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THESIS RESEARCH & PROPOSAL

THESIS RESEARCH & PROPOSAL. Textbooks: Quality Research Papers , Nancy Vyhmeister. 2. A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses and Dissertations, K ate L. Turabian ORU GSTM Research and Writing Manual (2013-2014)

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THESIS RESEARCH & PROPOSAL

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  1. THESIS RESEARCH & PROPOSAL

  2. Textbooks: • Quality Research Papers, Nancy Vyhmeister • 2. A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses and Dissertations, Kate L. Turabian • ORUGSTM Research and Writing Manual (2013-2014) • 4. Doing Theological Research, Robert W. Pazmin͂o

  3. Reading Assignments: • Read Vyhmeisterpp. 1-77; 103-132; 141-150 (GBIB Theses); 212-216. • Review the R/W Manual • Focus on Vyhmeister, pp. 29-34, to choose a topic Next time: Come to class prepared to discuss readings & with 2-3 potential thesis topics

  4. Announcements - Mark your calendars Library Research Instruction, Library Computer Lab (LIL) in the Reference Room, with Sally Shelton: • Next Monday, August 26th, 3:15 - 4:45 p.m. • Monday – Friday, October 21st – 25th, (individual consultations)

  5. What is Research? • A method of study that, through careful investigation of all evidence bearing on a definable problem, arrives at a solution • Collecting, organizing, evaluating, and presenting data with analysis and synthesis¹ ________________ _______ ¹Nancy Jean Vyhmeister, Quality Research Papers, 2nd ed. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2008), 1.

  6. The Thesis Research Process – Corresponds to 8-Step Res. Paper Process • Select the Topic • Research in Authoritative Summaries • Narrow the Topic • Build the Bibliography • Take Notes (End of Thesis Research/Proposal class) • Construct Rough Draft (Begin Thesis Writing class) • Rewrite and Polish the Rough Draft • Prepare the Final Copy

  7. The Research Process • Select a topic • Identify a specific problem/issue to be tackled or question to be answered • Gather information from many sources • Organize the data clearly and logically

  8. Choosing a Topic • Determine your primary areas of interest—a critical step in the process. • Review your past work in the Seminary program. • What courses have you taken? • What have you written about in course papers? • Why did you decide to concentrate on your particular program?

  9. Choosing a Topic • Choose a topic that is interesting and intriguing to you. • A topic is best formulated as a question. • Question not too broad—a topic must have focus • Question not too narrow—a good thesis contains important material that results from detailed analysis of a specific subject • Formulate a focused and thought-provoking question

  10. Choosing a Topic • Uncover topics in your area of interest by posing questions • Discover issues that stand out in your mind • Read scholarly literature • Approaches (Vyhmeister, pp. 29-34) • Complete initial pre-research • Write down 2-3 possible topics.  

  11. The Research Process • Analyze and evaluate the data • Draw conclusions regarding the solution of the problem • Write a research thesis that clearly delineates problem, information gathered, and solution reached.

  12. The Research Process (cont.) • Recognize prejudices • State them in the Introduction to the research, then proceed • Do thorough research² • Research demands extreme caution and care—and much time (4-5 hours of Research/Writing per final page of written text = 300-375 hrs for a 75 page Thesis!)³ ____________ ²Vyhmeister, 3. ³ORU Research/Writing Man., 4.

  13. Thinking about your research topic: • What is your topic? • Why does it interest you?

  14. From what disciplinary perspective will you approach it? • Biblical? • Theological? • Pastoral?

  15. What questions emerge as you reflect on the topic? • Where would you begin searching for relevant sources?

  16. Yaghijian, Lucretia B. Writing Theology Well: A Rhetoric for Theological and Biblical Writers. New York: Continuum, 2008.

  17. Thesis Research • Shows assimilation, synthesis, and critical analysis of the material • Seeks truth • Is not polemical • Is reported logically with evidence to support conclusions • Is not a sermon—seeks to inform and convince the mind

  18. The Value of Research • Discipline of the research and the information gleaned is valuable • Recognition of problems and how to solve them • Research papers teach more than a teacher could • Learning by doing

  19. The Value of Research (cont.) • Teaches skills of observation, analysis, synthesis, judgment, and critical thinking. • Develops character through the discipline of research • Develops good writing skills • Provides satisfaction of accomplishment and joy of discovery

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