Assignment: World Religions Semester Project

Choose a world religion and explore its connection(s) to one of the following issues:

Current events in a particular country or region
Nationalism or transnational identity
Gender and/or sexual ethics
Mysticism, Technology, Violence or nonviolence
Religious art (music, dance, poetry, visual art, architecture, etc.)
The environment and/or environmentalism

Topic: Homosexuality in Hinduism

The successful essay will show the student's understanding of the chosen religious tradition, as well as his/her ability to make and explain claims about its connection to the chosen issue. The essay must be driven by a thesis statement, be characterized by clear and logical prose throughout, be paraphrased and in the student's own words, be properly cited, and contain an insightful conclusion at the end. The essay is 85% of the project's grade.

An annotated bibliography with a minimum of 7 sources, and a rough draft is required. Each counts as a homework assignment.

Sources: Minimum 7 sources, at least one of which must include a holy text from the chosen religion. Failure to utilize a holy text source will result in a letter grade penalty. Sources must be cited in a works-cited page and in in-text citations (footnotes) in Chicago style. Failure to include in-text citations in the final draft will be considered plagiarism and earn an automatic zero. Failure to include a works-cited page will result in a penalty of a letter grade.

Length: Minimum 1,000 words (excluding footnotes and works cited page).