: Write a paper in which you compare and contrast the
fundamental cultural assumptions expressed in The Rig Veda with those expressed in Hildegard’s Secrets of God. Although the overall focus of this class is on drugs/medicine,
you may compare these texts on whatever basis you wish (e.g., assumptions about the
natural world/creation, assumptions about divinity and healing, assumptions about the
nature of divinity and how humans may access it).
How: Focus on the similarities and differences inherent in these Hindu and Christian
texts, respectively, and how such foundational ideas influence how each culture
perceives the natural world and the human experience. Some preliminary questions to
explore include: What is the relationship between humans and divinity? Between divinity
and nature? Between humans and nature? Between drugs and divinity? How is
knowledge related to drugs, healing and medicine articulated in these texts?
Articulate a clear thesis statement to appear in your introduction – this might (probably
will?) evolve as you progress with the writing process and the paper starts to come
together.
You might construct a conceptual map to help organize your findings and make sense of
the relationship between different concepts and ideas. Draw arrows between ideas,
noting what these relationships mean. From this you will begin to see your argument
take shape. Narrow your focus wherever possible.
Organize your argument thematically into paragraphs with strong topic sentences that
establish the main idea of each section. To achieve a synthesis, compare and contrast
assumptions expressed in the texts throughout the essay instead of dealing with texts
independently of each other. Integrate quotations to provide textual support for your
ideas. Cite using MLA style (in-text citations and works cited list). Roughly 10-15% of
your total word count should be quotations from the assigned readings. Refer to
Blackboard for help with MLA style and ask me if you have any questions.
Last Completed Projects
| topic title | academic level | Writer | delivered |
|---|