WESTERN SEMINARY

 

RES 500/600:  GRADUATE RESEARCH AND WRITING

SYLLABUS

 

Portland Campus

 

Fall, 2004

 

R. A. Krupp, Instructor

 

(503) 517-1838

rkrupp@westernseminary.edu

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION

 

Necessary tools and methodology required for graduate-level study concentrating on the theological disciplines are examined in this course.  Investigation is made of various library research tools, including the use of the computer in research and writing.  Also studied are matters of proper form and style for academic writing.  The course is required of students selecting the thesis option in their programs and is available as an elective for all students.  1 hour.

 

COURSE GOALS

 

A thesis in the M.A. and Th.M. programs is intended to be a scholarly investigation in an area of the student's interest,  relevant to the program purposes and subject disciplines.  Integrity in such theological study requires the ability to do appropriate research accurately, thoroughly, and systematically, and then to report it in a form that communicates clearly and provides requisite documentation for scholarly use.  To create this document (thesis) you must:

 

1.             know how to design a research/study project;

 

2.             know how to use a library and its various media resources to conduct theological research;

 

3.             know how to write in appropriate academic style, including proper format for academic projects.

 

The purpose of this course is to help you develop your skills, so that you may satisfy the thesis requirement for your program and so that you are able to conduct independent and thorough theological investigations in your future ministry.

 

COURSE OBJECTIVES

 

Upon completion of this course you will:

 

1.             understand the nature of graduate theological research and writing, including research design;

 

2.             be able to select research tools to find the relevant data to support research on theological topics;

 

3.             be able to express your thinking in proper academic writing style;

 

4.             understand and be able to follow the thesis format adopted by the seminary;

 

5.             be able to create footnotes and bibliographic entries in proper form; and

 

6.             be able to write a complete and approved proposal for your thesis.

 

COURSE TEXTS

 

Howard, V. A. and J. H. Barton.  Thinking on Paper.  New York:  Quill, 1986.  Required.

 

Kane, Thomas S.  The New Oxford Guide to Writing.  New York:  Oxford University Press, 1988.  Recommended.

 

Sertillanges, A. J. The Intellectual Life: its spirit, conditions, methods. Washington, D.C.: Catholic University of America Press, 1987. Required.

 

Strunk, William, Jr. and E. B. White.  The Elements of Style.  3rd ed.  New York: Macmillan Publishers, 1979.  Recommended.

 

COURSE GRADING

 

This course is graded S/U:  satisfactory or unsatisfactory.  Students are expected to complete all assignments in a satisfactory manner.

 

COURSE ASSIGNMENTS AND SCHEDULE

 

October 7, 2004

Course Introduction

 

October 12, 2004

1.             Meet with your advisor and agree on a working title and subject for your thesis. This will probably be modified during this course and the initial stages of your research.

 

2.             Using the catalog of the library you will be using to support your research construct list of at least ten books on your subject that will serve as the beginning of your working bibliography for your thesis.

 

3.             Using the Reference Collection of your home library find at least five reference tools that should be added to your working bibliography.

 

4.         Read Howard and Barton, pages 13-62 and be prepared to discuss the relevance of the principles discussed on these pages to the thesis process.

 

October 14, 2004

1.         Find at least three theses that should be added to your working bibliography.

 

2.         Search the bibliographies of at least two of the theses and add any relevant items to your working bibliography

 

3.         Read the enclosed thesis proposal guidelines by Professor Verbruggen, Head of the ThM Program at the Portland campus. Download and read the writing guidelines that he refers to in his guidelines for the proposal.

 

4.         Read Howard and Barton., pages 65-144 and be prepared to discuss the relevance of the principles discussed on these pages to the thesis process.

 

October 19, 2004

 

1.         Explore the following websites for online material that should be added to your working bibliography: ipl.org, yourdictionary.com, bible.org

 

2.         Search the World Wide Web for other online material that should be added to your working bibliography.

 

3.             Prepare the first draft of the one-page outline of you thesis and bring the draft to class.

 

4.             Read Sertillanges, pages vii-xxx, and 3-16 and be prepared to discuss the relevance of the principles discussed on these pages to the thesis process and the scholarly life in general.

 

October 21, 2004

1.         Using the ATLA Religion Database and other online databases find at least ten journal articles that should be added to your working bibliography.

 

2.         Prepare the first draft of the first chapter of your proposal and bring the draft to class.

 

3.         Read Sertillanges, pages 17-68 and be prepared to discuss the relevance of the principles discussed on these pages to the thesis process and the scholarly life in general.

 

 

October 26, 2004

1.             Bring the first draft of you preliminary bibliography to class.

 

2.             Read Sertillanges, pages 123-143; and 199-233 and skim the section of the book not read so far and be prepared to discuss the relevance of the principles discussed on these pages to the thesis process and the scholarly life in general.

 

 

October 28, 2004

Students should make individual appointments with the instructor to discuss their progress on the assignments