THESIS RESEARCH & PROPOSAL
Dec 31, 2015
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.)