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RELT10180 Compare and Contrast Review Analysis Essay

 

This assignment of about 2000 words will take the form of a compare and contrast review analysis. You will choose one item from the main readings of the study pack for Semester 1, and compare its approach and argument with that of another article or book on the same theme. This may come from the supplementary readings or from your own research, using the starting suggestions in the Bibliography included with your reading pack. Wider reading will, of course, help. Encyclopedia and dictionary articles can be particularly helpful in giving you a sense of orientation (but use these as a lead, rather than as one of the two sources to compare). 

Use the following framework to structure your essay's analysis:

Sections 1 & 2: In these sections allow the following questions to guide your analysis. DO NOT however, answer these questions in a pedantic or systematic way in your essay. Rather, use these questions as a guide to develop lucid and cohesive analysis.

  • What, exactly, is the author trying to argue? Is his/her argument convincing? Is it easy to identify?
  • What are the steps in the author's argument? Is the sequence logical? Where appropriate, does s/he raise and counter possible objections thoroughly and fairly?
  • What primary sources does the author bring in as evidence to support his/her points? Do you think the use of sources is fair, or could one just as easily use the same material to argue an opposing view? Does s/he have enough evidence to support his/her case?
  • What theories and methodologies does the author draw on? What secondary literature has influenced him/her? What is unusual or distinctive about the approach?
  • Does the piece meet the author's stated aims successfully? What, if anything, would you have asked the author to do differently, if s/he had shown you a draft before publication, in order to meet these aims?

Section 3: Again, using these questions as a guide and not a systematic outline, address the following questions in your closing section:

  • To what degree do the two sources rely on the same primary source material? Can you account for why they draw on different material to the degree that they do?
  • Do they interpret the same source material differently? How? Why? (If not, why not?) Or are their differences of opinion caused by having drawn on different sources?
  • What can your comparison tell you about the theme you have looked at overall (e.g. myth, narrative etc), and/or related issues (e.g. the study of religion).

Assessment

  • Marking criteria: your work will be marked according to the criteria on the School’s Essay Report Form (Structure, Understanding, Use of Sources, Style).

Deadline

  • You should submit two hard copies of your essay with a completed cover sheet to the School Office, A6, on Tue, Dec 5 by 4pm.