Catholic Bible Institute 2006 – Semester Term Papers

Participants seeking a “Certificate in Bible Studies” from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and “Continuing Education Credit” from Loyola Marymount University are required to write one longer paper each semester (May and November, instead of the one-page reflection paper in those months).   

Anyone enrolled in the Bible Institute for “Personal Enrichment” does not write a longer paper, but should still write the usual monthly one-page reflection paper in May and November.

Pick Your Topic:

• Choose a topic that really interests you about the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible):
  • For MAY, pick something related to the early prophetic books (Isaiah 1-39, Jeremiah, Amos, Hosea, Micah, Zephaniah, Nahum, or Habakkuk).
  • For NOVEMBER, pick something related to the apocalyptic and deutero-canonical books (Daniel, Esther, Judith, Tobit, 1&2 Maccabees, or Baruch).
• Focus on a specific topic, so you do not try to cover too much, or end up treating it too vaguely.

• First, read or reread the biblical book(s) most closely related to your chosen topic.
• Also read any relevant introductions, footnotes, or supporting articles in your Study Bible.
• Then read any related sections of our textbook (Larry Boadt, Reading the Old Testament).
• For MAY: use one Bible Commentary, to learn from another scholar’s interpretations of the texts.
• For NOVEMBER: use at least three other reference works (Books, Scholarly Articles, Bible Dictionaries, Commentaries, Atlases, etc. – not just your Study Bible or Boadt’s textbook).
• But don’t use too many other authors; rely mostly on your own close readings of the biblical texts.

• Papers should be typed on regular-sized (8½ x 11) white paper, double-spaced, using a 10-12 point font, with one-inch margins all around; staple all pages together.
• Write in standard essay format (Brief Introduction, Main Body, Brief Conclusion, Bibliography).
• For both May and November, write 4-6 pages of text (not counting your bibliography).
• To save paper, do not write a separate title page, but include the necessary information in a compact heading on the first page (your name, your group/table name, the date); also include a paper title.
• Please proofread your paper carefully; pay special attention to spelling, punctuation, and grammar.
• For more tips on goodwriting, see http://bellarmine.lmu.edu/~fjust/THST/WritingTips.htm.

• If you directly quote words from the Bible, give the proper biblical reference (citing the book name, chapter and verse numbers) right after the quotation (for proper format see http://bellarmine.lmu.edu/~fjust/Bible/Biblical_References.htm ).
• Back up some of your other claims about the Bible (even if you are not directly quoting it) with a few other biblical references (in the body of your text itself, rather than using footnotes).
• If you directly quote from non-biblical sources (textbooks, dictionaries, commentaries, etc.), give the brief reference in parentheses (author’s name and page number) immediately after the quote.
• At the end of your paper, include a full bibliography of all the sources you used in your research (not just those you directly quoted).
• For examples of all this, see http://bellarmine.lmu.edu/~fjust/THST/WritingTips.htm#Bibliography.