[Module 1] TH780 Course Introduction.pptx

TH780 module 1

1. Research methods in theological Studies COURSE INTRODUCTION

2. Personal Introductions Name, program, academic intentions What is your research topic or area of interest? On a scale of 1-10, where do you think you are in terms of the skills we address in this course? Which of the three main skills -- researching, writing, revising – do you feel you are best at? Which of the three do you enjoy the most? Why is this God’s vocation for you?

3. Ground we will cover in this course How to move from an interest , to a topic , to a thesis How to enter into an academic conversation, shifting from observer to participant How to engage primary , secondary , and tertiary texts How to understand and assess the arguments of others, determine your own position, and defend it with clarity and discernment How to construct and revise a working draft How to use language that highlights, not obscures, your meaning How to utilize source material to enhance and illustrate your arguments

4. Course Outline

5. Course Outline

6. Course Progress (aka Assignments)

7. Course Progress

8. From topic to thesis Begin with a topic Determine your take on it Articulate your thesis Helpful Questions: What do I find interesting about this topic? What attracts me to it? What is challenging about this topic? How will this serve the academy, the church, and the body of Christ?

9. Identifying your particular contribution Passion : What are the questions you want to answer? What is the story you want to tell? Originality : What is the new and/or original contribution you plan to make to the conversation? Relevance : Why does this contribution need to be made? What difference will it make? Manageability : Can it be accomplished in the allotted time? Can your supervisor competently guide you in this task? YOU ARE HERE

10. How and why “The challenge for a theology that wants to be both critical and constructive is to show how a certain doctrine of idea may be interpreted anew in light of a critical understanding of its significance, and at the same time be understood as a creative development of the theological tradition (which is not nor ever has been unambiguous)." (from Ola Sigurdson's   Heavenly Bodies , 34)

11. How to Research “Learn to read, read to learn” – true for elementary school, true for graduate work Where to begin? What resources are out there? Primary, secondary, and tertiary sources Assessment of arguments – book reviews, article précis What are the lacunae in the conversations? Where are the overlaps with significant contemporary issues?

12. Entering the Conversation

13. From Topic to Thesis: The “Keys” to Beginning the Work Finding Direction Gathering Sources Understanding Issues Entering Discussion Establishing Position

14. Finding Direction Do not come into the research process having already decided what your paper is going to argue. Research takes time. In the initial phase of your research, do not use secondary sources. This is the only stage at which you depend heavily on tertiary sources.

15. Gathering Sources Don't spend too much time on any one source. There’s a fine line between redirecting and getting distracted. Not every important source will be well-written. Research is first and foremost about primary sources.

16. Understanding Issues Read with pen or pencil. Allow enough time for reading carefully, deeply, and slowly. Read sources not for their own sake, but for the sake of your paper. (However…) The specificity of your sources will determine the specificity of your topic. Don’t be afraid to cycle back and forth between gathering sources and understanding issues.

17. Entering Discussion What do you have to contribute to the discussion? What is the most appropriate time to enter the discussion, and can you recognize it? How does your thesis fit into the discussion, and can you articulate it clearly?

18. Establishing Position Your thesis is the center and foundation of your paper. Don’t begin writing ( your argument, more on this later… ) too soon. Research is joining an ongoing discussion; your paper will contribute to that discussion and (hopefully) shape its present and future course.

19. A Writer’s “Toolbox” Good writing is more than just working madly when you feel inspired. How do we develop the discipline and the skills to write well? Timetables Daily writing goals The forest and the trees “A long obedience in the same direction” (Eugene Peterson)

20. You have the tools, you have the talent!