A Guide to Writing Academic Essays in Religious Studies

Description

One of the greatest challenges for instructors in religious studies is the task of explaining why, in colleges and universities, the truth claims of religions are not accepted or even investigated, but instead a disinterested, secular approach is taken. Most instructors prefer not to address the issue directly, leaving their students to work out for themselves the difference between religious studies and the study of religion. Those who remain confused inevitably submit essays that reveal more about their religious upbringing than their ability to analyze a phenomenon objectively. A Guide to Writing Academic Essays in Religious Studies eases the transition for undergraduate students by explaining what they need to know about writing research essays pertaining to religion. Topics include methodological and theoretical presuppositions of religious studies, types of research essays, locating appropriate scholarly literature, developing a thesis, the essentials of essay form and content, quotations, forms of documentation, avoiding plagiarism, gender-inclusive language, layout, style, conciseness, rewriting and proofreading, approaching ancient texts, and how to recognize and avoid bad scholarship. This guide is indispensable for students new to religious studies.

Scott G. Brown is Lecturer in Christian Origins at the University of Toronto, Canada. He has published a book on the "secret" Gospel of Mark and articles in the Journal of Biblical Literature, Catholic Biblical Quarterly, Revue Biblique, Biblical Archaeology Review, Expository Times, and Harvard Theological Review.

"Brown's A Guide to Writing Academic Essays in Religious Studies is not only a readable and reliable guide that one can put into the hands of undergraduates; his concluding chapter on the Hallmarks of Bad Scholarship could be read with profit by all those who are concerned to avoid a litany of mistakes in argumentation. Brown is equally attentive to the mechanics of research, drafting and polishing prose, matters of style and format, bibliography and footnotes, punctuation and quotation, and the ultimate goal of producing careful, well-documented, and compelling essays. This is a book for every library and should appear on every syllabus." J.S. Kloppenborg, Professor and Chair, Department & Centre for the Study of Religion, University of Toronto, Canada This concise, readable guidebook is designed primarily for undergraduate students. Brown begins with a clear explanation of an academic essay by outlining the methods and presuppositions of religious studies. These initial pages out to be required reading for all students in introductory classes... Ideal as a text for introductory religious studies classes, Brown's book accomplishes much in a few pages. -- Religious Studies Review