Religions of the West
Saint Anselm College
Fall 2004
Essay Assignment
Paper Proposals Due - 7 October 2004
Papers Due 16 November 2004

The essay topic is to be chosen at the student's discretion.  The paper may be a comparative effort, considering at least two of the traditions considered.  Thus, an exploration of a particular topic,  such as ethics in Islam and Judaism, would satisfy the assignment. On the other hand, the paper might be an exploration of a topic within a single religion.  Though the emphasis is to be on critical appraisal of the arguments presented, some research is necessary, with appropriate citation.  At least six secondary works are to be considered, with footnote form following Chicago Manual of Style, 14th ed.  The paper is due on November 16th, 2004.

 Further, to help the construction of the papers, paper proposals will be due on October 7th.  The paper proposal must include a clearly constructed thesis, and a brief bibliography.  The thesis statement is just that, but a prospectus for how the thesis will be proven should be included.  The paper proposals are not to exceed one page. 

 How can one begin to construct a paper?  Begin with something that interests you.  Interest can include those things which are intriguing, or enraging, or repulsive.  But what is needed is something that arouses your passion!  You'll be spending significant time on the project, so get some topic that you want to grasp deeply.  Also, critical analysis is never "I didn't like this religion, they're just stupid…"  Rather, critical analysis is a product of critical appraisal of the argument, looking for underlying assumptions, possible inconsistencies of thought, and possible implications of the argument.  Finally, your paper has to present an argument, not just facts!

 What is an argument?  It is a clear statement of the answer to a question, which is not self-evident.  Thus, an argument that "Christianity and Judaism have scriptures," fails this test.  On the other hand, the thesis that "Christianity and Judaism share a scripture, but are divided by its meaning," would pass.  Then, the point of the paper is to prove the thesis.

Papers are to be ten pages in length, done on a word processor.  That is to say, about 2500 words long.  They must go on to the tenth page, they may go on to the eleventh page or further.  Cover sheets are not necessary, staples are.  Place your name and section clearly at the top of the first page, and keep a copy of your work should a gremlin steal it from the office files.  Margins of 1" are necessary for comment.  Finally, good grammar and spelling do count!

 
Examples of Possible Paper Topics

***#1 is correct form.

1. Mother, Virgin, Saint?  Christian and Jewish images of Women -

Question:  What's the difference between Jewish and Christian images of women?

Topic Statement:

"I will demonstrate, through a comparison of particular scriptural passages and modern commentary upon them, that the Jewish image of the woman is more life-affirming than the Christian."

Resources:   Catholic catechism, commentaries, Talmud, books on Reform Judaism 

 
Catechism of the Catholic Church.  Vatican City : Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1994.

 Crawford, Sidnie White.  "Mothers, Sisters and Elders: Titles for Women in Second Temple Jewish and Early Christian Communities."  In Dead Sea Scrolls as Background to Postbiblical Judaism and Early Christianity , Leiden: Brill, 2003, 117-145.

 Goodman-Thau, Eveline.  "Be Thou of Age: The Woman as Mediator of Religion in Judaism."  In Toward a New Heaven and a New Earth, Maryknoll, N.Y. : Orbis Books, 2003, 269-286.

 Levine, Amy-Jill.  "Gender, Judaism, and Literature: Unwelcome Guests in Household Configurations."  Biblical Interpretation 11(2003):239-246.

Metzger, Bruce, Murphy, Roland, et al, editors. The New Oxford Annotated Bible. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1994.

2. Crusader or Terrorist?  Christian, Jewish and Islamic ideas of war - 

Question:  Does the Koran, TaNaKh, or Bible contain doctrines that lead to a more war-like culture?

Topic Statement:

 "I will demonstrate, through a comparison of the scriptures of Islam, Judaism, and Christianity, that all three contain warring images, and that the differing opinions of the three religions on holy war are later developments."

Resources:  Bible, TaNaKh, Koran, histories of Christianity, Judaism, Islam, books on war theories

 
Citation - A Really Good Thing

Required instances for footnoting

1. ALL QUOTATIONS - even if it's only a word or phrase

2. ALL PARAPHRASES

3. ALL USES OF ANOTHER'S IDEAS

4. ALL STATISTICS AND DATES

5. For information not generally known (rule of thumb #1 - "Was I born knowing this?"  rule of thumb #2 - "Would an average freshman at St. A's know this?")

Useful instances for footnoting

1. To convey information that might be useful but which would disrupt the narrative or argument

2. To argue with a secondary source.  "Huizingha's thesis about the waning of the Middle Ages seems unsupportable on the face of the evidence, especially considering Southern's ideal of a synthetic zenith in the thirteenth century."

3. To explain terminology, especially idiosyncratic uses of it

4. To indicate things about which you will not speak