Page 99 - THBI Student Handbook - 2020

1. Your Graduate Paper must ILLUSTRATE your direction and EXHIBIT your ability to
inspire/enlighten others to go in that same direction.
a) “Preaching to the choir” fails this requirement! That is, talking to others who already hold your
point of view or share in your ideas/opinions does not exhibit your leadership qualities!
III. SUBJECT MATTER

Your topic/subject matter must relate to the field of study for which you are earning a graduate degree
and to the specific benefit of the life/lives of the reader(s). Accordingly, choose a subject that is of great
interest/concern to you. Below are the types of general topics/ideas that would normally be approved:

• The Person and Life of Christ • Overcoming Depression
• Substance Abuse • Specific Ministry Works/Services
• The Holy Ghost / Spiritual Gifts • Church Growth Methods
• Modern Issues about Heaven and Hell • End-time Apostasy
• Apologetics • End-time Revival
• The Five Gifts of Ministry • Angels and Demons
• Eschatology (Study of End Times) • Worldviews

I. FORMULATION: This is the preliminary phase in which you select the topic/subject/concern/issue
that you will address and establish the appropriate ideas about what should be your propositions,
resolutions and their applications, and how to impart the understanding of these things to the audience
to whom you will be communicating.
NOTE: Formulation can take place while you are still conducting your Study Courses - - in fact, it is
a good idea to begin formulation about half-way or three-quarters through your Course Itinerary.

A. REQUIREMENT - - Your paper MUST BE original work, that is, it is to be based on your own, personal,
independent research.
B. CREATIVITY - - Creative thought is greatly encouraged!
C. EXPRESSION - - Express your own insights, ideas and opinions.

1. Remember, this paper is the vehicle to illustrate: YOUR ability for critical thinking, YOUR
discernment (recognizing underlying realities), YOUR style of expressing what you know and understand!

D. ORIGINALITY - - You must convey what YOU have to say on the topic/subject of your paper!
1. While your paper will necessarily include an amount of references to your research, we want to see
more than what your research says - - If all you do is publish a list of Bible quotes and references
and/or a lot of quotes from other Bible scholars on your chosen subject … you will fail!
a. Failure Here is because a “cut and paste” effort shows us nothing of your ability to speak for
yourself, to convey what you, yourself, have to say on the subject/issue of the paper!
2. Again - - originality is vital. If your opening statement is a general or denominational doctrinal
statement commonly used, you are on a path to failure! If you open with a personally held belief
or concern about an issue or a subject, you are on a successful path!
Examples:
➢ Jesus was born by a virgin. FAIL!
▪ I am convinced that Jesus was born by a virgin. PASS!

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