- The competition is open to all IUP undergraduates and is not restricted to papers from or related to a course taught by a Religious Studies professor, although such papers are encouraged. Unfortunately, however, only one entry per student can be accepted, so students should please choose their best work. Please submit both a hard copy and digital copy (e-mailed to Dr. Downie: alison.downie@iup.edu).
- Style: 8-15 pages in length (excluding cover sheet and bibliography), double-spaced, no wider than one-inch margins, 12 cpi Times font. Use of citations must be consistent throughout, but students may choose from MLA or Chicago styles.
- Papers will be judged not only on content and the quality of critical arguments, but also on style and composition. Religious Studies is a diverse set of disciplines, and it is expected that papers on a variety of topics may be submittedfor example, papers on some aspect of a particular religion (Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, etc.), or on some general approach to religion, philosophy, or sociology of religion, etc. The main expectation, however, is that the paper utilize scholarly methodologies and promote academic discourse.
- Papers will be judged by a panel of Religious Studies faculty members.
- Awards will be made at the 2017 spring semester gathering of the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies on a date TBA. There are three prizes: $150, $100, and $75 in Co-Op gift certificates will be awarded to the first-, second-, and third-place winners, respectively. In addition, all three winning essays will be published electronically on the department website.
- 2017 Submissions deadline is April 28, 2017, at noon (the hard copy is to be dropped off at 505 HSS; an additional digital copy should be to be sent to alison.downie@iup.edu).
Any questions? Please e-mail Dr. Alison Downie at alison.downie@iup.edu