Writing is part of the process of organizing and communicating your thoughts. A basic series of steps can help you write a solid paper.
Part I
Determine which theme, paragraph from the reading, or point in a lecture interests you most, and note in which of the four major parts that occurred.
Find passages from the readings for that part of the course which discuss your favorite theme/topic.
Determine an underlying or related theme that is theologically connected to your favorite theme from step 1.
Find passages from a different one of the four major parts that describe that second theme.
Write down all the points of connection between the passages/theme from step 2 and from step 4. You should shoot for three major points of connection.
Articulate what those connection points from step 5 have to do with each other. Use this to make a claim about the relationship between step 2 and step 4.
Formulate a specific thesis.
Outline your argument (likely already organized in step 5).
Write the paper, using quotations, citations, and the thesis and argument you have developed.
Everything to this point is “factual” given the readings and the long history of Christian discussion of this material. You should have shown the integration of two major themes in the course in part I.
Part II
Formulate your own response to the integration you articulated above. You may agree with it and add arguments or disagree with it and consider critical arguments.
Formulate a specific thesis of the form “I agree that…” or “I disagree that…” Include a “because” clause. This is how you will integrate your own understandings of God, yourself, and the world with the material in the course.
Outline the argument to support your position.
Consider a counterargument (i.e. what a reasonable person who disagrees with you would say.”
Respond to the counterargument.
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