Guidelines for Medium-Length Papers

 

1. Length: RELG100 4-6 pages double-spaced. RELG300 5-7 pages double-spaced.

2. Content: This is a paper based on your presentation. HOWEVER, be sure that your paper is sufficiently focused. a) Present one passage, or 1-3 main ideas at the most. b) Discuss why the passage, idea, or ideas in question are important for understanding the significance of the readings. c) If these ideas are related to one another discuss how they are related. d) Raise some questions regarding the passage, idea, or ideas. What are the potential gaps and/or shortcomings in these ideas? e) How would the original author responde to these questions or critical queries? Do you agree or disagree with the author? Why or why not? You may not be able to cover all five of these items, but they should set the framework for your paper which is to present the ideas of the text, raise questions, and consider possible responses to these questions.

3. DO NOT SUMMARIZE the reading. Keep your focus relatively narrow. This will help you to go in-depth more.

4. You can use the class discussion to enrich your own understanding, but you are not required to incorporate the views of others as long as you follow the framework describe in item #2 above.

5. Read the "Four Keys to Writing in the Humanities," "Four Stages of Writing," and "Paper Writing Guidelines," for how to write a paper.

6. Contact the instructor if there is anything unclear.


© Mark T. Unno 2000