Page 71 - Computer Basics - Research

cultural background, historical background, rhetorical language, and more. The goal is to get back to the original
meaning of the text and understand the text in the way it was intended to be understood when it was written.
Exegetical papers usually require significant interaction with commentaries, as well as with monographs on
various aspects of the historical/social/cultural background of the passage. While every professor may expect
something different from an exegetical paper, an English language course will typically expect that your paper
will demonstrate that you have studied the passage in depth, understand the significant issues, and have taken
the passage through a hermeneutical composite. Here are the steps to properly exegete a passage of Scripture:

1. Pray.
2. Read with a journal.
3. Read the entire book in one sitting.
4. Summarize each paragraph.
5. Write argument statements for each major section.
6. Organize the argument statements to show the thought-flow of the author.
7. Read and re-read the passage under study.
8. Ask contextual questions of your passage (why here? why now?)
9. Answer these questions and fit your passage into the overall thought-flow of the book, corpus, testament
, and Bible.
10. Analyze the passage and context for rhetorical tools and structure.
11. Perform structural analysis on the passage and immediate context.
12. Perform any word studies and topical studies that are needed.
13. Analyze the literary connectives in the passage.
14. Perform historical/cultural research to enhance understanding of the passage.
15. Analyze how your presuppositions and pre-understandings may be influencing your understanding.
16. Write an argument statement for your passage.
17. Write down any principles/applications you can apply to your life from your passage.
18. Apply the passage to your life and ministry.

Theological Position Papers
In many of your theology courses, you will be given a particular theological doctrine and be asked to present an
argument for your position on that doctrine (occasionally, you will even be assigned a particular position to argue
for, even if that is not the position to which you hold). You will usually be expected to demonstrate that you
understand the key points of the arguments for various positions on the doctrine (and every doctrine has various
interpretations and positions) and be expected to be able to produce a logical, biblical argument for a particular
position. You will usually be expected to interact with systematic theology works, as well as various monographs
on individual doctrines.

Opinion/Essay Papers
Opinion papers are typically shorter and less researched versions of theological position papers.
The main objective of the opinion papers is to demonstrate that you have thought through your
position on a topic. You usually won’t be expected to back up your opinions with significant
research, but you will be required to show that there is a logical and biblical backing for the views
to which you hold.

Research/Term Papers
Technically, a term paper is usually defined as a demonstration that you have grasped the main ideas of a body of
work. For example, a term paper on the writings of John Calvin would provide a historical summary and
description of the writings of the theologian. Research papers are usually defined as works that produce original
ideas. These terms, however, are often used interchangeably. Be sure that you clearly understand what the
professor is expecting. Is the professor looking for you to demonstrate knowledge of a field, or is the professor
looking for you to advance the knowledge in a field? The former is more typical for most of the types of writing

69