Touchstone 2: Comparing and Contrasting the Common Elements…

ASSIGNMENT: For this Touchstone, you will demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of religions so far by comparing and contrasting two of the worlds religions.

In a 400600 word short essay, you will compare and contrast one Eastern religion and one Western religion discussed so far in this course. Using specific examples from the lessons in Unit 1 and Unit 2 to support your conclusions, you will analyze some of the ways in which these religions are both similar and different.

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A. Assignment Guidelines

DIRECTIONS: Select one Eastern religion and one Western religion discussed so far in this course. Review the lessons in Unit 1 and Unit 2 as you consider how these religions are both similar and different.

Your short essay should include four parts:

• Briefly introduce the two religions you have selected to compare and contrast.
• Identify and explain at least two commonalities between these two religions, using specific examples from the lessons.
• Identify and explain at least two differences between these two religions, using specific examples from the lessons.
• Briefly summarize & conclude your short essay. In your conclusion, explain what we can learn about religions in general by noticing both their similarities and differences.

As you develop your response, you should compare or contrast at least one example from each of the following elements of religion:

• Historical & geographic origins
• Core beliefs & doctrines
• Core rituals & practices
• Important texts & narratives

You will use information from the Sophia tutorials to support your response. Please do not use any sources from outside the class.

HINT

To build the skill of correctly citing your sources in academic writing, you will cite the Sophia tutorials you use in your essay and include a reference page. Because all of your sources will be Sophia tutorials, the in-text and reference page citations will look like this:

• In-text citation: (Sophia Learning, n.d.)
• Reference: Sophia Learning. (n.d.). The Religious Impulse [What is the Impulse?]. Approaches to Studying Religions.

You will adjust your reference page citations to identify the specific tutorials you are referencing. Visit the resource for more assistance.

Refer to the completion checklist below throughout the writing process. Do not submit your Touchstone until it meets these guidelines.

Have you selected one Eastern religion and one Western religion discussed so far in this course?

Have you briefly introduced the two religions you selected?

Have you identified and explained at least two commonalities between these religions?

Have you identified and explained at least two differences between these religions?

Have you included at least one example from each of the given elements of religion: historical & geographic origins; core beliefs & doctrines; core rituals & practices; and important texts & narratives?

Is your short essay between 400600 words, double-spaced, and formatted in 12-point font?

Have you cited examples from the class tutorials with in-text citations?

Have you included a reference page?

Have you proofread your short essay for mistakes in spelling, grammar, punctuation, and capitalization?

B. Rubric

C. Requirements

The following requirements must be met for your submission to be graded:

• Composition must be between 400600 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 .doc or .docx file.
• All cited examples are from the class tutorials.