Anyone intrested in writing a World Relgion Paper?

World Religions: RELN 1100 Dr. Tauscher

1

“How to Write Your Homework”

In writing your homework, it is imperative that you use proper grammar,

spelling, and composition form. Once you choose the homework question you

will answer, you may wish to outline the answer that you will give. In your

outline, first provide your yes or no answer restating the question. Then, provide

all the existing reasons for your answer and all the evidence/examples that support

each reason. Once you have listed all of these, arrange the answer from strongest

to weakest. Since you only have 2-3 pages to answer the selected question, you

will want to be very concise (short and to the point) in answering that question. If

you have space issues, you will want to be sure to provide the strongest reasons for

your answer and the most solid supporting examples/evidence. Remember, your

goal is not only to answer the question, but convince the reader that your answer

is correct.

Now, it is time to write your answer. Be sure to begin by providing the

number and topic of the question you are answering. (See Example: Question 5:

The Significance of Goddesses to Hinduism) Next, you will want to write your

First Paragraph beginning with a Topic Sentence which both answers the

question and summarizes your argument. The Body of the first paragraph then

summarizes the examples/evidence you will provide in support of your answer and

argument summary provided in the first sentence. The last sentence (Concluding

Sentence) of your first sentence then summarizes the most important aspects of the

argument and examples which you gave in the first paragraph. (See example

below.)

Next, you write the Body of your paper. It is just a more detailed rendition of

the evidence that you just set-forth in the introductory paragraph. Each paragraph

will focus on a different set of evidence that you listed in paragraph 1. Note that

each paragraph in the body must have a Topic Sentence, a Body (setting forth

how your original argument is supported by this particular evidence/set of

evidence), and Concluding Sentence (which sets-forth the conclusion you wish

the reader to draw from the topic sentence and body of this particular paragraph).

World Religions: RELN 1100 Dr. Tauscher

2

Finally, when you have finished the Body of your Paper, you are going to

write one final paragraph (the Concluding Paragraph) to bring it all together. The

Concluding Paragraph largely mirrors your Opening Paragraph – but now

informed by the hard work you’ve put in drafting the arguments and evidence in

the paragraphs of the Body. As usual, you will start with a Topic Sentence, but it

will be your most important sentence in the whole paper. It must not only

summarize your argument, but do it in a manner that convinces the reader that your

argument is correct. Then, write the Body of the paragraph summarizing your most

important (if not all) of your supporting evidence/examples. Then, you must end

with a strong Concluding Sentence which once again strongly states your

arguments and makes reference to the strongest evidence/example(s) set-forth in

the Body of your Paper.

Example Answer:

Title

Opening

Paragraph:

Topic Sentence

Body of

Paragraph 1

Concluding

Sentence of

Paragraph 1

Subsequent

Paragraphs

elaborate upon

the arguments

previewed in

Paragraph 1

(Note: each

paragraph

must have a

Question 5: The Significance of Goddesses to Hinduism

Goddesses play an important role in the Hindu religion by

providing the feminine aspects of the Divine. Creative feminine

energy is expressed through Devi, the divine mother. Both the

positive and negative aspects of female energy are expressed, as

will be demonstrated by the following recounting of the Hindu

myths regarding Parvati and Durga. Finally, the fine points of

art and culture are highlighted through the tales of Saraswati

while ferocious violence is expressed through Kali. Through the

Goddesses, Hinduism provides voice to the feminine nature of

Ultimate Reality as well as balance to the male energies of its

many Gods.

Devi is the supreme feminine Goddess and creative energy.

Her characteristics are largely depicted through the persona of

the other Goddesses. However; she is understood to be the

supreme creative energy or mother behind it all, even though

many view Durga as the official divine mother. Devi is the

counterbalance to the Absolute Reality expressed in Brahma.

Although Brahma is impersonal and therefore genderless, it is

included in the Trimurti along with two other Gods, Vishu and

Shiva. Thus, Devi is an example of a Goddess that provides both

a personification of feminine energy and counterbalance to

World Religions: RELN 1100 Dr. Tauscher

3

Topic

Sentence,

Supporting

Sentences, and

a Concluding

(summarizing)

Sentence.

Concluding

Paragraph:

Topic Sentence

Body of

Concluding

Paragraph

Concluding

Sentence of

Paragraph 1

divine male energy.

Pavarti and Durga are Goddesses that provide examples of

both the positive and negative aspects of feminine energy.

Pavarti is both beautiful and sensual, yet failed to adequately

protect her son, Ganesh from the wrath of her husband, Shiva.

Durga is the ultimate divine mother, yet she is the fierce

defender of the moral order. Both Pavarti and Durga are

Goddesses that demonstrate the good and bad aspects of

femininity.

Hinduism explores the finest and rawest characteristics of

feminine energy through the Goddesses Saraswati and Kali. As

goddess of art, music, and learning, Saraswati provides an

example of the feminine acuity for aesthetic knowledge. In

contrast, Kali represents female ferocity and vengeance which

underscores the human fear of death. These two goddesses,

Saraswati and Kali express the finer and baser forms of female

energy as well as balance Hindu adherents’ impression of life as

expressed through the Divine.

As shown above, goddesses do contribute a crucial and

meaningful function in the Hindu religion. Like Devi,

goddesses provide form to the creative aspects of the Divine.

Each Goddess embodies both positive and negative

characteristics of female energy, just as the Hindu myths about

Parvati and Durga. Finally, the best and worst of the female

nature are underscored through the tales of Saraswati, the

patroness of art and culture contrasted with the ferocity of Kali,

the harbinger of death. Goddesses are crucial to Hindu theology,

for it is through them that the religion recognizes the importance

of the feminine and gives voice to divine nature of female

energy.

Remember: Further help is available through the Academic Enhancement Center located

in the GGC Library, Room 2150 and Building B, Suite 2400.