Senior Thesis

Conducting research and forming arguments are fundamental academic skills. As secular academia continues to lose its grip on reality, authority, and virtue, such skills become even more important to master, especially for Christian scholars. The ability to interact with an array of positions and arguments with discernment, integrity, humility, and charity has virtually vanished from cultural dialogue and academic training, but it is the very thing that should set us apart from conventional researchers and scholars. That ability is what this class aims to teach. In the first eight weeks, students learn the basics of academic research: choosing a topic, formulating and refining a research question, finding and using different resources (reference sources, books, and journal articles), evaluating and engaging with their sources, creating a strong thesis statement, citing sources correctly, and managing the research timeline - all stemming from genuine curiosity and an eagerness to learn. In addition to weekly exercises, students are responsible for a detailed research journal which is turned in for a final grade.

In the second eight weeks, students learn the basics of writing an academic research paper, following the Classical rhetorical structure. This involves project organization, provision of context for an identified audience, logical argumentation (both positive and negative), clear orientation and transitions, and source integration. Rather than teaching the elements of grammar (as worthwhile as those are), this class will assume at least some working knowledge of the mechanics of writing and will focus on the preparation and presentation of a larger research-based piece. Special attention is given to honest and thorough presentation of opposing or complicating arguments. Weekly assignments are given for various portions and drafts of the final project: a thesis of 2,000 - 2,500 words which will be evaluated on both the research and writing quality.

Course Objectives:

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

1. Formulate and refine a research question
2. Find and use the major types of academic resources
3. Evaluate and engage with their sources
4. Create a strong thesis statement
5. Cite their sources correctly
6. Structure a well-organized paper
7. Identify the parts and functions of a Classically structured rhetorical essay
8. Present a clear and logical sequence of argumentation
9. Plan and manage a timeline for college-level research projects
10. Define what virtues distinguish a Christian approach to research and academic writing

Texts:

• They Say/I Say, by Graff/Birkenstein