Grading criteria:
Main idea: writers understand the task; present a clear focus
Content: use of accurate supporting details/evidence, which is relevant to your primary concern
Organization: clearly organized according to the format below
Writing style: coherent and engaging
Mechanics: spelling, capitalization, punctuation, grammar
Follow the general grading rubric
PAPER FORMAT:
I. Introduction
Overview
of section: Summarize the topic of your study: name the organization
and introduce the topics you found most interesting and your primary
concern (e.g., identity, community, religious organizations, religious
experience, social justice, community, identity, ritual, transformation
of the person, etc.). Briefly state what you found most interesting and
why it is important within the context of understanding religion,
religion in America, or America. This is the “so what?” factor – this
should serve as a frame for the rest of your paper. Provide some brief
background information for the reader about the group you researched.
Keep in mind this is just an introduction. Save the details for the body
of the paper (i.e., “Observations” and “Analysis”).
Detailed description of introductory section (added Nov. 29, 22)
Introductory paragraph(s):This paragraph should provide a “road map” for the paper. In this paragraph, you should briefly explain the topic, argument, or what you intend to explore in the paper (i.e., your primary concern) and
then provide the reader with a brief overview of how you will go about
discussing this in the paper. This will serve as a framework for the
rest of your paper. If you would like, you can always address
your expectations described in your research proposal and briefly
address whether your expectations were confirmed or not confirmed.
Make
sure to include the name of the place of worship (or group) and their
location (this could be as general as the city or could be more focused
in terms of an address).
Advice: after you’ve completed writing
your paper, you will want to go back and revise your introduction to
make sure that it correctly “maps out” what you actually did in the
paper itself.
Introduction section:If
necessary, provide a description of the place of worship and any
pertinent background information that will help to support your primary
concern. This gives you an opportunity to begin citing work regarding
your primary concern.
Provide some introduction or background
information about the concepts you will use in this paper (e.g., values,
community, religious activism, race and religion, contradictions,
leadership positions and gender, culture and religion, immigration and
religion, racial and ethnic inequalities, social media, practices and
rituals, etc.) and address why these are important and/or what others
have written about them.
Then address how your observations (or
additional research that can include what you’ve learned in this class)
add or help confirm what is already known (i.e., what you’ve written
about above) or provide new insight or something new. This should be the
“so what?” factor (i.e., why other students and scholars should care
about your work/what’s in this paper).
Advice: Keep in mind
this is just an introduction. Save the details for the body of the paper
(i.e., “Observations” and “Analysis”).
II. Observations
Describe the most pertinent aspects of the organization you observed.What did you learn about the organization?
How did the people in the organization act?
Who were the people in the organization?
Remember:
use the observations that are applicable to your primary concern. You
should not be describing things you observed that are not central to
your primary concern.
III. Analysis and Discussion
The
following are possible prompts. This section is meant to be an
opportunity for you to analyze and critically think about the
information or data presented in the “Observations” section.
Reflecting
on your central observations, what do these observations have to do
with your primary concern (e.g., identity, community, religious
organizations, religious experience, social justice, contradictions,
leadership positions, and gender, etc.)?
How do the people, artifacts, or organization of the group reflect the ideals of the group itself? Or do they?
What contradictions or questions come up from your observations?
Use
concepts learned in class to analyze what you have observed. How have
some of the lessons learned in this class helped you to understand this
group? Important lesson: be explicit. Don’t be afraid to use concepts
that we’ve learned or reference material that we have read (make sure to
cite it).
You can also bring in examples or aspects from your previous history or media papers if appropriate.
IV. Larger Interpretation – Conclusions
Prompts for the conclusion: What does your analysis say about other religious organizations in the American context?
What
does your analysis of the group say about the context or culture of
Northern California, Santa Clara County, or Silicon Valley?
What does your analysis say about America?
What does your analysis say about religion in general?
V: Reflection
A separate section that you use to personally reflect on what you learned from this assignment.
VI. Works Cited List
Cite all sources including materials used in class.
Use at least four additional sourcesAt least two need to be academic resources
The
additional resources can be from credible news sources, from the
organization’s website, or other popular sources that may help you
illustrate something important in your work.
Please based on attached notes and no plagiarism
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