Your site visit paper should be 1000 words, and written as a first person narrative based on your experience of attending a service of a religion other than the one you were raised in. Because the majority of you were raised as some type of Christian, no one my attend any kind of Christian service without my prior permission. If you were not raised Christian you may not attend any kind of service of the tradition you were raised in (but you still need to clear Christianity with me). If you have any questions about whether or not a particular service or tradition is appropriate for you and/or this assignment, ask before you go!

This is NOT a research paper, and no outside reading (beyond class assignments) is required. If you do choose use outside sources, you MUST to cite them. Both Chicago and MLA styles of citation are fine, just be sure to use the one you choose correctly. If you ask a friend, family member, or someone at the service questions about what you’re observing definitely include those! You can cite them by saying, "My friend Cory told me that object x represents y, and is used in the following ways" or, "the person I sat next to told me XX". 

Again, if you have any questions about your paper, please ask me BEFORE it’s due! If you take your paper to the writing center before you turn it in and provide me with proof of your visit you’ll get extra credit on your paper grade.

TOPIC: For this site visit I would like you to focus on the theme of material objects (such as books, candles, bells, statues, rugs, art, clothing etc). What kinds of objects are in the space that the service is held in? What kinds of objects are used in the service, either by clergy or lay people? What do those objects mean, or represent? Where are they located, and what does their location tell you about their use or importance? Are they treated in a special or particular manner? If so, why? You should weave your observations about the objects in with your description of the service and your experience. Be sure to include the date and place of the service you attended at the start of your essay.