Take Home 30 Minute essay

You are being given another opportunity to shine!! On Friday, November 9th, you are requested to bring in your response to the essay question listed below. Keep in mind the question asks you to provide one example from beyond the European tradition. For this specific assignment, I'm requesting that your non-Western choice be derived from the Islamic culture since we are preparing to study this area next. Your second choice may come from any other culture you desire, including both Western and non-Western. The essay is based on a 30 minute response. Remember to answer the question directly.

Topic:Cultures designate sacred space in a variety of ways to accommodate both religious beliefs and practices.
Select and fully identify two examples of sacred spaces from different cultures, one of which must be from beyond the European tradition. Discuss how each space accommodates both religious beliefs and practices within its culture. (30 minutes)

Students have three tasks:
(1) To fully identify two appropriate examples of sacred spaces. One sacred space must be from beyond the European tradition.
(2) To address how each space accommodates religious beliefs.
(3) To address how each space accommodates religious practices.
Better essays will fully identify two specific, appropriate examples of sacred spaces, one of which is from beyond the European tradition. Successful essays will do more than just identify a space as Christian, Buddhist, Islamic, etc., but will analyze
how each space accommodates religious beliefs (Christian, Buddhist, etc.) and practices (Eucharist, pilgrimage, animal and human sacrifice, etc.). The best essays will analyze how sacred spaces and their monuments address cultural beliefs and practices with a high degree of specificity.
Weaker essays may use less-appropriate examples, such as generic structures or examples that are from beyond the European tradition but do not effectively present the religious beliefs and practices of their cultures. The identifications might be vague and merely describe
the structures, providing little or no analysis of what went on in them.
Points to remember:
• Appropriate choices of sacred spaces are those that clearly reflect the religious beliefs and practices of their culture.
• This question requires an identification that makes it clear to the reader which specific sacred spaces are being discussed. Sometimes the full identification may be located within the body of the essay.
• Sacred spaces do not have to be architectural but can encompass a wide range of other constructed and natural sites.
• These sites and structures can possess iconography or ornamentation that reflects specific religious beliefs, which are analyzed in better responses.
• In order to achieve a high score, the essay must address both religious beliefs and practices associated with sacred spaces.