Assessment

Continuous Assessment 20% + Supervised project/essay 80%

Module Aims

The primary aim of this module is to proffer an essential academic foundation in terms of reading, research, and writing upon which students may build in pursuing further studies at postgraduate level in theology. The course will explore the dynamic of research in theology both in terms of methodological approach and historical contextualization. It is directed at enabling postgraduate students to undertake independent research in theology, particularly with a view to writing a thesis at postgraduate level. It will focus on methodology, where the emphasis will be on developing one’s skills through awareness, focused strategies, and active implementation. It will deal, further, with the evolving nature of the various disciplines within theology and the importance of paying attention to the historical dimension of all research in theology. Attention will be paid, throughout, to the breadth of theology and to introducing students to the variant contexts within which contemporary, academic theology emerges. Additionally, the module will facilitate dealing with the challenge of discovering original areas of research with a view to writing a thesis.

Indicative Syllabus

Learning Outcomes

• — LO 1 read and decipher a number of advanced, complex theology texts at a high-academic level
• — LO 2 evaluate critically one’s own competency as regards research and writing with a view to achieving a clear understanding of how one might improve one’s skills.
• — LO 3 write a relatively competent paper at postgraduate level and present it in accordance with the requirements of the Chicago Manual of Style.
• — LO 4 undertake a critical appraisal of the literature in a chosen area of research
• — LO 5 formulate and analyse ‘working titles’ and ‘research questions’ with a view to research on a topic at postgraduate level

Bibliography

• — David F. Ford and Mike Higton, eds. The Modern Theologians Reader. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell, 2012.
• — Kate L. Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, 8th ed. (Chicago: University of Chicago, 2013).