Page 101 - THBI Student Handbook - 2020

1. Student SHOULD request LSC/THBI approval at the ¾ point of course completion

2. Student MUST request subject matter approval by the start of the last Program course.
B. Statement Development - - “LSC” Advisory & Approval Required. Your opening or thesis
statement should tell your reader what the paper is about and also help guide your writing and keep
your argument focused.

1. Commitment: Once “Statement” has been approved, student may not change the subject or
topic for his/her graduate paper.

C. RESEARCH - - LSC ADVISORY SERVICES SHOULD BE REQUESTED. RESEARCH IS MANDATORY IF YOU
ARE GOING TO DO MORE THAN MERELY STATE YOUR OWN BELIEFS OR OPINIONS.

1. Topic Searches: Wordsearch Library plus web bible study resources should be used
2. Biblical Research: Finding information, issues and answers in the Christian Perspective is
vital for your paper to be successful.
a) Resources: Lifeway; ChristianBook.com; Online Theology Resources: Free; International
Standard Bible Encyclopedia (free online); Web Bible Encyclopedia; NTSLibrary.com

3. Supportive Research: Christian and Secular Research Resources are vital in finding
supportive/informational research to build your paper.
a) Christian Research Services - - Barna, CARM, Apologetics Index, Christian Research
Network, Lifeway Research; Bible College Libraries (if available); Local Church/Pastor
Libraries …
b) Secular Research Resources - - Wikipedia, Local Library; FindArticles.com; Internet
History Sourcebooks Project (online); Library of Congress (loc.gov); Digital History
(digitalhistory.uh.edu); Free eBooks - Project Gutenberg (gutenberg.org)
D. OUTLINE - - REQUIRES LSC/THBI ADVISORY REVIEW. The outline is not the paper but will
serve as “points of reference” to help you write a well-focused paper. There are several stages of outlining:

1. Development: The work of preparing a successful graduate paper is simple but not “quick
and easy”! Taking the time and making the effort … and cooperating with
THBI expectations/requirements are invaluable in being successful.

a) Initial: Very rough, preliminary efforts constructing main points, content, statements
and supportive Scripture references & academic research - - LSC review not
required.
b) Intermediate: Primary editing & refinement of initial outline; LSC review
RECOMMENDED.
2. Finalized: This will be the outline which serves as your “road map” to help writing
your drafts to stay on course. LSC REVIEW REQUIRED.

E. DRAFT - - REQUIRES LSC/THBI APPROVAL. Drafting is the progressive work of writing/refining
the graduate paper until it is in its final form, or the finished product, that you will submit for
THBI REVIEW. Drafting has several stages:

1. Initial: The FIRST effort in transitioning your outline into structured written form.

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