 1. Set up the argument (should be first and last sentence of the paragraph).  2. Summarizes the main points of a document. Should end with the source in parenthesis.  3. Analyze the document. This must be done immediately after the summary. Answer the question, “What does this article tell me about the culture?” Use the phrase, “This shows that____________...”  4. POV. Critique at least three authors.  5. Tie in sentence. Second to last sentence ties all of the documents to each other.  6. Summarize your argument to end the paragraph.

 Summarize doc 1  “The Four Noble Truths” define what sorrow is and explain how to escape sorrow (doc 1).  Analyze doc 1  This shows that there was probably a lot of hardship and suffering in India at the time.  Summarize doc 2,3,5  Analyze doc 2,3,5

 Is the source reliable, why or why not?  Think of: speaker, occasion, audience, purpose, subject, and tone (SOAPStone)  Document 1 is a very reliable source because “The Buddha” would offer the best description of this belief as he is the one who created the religion.  Include any other POV’s  Must attempt at least 3 POV’s; Two must be done correctly for a point.

 Buddhism gained many supporters in China. “The Four Noble Truths” explain what sorrow is and how to escape it (Doc. 1). This shows that Buddhism probably emerged because the conditions of that time were horrible and bleak. Document 1 is a very reliable source because “The Buddha” would offer the best description of this belief as he is the one who created the religion. Zhi Dun explains how to achieve Nirvana (Doc. 2). This shows that the Chinese probably turned to Buddhism as a result of political instability and defeat by foreign invaders. “The Disposition of Era” gives a Confucius's negative interpretation of Buddhism while countering with a positive response to Buddhism (Doc. 3). This shows that there must have been a major social or political conflict between Buddhists and Confucius in China. Zong Mi explains that Buddhism, Daoism, and Confucianism are all positive and can coexist in harmony (Doc. 5). This shows that Buddhists were probably tolerant enough to embrace the other major religions in China. Document 5 is probably a reliable source because as a Buddhist he still provides a fair perspective on the other beliefs, rather than endorsing his own and dismissing the others. All of these documents show that despite being a new foreign religion, Buddhism found a place in China among other traditional belief systems. Buddhism was supported in China by some of its most elite citizens.

Over time, the acceptance of Buddhism in China declined and was rejected by imperial authority. Document 2 shows that Buddhism was probably accepted because of desperation and hopelessness from war in the 4 th century. Document 3 shows that as things were more stable in the 6 th century, Buddhism faced more opposition from Confucism. This was probably because some social differences between the two belief systems became more evident in times of peace. Document 6 shows China was most likely experiencing some major internal problems that led to Buddhism being used as a scapegoat by the 9 th century. All of these documents show the chronological deterioration of Buddhism from the 4 th to the 9 th century. Due to conservative opposition and conflict with traditional Chinese values, the opinion of Buddhism shifted from positive to more negative as time went on.