1200 word minimum (NOT counting the Works Cited page) Religion is not developed or practiced in a vacuum. It influences and is influenced by almost everything else found in culture—food, sexual practice and taboos, rites of passage (birth, marriage, death), entertainment (music, movies, art, literature, sports), healing arts, and understandings of the natural world. For this project, the student will choose a topic of interest and show the impact of religion(s). Some broad examples might be: Write a research paper on the Christian expression in NASCAR, the reflection of Shinto in a piece of Japanese anime (choose one movie/book/game), Buddhism and Kung Fu (many martial arts practices are based in religion), Jewish history and belief in regard to tattoo body art. The possibilities are endless. The subject area will need to be precise and manageable. Do not write about Christianity in American politics, for instance, but rather about the Christian voice in the debate on gay marriage in the United States. For topic ideas, read through the final pages of each chapter in your book. Contemporary challenges and cultural influences will often be discussed on these pages. Ask friends, other teachers, coaches, or family members for ideas. Consider religious topics in the news, or google information as a way to find a topic. (Googled information cannot, however, be used in the paper.) You must have a minimum of 3 sources from the EFSC databases. Yes, I know there are other good sources, but one of the learning goals for this paper is to develop skills in using the databases. One of the three minimum required sources may be a physical book. The textbook, however, will be counted as an additional source (not one of the three required minimum). Avoid using book reviews and encyclopedic information. Do not use documentaries or other videos. Sources may not be “googled” or come from sources such as Wikipedia or Ask.com, though these sites may help you find keywords for exploring the databases. Personal interviews cannot be used in this paper. Do not share your opinion or personal experiences. Having trouble finding sources? Work with one of our research librarians, available at all campus libraries and through e-mail. Sources must be relevant to the paper topic. If you are exploring Confucianism in Mulan, you need sources that point out Confucius teachings in that movie. As this is a research paper, do not take the expert role and draw your own conclusions, for instance citing instances of Confucian belief in the movie. Instead, research and write about what other experts have said on this topic. Use careful MLA style and formatting. Avoid plagiarism by citing ALL sources in the text of the manuscript. This includes quotations, certainly, but also a body of information you learned from a specific source and which you have put in your own words. At the end of that body of information (a paragraph, for instance), simply cite your source in parentheses. Avoid long quotations, or an abundance of direct quotes. It is best to put information in your own words, and then cite the source. This is a research paper. Do not take a side or try to make an argument. Present the information found in expert source material. With controversial topics, balance the paper by reflecting arguments from all sides. Do not include personal experience, opinion, or pronouns. This is a third-person paper. When writing the paper, do not recount the storyline of a movie/book/television show. Papers that do not meet the required minimum criteria will be rejected. Minimum Criteria: MLA format Meets minimum word requirement Meets assignment criteria Appropriate thesis Appropriate sources Proper in-text citations (no plagiarism) This paper must be an original piece of work produced by the student. Do not copy or borrow material from previous student papers or the internet. When you submit your paper, it will automatically go through Turnitin.com. If this shows your paper has been plagiarized in any way, the paper will be rejected and given an “F.” Do not submit your paper to the Turnitin application before submitting it to Canvas. This will give you a 100% plagiarized score and I will reject the paper. I highly recommend working with the research librarians and the campus writing centers. They provide help virtually as well as face-to-face, but you may need to make an appointment. See the “Checklist for Research Paper” on Canvas. Make sure your paper meets all those guidelines. Under “Writing Resources” in the Canvas page, you will also find a sample paper.
