Choose a topic from the New Testament.

Here’s what the syllabus had to say regarding the Course Paper:
Students need to submit a Course Paper by Sunday of Week 8. The text of this research paper should be
four to five (4-5) double-spaced pages, follow APA convention, and be free of grammatical errors. Sources
must be fully referenced. Be sure to include a title page and bibliography, which would lead to an overall
page count of 7-8.
By the end of Week 2, each student will present their topic (religious in nature) to the instructor for
approval.
Choose a topic from the New Testament. Have a topic sentence and present your idea just being
descriptive. Present a point of view.
Explanation: In short, the expectation is that your paper will be balanced, i.e., that your positive reactions
will equal any negative reactions. It should be your viewpoint, not just a description.
Do Not: Do not paraphrase or quote the textbook’s authors, although you should surely refer to some of
religions’ sacred texts.
Some further guidance for your Course Paper:
More Explanation: Choose a Bible passage, with instructor’s
approval, and engage in a process of analysis, interpretation,
and application of it. Relevant details of authorship,
historical-cultural context, literary genre and structure, and
theology should be considered. Relation between Old and New
Testament passages can be developed —Does Christianity reinterpret an original Jewish element? Alternative views should
be considered, and a final position of your own should be stated
and argued. Finally, thoughtful contemporary application ought
to be made. Commentaries should be consulted but not depended
upon.
1. What kind of bible passage should you choose? A parable of
Jesus or a thematic pericope from one of the Christian
letters.
2. Your title can be simply
“An Analysis of” or “[your name]’s Analysis of” …[and cite
the content on your study].
For example, “Deacon Jim’s Analysis of Jesus’ Story of The
Prodigal Son or Should It Be Called The Prodigal Father?”
3. Then list exactly what constitutes your pericope. (Don’t
make me guess!)
For example, Luke 15:11-32
4. If you pick a thematic look at a pericope from one of the
Christian letters, comparison with Old Testament might
especially come into play. Has the author cited a passage
from Jewish Scripture and used it in their argument or
exposition? What point are they trying to make?
That’s not to say that comparison between the Old and New
cannot take place within a parable. Sometimes the content
of Jesus’ parables harkens to a Jewish tradition or
custom.
5. Your analysis and research are meant to be objective. That
doesn’t mean you cannot make any brief subjective input;
you just need to be clear about stating it as your own
subjective thoughts or feelings.
6. Other Considerations:
• Focus on any words that are difficult to translate or have
multiple meanings.
• Clearly identify story elements if present: character,
plot, theme or key concepts, etc.
• Do you want to explore how the passage has impacted
culture throughout history?
• Using the textbook as inspiration, are you able to provide
an alternate, contemporary analysis of the text from
another religion or culture?
7. Proper citations of your references. No long “spacefilling” quotes. Use your resources wisely and prudently.
In Week Five I will be asking you for a list of your
resources that you are working with.