GUIDELINES
Whichever option you choose:
Basics
First, give some information about the author (or director, or showrunner). Is this a true story? Is it fiction? A non-fiction study? Memoir? Documentary? Identify the main people responsible for creating it.
If you choose a work of fiction (book or movie), give a very quick plot outline—don’t spend more than a page on this, and shorter is better.
Discuss
Especially in works of fiction, does a particular religious group have a major role in the story? If so, how does it contribute? What elements of the tradition are represented—which ones are most important?
For nonfiction, what religious tradition(s) or religious features are the focus of the work? Discuss your understanding of the whole work or of selected aspects of it. How does it affect your understanding of a particular religion or of religions in general?
If there is not a specific religious tradition important to the book/movie, where do you see religious ideas playing an important part in the work? A few examples of things you might consider: is there an instance of sacrifice, salvation, or redemption? Is there a concept of final judgment, or the assumption that reincarnation is the way things work? Is there a portrayal of a character following a religious path or trying to achieve spiritual progress or liberation? Is ritual important? Is there a priest or shaman figure?
Context
How does the particular religious group that is the focus of the work fit into the tradition as a whole – for example, is it a recent development, is it a small splinter group or pretty representative of the whole tradition? Is it a conservative or liberal wing of a tradition or an offshoot of an established religion? In some cases, this is not going to be clear from your reading/watching without some extra research. You don’t have to have an exhaustive knowledge of religious history to answer this – just give your topic some context. Your textbook and outside articles on the tradition will be your best sources for this.
Point of View
Think about why someone would decide to focus on this particular tradition. Does it bring up issues in society or religious issues such as salvation, reincarnation, the End Times, the nature of reality (the divine, God) and so on, that are often subjects important in religion? Does it have personal meaning for the author or creator?
What attitude does the author or narrator or other character have toward the religious aspects, and how can you tell? Are various points of view represented?
Relation to the Class
How does the book/movie relate to what you have learned in this class? How does it affect your understanding of a particular religion or of religions in general? Does it conflict with anything you have learned or have experienced with regard to religion?
Does it give you an opening to think about particular features of this tradition that you would be interested in learning more about if there were a further opportunity to do so?
OR: Instead of this approach, you may make the book or movie a starting point to investigate a related religious topic further. For example, if you were reading Dickens, A Christmas Carol, you might do part of your paper on 19th century Christmas customs. Were they like they are portrayed in the story? In this case, you might not spend much time on the book itself, but concentrate on one aspect that appeals to you.
OR IN THIS CASE, THINK CRITICALLY AND PROVIDE EVIDENCE!
No matter what work you choose, be sure to support your statements and opinions with specific examples. You may disagree with the book or movie, for example, but don’t just say that—be sure you can give evidence from the book to show that you understand what it is saying, and be sure you can give evidence to support your own opinion.
Be sure to cite your sources properly, using a standard system such as MLA or APA for references and including a bibliography or “works cited” list of any outside sources you use.
