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Buddhism
This assignment will be checked using anti-plagiarism software and returned to your instructor with an originality report.
Over the course, we’ve encountered many different interpretations of the Buddha’s teachings, many different ways Buddhists practice, and many different definitions of
Buddhism. Out of our course readings – any except Lopez’ The Story of Buddhism – pick two chapters that contain practices or teachings that seem radically different,
or even opposed. For instance, you could contrast the practices of Thai forest monks with those of the members of Burmese secret societies. Or, you could contrast the
view of enlightenment found in Nichiren Buddhism with what we’ve learned about the Bodhisattva Path from a different source. Your comparison should be based on sound
textual evidence, with appropriate citations that direct me to the exact page or pages on which you found each practice or teaching.
Pick one definition of Buddhism from our readings, and answer the following questions. Are both of these teachings or practices Buddhist? Are neither of them Buddhist,
at all? Why, or why not? Cite your definition of Buddhism – where, in our readings, are you getting it from? Why are you using it, rather than another definitition?
This is the only time you’re allowed to use Lopez’ The Story of Buddhism.
Note that you are only allowed to use course readings for this assignment.
Your final essay will be 2,000 words or more. Include a word count at the end. Essays must be submitted through link provided in each unit by midnight of the due date.
Late papers will not receive credit. You can post your paper ahead of time, if you have time conflicts.
Content of Essays:
Use the essays to show me that you’ve done the readings and understood the assignment. Construct your essays around the theme or focus provided for each one. While it
won’t be possible to merely summarize, your discussion will have to be thematically structured. That means you will have to leave out things that are not immediately
relevant to the topic, but provide enough detail to show you have mastered the material. Try to demonstrate your understanding by asking questions of your readings,
providing details, talking about variations, comparing within the Buddhist traditions, etc. Engage the material in a way that makes sense to you and imagine that you
are speaking to an intelligent and generally educated audience.
DO NOT BLOCK QUOTE AND MOVE ANYTHING FROM ANYWHERE TO INTEGRATE INTO YOUR PAPERS! You may quote the texts we use, but keep your quotes to less than 10% of your papers.
I recommend reading through ASU’s Academic Integrity Policy, which I have linked to below.
I suggest you go about this in the following stages:
a. read and take notes; digest the material;
b. draft and write the paper; let it sit for a day;
c. edit it, finalize it, and post to SafeAssign. Be sure to check the instructions for this carefully so it really does post).
d. print out your receipt in case there is a problem. Save your electronic copy.
Editing and Format:
This course also covers the L requirement. Hence, editing and content will be part of your evaluation. After writing your paper, read it for content, flow, and
coherence. Use your spell checking function liberally! I will take points off for misspellings that my spell checking function catches. Use paragraphs. Write your
conclusion, then write your introduction. Then give your paper an original title that prepares the reader for what’s to come. Add your name and student number on top.
Use the Chicago Manual of Style. Be consistent. Keep your font size to 12. Use Microsoft Word. Post your paper through the link provided to have it automatically
checked for plagiarism.
