Term Paper Guidelines

Due Dec. 1  

Basics:

Papers must be typed or word-processed in a 12 pt. font (preferably Times New Roman)  with 1 inch margins all around. Line spacing should be double-spaced. Page length should be somewhere between 3000-5000 words. (It is acceptable to have a longer paper.) Although papers are graded primarily on the basis of content, poor writing can affect grading. Good writing is writing that is clear, coherent, and organized. See the general points about writing a paper at the bottom of this page.

Students must document the sources of ideas and quotes that are not theirs. You may use MLA, APA, or any other standard system to cite sources and create a bibliography or reference cited page. Paraphrasing sources should be avoided. It is strongly recommended that students read over the section on plagiarism in the MLA Handbook in order to avoid inadvertent plagiarism. [For on-line help on how to cite sources and avoid plagiarism see:

http://www.dianahacker.com/resdoc/humanities/english.html

http://www.landmark-project.com/citation_machine/index.php ]

http://library.duke.edu/research/guides/citing/

Special Note: Unlike some versions of the APA, I want parenthetical citations to include relevant page numbers even when you are not quoting.

 

Option 1: Research Topic

 

The study of Jesus and the gospels involves a variety of disciplines and issues: history, textual criticism, literary analysis, archeology, among others. Students may have an interest in one of these areas that they would like to research in more detail than this course can. The research topic option allows students to explore an issue in the study of Jesus and the gospels that they are particularly intrigued by. Students will need to clear their research topic with the professor by Sept. 20 and meet periodically with him as their research progresses.

 

Option 2: Book Comparison

 

Below is a list of possible books that students may choose from for their book analysis and comparison. Students must choose one book from the list on the left and one book from the list on the right. The paper should compare the similarities and differences in the ways the two authors approach the study of Jesus. The last 2 pages of the paper should discuss which approach you think is more valid and why. The list is not exhaustive of legitimate possibilities, so I am quite willing to negotiate with students who wish to read other books.

 

The Politics of Jesus. By John Howard Yoder	The Jesus Quest. By Ben Witherington III
Jesus Christ and Mythology. By Rudolf Bultmann	The Real Jesus. By Luke Timothy Johnson
The Social Gospel of Jesus: The Kingdom of God in Mediterranean Perspective. By Bruce J. Malina	A Marginal Jew. By John P. Meier
Jesus: A New Vision. By Marcus Borg	Living Jesus. By Luke Timothy Johnson
Jesus: A Revolutionary Biography. By John Dominic Crossan	Jesus of Nazareth: Millenarian Prophet. By Dale C. Allison

 

	Avoid using contractions -- this is a formal paper.
	Avoid using "man" and "mankind" when you really mean human or humankind.
	When quoting a biblical text, e.g., "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God," the only citation you need is that Book chapter:verse.  In the example above it would be Matthew 5:8.  You do not need to cite the actual Bible you got it from (e.g., HarperCollins Study Bible).  You should indicate, by abbreviation, which translation you are using, e.g., NRSV, NIV, KJV, etc.  (This can be done by indicating that you are using this translation throughout the paper so you don't have to do it with each biblical quote.)
	The only time you need to cite the actual Bible you are using is when you are referring to material in the footnotes or introductions, i.e., all non-biblical material.  When citing the non-biblical material, you should follow standard citation format for an edited book.
	Citations should always include page numbers if the source is paginated.
	It is not enough simply to list all the works consulted at the end of a paper.  All information and ideas which a student finds from the works consulted must be specifically cited at the point in the paper where that information is included. To do less is to violate the Honor Code.
	A paper is not merely assembling good quotes -- quotations should be used sparingly. They should never be used to make a point or to summarize key ideas and information. Quotes should only be used as illustrations or supports for what you have written in your own words.
	Paraphrasing--even with citations--is a type of plagiarism, and thus a violation of the honor code.
	Papers should always be double-spaced.
	Each page of your paper should have a page number.
	For my classes, you do not need to have a cover sheet (save a tree).
	Be sure that your paper is signed and pledged in accordance with the Lyon Honor Code.
	In my classes, I prefer that you refer to yourself as "I" rather than as "the author of this paper" or "we."