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1. Set up the argument (should be first and last
sentence of the paragraph).
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2. Summarizes the main points of a document.
Should end with the source in parenthesis.
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3. Analyze the document. This must be done
immediately after the summary. Answer the
question, “What does this article tell me about the
culture?” Use the phrase, “This shows
that____________...”
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4. POV. Critique at least three authors.
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5. Tie in sentence. Second to last sentence ties all of
the documents to each other.
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6. Summarize your argument to end the paragraph.
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Summarize doc 1
“The Four Noble Truths” define what sorrow is
and explain how to escape sorrow (doc 1).
Analyze doc 1
This shows that there was probably a lot of
hardship and suffering in India at the time.
Summarize doc 2,3,5
Analyze doc 2,3,5
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Is the source reliable, why or why not?
Think of: speaker, occasion, audience,
purpose, subject, and tone (SOAPStone)
Document 1 is a very reliable source because
“The Buddha” would offer the best description
of this belief as he is the one who created the
religion.
Include any other POV’s
Must attempt at least 3 POV’s; Two must be
done correctly for a point.
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Buddhism gained many supporters in China. “The Four Noble Truths”
explain what sorrow is and how to escape it (Doc. 1). This shows that Buddhism
probably emerged because the conditions of that time were horrible and bleak.
Document 1 is a very reliable source because “The Buddha” would offer the best
description of this belief as he is the one who created the religion. Zhi Dun
explains how to achieve Nirvana (Doc. 2). This shows that the Chinese probably
turned to Buddhism as a result of political instability and defeat by foreign
invaders. “The Disposition of Era” gives a Confucius's negative interpretation of
Buddhism while countering with a positive response to Buddhism (Doc. 3). This
shows that there must have been a major social or political conflict between
Buddhists and Confucius in China. Zong Mi explains that Buddhism, Daoism, and
Confucianism are all positive and can coexist in harmony (Doc. 5). This shows
that Buddhists were probably tolerant enough to embrace the other major
religions in China. Document 5 is probably a reliable source because as a
Buddhist he still provides a fair perspective on the other beliefs, rather than
endorsing his own and dismissing the others. All of these documents show that
despite being a new foreign religion, Buddhism found a place in China among
other traditional belief systems. Buddhism was supported in China by some of
its most elite citizens.
Over time, the acceptance of Buddhism in China
declined and was rejected by imperial authority.
Document 2 shows that Buddhism was probably accepted
because of desperation and hopelessness from war in the
4th century. Document 3 shows that as things were more
stable in the 6th century, Buddhism faced more
opposition from Confucism. This was probably because
some social differences between the two belief systems
became more evident in times of peace. Document 6
shows China was most likely experiencing some major
internal problems that led to Buddhism being used as a
scapegoat by the 9th century. All of these documents
show the chronological deterioration of Buddhism from
the 4th to the 9th century. Due to conservative opposition
and conflict with traditional Chinese values, the opinion
of Buddhism shifted from positive to more negative as
time went on.