Regent Classes
Advanced Research Methodologies
ARM Syllabus (pdf)
This class focuses on four areas of great importance to Ph D students these are research methodologies, research tools, dissertation management, and teaching. With an aim toward equipping the students in these four areas, attention is first of all given to academic writing skills, critical thinking, evaluation of academic material, data analysis, and innovative possibilities in the framing of inquiries. Preparation for researcha and writing also invovles a discussion of the conventions of form and style (e.g., footnotes and bibliographies), as well as relevant software, online resources, electronic abstract databases, and dissertation proposal development. Students are prepared both academically and psychologically for the dissertation phase by being encouraged to consider practical aspects of life management and the academic processes necessary to complete a dissertation in a satisfactory and timely manner. Although the primary scope of this course is research, writing, and dissertation preparation, several tools and skills related to teaching will be developed through the presentation of papers or practical teaching opportunities as well as in depth introductions to teaching aids (e.g., PowerPoint and BlackBoard).
Students learn how to locate and evaluate pertinent information (both primary and secondary sources) and to make effective use of electronic theological databases such as ATLA and WorldCat. Through their research papers, they demonstrate that they are able both to analyze and synthesize information in a clear, concise, and cogent form and to read scholarly works in which they are able to identify and evaluate the main argument put forth by the authors. They will exhibit a practical knowledge of relevant biblical, theological and general research software such as EndNote and BibleWorks in order to use these tools in their ongoing study and profession. Finally, by the end of the course students will be expected to show evidence of throughly conducted initial dissertation topic formulation.
Related Reading
BOLKER, J. Writing Your Dissertation in Fifteen Minutes a Day (New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1998).
BRAUSE, R.S. Writing Your Doctoral Dissertation: Invisible Rules for Success (New York: Falmer, 2000).
HAWLEY, P. Being Bright Is Not Enough: The Unwritten Rules of Doctoral Study (Springfield, Ill.: Charles C. Thomas, 1993)
PHILLIPS, E.M. and Pugh, D.S. How to Get a PhD: A Handbook for Students and Their Supervisors (Philadelphia: Open University Press, 2000).
DUNLEAVY, P. Authoring a PhD: How to Plan, Draft, Write, and Finish a Doctoral Thesis or Dissertation (New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2003).
THOMAS, R.M. and Brubaker, D.L. Theses and Dissertations: A Guide to Planning, Research, and Writing (Westport, C.T.: Bergin & Garvey, 2000).
FITZPATRICK, J., Secrist, J., and Wright, D. Secrets for a Successful Dissertation (Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE, 1998).
PYRCZAK, F. Completing Your Thesis or Dissertation: Professors Share Their Techniques and Strategies (Los Angeles, CA: Pyrczak, 2000).
MADSEN, D. Successful Dissertations and Theses: A Guide to Graduate Student Research from Proposal to Completion (San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1992).
WEBSTER, W.G., Sr. Developing and Writing Your Thesis, Dissertation, or Project: A Manual of Sound Advice About Conceptualizing, Organizing, Developing and Finalizing Your Terminal Graduate Research (San Ramon: CA: Academic Scholarwrite, 1998).
MELOY, J.M. Writing the Qualitative Dissertation: Understanding by Doing (Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2002).
MAUCH, J.E. and Birch, J.W. Guide to the Successful Thesis and Dissertation: A Handbook for Students and Faculty (New York: Marel Dekker, 1998).
PIANTANIDA, M. and Garman, N.B. The Qualitative Dissertation: A Guide for Students and Faculty (Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin, 1999).
BROWN, Michael Joseph. What They Don’t Tell You: a Survivor’s Guide to Biblical Studies (Louisville, Ky.: Westminster John Knox, 2000).
LE PEAU, Andrew T. and Doll, Linda. Heart. Soul. Mind. Strength: An Anecdotal History of InterVarsity Press, 1947-2007. (Downers Grove, Ill.: IVP, 2006.
E-Books
Elliott, Rebecca, Painless Grammar (Hauppauge, NY: Barron's Educational Series, 1997).
(particularly interesting is the distinctions between different levels of writers in the last chapter) Quick link