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Thesis Research and Proposal: Beginning the Journey

Thesis Research and Proposal: Beginning the Journey. Writing a thesis is like going on a journey. First you decide on your destination. It is helpful to have directions so you know how to get there. Pick a topic you love. The discipline of theology often begins with questions, not answers.

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Thesis Research and Proposal: Beginning the Journey

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  1. Thesis Research and Proposal:Beginning the Journey

  2. Writing a thesis is like going on a journey. First you decide on your destination

  3. It is helpful to have directions so you know how to get there.

  4. Pick a topic you love

  5. The discipline of theology often begins with questions, not answers.

  6. Scholastic theology may give the image of “faith seeking understanding.” That seeking is expressed through questions.

  7. “Is there an ultimate end • of human life?”-Thomas Aquinas “Why did God become man?”-Anselm of Canterbury • “What is the right way to speak about God?”-Elizabeth Johnson

  8. Your own theological research may begin with a carefully formulated research question.

  9. Briefly explain why this question interests you and why it might matter to a wider theological audience.

  10. Researchers must do more than come up with a good research question. They must also consider: Why is this question worth asking? How does its answer help us understand some bigger issue in a new way?

  11. Steps to formulating a preliminary research question* • Identify your topic • Rephrase it in the form of a question • Extend the relevance of the question • into a clause that refines and clarifies it. *Writing Theology Well, Yaghjian

  12. Or think of your project like this:* I am working on the topic of X Because I want to find out Y So that I can better understand Z *Turabian, 23

  13. The Lord’s Prayer I am working on the topic of

  14. 2. Because I want to find out: Was the Lord’s Prayer Jewish in its cultural and liturgical context, or was it a totally new kind of prayer?

  15. 3. So that I can better understand: • . . . the historical and cultural background • and context of the Lord’s Prayer • in light of Old Testament prayer • and Jewish liturgical prayer • of the Second Temple Period.

  16. Develop a clear thesis statement It will determine the direction your paper goes.

  17. The purpose of this thesis is to examine the historical and cultural background and context of the Lord’s Prayer in light of Old Testament prayer and Jewish liturgical prayer of the Second Temple Period in order to penetrate and illuminate the purpose and significance of Jesus’ teaching on prayer, and to apply it to individual and corporate prayer today.

  18. Research more deeply Remember that research starts with questions, not answers. Don’t feel you have to know exactly what you want to know or say.

  19. Enjoy the process—research is exciting! It’s like a puzzle

  20. Enjoy the process—research is exciting! . . . or a treasure hunt

  21. Enjoy the process—research is exciting! . . . or a mystery story

  22. Enjoy the process—Research is exciting! . . . or an archaeological dig

  23. Read more Take time to see what positions what scholars are taking Interact with your reading See where you will “jump into the conversation.”

  24. Take good notes Write your comments about what you’re reading Use two columns – one with notes on text, one with your own comments, questions, etc. Try note cards if you’re writing notes by hand. Label notes with headings and subheadings

  25. Make an Outline Use the headings and subheadings on your notes to plug them into your outline.

  26. immediately Write down all bibliographic information Don’t assume you’ll come back to it or find it again The one that got away

  27. Remember that the journey of theological research and writing is a growth process

  28. And while journeys usually start out cheerily . . .

  29. . . . they also have challenges . . .

  30. Expect to encounter some hazards . . .

  31. And unexpected obstructions and delays . . .

  32. But the destination is well worth the effort . . .

  33. Enjoy your journey . . .

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