Assignment: The Religion of Islam
Paper: Analysis of a Sura from the Qur'an
Write a 4 to 5 pages paper on the following topic.
Imagine that you live in the middle of a desert and that the only portion of the Qur'an to reach your isolated village is Sura 20 ("Taha"). Excited by this discovery, you read this text several times and proceed to write an analysis of its major ideas and teachings. Your task is to identify and discussat least fivethemesand/or teachings found in Sura 20 in a coherent essay.Each theme must be supported by citing at least three verses from the Sura.
Guidelines:
1) You may want to review the Daniel Madigan reading (on D2L) for a reminder of some themes to look for. Feel free to include other themes as well.
2) You should notcite any additional readings other Sura 20 (on D2L).
3) Be sure to support each theme with at least threeQur'anic verses. Cite verses in the following format: (sura #: verse #); i.e., verse 11 of Sura 20 is cited as (Q 20:11).
4) Be sure your paper has an introductory paragraph and a concluding paragraph.
5) Be sure you have a clear thesis statement in your introductory paragraph. Your thesis statement should lay out the main themes you will be discussing. (e.g., "The five themes I will discuss is Sura 20 are a, b, c, d, and e").
6) Be sure your themes are distinct from one another and that you are not saying the same thing in different ways.
7) Papers must be typed, double-spaced, in 12-point Times New Roman font with standard (1") margins. The first paragraph of the paper should begin near the top of the first page. Neither a title page nor a "sources cited" page is necessary.
Hints for Success:
1) Read Sura 20multiple times prior to writing the paper.
2) Write an outline of your paper for yourself prior to writing the complete paper.
3) In the Qur'an, the singular God is referred to by the pronouns "He," "I," and "We." The translator consistently capitalizes the pronouns referring to God.
4) While you may discuss Sura 20 with your friends, you must write your own paper. No two papers should look as though they were written by the same person.
5) If you find writing papers challenging, make an appointment with your TA ahead of the due date to show them a draft.
6) Avoid common mistakes: it's = it is; its = possessive. An effect (noun); to affect (verb).
7) Avoid slang and excessive use of semicolons and contractions.
Format your assignment according to the following formatting requirements:
(1) The answer should be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides.
(2) The response also includes a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student's name, the course title, and the date. The cover page is not included in the required page length.
(3) Also include a reference page. The Citations and references should follow APA format. The reference page is not included in the required page length.