The topic for your paper should be something that interests you. The requirements are that it:
1) Be a topic in theology or religious studies
2) Concern a recognized religion that is NOT CHRISTIANITY (you may compare the religion to
Christianity, but you must include research on a non-Christian religion)
3) Make use of primary as well as secondary texts
4) Include an analysis of a topic discussed in the course (e.g., rituals/sacraments, revelation,
anthropology, the after-life, law, etc.)
Your thesis statement should be one of the following types:



An analytical paper breaks down an issue or an idea into its component parts,
evaluates the issue or idea, and presents this breakdown and evaluation to the
audience.
An expository (explanatory) paper explains something to the audience.
An argumentative paper makes a claim about a topic and justifies this claim with
specific evidence. The claim could be an opinion, a policy proposal, an evaluation, a
cause-and-effect statement, or an interpretation. The goal of the argumentative
paper is to convince the audience that the claim is true based on the evidence
provided.
(From: Purdue Online Writing Lab,
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/545/1/)
Rubrics for Thesis Statement:
Points
Thesis statement
follows one of the
three forms
9-10
Complete
8-7
6-5
Incomplete
4-3
2-0
Non-existent
appropriate to the
chosen topic
Focus
Topic requires
clear path of
research
Grammar
Spelling
Bibliography
Clear and focuses
Lacks clarity and
focus
Fair
Completely unfocused
Non-existent
Excellent
Lacks clarity and/or
focus
Good
Poor
Non-existent
No errors
No errors
More than 3 sources
Sources demonstrate
serious research
Chicago style
No errors
Minor errors
Minor errors
3 sources
Sources demonstrate
moderate research
Chicago style
Minor errors
Numerous errors
Numerous errors
Less than 3 sources
Sources demonstrate
cursory research
Chicago style
Numerous errors
Serious problems
Serious problems
Less than 3 sources
Sources demonstrate
cursory research
Does not use Chicago
style
Numerous errors
Non-existent
Non-existent
Non-existent
The Outline for the paper must include the Thesis Statement, updated bibliography and follow the standard
format for a parallel outline.
Rubric for Paper Outline:
Points
9-10
8-7
6-5
4-3
2-0
Follows
standard parallel
format
Organization
Follows format
using numbers
and letters
Organized
Supports thesis
****
****
****
Non-existent
Some disorganization
Supports thesis
Excellent
Good
Disorganized
Doesn’t support
thesis
Poor
Non-existent
Covers major
Some disorganization
Doesn’t completely
support thesis
Fair
Non-existent
aspects of the
chosen topic
Thesis
statement
Grammar
Spelling
Bibliography
Clear and
focused
No errors
No errors
3+ scholarly
sources
Correct format
Minor errors
Somewhat unfocused
Minor errors
Minor errors
2 scholarly sources
Correct format
Unfocused
Untenable
Non-existent
Numerous errors
Numerous errors
1 scholarly source
Format errors
Serious problems
Serious problems
No scholarly sources
Format errors
Non-existent
Non-existent
Non-existent