Posted: November 11th, 2015

SHORT ESSAYS

SHORT ESSAYS

You will write 3 Short Essays in this course. The goal of these essays is for you to evaluate and to analyze information biblically and theologically to articulate a case for your own views. Follow the steps below to successfully complete each essay.

Step 1: Familarize yourself with the general expectations of the Short Essay assignments as described below.

You must use the Short Essay Template to compose your essay; this will ensure that you adhere to proper formatting (double-spacing, 1-inch margins, and 12-pt. Times New Roman font). In addition, your essay must follow current APA, MLA, or Turabian style (whichever corresponds to your degree program). The body of your essay must be 600–800 words, and this does not include your name, course and section number, essay title, word count, or bibliography.

For each essay, you will be reading articles from the Elwell text and then answering various questions about a theological topic. You must distinguish between what is relevant and what is not, between key issues/arguments and what is peripheral and can thus be ignored. The goal is not to include everything that can be said on the topic. Instead, you must use your judgment to identify key arguments and issues.

Do not merely quote portions of the Elwell articles. Rather, digest the information and put it in your own words. You do not need to be a scholar or expert in the subject matter, but a good essay must show that you are aware of the various views for/against the relevant issue(s), the arguments that support these views, and the Bible passages related to each issue.

Do not include or list the questions you must answer in your essay. Your essay must be a fluid presentation that addresses the issues without resorting to a question-and-answer format. Remember that this is a formal essay, not an email to a friend or a casual conversation. Your language and style must be academic.

Step 2: Read the assigned Elwell articles as specified in the Reading & Study folder of the module/week in which the Short Essay is due (e.g., for Short Essay 1, read the articles listed inside the Module/Week 2 Reading & Study folder). These articles will help prepare you to write the essays.

While reading each of the articles in preparation for 1 of your essays, keep the questions below in mind, taking notes or making observations. These questions are intended only to be a guide for you as you read the articles.
•    Which question that you are required to answer in your essay does the article help you answer?
•    What are the various positions discussed in the article? Consider only the positions relevant to the list of questions in the essay prompt.
•    How do the various positions differ or agree?
•    What are the biblical and theological arguments used to support each of the views presented?
•    What are the major and minor points and arguments presented for each view?
•    What Bible passages are used to support these arguments, and how are they interpreted?
•    After analyzing the evidence presented (in addition to the material covered in the Towns textbook), where do you stand on the issue? How can the material in the article help you articulate your own view?
•    What are the main objections to your position, and how can they be answered?

Step 3: Go to the Assignments folder of the same module/week, and locate the Short Essay item which contains the essay subject (in bold), a scenario, and the questions you must answer in the essay.

Read over all the information presented there.

Step 4: Write the essay using the Short Essay Template.

While writing your essay, remember that a successful essay will adhere to the following:
•    You provide a brief introduction to the topic you are addressing.
•    You answer all the questions in the essay’s prompt. The answers follow the order of the questions and are easily identifiable. The reader should not have to guess where and if you have addressed a given question. Your answers are in paragraph format.
•    You demonstrate an understanding of the importance of the subject matter.
•    You clearly state where you stand on the topic and issues, giving adequate biblical and theological support.
•    You show awareness of the topic’s major views and the arguments supporting each view.
•    You are aware of the main Bible passages used to support each argument.
•    You identify key opposing views, arguments, and Bible passages. You provide a brief response to the case he/she made or objections he/she presented against your own view.
•    You provide a brief conclusion that brings everything together and summarizes your view on the topic.

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