How to Write an Evaluation Essay in Religious Studies: Starting from Basics

The Religious Study is a topic that requires absolute accuracy and prompt attention. When a supervisor assigns his students to write an evaluation essay there should be a preparation stage that will help them to avoid pitfalls. Usually, the basic problem you may face is a lack of evidence because you did not interpret the definition of such a paper well. So, to have a full picture of what you must be aware of, rely on the next identifications.

An evaluation essay is:

• a type of composition with the subjective value of a writer.
• a paper that follows a set of structural criteria thus there are no improvised judgments.
• a report full of evidence.

Note, students may come across other names of this paper such as evaluative writing, report, and essay or critical evaluation paper. So, do not be misguided by the instructions, the rules are the same.

How to Write an Evaluation Essay in Religious Studies: Observations

Such types of essays are aimed to develop writers’ thinking skills. Especially, it benefits big groups of people where a professor wants to identify their creative vision of the world. For instance, when a person simply likes or dislikes topics, subjects, products, and services without knowing the in-depth aspect of their content, he may be manipulated like a puppet. To avoid such events, it is worth learning at least a few aspects of each surrounded object. What does it mean? Regarding our topic Religious Studies, a student cannot just say that religion causes harm or improves society. There must be proven facts otherwise the audience will take information wrong or find it offensive.

Before writing your project, ask yourself whether you have enough strength to learn inside out or study the subject. Ask, why do you feel so? Why do you want to address one or another matter?

How to Write an Evaluation Essay in Religious Studies: Decide on Your Topic

Usually, professors assign their students with particular topics or they share the syllabus where the most preferred topics to write on are listed. If a student does not find them interesting or worth researching, it is necessary to address this matter to a professor to discuss other options. The main goal is to persuade him that you can cope with it, and it fits the academic rules.

If you are free to choose an option, always go for complicated topics. The ones seem easily manageable do not give you value and it is the path of the least resistance. Thus, a supervisor will understand that you have already had a ready sample or even the worst, you bought it or copied from online sources. Keep in mind, such attempts are fast captivated with advanced programs that detect the plagiarism.

One more tip when choosing an exceptionally interesting matter, try to formulate for yourself a plan that may approximately encompass the materials and examples of evidence. It helps to omit the situations when a topic seems perfect but then you do not even know how to start writing it.

For your convenience, here is an extensive list of possible topics for Religious Studies that you may consider picking up. Most of them are perspective from the number of materials found online. So, you will not run out of ideas.

• Religion in Music, Movies, and Arts: Is It Worth Combining Incompatible?
• Religious Symbolism: What Signs Are Usually Misinterpreted?
• How Does Religion Affect the Young Generation?
• Women in Religion;
• The Origin of the World by Religion;
• Science Versus Religious Studies;
• Christianity in the Middle Ages;
• Prosecution of Religious Attendants;
• Faith in Schools;
• Religions in African Countries;
• The Perspective of Religion in the Near Future;
• Judaism Is the First Religion?
• Vatican Studies;
• Atheism Is a Modern Mainstream;
• Kabbalah Representatives;
• Should Churches Charge Fees?
• Missioners in Africa;
• The Challenges of Islamic Culture Today;
• The Islamic Rules for Women in the Middle East;
• The Propaganda of Diabolical Studies.

If you have studied this subject for long, you would not find any problems to find the materials to discover one of the above-mentioned topics. However, to get the top results, start acknowledging the format.

How to Write an Evaluation Essay in Religious Studies: Master the Format

So far, there is a hope that you have any ideas about your preferred topic, and you are ready to move to the next step. It deals with the format or else called structure. Most commonly, students present brilliant observations on their selected subject, they add reliable sources, evidence, facts but forget about academical requirements. And, what disappoints the most is that it radically affects the grade. Take a paper, and make notes on the next guide to master the rules of writing an evaluation essay.

Thesis, Thesis, and Thesis

The same as other types of paper, a lack of thesis makes them look incomplete. Imagine, a car cannot function without an engine, a person cannot live without a heart. It resembles the functionality of an essay because a thesis is a core, instrument, light, everything that can explain readers the purpose of the selected subject and what you want to deliver.

Make sure, you do not write obvious things such as ‘Religion is a personal choice of any person’. Yes, it corrects but it does not make your essay interesting as far as such opinion you can hear from anyone but you must explain your point of view. Instead of writing that thesis, add it like ‘Religion is a personal choice of any person but/because/as far as…. (but it does not always evangelize the friendly intentions)’. This example is perfect if your topic is about the cons of religion and you will for sure state the facts taken from history when it has deteriorated the society and well-being of people.

Besides, there are two options available, whether you go for an informative or persuasive thesis. Check them:

Informative: Missioners yearly visit the African continent to provide poor segments of the population with medications, clothes, and Bibles. Now, there are healthier and more educated children.

