Comparative Paper : Islam and another religon
Comparative Paper
The comparative paper should be a minimum of 5 pages (12 pt font, 1” margins, double spaced, no space between paragraphs). The header (name/date/assignment/title) should be no more than four singlespaced lines.
This paper requires you to engage in a comparative practice, which requires four steps: selection, description, comparison, and theorization. This will not require a formal thesis.
Selection requires picking two sources of data from two different religions. Our sources of data will come from texts, which will be your A and your B. You will also have to do a close reading of A and B to identify an element that appears in both texts. This element should be a concrete thing, idea, or theme (e.g. “ark,” “creation of animals,” “anger of the gods”) or one of the comparative terms we’ve discussed (e.g., “myth and ritual,” “creation myth,” “sacred,” “profane”). This element, your C, is the comparative framework.
Description begins with a close re-reading of A and B, paying attention to how the C appears, what role it plays, specific language used in discussing it, and any other relevant detail. You will want to take detailed notes when you are doing this.
Comparison requires identifying what is the same and different in your A and B with regard to your C. This can be how C is described, what role C plays, why C is important, etc.
Theorization takes the data from your comparison and hypothesizes about what the differences say about each religion and what the similarities might suggest about religion in general.
Your paper will thus include these elements: 1. Selection: (1-2 sentences max) a. Which texts are you using and what is your comparative framework? (i.e. what is your A, B, and C; 1-2 sentences). b. Why is your C relevant to A and B? (i.e., why is C important to A and B) 2. Description: (1 page) a. What is your “data” for C? (how does C appear in each text? What role does C play in each text? This is where you can do summary.) 3. Comparison a. What is the same about C in A and B? (i.e., in both A and B, C is/does this thing) b. What is different about C in A and B? (i.e., in text A, C also is/does this; in text B, C also is/does this) 4. Theorization (this is where you’ll do analysis and argumentation) a. What do the differences suggest about religion A and religion B? (i.e., since C does this in A, we can hypothesize that religion A is/does this; since C does this in B, we can hypothesize that religion B is/does this). b. What do the similarities suggest about religion in general? (since C is/does this in both A and B, we can hypothesize that in all religions, C is/does this)
You not waste space with a flowery introduction. Your first sentence(s) should answer the selection question (i.e. 1a).
Also, while your paper does not require a formal thesis, it must still be written as a paper. With the exception with the selection questions, you should not simply create a list answering the questions above one-by-one.
You may summarize the text in your description, but do quote directly from the texts where necessary for analysis. You should be using the translations/editions we’ve used in class.
Scripture should be cited parenthetically by book, chapter, and verse(s). E.g. “In the beginning” (Genesis 1:1). Enuma Elish and Epic of Gilgamesh should be cited by tablet number and line number. E.g., “There father Anu swore an oath” (Gilgamesh XI.15); “With a clean festal robe she made his face shine” (Enuma Elish V.82).
Your paper will be graded on the following criteria: • Adherence to proper spelling/grammar conventions • Meeting formal guidelines of paper (including rules about style and formatting) • Accuracy/creativity of description/comparison:
o The best papers will identify interesting elements in each text that go beyond a mere surface reading
o Is your description/comparison/analysis supported by what is specifically said in the text or does it come out of assumptions made (but not supported by) the texts? • Logical coherence of theorization from comparison.
o Your theorization does not have to be ground-breaking, but it does need to make sense. You will have to make an argument that is supported by your data for your theorization.
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Please refer back to the guidelines of the “comparative paper above” assignment. Your paper must include something from Islam as your “A,” but you may choose either Christian, Jewish or Near Eastern Texts as your “B.” You may use either the Qur’an or material from F.E. Peters’ Reader on Classical Islam for your A; you should likewise choose something from a specific text for your B. For example you may do a comparison of the Qur’an and the Gospel of Mark with “apocalypticism” as your C, but you may not chose the Qur’an and Christianity with apocalypticism as your C.
You are free to choose for your C anything that appears in both your A and your B. You may choose a person as your C, but only if you’re looking at later commentary on that person for your A and B. For example, if you chose Moses, your B should not come from Exodus. A proper comparison for Moses would be Qur’an as A and (for example) Gospel According to Matthew as B. Here are some other suggestions for your C:
Charismatic Authority (Muhammad as “A,” and Jesus in a specific gospel) Apocalypticism (Qur’an as A – though you will need to pick specific suras; Galatians, Thessalonians, Mark, Daniel, or 1 Enoch as your B) Monotheism (Qur’an as A; Abrahamic/Mosaic covenant, reforms of Josiah, or Ezra/Nehemiah as B) Travel/Pilgrimage (Hajj, Hijra, Miraj as A; Exodus as B) Abraham (Qur’an as A; Romans or Galatians as B) Prophets (could do either general commentary about “prophets” in Qur’an and Gospel According to Matthew/Luke, or a comparison of two specific prophets – for example, Jesus in Qur’an as A; John the Baptist in Gospel According to Luke as B)
If you have any doubts about your comparison, please check with me
