Research Paper: Topic and Research

Attached Files:

•  Research Paper Topics (34.5 KB)
•  Research Paper: Topic and Research Grading Rubric (15.667 KB)

A major assignment of this course is a research paper to be completed in two steps. In the first step, you will submit 4 things in a 1-page Word document to help you write your paper later:

• Your paper topic. The Research Paper Topics document attached above lists various topics on which you may address your paper. While the subjects listed in the document are broad in nature, you will want to develop a very specific topic led by a focused thesis.
• Your thesis statement (what you will argue, show, or prove in your paper).
• A bibliography of at least 6 scholarly sources (Wikipedia not being a scholarly source) in current Turabian format.
• Your answer to this question: What initial conclusions have you drawn at this point in your research?

This assignment is due by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Sunday of Module/Week 4. Consult the rubric attached above to see how you will be graded for this assignment. The rest of the Research Paper is fully explained below.

CHHI 520

Research Paper Topics

· Persecution in the early church

· Examples of early church apologists and apologetics (i.e. Justin, Tertullian)

· Constantine

· A particular heresy and the orthodox response (e.g. Gnosticism, Docetism, Adoptionism, Arianism, Nestorianism, Pelagianism)

· The life and work and contribution of a particular church father (e.g. Polycarp, Ignatius, Irenaeus, Justin, Clement of Alexandria, Origen, Tertullian, Cyprian, Ambrose, Jerome, Augustine, Basil of Caesarea, Gregory of Nazianzus, Gregory of Nyssa, Athanasius, Ephraem the Syrian, John Cassian, Leo, Cyril of Alexandria, Gregory the Great, John of Damascus)

· A particular church council and the theological issues addressed and the key figures involved (e.g. Nicaea [325], Constantinople [381], Ephesus [431], Chalcedon [451])

· A particular early church creed, the theological development within it, and the key theologians involved (e.g. Apostles Creed, Creed of Nicaea, Formula of Chalcedon)

· The development of the New Testament canon of Scripture

· Biblical interpretation in the early church

· Mission in the early church

· Scripture translation in the early church

· Worship in the early church (e.g. including baptism, the Lord’s Supper, church assemblies)

· Monasticism

· The rise of Islam

· The schism between the Eastern and Western church

· The Crusades

· Scholasticism

You may consult your instructor for other possible topics.

While the subjects listed above are broad in nature, you will want to develop a very specific topic led by a focused thesis. Here are some examples:

· Augustine’s theology of grace as a response to Pelagius

· The relationship of church and state following Constantine’s alleged conversion

· Athansius’s doctrine of Christ in response to Arius

· The monastic approaches of Pachomius and Antony

· Benedict of Nursa’s monastic reform

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