Assignment 1 Read the following chapters and discuss the statement given below: Chapters: 1. Read " Chapt 1, 2, and 3 - Religion in India " (Clothey). http://vedicilluminations.com/downloads/Academic%20General/Clothey_Fred_W._-_Religion_In_India__A_Historical_Indroduction.pdf 2. Read " Hinduism and India " by Max Weber. Discuss the following statement in no less than 500 words: Historically and sociologically, the evolution of Hinduism has been different from that of religion in the West. Discuss these differences, especially from structural and functional angles. Also, within the Indian context itself, examine how Hinduism has followed a track different from Buddhism and Jainism. You should discuss the structural paradigms discussed in Clothey's chapters. Assignment 2 Chapter 1: What is Religion and Spirituality? http://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781473920743.n1 After reading the substantive and functional definitions of religion, how has your knowledge of the institution of religion changed? Of the various classical social scientific approaches to the study of religion, which approach do you find most persuasive? Why? You must discuss both parts. Minimum length: 250 words (word count will be considered for grading). Express your responses to the questions clearly. Assignment 3 1. The Missionary Position - The Politics of Religious Conversion in India. Discuss the main issues and trends discussed in this article.  Required length - 250 words. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/254254311_The_Missionary_Position_Christianity_and_Politics_of_Religious_Conversion_in_India Assignment 4 2. Read the article , " LITERACY OF MAJOR RELIGIOUS GROUPS IN INDIA: A GEOGRAPHICAL PERSPECTIVE " by GURINDER KAUR & DIVJOT KAUR. Discuss the reasons for the variance found across different religious groups in India in education and literacy. In addition to your original post, you must respond to at least one other student's comments. The minimum length for your response is 300 words. https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/b222/285ddc566510f9b448f9f02fad89b53b6f11.pdf The purpose of this essay is to make connections between two countries and cultures: Belgium and America. This assignment also requires you to demonstrate critical thinking and analysis, so that your essay moves past a description of facts or circumstances. You will develop a thesis that reflects a sophisticated explanation of cultural awareness.  This task will require research and critical reading, reflecting on the similarities and differences of each culture. You will synthesize your observations into a logical, well-developed essay that explains the significance of the shared or contrasting values.  Characteristics of the Comparison Contrast Essay A successful essay · provides an engaging introduction that offers the reader some background information on the cultural significance of the topic. · presents a thesis that offers a sophisticated and nuanced analysis of the chosen t ...

1. Assignment 1
Read the following chapters and discuss the statement given
below:
Chapters:
1. Read " Chapt 1, 2, and 3 - Religion in India " (Clothey).
http://vedicilluminations.com/downloads/Academic%20General/
Clothey_Fred_W._-
_Religion_In_India__A_Historical_Indroduction.pdf
2. Read " Hinduism and India " by Max Weber.
Discuss the following statement in no less than 500 words:
Historically and sociologically, the evolution of Hinduism has
been different from that of religion in the West. Discuss these
differences, especially from structural and functional angles.
Also, within the Indian context itself, examine how Hinduism
has followed a track different from Buddhism and Jainism. You
should discuss the structural paradigms discussed in Clothey's
chapters.
Assignment 2
Chapter 1: What is Religion and Spirituality?
http://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781473920743.n1
After reading the substantive and functional definitions of
religion, how has your knowledge of the institution of religion
changed? Of the various classical social scientific approaches to
the study of religion, which approach do you find most
persuasive? Why?
You must discuss both parts. Minimum length: 250 words (word
count will be considered for grading). Express your responses to
the questions clearly.

2. Assignment 3
1. The Missionary Position - The Politics of Religious
Conversion in India.
Discuss the main issues and trends discussed in this article.
Required length - 250 words.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/254254311_The_Missi
onary_Position_Christianity_and_Politics_of_Religious_Conver
sion_in_India
Assignment 4
2. Read the article , " LITERACY OF MAJOR RELIGIOUS
GROUPS IN INDIA: A GEOGRAPHICAL PERSPECTIVE "
by GURINDER KAUR & DIVJOT KAUR.
Discuss the reasons for the variance found across different
religious groups in India in education and literacy. In addition
to your original post, you must respond to at least one other
student's comments. The minimum length for your response is
300 words.
https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/b222/285ddc566510f9b448f9f0
2fad89b53b6f11.pdf
The purpose of this essay is to make connections between two
countries and cultures: Belgium and America. This assignment
also requires you to demonstrate critical thinking and analysis,
so that your essay moves past a description of facts or
circumstances. You will develop a thesis that reflects a
sophisticated explanation of cultural awareness. This task will
require research and critical reading, reflecting on the
similarities and differences of each culture. You will synthesize
your observations into a logical, well-developed essay that

