Torah seminar reaction paper

WHY? Writing down our reactions to an event helps us to be more attentive to what we think and feel about it. The field trips involve a number of experiences which may evoke different feelings for different participants. Mulling over your feelings and thoughts will help you to sort out the religious, social and cultural "rules" which you take for granted. This heightened awareness makes it possible to compare and contrast your assumptions with those of other religious traditions, and to evaluate critically the benefits and drawbacks of each set.
FOR WHOM? The process is to help you; the product is for your classmates and instructor.
HOW? Prepare to write by brainstorming on the following topics:

What did you expect to see & hear during the tour and seminar?
What did you actually see and notice?
What were your surprises and insights?
What unique features of Judaism did you discover (or re-discover) through this field trip?
What similarities did you find between Judaism and your own religious tradition?
What connections do you see between your field trip insights and the course material so far (esp. the readings)?
What further questions did this experience raise for you?

WHAT? Choose one of the unique features of Judaism or one of the similarities you noted in #3.4-6. Decide why you think this is the most significant insight from this field experience. Then begin to organize the data from #3 to support your contention. Your actual paper will follow the basic three-part formula: Introduction, Body, Conclusion.

the Introduction includes two things: your thesis concerning the most significant insight from this field experience, and the basic outline of how you will present your case.
the Body is where you lay out your argument, step-by-step, showing your audience why your thesis should be upheld; include details from the experience and readings wherever possible, and show why it is essential for understanding the content of this class.
the Conclusion contains two things: your summary of how you have established your thesis, and further questions you would like to investigate. If you choose, you also can include a prediction of further effects of the experience on your thinking and/or behavior.

FORMAT? When referring to text books, parenthetical notes with the short title and page numbers are fine. For outside sources, footnotes are preferable. NB: For web sources, be sure to cite your access date and time.
LENGTH? Two or three double-spaced pages should suffice. Please use a 10-12 point font, and maintain one-inch margins all around.
EVALUATION? An "A" paper will present a clear and concise statement of your analysis of the experience. It will be written in formal English that is a pleasure to read. It will be free of any typographical, grammatical, and orthographical errors. It will draw interesting connections between the field activity and the readings to date. The paper will follow a linear development, from the introduction through the body to the conclusion. It will culminate in a discussion of the religious and social implications you see based on the experience and the course readings so far.