Comment:
The I-Search Paper Since you have enrolled in this class about world religions and womens roles in those religions, I think it is safe to assume that you have some personal interest in this subject. Therefore, I have decided that a research paper with a more personal point of view would be appropriate to go along with your final project. This type of paper is called an I-Search paper. Format & Length: Research essay writing service – MLA documentation 10001750 words: 4-7 pages (1 margins; double-spaced, 12 pt New Times Roman) Works Cited Page 3-5 sources: 1 book (required); articles, essays, films, interviews The I-Search paper consists three major parts: 1. Introduction, the story of your search: This section tells readers what you knew about your subject before you began your research, what you wanted to know, and the research steps you went through to find out what you wanted to knowincluding both the steps that led to useful information and the steps that turned out to be dead ends. In this section I would be interested to know how you decided on a particular subject and why. This section should be between 250500 words (1-2 pages, double-spaced) . 2. The Body, what you learned: In this section, you write about the results of your search. In other words, what you discovered about your subject; what contributions she made; how she fits or does not fit into a tradition. This section should be between 500–750 words (2-3 pages, double-spaced) 3. Conclusion, your reflections on the search and your subject: You may use this final section to tell readers what you have concluded about your subject in terms of religion in general and feminist theology specifically and any reflections of how this search may have affected you personally. This section should be between 250500 words (1-2 pages, double-spaced) Research and Sources: As you conduct your research, you will be looking at two basic sources of informationprimary and secondary. Primary sources include writings by the subject herself, such as, letters, diaries, autobiographies, sermons, essays. For example, if you choose St. Theresa of Avila, you should read her writings, such as Interior Castle. Secondary sources are interpretations of primary materials written by other authors. For example, historical studies of diaries, letters and eyewitness accounts; a biography; a film, any interpretation by an outside source. Week 12 your annotated bibliography is due. See below for an explanation an example of an annotated bibliography. Tips : Selecting a Topic Though an I-Search paper is usually less formal and more personal than a traditional research paper, its purpose is the sameto find information. The difference is that the subject for an I-Search comes from a personal need to know somethingthat is what the I in I-Search represents. It is very important, then, for you to choose a topic that you truly want to investigate. While you may have enrolled in this class with no particular curiosity about religious figures, I hope the class has helped you to begin thinking about a subject you may want to further investigate. WHAT IS AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY An annotated bibliography is a list of citations to books, articles, and documents. Each citation is followed by a brief (usually about 50 words) descriptive and evaluative paragraph, the annotation. The purpose of the annotation is to inform the reader of the relevance, accuracy, and quality of the sources cited. Example using Research essay writing service – MLA Plakow, Judith. Standing Again at Sinai: Judaism from a Feminist Perspective. New York: HarperCollins, 1991. Plaskow is a professor of religious studies at Manhattan College and the coeditor and cofounder of the Journal of Feminist Studies in Religion. The subject of the book is feminist Judaism. Plaskow argues for re-creating the Jewish traditions through a rewriting of its rituals and liturgies.
