CBI1 Writting your long paper

Writing your Long Paper: A Step-by-Step Process

Step 1: Read the whole text(s) and choose a topic.

Believe it or not, this and the next are sometimes the most difficult of all the steps. There is so much to cover. First, choose a main topic. Read the selected book or passage in its entirety. Make notes about things that strike your interest, or you find troubling or disturbing. Perhaps there is a new insight from this reading. Note it with any immediate thoughts you have about it. This is not the time to worry about grammar. That comes in Step 8. The important thing at this point is to get your thoughts onto paper. Otherwise, they’ll be forgotten.

Step 2: Focus your area of study.

Now that you have a main topic, you must focus it. Unless the book is really short, you can’t do the whole thing in 4-6 pages. This is where your notes come in. Go over them. What did you write down? Perhaps you found interesting the use of a particular symbol or the similarities and differences between two authors on the same idea.

Whatever you choose, when you choose it, stick with it. This is not as easy as you might think. Obstacles will arise and you will be tempted to look elsewhere. Don’t. Keep pushing through and the road will open up.

Step 3: Read and reread the chosen focus texts.

Now that you have chosen, photocopy the passage you wish to study. Read it over, and over, and over, frontward and backward, verse by verse, word by word. What do you think it means?

Step 4: Consult secondary sources for context.

You have the primary text firmly in your mind. Time to seek out secondary sources (primary text = original document; secondary source = any commentary or scholarly writing about the primary text). You’ll want to answer the journalistic questions: who, what, when, where, why, and how. These are called the historical-critical questions. It is important to place the writing in its proper historical context. Who wrote it and to whom? What was going on when it was written? Where was it written, why was it written? How did the author characterize their theology?

Step 5: Make an educated guess.

Now, reread all your work and the notes from your secondary sources. What do you think is the main point of the writing?

Step 6: Research verse by verse.

Using your bible and secondary sources examine your passage verse by verse. Some of the commentaries can get a bit technical. Choose one you can work with and dig in. As you read each verse, look at the commentators’ notations. When taking notes you want to write down the name of the commentary, the author and the page number. Not only are you analyzing verse-by-verse, but also word-by-word. Take notice of any key words or phrases in the passage. Read what the scholars have written. Take good, organized notes. It may seem tedious and difficult at first but you’ll be glad later when the paper writes itself.

You might want to take your notes on index cards. One thought per card. In the upper right hand corner put the author/book and page number. In the upper left-hand corner use a subject heading for the particular note. You’re organizing while you are researching. When you begin to write just follow the subject headings.

In this step you are looking for factual information, insights and interpretations beyond the scope of your own work. Look for alternate interpretations among scholars. You are seeking evidence to support your view. Does anyone else think what you think? Can your interpretations be supported through research? You are also correcting and clarifying your work. This is meant to challenge you and your ideas. Let it.

Step 7: Outline.

Begin with your introduction – one short paragraph (2-3 sentences) introducing your topic and approach.

Next record the historical context – using scriptural texts and at least two secondary sources describe the period of study. What were the major political, religious, and social events that motivated the composition? (1.5+ pages)

The main part of your paper is textual illustration – After summarizing the passage of study, discuss how the author has used this writing to make a commentary on his time (use textual examples and secondary commentaries to support your argument). What is his message? What was he telling his community? If he has, why did he choose a different period from his own as a setting? Who are the historical characters in this setting and how do they stand as symbols of the writer’s time? How do other biblical books influence the author? What does the past say about the present? Use parenthetical secondary and biblical citations within the body of the essay. (2+ pages)

Finally, what are the conclusions you’ve drawn? In one to two paragraphs describe your assessment of the passage

Don’t forget to include your bibliography (does not count as a page of your assignment). See the handout on bibliographic citations and proper documentation of primary and secondary sources.

Step 8: Reread, rewrite, reread, rewrite, reread, rewrite…

Now read your paper, rewrite, reread, rewrite, reread, rewrite… It’s always better to have a good, solid draft at least one week before the paper is due. Then you can put it down for a few days. Two or three days before, read it again and do another rewrite. For this reason you’ll want to read your paper backwards. Don’t forget to watch your grammar. I recommend to everyone that they get the following bible for English writing:
Strunk Jr., William and E.B. White. The Elements of Style. New York: MacMillan, 1979.
There may be newer editions. Get the latest.

If you have any questions during the process, ASK! That’s why the team is here: to help you.