Writing in Religious StudiesPlease keep in mind that these are only general guidelines; always defer to your professor's specifications for a given assignment. If you have any questions about the content represented here, please contact the Writing Centers so that we can address them for you. Writing good papers for Religious Studies begins with thinking critically about issues that surround our diverse culture. To write a paper for these particular classes, one has to do more than use proper grammar, transtions, and good topic sentences. The writer must, nonetheless, employ these strategies as they exhibit their understanding of the key concepts and apply them to the class and their own personal ethics as well. When writing a religion paper it is important to create a logical thesis that can be supported through, both, academic and personal sources. Your argument can be connected to your personal ethics as long as evidence is provided and remains open to the pluralisitic respect of each religion that is studied. The Religious Studies Department encourages students in all major concentrations and minors to engage various questions related to the study of religion; these questions, along with additional ones depending on your professor and assignment, will also be addressed with each paper that is written:
For an idea of what each class may require you to write about, you should check out Religious Studies course descriptions. Preferred Bibliographic Style Most papers wlll be formatted according to the MLA Style; however, some professors may require that students use the APA Style. Common Writing Assignments Research Paper: As the name indicates, research papers are based largely on the findings of individualized primary source research. Usually, students will choose their own topic and sources before conducting research. Secondary sources will inform the primary source research, but the main argument of the assignment must make a claim about the primary sources. Textual analysis: Students will have to critically read texts and argue whether or not the author effectively made his or her case. The student will have to present evidence of the author’s techniques to assert whether or not they have adequately supported their argument. Book Review: A book review is a description, critical analysis, and an evaluation on the quality, meaning, and significance of a book. It should focus on the book's purpose, content, and authority. It is a reaction paper in which strengths and weaknesses of the material are analyzed. It should include a statement of what the author has tried to do, evaluates how well (in the opinion of the reviewer) the author has succeeded, and presents evidence to support this evaluation. Annotated Bibliography: An annotated bibliography is a list of citation of sources. Each citation is followed by a brief descriptive and evaluative paragraph. The purpose of the annotation is to inform the reader of the relevance and quality of the sources cited. Short Essay: A short essay is a common academic assignment for students in high school, graduate school and even undergraduate programs. Short essays allow students to express their opinions, convey ideas, and review information in a succinct way. Professors often assign short essays because they allow students to study a particular topic in depth and think critically about it. Short essays are also easier for professors to read if they have large classes. Helpful Resources
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