New Work

Research Paper Directions

1. A paper of 6 pages plus a title page, abstract page, and reference page (9 total) will be written in

proper APA format. The paper is to be double-spaced.

2. The paper must cover a well-researched aspect of a religion of the student’s choice, but I give some

preapproved topics below.

3. The student must take a broad subject (like Christianity) and narrow their research to an aspect of that

religion (such as the doctrine of the atonement or Trinity).

4. A thesis or guiding statement must be given in the introduction of the paper, directing the reader

toward the writers’ goals in the paper. Also, the paper must use headings and subheading in the paper to

guide the flow of thought.

5. At least 5 peer-reviewed sources (journals and books) must be used. You CANNOT use Wikipedia,

blogs, .coms, and other non-scholarly sources in this paper.

6. A preliminary idea for the paper must be submitted in writing by __________________.

Suggested topics:

1. Shamanism 26. Development of the Bible

2. Messianic Judaism 27. Baptism in Christianity

3. The Torah 28. Ramadan

4. Development of the New Testament 29. Sacraments of the Catholic Church

5. John Calvin 30. Neo-Paganism

6. Martin Luther

7. Reform Judaism

8. Orthodox Judaism

9. Muhammad

10. Gandhi

11. The Buddha

12. Schism of 1054 (Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Church)

13. John Wycliffe

14. History of a Christian denomination (Baptist, Lutheran, etc.)

15. Zen Buddhism

16. Yoga as spiritual practice

17. The Apostle Paul

18. Jesus

19. Christianity- Doctrine of the Trinity

20. A compare and contrast paper within religions

21. The Five Pillars of Islam

22. Reincarnation

23. Sikhism

24. Eight Fold Path (Buddhism)

25. A new age religion, Wicca for example.