I had a chance to speak with several of you about the reflection paper, and to see a couple of rough drafts. Drawing on those conversations and rough drafts, here are some tips for writing the reflection paper.
First, the text by Ninian Smart that I handed out was the basis for a lecture at the beginning of the term (second week - you should have notes, which might help you to flesh it out a bit). I'll go into a little more detail in another entry. For now, the point is that this text is not the basis for the paper. It is a touchstone - intended to provide you with some basic ideas that you can use when answering the question. Yes, the question uses Smart's typology of "dimensions" of a world view, and yes, you need to correctly use one of his "dimensions" when writing. Nevertheless, you do not have to refer directly to the text while writing the paper, and you certainly don't need to quote it if you don't want to.
Remember that you are not writing about why one dimension is better than the others, or why one illustrates the others better, or anything like that. Ask yourself something like one of these questions: which of these dimensions is most useful or most powerful or most illuminating or ... whatever (pick one or make up one of your own) ... for understanding a religion or for living a religion or for believing in a religion (or whatever else you think matters) ... and so on.
Second, while you don't have to do research to do this paper, you may do so. However, if you do, you have to be sure to give proper references using MLA format, and a properly formatted bibliography (also MLA). This includes Biblical quotations. (And yes, you may use the Bible or any other scriptural text, such as the Qur'an).
So how do you structure the paper? Here are some tips.
- Once you have chosen the main point you want to defend (for example, "The doctrinal dimension of a religious worldview is the most important dimension"), you must offer an argument to defend that point.
- Remember that an argument must always have two elements: (1) the conclusion you are trying to prove and (2) one or more premises (or 'reasons') in support of that conclusion. If you have forgotten how to structure an argument, you should review your humanities notes from last semester or communicate with me.
- Your paper should contain one main argument in favour of the point you're defending (which is, incidentally, your thesis). This argument may consist of any number of premises, but it must be offered systematically. More on that in a moment. Your paper may also include as many sub-arguments as you consider necessary. A sub-argument is an argument used to prove the truth (or reasonableness) of a premise in the main argument.
- Remember that terminology means something. Be sure to know the meanings of words you use. If this seems like a minor point - it's not. I'll read the words you use, not the words I think you probably intended.
- Similar point: Grammar! I have only made grammar, spelling, etc. worth 1/10. However, grammar affects meaning, and meaning affects the overall impact of your paper. If you don't write what you meant because of bad grammar or word choice, this will affect the mark for the analysis.
Remember the old example of the sentence whose meaning is reversed by the addition of a comma: "A woman lacking a man is nothing" means something offensive to women. "A woman lacking, a man is nothing" means something offensive to men. Grammar (or punctuation, in this case) always matters.
- Finally, don't sweat too much about what point you are defending. You don't have to defend what you actually believe! Produce the argument you think will work best. Be systematic, clear, and concise. Then you should be fine.
- And try to have fun with it. It's actually kind of interesting to think about these things.
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