AP WORLD HISTORY SUMMER RESEARCH PAPER
1.
General Description: During the summer and due on the first day of class, you will
undertake and complete a research project comparing Christianity to six (6) other “world”
religions. Your final product will be in essay format with a proper bibliography and
endnotes.
2.
Biblical Integration: In order to develop a deeper understanding of Christianity and the
Lord, one needs to be able to understand the differences between Christianity and other
“major” world religions. To be able to do this, one must not only know the history of
Christianity, but learn about the other major religions of the world. In addition, to fully
comprehend world history, one must understand the importance of religion and the
continuing role that it plays in society.
3.
Prompt
a. Prompt: You will compare seven (7) “world” religions ( historical religious
complexes) to Christianity using eight (8) different comparison points
(comparative grounds).
i. Of the seven (7) “world” religions (historical religious complexes), four (4)
will be:
1. Judaism
2. Hinduism
3. “Buddhism”
4. Islam
5. For the other three, you may pick any you want that meet the
following three (3) requirements:
a. At least 500 years old.
b. Have or had a significantly large following.
c. All three of your choices must be from different parts of the
world.
ii. Of the eight (8) comparison points (comparative grounds), six (6) will be:
1. Origin
a. Location.
b. Date.
c. Founder and the founder’s role in the religion.
d. Reason for creation of religion.
2. Existence of sacred text and when created/written.
3. Belief in a “creator” and/or omnipotent entity.
a. Describe
4. Purpose to life.
a. Does the religion discuss it?
b. Identify it.
5. Is the religion “universal” or does it have “universality” (Does it
claim to transcend national borders, culture and race)
TK-6th Grade
7-12th Grade
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1101 Buck Jones Road Raleigh, NC 27606
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a. Describe it.
b. Does it require cultural and/or racial understanding to
comprehend
6. Two (2) comparison points are of your choice.
b. Guides
i. Always keep sameness and difference in some creative and constructive
tension.
ii. Always be aware of your own perspective as your perspective and do not
confuse it with some universal human position, that is, strive to be as
“reflexive” as possible in your comparative practice.
iii. Academic comparison works through comparing one historical religious
complex (A) to another historical religious complex (B) through a third
term, method, or comparative ground (C) that is derived from your own
contemporary questions and concerns.
4.
Rubric.
a. Due Date: Tuesday August 11th, 2015 (8/11/15). Failure to turn in results in being
withdrawn from the class.
b. Send it electronically to me by 8:00 am on 8/11/15.
3 Points
c. Proper, detailed and fully responsive thesis and introductory paragraph 10 Points
d. Proper essay format (Introduction, support and conclusion paragraphs and
bibliography)
10 Points
e. Use of the proper number of religions
14 Points
f. Use of the proper number of comparison points
8 Points
g. Proper grammar and spelling
10 Points
h. Proper MLA citations
15 Points
i. Analysis of comparison points
30 Points
5.
Possible Sources
a. The Bible and other “sacred” tests.
b. World History textbooks
c. Jesus Among Other Gods, Zacharias, Ravi (W. Publishing Group, 2002)
d. http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/
e. There are multiple cites and charts found on the web that deal with this question.
However, one must always identify the creator of the web site or chart in order to
take into account any bias.
TK-6th Grade
7-12th Grade
801 Buck Jones Road Raleigh, NC 27606
1101 Buck Jones Road Raleigh, NC 27606
919.783.6618
919.747.2020
www.GRACEChristian.net
Two Campuses ~ One School