INSTRUCTION
THE PURPOSE
The PURPOSE of this assignment is to show that religion is not a static set of unchanging ideas, beliefs, or rituals, but rather a culturally flexible and systematic response to the challenges of human existence. It connects to the overall GOAL of the course by showing, in religious responses to death, that religions maintain traditions but also adapt to changing circumstances.
THE TASK
WHAT: Write a ca. two- to three-page paper (500-750 words; double-spaced, 12-pt font) that shows you:
Have READ and UNDERSTOOD the assigned articles;
Can USE examples from the readings to SHOW and give examples of what you mean.
HOW:
Read the Webb and Armstrong articles.
In the Webb and article, pay attention to the traditional rules, rituals for death and burial in Islam as well as the challenges and changes that American Muslims face.
In the Armstrong article, note the traditional African worldview and the common ideas about death and afterlife, as well as the changes that have occurred in different African American communities.
Create an outline (this is only FOR YOUR OWN USE, not for turning in). But it is VERY HELPFUL to have an overall sense of the organization and flow of the paper. Obviously, as you write the paper, you might change the outline, too. An outline helps you keep an eye on the whole terrain and prevents getting bogged down or sidetracked. Here is a suggested outline:
Introduction—world religions are not static, unchanging categories but flexible human systems that balance tradition and change. This can be seen in religious responses to death (use all assigned readings for this).
In Islam, what are the fundamental traditions for death and burial, and how do American Muslims balance and adapt those requirements in the contemporary American situation? Are there particular challenges for American Muslims in performing rituals of death and burial? (use Webb for this).
What kinds of things are traditionally found in African death rituals, and how have Americans of African descent both maintained and changed those rituals? (use Armstrong for this).
Conclusion—restate the introduction, reminding the reader of the concrete examples that you used to show what you meant when you said (in the introduction) that religions are flexible human systems of meaning-making.
Write a two- to three-page, double-spaced (ca. 500-750 word) essay in a standard 12-pt font.
CRITERIA & RUBRIC
Strive for being authoritative, formal, and clear; avoid the use of first-person language (“in my opinion…”, “I think what the author is saying is…”);
Use concrete examples for SHOW what you mean by including direct quotes and paraphrases from the reading;
Organize your paper into distinct paragraphs that follow the outline;
Smoothly move the reader from one paragraph to the next by providing transition sentences;
Write with correct sentence structure, grammar, spelling, and punctuation;
Proofread and re-write at least once before turning in;
Cite your quotes with MLA-formatted in-text citations and include a Works Cited list. (See example essay).