ouchstones are projects that illustrate your comprehension of the course material, help you refine skills, and demonstrate application of knowledge. You can work on a Touchstone anytime, but you can’t submit it until you have completed the unit’s Milestones. Once you’ve submitted a Touchstone, it will be graded and counted toward your final course score.
Touchstone 1: Reflecting on Major Approaches to Studying Religions
ASSIGNMENT: In this unit, you learned some of the reasons for studying religion. You also learned that religion is universally recognizable yet difficult to define. A narrow definition of religion that ties it to a belief in and worship of a higher supernatural power, can exclude religions like Buddhism. On the other hand, definitions of religion that eliminate mention of the otherworldly or divine by equating it simply with “faith” or “belief” yield an understanding that is overly broad.
Due to the challenges of studying religion, various methodologies have arisen including: phenomenology, theology, historical approaches, comparison, philosophy, and sociology. This Touchstone gives you an opportunity to reflect on these major approaches to studying religion.
In a 400–600 word short essay, you will explain the difficulties involved in defining religion. Then you will select one method for studying religion that you believe to be most thought-provoking, and explain its strengths and weaknesses.
In order to foster learning and growth, all work you submit must be newly written specifically for this course. Any plagiarized or recycled work will result in a Plagiarism Detected alert. Review Touchstones: Academic Integrity Guidelines for more about plagiarism and the Plagiarism Detected alert. For guidance on the use of generative AI technology, review Ethical Standards and Appropriate Use of AI.
A. Assignment Guidelines
DIRECTIONS: Explain, in your own words, two reasons why religion is difficult to define. Review the lessons in Unit 1 as you consider your response. Then, select one method for studying religion that you believe to be most thought-provoking and explain what you believe to be its strengths and weaknesses.
Your short essay should include four parts:
Explain, in your own words, two reasons why religion is difficult to define.
Select one method for studying religion that you believe to be most thought-provoking, and summarize the approach in your own words.
Explain a strength of this approach to studying religion.
Explain a weakness of this approach to studying religion.
The methods for studying religion discussed in Unit 1 include:
Phenomenology
Theology
Historical Approaches
Comparative Religion
Philosophy of Religion
Sociology of Religion
As you develop your reflection, be sure to engage with the course material from Unit 1. You will use information from the Sophia tutorials to support your response. When citing material from a tutorial, please include the name of the tutorial and use the following format (using Sophia’s Indigenous Religions tutorial as an example):
In-text citation: (Religion and Food, n.d.)
Reference: Sophia Learning (n.d.). Religion and Food [MOOC]. In Approaches to Studying Religions. https://app.sophia.org/course_preview/approaches-to-studying-religions-3/challenge-1-1/9/8235/religion-and-food-2
This is only an example; your own citations will be for the tutorials you use in answering the question. Please do not use any sources outside the class.
Refer to the completion checklist below throughout the writing process. Do not submit your Touchstone until it meets these guidelines.
❒ Have you explained two reasons why religion is difficult to define, in your own words?
❒ Have you selected a method for studying religion from Unit 1 and summarized the approach?
❒ Have you explained a strength and a weakness of this approach to studying religion?
❒ Does your short essay demonstrate engagement with the course material from Unit 1?
❒ Is your short essay between 400–600 words, double-spaced, and formatted in 12-point font?
❒ Have you cited examples with in-text citations?
❒ Are the cited examples from the class tutorials?
❒ Have you proofread your short essay for mistakes in spelling, grammar, punctuation, and capitalization?
B. Rubric
Advanced (100%) Proficient (85%) Acceptable (75%) Needs Improvement (50%) Non-Performance (0%)
Reflects on the Definition of Religion
Essay reflects on the difficulty of defining religion. Any citation use must come from the course material. (No outside sources.) (20%)
Essay offers a clear discussion of two reasons why religion is difficult to define. The discussion provides unique insights and demonstrates thoughtfulness about the subject. Essay offers a clear discussion of at least one reason why religion is difficult to define. Essay offers a discussion of two reasons why religion is difficult to define. Discussion may be somewhat unclear or vague. Essay offers a discussion of only one reason why religion is difficult to define; the second reason is missing or vague. Essay does not attempt to reflect on the difficulty of defining religion.
Summarizes a Method for Studying Religion
Essay selects and summarizes a method for studying religion using citations from the course material. (No outside sources.) (20%)
Essay selects a method for studying religion and clearly and accurately summarizes it. The summary demonstrates careful reading and understanding of the topic. Essay selects a method for studying religion and accurately summarizes it. Essay selects a method for studying religion and summarizes it, but discussion may be unclear or vague. Essay selects a method for studying religion and attempts to summarize it, but the method may not be from the course material or has an inaccurate description. Essay does not select or summarize a method for studying religion.
Reflects on a Strength of the Method
Essay reflects on a strength of the selected method for studying religion using citations from the course material. (No outside sources.) (20%)
Essay demonstrates insightful reflection on a strength of the method. Essay demonstrates reflection on a strength of the method. Essay demonstrates a more superficial reflection on a strength of the method. Essay states a strength of the method, but there is no description, or the description is inaccurate. Essay does not attempt to reflect on the strengths of any method for studying religion.
Reflects on a Weakness of the Method
Essay reflects on a weakness of the selected method for studying religion using citations from the course material. (No outside sources.) (20%)
Essay demonstrates insightful reflection on a weakness of the method. Essay demonstrates reflection on a weakness of the method. .Essay demonstrates a more superficial reflection on a weakness of the method. Essay states a weakness, but there is no description or the description is inaccurate Essay does not attempt to reflect on the weaknesses of any method for studying religion.
Use of Evidence
uses specific examples from the course, that are cited appropriately, to support the response. (No outside sources.) (13%)
At least 2 specific examples are thoughtfully selected and explained to support the response. Examples from the course material are cited appropriately. At least 2 specific examples from the course are used to support the response. Examples from the course material are cited appropriately. 1-2 examples from the course are used to support the response. Examples from the course material are cited appropriately. At least 1 example from the course is used to support the response. The example is cited from the course material but may not be cited appropriately. No examples from the course are used or cited to support the response.
Conventions
Essay follows conventions for standard written English and is formatted according to the guidelines of the assignment. (7%)
There are almost no errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and capitalization; all length and formatting requirements are met. There are minor errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and capitalization that do not impede readability; length and formatting requirements are nearly met. There are frequent errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and capitalization that somewhat impede readability; length and formatting requirements are nearly met. There are consistent errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and capitalization that significantly impede readability; length and formatting requirements are not met. Submission does not meet the minimum threshold for points to be awarded..
C. Requirements
The following requirements must be met for your submission to be graded:
Composition must be between 400–600 words.
Double-space the composition and use one-inch margins.
Use a readable 12-point font.
All writing must be appropriate for an academic context.
Composition must be original and written for this assignment.
Plagiarism of any kind is strictly prohibited.
Submission must include your name, the name of the course, the date, and the title of your composition.
Include all of the assignment components in a single file.
Acceptable file formats include .doc and .docx.
In-text citations should use this style: (Religion and Food, n.d.)
References should use this style: Sophia Learning (n.d.). Religion and Food [MOOC]. In Approaches to Studying Religions. https://app.sophia.org/course_preview/approaches-to-studying-religions-3/challenge-1-1/9/8235/religion-and-food-2
All cited examples are from the class tutorials.