3. explains the significance of the shared or contrasting values.
Characteristics of the Comparison Contrast Essay
A successful essay
· provides an engaging introduction that offers the reader some
background information on the cultural significance of the
topic.
· presents a thesis that offers a sophisticated and nuanced
analysis of the chosen topic.
· supports the thesis through well-developed paragraphs that are
organized strategically.
· point by point or subject by subject
· presents an objective stance by the use of third-person voice.
· includes specific details and evidence from secondary sources.
· correctly integrates quotations and conforms to MLA
documentation and format guidelines.
Essay Requirements
· 1000 words
· Minimum of four secondary sources, with a minimum of two
accessed from TCC library databases
· Minimum of six references of secondary sources within the
body of the essay
· MLA format for presentation (typed, double-spaced, 12-pt.
Times New Roman font, 1” margins) and source documentation
(in-text citations and Works Cited page)
Process
Reading and Pre-writing
Much of your work in writing this essay will take place before
you begin writing a first draft. The very first thing to do is to
engage a sense of whole literacy by combining reading and
writing in order to explore your initial feelings/views regarding
a potential topic.
We will
1. Review MLA documentation requirements.
2. Practice the integration and documentation of quotations into

4. the body of the essay.
3. Formulate our ideas using invention exercises.
4. Use diagrams and charts to plan the structure of the essay.
5. Craft thesis statements that offer analysis and insight.
Researching
Locate, read, evaluate, and take notes on at least four secondary
sources for developing your critical analysis. Use the research
module on Canvas for additional information on the research
process.
Drafting
Using your above notes, try to write a rough draft of your essay.
Consider reading the tips for drafting in the Writing Process
module on Canvas.
The following outline offers a suggested guideline for
organizing your critical analysis essay:
Introduction
· Use a lead-in hook to engage your readers' interest. You might
use a striking quotation, an interesting statistic or fact, or a
related current event. Whatever your choice, the lead-in must be
clearly related to the focus you have selected to analyze.
· Provide some background that will help your readers
understand the topic you are about to discuss.
· Present your thesis statement that offers a specific focus
through comparison of two cultures.
Body
· Provide specific reasons that support your thesis. Ideally, each
reason should be developed separately.
· Offer concrete examples that illustrate your reasons.
· Consider the organizational pattern that works best for your
focus: point by point or subject by subject.
· Pay attention to proper paragraph development by moving
from a general idea (often in a topic sentence) to specific
details via explanations and evidence/examples. Finish
paragraphs with a clincher or closing sentence.

5. · Transition properly from paragraph to paragraph to achieve
overall coherence.
Conclusion
· Restate your thesis in a fresh manner.
· Try to leave with a lasting impression for the reader by calling
for action or reminding the reader of the cultural significance of
your approach/thesis.
· Consider commenting on other cultures if they relate to your
discussion.
Seeking Feedback and Revising
Once you have completed a rough draft of your entire essay, let
it sit awhile. Then read your draft (out loud, if possible) while
considering areas that might be further developed or improved.
Write notes while you read. Applying whole literacy to the
revision process is essential to improved results. First, think
about the big picture: clarity, development, and coherence.
Feedback is a most helpful element in the revising process.
Letting other people read your work can help you identify
specific areas for improving, as well as recognize specific
strengths in your writing.
Recommended options for feedback:
* Submit essay to Smarthinking for feedback
* Complete a “Self-Review” of your essay – in-class activity
* Participate in a “Peer Review” – in-class activity
* Consider taking your essay to the Learning Commons for
additional support and feedback for content development.
Editing and Proofreading
After you have revised for content, think about the details of
writing correctness: sentence clarity, word choice, grammar and
punctuation. Read the editing and proofreading guide in the
Writing Process module on Canvas for additional tips. To help
you address the sentence-level clarity and correctness of your
writing, as well as the technicalities of MLA documentation and

6. format, consider visiting the Learning Commons for a
conference.
Resources: Link to UNC Writing Center page on
comparison/contrast