughout the writing process. Do not submit your Touchstone until it meets these guidelines.

❒ Have you selected one “eastern” religion and one “western religion” discussed so far in this course?

❒ Have you briefly introduced the two religions you selected?

❒ Have you identified and explained at least two commonalities between these religions?

❒ Have you identified and explained at least two differences between these religions?

❒ Have you included at least one example from each of the given elements of religion: historical & geographic origins; core beliefs & doctrines; core

rituals & practices; and important texts & narratives?

❒ Is your short essay between 400-600 words, double-spaced, and formatted in 12-point font?

❒ Have you cited examples with in-text citations?

❒ Have you proofread your short essay for mistakes in spelling, grammar, punctuation, and capitalization?

B. Rubric

  Advanced (100%) Proficient (80%) Needs Improvement (60%)

Non-Performance (0%)

Selection of Religions (5 points)

Essay identifies an “eastern” and a “western” religion discussed in the course.

Essay correctly identifies an “eastern” religion and a “western” religion to compare and contrast, and accurately describes both.

Essay correctly identifies an “eastern” religion and a “western” religion to compare and contrast, but may describe one or both less accurately.

Essay may incorrectly categorize religions as “eastern” or “western,” or may provide a markedly inaccurate description of one or both.

Essay fails to identify an “eastern” religion and a “western” religion to compare and contrast, or to provide any description of either.

Analysis of Similarities (Comparison) (5 points)

Essay analyzes similarities between religions and provides specific examples that support the analysis.

Essay accurately identifies and explains at least two similarities between religions.

Essay accurately identifies and explains at least two similarities between religions.

Essay accurately identifies and explains only one similarity between religions.

Essay does not accurately identify and explain similarities between religions.

Analysis of Differences (Contrast) (5 points)

Essay analyzes differences between religions and provides specific examples that support the analysis.

Essay accurately identifies and explains at least two differences between religions.

Essay accurately identifies and explains at least two differences between religions.

Essay accurately identifies and explains only one difference between religions is accurately identified and explained.

Essay does not accurately identify and explain differences between religions.

  Advanced (100%) Proficient (80%) Needs Improvement (60%)

Non-Performance (0%)

Elements of Religion (5 points)

Essay draws on disparate elements of religion for analysis.

Essay describes examples from each of the four given elements of religion: -historical & geographic origins -core beliefs & doctrines -core rituals & practices -important texts & narratives

Essay describes examples from three of the four given elements of religion: -historical & geographic origins -core beliefs & doctrines -core rituals & practices -important texts & narratives

Essay describes examples from one or two of the four given elements of religion: -historical & geographic origins -core beliefs & doctrines -core rituals & practices -important texts & narratives

Essay does not describe examples from any of the four four given elements of religion: -historical & geographic origins -core beliefs & doctrines -core rituals & practices -important texts & narratives

Use of Evidence (3 points)

Submission uses specific examples from the course, that are cited appropriately, to support the response.

At least 4 specific examples from the course are used to support the response. Examples are cited appropriately.

2-3 examples from the course are used to support the response. Examples are cited appropriately.

1-2 examples from the course are used to support the response. Examples may not be cited appropriately.

No examples from the course are used or cited to support the response.

Conventions (1 point)

Essay follows conventions for standard written English.

There are one or no errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and capitalization.

There are minor errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and capitalization that do not impede readability.

There are frequent errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and capitalization that impede readability.

There are consistent errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and capitalization that significantly impede readability.

Meets requirements (1 point)

Submission meets formatting requirements, including 12-point font, double-spacing, and word count.

All requirements for formatting and length are met.

Requirements for formatting and length are mostly met.

Requirements for formatting and length are somewhat met.

Requirements for formatting and length are not met at all.

C. Requirements

The following requirements must be met for your submission to be graded:

• Composition must be between 400-600 words.

• Double-space the composition and use one-inch margins.

• Use a readable 12-point font.

• All writing must be appropriate for an academic context.

• Composition must be original and written for this assignment.

• Plagiarism of any kind is strictly prohibited.

• Submission must include your name, the name of the course, the date, and the title of your composition.

• Include all of the assignment components in a single file.

• Acceptable file formats include .doc and .docx.

• In-text citations should use this style: (Monotheism, n.d.)

• References should use this style: (n.d.). Monotheism [MOOC]. In Approaches to Studying Religions. Sophia Learning. https://app.sophia.org

/spcc/approaches-to-studying-religions--2/unit2/study-guide/8161/monotheism-2

About Contact Us Privacy Policy Terms of Use

© 2023 SOPHIA Learning, LLC. SOPHIA is a registered trademark of SOPHIA Learning, LLC.