THESIS RESEARCH & PROPOSAL

Textbooks:1. Quality Research Papers, Nancy Vyhmeister

2. A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses and Dissertations, Kate L. Turabian

3. ORU GSTM Research and Writing Manual (2013-2014)

4. Doing Theological Research, Robert W. Pazmi on͂�

Reading Assignments:

Read Vyhmeister pp. 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

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)

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.

The Thesis Research Process – Corresponds to 8-Step Res. Paper Process

1. Select the Topic2. Research in͂ Authoritative Summaries3. Narrow the Topic4. Build the Bibliography5. Take Notes (End of Thesis Research/Proposal

class)

6. Con͂struct Rough Draft (Begin Thesis Writing class)

7. Rewrite an͂d Polish the Rough Draft8. Prepare the Fin͂al Copy

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

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?

• 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

Choosing a Topic

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.

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.

The Research Process

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.

The Research Process (cont.)

Thin͂kin͂g about your research topic:

• What is your topic?

• Why does it in͂terest you?

From what disciplin͂ary

perspective will you

approach it?Biblical?Pastoral?

Theological?

• What question͂s

emerge as you reflect on͂ the

topic?

• Where would you begin͂

searchin͂g for relevan͂t sources?

Yaghijian͂, Lucretia B. Writing Theology Well: A

Rhetoric for Theological and Biblical Writers.

New York: Con͂tin͂uum, 2008.

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

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

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

The Value of Research (cont.)