Comparative Thesis Statements
Prompt: Discuss the similarities and differences in the RISE and SPREAD of two of the following
religions. What appeal did these religions have to those who converted?
Buddhism
Islam
Confucianism
Part 1: Score each of the following thesis statements using the following scoring guide
0= not acceptable, thesis does not address prompt
1= acceptable thesis, makes an argument that address all parts of prompt
2= clear, analytical and comprehensive thesis (well-written, addresses all parts of
prompt in an insightful, organized way)
1. “Buddhism and Islam have more differences than similarities. Both originated in Asia and yet both
have many things that set them apart form each other, including beliefs and type of deities”.
2. “Buddhism and Islam were both introduced in the post-classical time period. They developed
separately and, therefore, differently in ways such as organization of the region and who led the faith
after the patron was gone, the call to spread the faith, and the blending with other faiths, while they did
still share some ideas such as one’s place in society, emphasis on prayer, and originating from one
founder.”
3. “Buddhism and Islam have many similarities and differences as well. There are more differences,
however, based on the fact that Islam is a religion, while Buddhism is more of a philosophy.”
4. “Both Buddhism and Islam spread vastly due to trade; however Islam spread due to conquest also.
Although somewhat similar, these faiths seem to have more differences than similarities when it came
to their rising and spreading.”
5. “Both Buddhism and Confucianism had major influence on certain parts of the world. However, they
differed in many ways. Buddhism and Confucianism were similar in that they both had major influence
in China. However, they differ in their origin, beliefs, and in their rewards.”
6. “There are many different religions practiced around the world. Two in particular, Buddhism and
Islam, have many differences, but also more similarities than one might think.”
7. “Islam and Buddhism both rose and spread in ways that were more similar than different. Buddhism
and Islam were both spread through trade routes and the conversion of kings and emperors. However,
Islam and Buddhism were different in how they came to be. Both religions also had similar appeals to
their converts.”
8. “Buddhism and Islam shared some of the same characteristics, which helped both of them rise and
spread into overlapping regions. Salvation provided by both was the main thing that appealed to people
in the origins of these two religions that parallel each other, although not exactly”.
9. “Two religions that have a unique, complicated relationship, due to their popularity, are Buddhism and
Confucianism. These religions both began at different times and places and throughout their rise and
spread have developed many similarities and differences”.
10. “Although Buddhism and Islam had similar ways of rising and spreading, there were many more
differences between the two, such as where they arose and where they spread.”
11. “Islam and Buddhism are both similar and different in their rise and spread of faiths worldwide. Both
religions arose from the teachings of a man but differed by the way it was practiced. Furthermore,
Islam and Buddhism spread through trade routes but spread to various different regions”.
12. “There were many similarities and differences in the rise and spread of Islam and Buddhism. They
were similar in the ways they spread, such as trade. They were different in the appeal these religions
had to those who converted, as well as how they rose to be.”
13. “Buddhism and Islam both arose around the same time period and both spread to foreign lands. The
rise and spread of Islam and Buddhism was much more similar than different. For example, they both
caused conflict to where they spread, and were both widely accepted. They differ, however, in the
extent of their expansion.”
14. “Buddhism from India and Islam from Mecca influenced many people’s lives in various regions. They
shared many similarities in their rise and spread of their religions. However, they shared more
differences concerning the rise and spread of their religions.”
15. “The rise and spread of Buddhism and Islam were more different than they were the same. They were
more different because of the climates and geography they rose in, how they spread, and their original
founders. They are similar because they both attracted followers voluntarily because they both
promised salvation, and they affected society and provided order.”
Part 2: Write a NEW thesis statement addressing the prompt provided at the top of the worksheet. Keep it
simple, direct, and “provable” with the information you have learned about these religions. Be specific and
think beyond simple, generic comparisons. Focus on “patterns” in the spread of religions in the post-classical
era.
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