Provide the names and authors of the white paper you located in the Walden Library database search.
React to the white paper you found in your Walden Library search by responding to one or several of these prompts:
Explain what makes the white paper effective.
Explain how the white paper could be improved.
Discuss the form of the white paper and share how it helps to present the content.
Explain the tone and the wording of the white paper and how that may affect a reader.
Ask one to three questions about what you would like to learn about white papers or advocacy.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
To evaluate the effectiveness of a white paper, several factors should be considered. Here are some key points to consider when assessing a white paper’s effectiveness:
Clear and Concise: An effective white paper should clearly communicate its purpose, main points, and conclusions in a concise manner. It should provide a clear understanding of the topic without overwhelming the reader with unnecessary details.
Well-Structured: A well-structured white paper includes an introduction that grabs the reader’s attention, a logical flow of ideas, and a conclusion that summarizes the main points and offers actionable insights. It should also include headings and subheadings to guide the reader through the content.
Credible Sources and Evidence: A high-quality white paper should support its claims and arguments with credible sources and evidence. These sources may include academic research, industry reports, and expert opinions. Proper citations and references should be provided to ensure transparency and validity.
Engaging and Informative: The white paper should engage readers by presenting information in an interesting and informative way. Using data visualizations, charts, graphs, and case studies can help make complex information more accessible and engaging.
Improvements can always be made to white papers to enhance their effectiveness. Here are a few potential areas for improvement:
Language and Tone: The language and tone used in the white paper should be appropriate for the target audience. It should strike a balance between being professional and accessible, avoiding overly technical jargon or overly simplistic language.
Visual Presentation: While the content is crucial, the way it is presented visually can greatly impact readability and engagement. To improve a white paper, consider using more visuals, such as infographics or images, to break up text-heavy sections and make it more visually appealing.
Regarding your questions about white papers and advocacy:
What are some common strategies used in white papers to persuade readers?
How can white papers be utilized as advocacy tools in different industries or fields?
What are the key elements that differentiate a white paper from other types of informational documents?
These questions can help deepen your understanding of white papers as persuasive tools for advocacy purposes.
