The Religion and Theology Student Writer's Manual and Reader's Guide

By (author) Joel Hopko, Gregory M. Scott, Stephen M. Garrison University of Central Oklahoma

Publication date:

02 November 2017

Length of book:

208 pages

Publisher

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Dimensions:

264x181mm
7x10"

ISBN-13: 9781538100943

BOOK DESCRIPTION
TABLE OF CONTENTS

The Religion Student Writer’s Manual and Reader’s Guide, is a set of instructions and exercises that sequentially develop citizenship, academic, and professional skills while providing students with knowledge about a wide range of religious concepts, phenomena, and information sources. Part 1 begins by teaching students about reading and writing in introductory religion.It focuses on the crafts of writing and scholarship by providing the basics of grammar, style, formats and source citation, and then introduces students to a variety of rich information resources including the religious journals and the Library of Congress. Part 2 prepares students to research, read, write, review, and critique religious scholarship. Finally, Part 3 provides for the practice of religious scholarship in advanced courses such as the history of religion and contemporary approaches to the study of religion.

TO THE STUDENT: Welcome to the Greatest Stories Ever Told

TO THE TEACHER: As We Teach Writing, You Teach Religion and Theology

PART 1: Reading & Writing for Introductory Religion and Theology Courses

1Read & Write to Understand Religious Experience

1.1The Benefits of Effective Reading

Read & Write 1.1: Analyze a Sermon

1.2Reading Ritual and Narrative

Read & Write 1.2: Appreciate the Lakota Heyoka Ceremony

1.3Reading Mystical Experience and the Sacred

Read & Write 1.3: Explain the Popularity of Juan Soldado

1.4Reading Social Cohesion and Ethics

Read & Write 1.4: Explain How New Religious Moments Achieve Social Cohesion

1.5Reading Doctrine

Read & Write 1.5: Explore Doctrinal Options for the Separation of Church and State

2Read & Write Effectively

2.1Get into the Flow of Writing

Read & Write 2.1: Explain or Persuade

2.2Think Creatively

Read & Write 2.2: Freewriting

2.3Organize Your Writing

Read & Write 2.3: Write a Paper Outline

2.4Draft, Revise, Edit, and Proofread

Read & Write 2.4: Discover Your Own Style

3Practice the Craft of Scholarship

3.1The Competent Writer

Read & Write 3.1: Correct a Sentence Fragment

3.2Avoid Errors in Grammar and Punctuation

Read & Write 3.2: Proofread for the Pope

3.3Format Your Paper Professionally

Read & Write 3.3: Explain the Data in this Table

3.4Cite Your Sources Properly

Read & Write 3.4: Create a Scholarly Bibliography

3.5Avoid Plagiarism

Read & Write 3.5: Summarize an Article from Shambala Sun, Moment, or Guideposts

4Become Familiar with Quality Information Sources

4.1Welcome to the American Academy of Religion (AAR)

Read & Write 4.1: Write an Email to an AAR Section Chair

4.2Welcome to the Society of Biblical Literature (SBL)

Read & Write 4.2: Write an Email to an SBL Section Chair

4.3How to Locate Religion and Theology Dissertations and Theses

Read & Write 4.3: Collect Six Dissertation Abstracts on a Topic of Interest

4.4How to Locate Studies by Think Tanks

Read & Write 4.4: Collect Six Think Tank Studies on a Topic of Interest

4.5Welcome to the Library of Congress (LOC)

Read & Write 4.5: Examine Some Religion Items from the Library of Congress Collection

PART 2: Become a Scholar of Religion

5Learning Observation Skills

5.1Conduct an Interview

Read & Write 5.1: Interview a Local Religious Leader

5.2Conduct a Focus Group

Read & Write 5.2: Conduct a Focus Group on a Topic of Interest

5.3Conduct a Case Study

Read & Write 5.3: Conduct a Case Study on a Local Religious Group

5.4Conduct a Survey

Read & Write 5.4: Conduct a Survey on a Topic in Religion

6Learning Scholarship Skills

6.1How to Read Religion and Theology Scholarship

Read & Write 6.1: Explain the Content of a Recent Article from a Religion or Theology

Journal

6.2How to Critique an Academic Article

Read & Write 6.2: Critique a Recent Article from a Religion or Theology Journal

6.3How to Write a Book Review

Read & Write 6.3: Review a New Religion or Theology Book

6.4How to Write a Literature Review

Read & Write 6.4: Write a Religion or Theology Literature Review

7How to Research Effectively

7.1Institute an Effective Research Process

Read & Write 7.1: Write a Religion or Theology Research Proposal

7.2Evaluate the Quality of Online and Printed Information

Read & Write 7.2: Write a Bibliography with a Dozen High Quality Sources

PART 3: Practice Some Avenues of Religion Scholarship

8Study the History of Religion

8.1Study the Origins of Religion

Read & Write 8.1: Explore Cosmos and History in South America

8.2Study the Histories of Religions

Read & Write 8.2: Chronicle the Recent History of an Asian Religion

8.3Compare Religions

Read & Write 8.3: Compare Rituals, Doctrines, or Practice of Two African Religions

9Discover Some Contemporary Approaches to the Study of Religion

9.1Sociology of Religion

Read & Write 9.1: Welcome to PEW Trust Religion Studies

9.2Psychology of Religion

Read & Write 9.2: Encounter Minds and Gods

9.3Neurology and Religion

Read & Write 9.3: Explore Experiences of Spiritual Consciousness

9.4Politics and Religion

Read & Write 9.4: Consider the Politics of Religion

9.5Postmodern Approaches to Religion

Read & Write 9.5: Behold the Panopticon

PART 4: Practice Theology, Ministry, and Discipleship

10Engaging Scripture

10.1Engaging Hermeneutics

Read & Write 10.1: Construct a Personal Hermeneutic

10.2Engaging Exegesis

Read & Write 10.2: Practice Exegesis

11Engaging the History of Theology

11.1Tracing the Course of a Tradition’s Theology

Read & Write 11.1: Trace the Course of a Religious Tradition’s Theology

11.2Comparing Practices and Doctrines

Read & Write 11.2: Compare Doctrines of Two Major Sects within a Major Religious

Tradition

12Writing for Worship and Sharing Life

12.1The Craft of Homiletics

Read & Write 12.1: Write Words to Inspire

12.2The Craft of Celebration

Read & Write 12.2: Write Words to Unite in Joy

12.3The Craft of Healing

Read & Write 12.3: Write Words to Console in Bereavement

GLOSSARY
NOTES
INDEX