WRITING SYSTEMATIC PAPERS

The discussion should begin by identifying the issue of concern, and by stating a thesis (or set of theses) to be defended concerning this issue and reflecting its role within a particular Christian theological system. The remainder of the paper should be devoted to defense of (i.e. arguing for) your thesis.

Defense of the thesis may take different forms. For example, you may decide to compare the views of different theologians on this issue and show how your interpretation utilizes and improves upon these different views. Or, you may rather concentrate on the system of one theologian and show how your thesis is substantiated by this particular theologian's presentation of the issue. You should also discuss how the pertinent passages of Scripture and magisterial Tradition impinge upon your thesis. All of this requires knowledge of the socio-historical context of the texts you are utilizing in order to convince the reader that you are interpreting them accurately.

To write the paper:

1. Identify an issue (i.e. a problem, question).
2. Briefly indicate the place/role of this issue in the context of the Christian message as a whole.
3. State the thesis (or set of theses) that you will defend regarding the issue that you have identified. The thesis may be interpretive or substantive. It should be clearly and precisely stated.
4. Indicate why your thesis is interesting or important.
5. In defending your thesis, gear your arguments to those with some background in the subject but without expert knowledge of it (e.g. other members of the class).
6. Your arguments should demonstrate your knowledge of the primary sources for Christian theology (i.e. the canonical Scriptures and ecclesial Tradition). You should show where Scripture and Tradition support your thesis, and where they may cast doubt upon it.
7. Try to anticipate and rebut possible objections to your arguments. For example, in those cases where a passage from Scripture or Magisterial Tradition may raise doubt about your arguments, show how the passage might be understood in a way compatible with your thesis (i.e. in a way which eliminates the objection). If you can anticipate an objection which you are not able to rebut, noting the objection is preferable to pretending that it does not exist.

Grading Criteria:

1. PUNCTUALITY is assumed. Only those papers which are submitted on time will be accepted.
2. CLARITY: this includes correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, use of the accepted format for notes and bibliography, etc., freedom from typographical errors. There should be a clear organization of the ideas presented in the paper; the argument should be progressively developed, from the introduction to the main body of discussion and up to the summary or the conclusion of the paper. (It is often helpful to compose an outline before writing the paper.)
3. COHERENCE: Include only those questions or statements which are relevant to the topic and the argument you have in mind. It should be clear to the reader that you have a particular view that you want to express, and that you know what is crucial to its defense. An ably-defended thesis which turns out to be wrong is worth more than an ill-defended thesis which turns out to be right. Your ability to foresee objections to your arguments and to rebut them is included in this criterion.
4. INTEREST: This includes the choice of an important thesis and the degree to which the discussion is free from irrelevant material. Also, an original thesis--or a thesis defended in an original way--is a definite asset.
5. ACCURACY: It is extremely important to represent accurately the opinions or your sources. This requires reading statements in their context in the text, in the context of the individual's overall system, and in the light of his/her socio-historical context.