Persuasive: Scientists claim they can explain the origin of the universe compared to the Religious attendants because they may prove it using facts and numbers.

Outline

This part can be skipped but if so, students lose the opportunity to have a clean-cut scheme of what they should add to the essay. It often goes with Arabic or Roman numerals and allows you to add as many details as you choose to. The only rule is to make sure you cover everything you outline.

It has the next look:

Introduction

Here comes the beginning of your ‘story’. Do not beat about the bush looking for what to write about. If your selected topic is Vatican Studies, start delivering your thoughts.

For instance, ‘The Vatican is the smallest country in the world and that is considered the most secure and confidential one. Tourists take pictures in front of the Cathedrals but they will never reach the main depository of secrets, a Vatican library.’

Otherwise, students may always choose rhetorical beginning such as ‘Do you imagine today’s world without churches? They serve not only as religious places of power but a picturesque decoration of any city.’

Main Body

Usually, you can address your thoughts, facts, and opinions using only 3-5 paragraphs. The main target of this part is you to provide readers with evidence, supportive clues that should come only from reliable sources. Do not attach your personal opinion in the way you insist it is true. Write it and support it with the evidence. And, to be on the same page with your topic, try to reread your thesis a few times when composing the main body.

Keep in mind, an evaluation essay in religious studies should concern only religion, do not touch related topics or ideas that were not mentioned in the thesis and introduction. Your reader may get puzzled and a professor would think you run out of ideas and added text to meet the academic requirements. Check the example:

a) The first topic sentence – Origin of Religion in the Vatican. Tell about the history of the city, about citizens, and how it converted to be the most influenced sacramental object in the world.

Supporting Clues – Mention when the religion gained the lead within the population, who was the first Pope of Rome, and how church selects them.

a) The second topic sentence – Secret Library. Tell about the beliefs connected with its safety and confidentiality.

Supporting Clues – Mention the dates or facts about who visited it and what was the entry procedure.

b) The third topic sentence – Influence of the Vatican today. Find out where the Vatican still rules, how the young generation can be accepted for service of God in there.

Supporting Clues – Provide evidence of how this small city affects the politics in Italy and Europe.

Also, do not forget about auxiliary words.

Conclusion

And, the last but not least stage of writing your evaluation essay is the conclusion. In fact, it is a part where you sum up everything you spoke before and where you draw your final opinion on the selected topic. If needed, a student can add his Call to Action that will ask readers to make up their minds about the subject or encourage them to overview their lives or beliefs. Otherwise, leave again a rhetorical question to make your readers think about what they have read. It perfectly fits such topics as Faith in School (readers may provide you with their opinion and it will be a perfect start for discussion if there is delivering of an essay in front of the audience).

Your Post-Writing Tips for Making an Evaluation Essay in Religious Studies Worth Reading

Upon the completion of your stellar essay, follow the next tips to avoid mistakes and senseless content.

1. Give time. If you have enough time in stock before submitting an essay, after finishing the draft, leave it for 1-2 days apart. Then, with a fresh head full of ideas and power, you can fastly notice mistakes and edit them. Besides, it will work well if you want to check it from the reader’s point of view. If you do not have time and need to submit it the next day, anyway take a rest for at least 30 minutes.
2. Check the tips from the trusted educational establishment. Sometimes, there are chances to find the strategies from Harvard university or other popular institutions on how to write and check the essays.
3. Ask someone to read your essay. For the top results, make sure it is not your friend or relative. They are the people who do not want to offend your feelings and may hide some true opinions about your writing.
4. Cite your references. If you do not do it, it may be considered as you stole the information.
5. Avoid plagiarism. If you followed the previous step, the chances to be caught with plagiarism programs are minimal. However, even when you attach the famous quotes, do not forget to mention the owner.
6. Check the spelling mistakes. There are plenty of online services where you have to only insert a text and it will automatically highlight the mistakes. Otherwise, there are also grammar checkers but never trust them fully, because they are focused mostly on the basic grammar tenses without academical forms.
7. Find ready evaluation essays online. If you still hesitate about the structure of your essay, find online sources where graduates post their works for other students. Just remember one rule, if you come across a similar topic, do not try to copy it. Take a look, find out the style of language, the format, and see how the writer cited the references.

Finally, always remember that an evaluation essay, especially in Religious Studies, requires sufficient time for its completion. It is a paper where you do not write your personal opinion but an essay where you support with evidence everything you mentioned. Think about time management techniques or make a schedule of what hours you can dedicate to writing. As a result, you will be able to meet the deadline and get an A grade.
References:

• Boyett, J. (2016). 12 major world religions.
• Collins, F. (2007). The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief.
• Sawyer, E. (2016). College Essay Essentials.