Women and Japanese History

Paper details:

Topic: Can women go to the pure land? Focus on next thing: – Nyonin kinsei and resistance to/conquest of them – Buddhism and women in Japan Please write a review essay. Mainly include those resources: Ø The Buddhist theory on impurity of women Ø Exclusion of women from religious salvation (the five-fold obstruction)/activities/sites Ø Contradictions and other possible readings Ø Women’s subjectivity A review essay critically reviews several readings (secondary sources) related to one topic. You summarize the views of different scholars on the topic, sort them out, and make your own point; for example, you may explain why you find one view more convincing than the others, point out the strong and weak aspects of the different views, or bring up a new issue that you feel none of the authors has considered sufficiently. Writing a review essay is a good way for anyone to conclude a course and is especially recommended for those who are writing a history paper for the first time Please protect next thing: 1) The topic of the paper must be within the scope of the course (women in Japanese history). 2) The source materials (works cited) must use only additional files (materials) 3) The paper should be original, i.e., not simply a summary or patchwork of quotes from other people’s writings. 4) The paper must be proofread for correct syntax, spelling, and citation format. The format (margins and spacing, etc.) is not specified. 5) The paper should be more than 1500 words long. (No restriction for the maximum number of words.) 6) The paper should be complete with proper citations of sources using a consistent style – Suggestions for writing your paper • You need a clear structure for the paper. Ø In the introduction, explain the background of this topic and present a clear thesis statement. Ø In the body of the paper, use the source materials to support the thesis. Pay attention to good transitions. Ø In the conclusion, summarize the argument and restate the thesis. • Comparison is always a good strategy for writing a paper; you may compare, for example, two or three different views on a topic, two or three periods, or two or three regions. • Finding contradictions is also a good way to come up with a topic and to develop your argument. Try finding contradictions between different readings (scholars), between an author’s argument and her sources, or between the different factors shaping a particular historical situation. • Try not to argue as if concepts such as “women,” “gender,” “shaman,” “wife,” or “family” are natural and to be taken for granted. Any concept should be scrutinized and critically discussed. • Try placing your discussion in a larger context, for example in the context of the political history of the period or the transformation of ideal womanhood. – Submission of the finished paper i. A clear, specific, and relevant thesis statement ii. Displaying good understanding of the topic and source materials iii. Accuracy of historical facts iv. Displaying good analytical skills (critical review, development of persuasive arguments) v. Effective and appropriate usage of source materials (effective quotes and references to evidence, necessary citations) vi. Logic, relevance, and coherence (whether all parts of the essay support the thesis) vii. Proofreading (correct spelling and syntax) and appropriate length of the paper Mainly, the additional file of “Kankyo no Tomo” is a primary source. Other additional file will be secondary source