Topic and context clearly stated in the introduction:    Your stance identified and challenges addressed:    Description of topic, along with further details on context as needed:    Discussion of topic’s significance (in regard to sacred history, sacredness of land or community, influence of context on religion, oral or written text incorporated in holy day or place):    Required sources used and properly cited:

For full marks, your essay must be informative, accurate, and clearly written, with correct grammar and sentence structure.
Suggested Outline

    Introduction:

    Your introduction should introduce your essay:
        what is your topic,
        what, briefly is the context of your topic, and
        how will you approach discussion of the topic (what is your stance, its challenges, what theme will you discuss after or within your description of your topic?).
    Body:
        Now you introduce your topic in more detail and also present more detail about the context of your topic (e.g., where is the sacred place you will discuss, for which specific religious community is it significant; does the specific form of the holy day/festival you are writing about belong to a particular place and time period?)
        Proceed now to describe your topic in detail.
        Introduce the theme or themes you will use in your discussion of your topic.
        Discuss the significance of your topic using the themes you have introduced.
    Conclusion:

    Summarize and offer final comments on what you feel are the most important points of your essay.

This is just one possible outline. You might find that it is better that your detailed description be integrated in your thematic discussion rather than done separately. You might want to collapse 2a and 2b. I do strongly recommend a clear introduction to the essay, rather than beginning with an introductory description of your topic. Tell your reader right away what they will be reading, and then move on to giving detail about your topic.Grade Breakdown (out of 24)

    Topic and context clearly stated in the introduction: 2 marks
    Your stance identified and challenges addressed: 3 marks
    Description of topic, along with further details on context as needed: 7 marks
    Discussion of topic’s significance (in regard to sacred history, sacredness of land or community, influence of context on religion, oral or written text incorporated in holy day or place): 7 marks
    Required sources used and properly cited: 5 marks

For full marks, your essay must be informative, accurate, and clearly written, with correct grammar and sentence structure.
Suggested Outline

    Introduction:

    Your introduction should introduce your essay:
        what is your topic,
        what, briefly is the context of your topic, and
        how will you approach discussion of the topic (what is your stance, its challenges, what theme will you discuss after or within your description of your topic?).
    Body:
        Now you introduce your topic in more detail and also present more detail about the context of your topic (e.g., where is the sacred place you will discuss, for which specific religious community is it significant; does the specific form of the holy day/festival you are writing about belong to a particular place and time period?)
        Proceed now to describe your topic in detail.
        Introduce the theme or themes you will use in your discussion of your topic.
        Discuss the significance of your topic using the themes you have introduced.
    Conclusion:

    Summarize and offer final comments on what you feel are the most important points of your essay.

This is just one possible outline. You might find that it is better that your detailed description be integrated in your thematic discussion rather than done separately. You might want to collapse 2a and 2b. I do strongly recommend a clear introduction to the essay, rather than beginning with an introductory description of your topic. Tell your reader right away what they will be reading, and then move on to giving detail about your topic.