RTCH 500 - Research, Writing, and Ministry Preparation

RTCH 500 Discussion Board Forums (3)

Discussion boards are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student will create a thread in response to the provided prompt for each forum. Each thread must be at least 400 words and demonstrate course-related knowledge. In addition to the thread, the student will reply to the threads of at least 2 classmates. Each reply must be at least 300 words. (MLO: A, C)

RTCH 500 My Learning Journals (4)

The student will compose journals that offer written critical reflections based upon his/her reading of assigned portions of “Orienting Adults to Learning in Graduate Theological Education.” Each journal will have a prompt that the student must respond to, based upon assigned reading for that week/module. There is no word count requirement; the student must answer the prompt thoroughly, yet concisely. (MLO: A, C)

RTCH 500 Exegesis Research Paper

Using Introduction to Biblical Hermeneutics by Kaiser and Silva as a reference guide, the student will write an Exegesis Research Paper submitted in 3 parts. The student will choose between 3 biblical passages on which to write the paper. Each part will begin the process of helping the student gain experience with submitting an Exegesis Research Paper through the following stages:

Part 1: Introduction, Thesis, and Context of the Passage

For Part 1, each student will write an Introduction containing a general overview of the forthcoming paper and a thesis/purpose statement that alerts the reader to what the student plans to achieve in the writing of the paper. Under a separate heading, the student will identify the literary, historical, and cultural context of the selected passage and discuss its relevance for interpreting the passage. Each section will have its own heading following current Turabian style. Part 1 must include the School of Divinity Standardized Title Page. (MLO: B)

Part 2: Meaning of the Passage and Bibliography

The student will rewrite Part 1 as needed, taking into consideration any feedback provided by the professor.6 In addition, the student will address the meaning of the passage, utilizing resources identified in the accompanying bibliography. The student must list 10 sources relevant to the paper, cited in current Turabian format as interpreted by the School of Divinity Writing Guide. The sources must be current and scholarly (written by academics with credentials that qualify them to write, not popular treatments written for laity) using those found in the ATLA database as a guide. (MLO: B)

Part 3: Significance of the Passage (Final Version)

The student will rewrite Parts 1 and 2 as needed, taking into consideration any feedback provided by the professor. In Part 3 of the paper, the student will address the significance and application of the passage to the Christian life and church ministry. Each paper must have a coherent conclusion that summarizes the content of the textual analysis. The student will submit a 2,500–3,000-word final version of the paper (double-spaced in 12-point font). The student must carefully edit the final version for spelling, grammar, and syntax. Perfection in the implementation of current Turabian format is expected. (MLO: B)

RTCH 500 Learning Skills Inventories (4)

Using “Assessing Adult Learning in Graduate Theological Education,” the student will complete 4 sets of learning skill development inventories designed to assess learning skills. All of the inventories are self-scoring. (MLO: A, C)

RTCH 500 Spiritual Formation Blog Post

Based upon your reading of Foundations of Spiritual Formation: A Community Approach to Becoming Like Christ and the student's own personal experience, the student will write a 1,000-word (double-spaced, 12-point font) blog post as if he/she were writing it for an online blog. In the blog, the student will (1) identify 1 or 2 spiritual formation concepts addressed in the book that he/she needs to incorporate into his/her own walk of faith; (2) outline a plan of action to address those areas; and (3) write a final paragraph to a real or imagined person planning to enter seminary and offer 1 piece of advice that the student thinks will help the person continue to grow in his/her faith while enrolled in seminary. (MLO: D)

RTCH 500 Memo to Myself

After the completion of all 4 Learning Skills Inventories, the student will write a 300-word, double-spaced “Memo to Myself” in which he/she identifies what he/she learned about him/herself as a learner (approximately 150 words) and how he/she plans to apply the skills to present and future courses (approximately 150 words). (MLO: A, C)

RTCH 500 Turabian Quizzes (3)

Each quiz will be open-book/open-notes, contain 30 multiple-choice and true/false questions, and have a time limit of 1 hour and 10 minutes. The student may take each quiz 2 times, if needed. (MLO: B)