RLGN301: Research and Writing for Religious Disciplines

11/08/2019 to 04/16/2020 • Modified 08/08/2024

Course Description

This course builds upon the concepts for scholarly research and writing to prepare students for completing scholarly research and writing specifically within the religious disciplines. The course covers various methods and aims for research within religious disciplines, tools for performing scholarly research, and the tools for writing clearly and effectively in an academic setting. As such, this course lays the foundation for future academic writing in the religious disciplines.

Next Start Date*

August 19, 2024

LUOA Equivalent Course*

  • BIB 3301: Research and Writing for Religious Disciplines, 3 LUO credits.

Program Restrictions*

  • DPL: Dual Enrollment – AA Apologetics (DUAP-DPL-D)
  • DPL: Dual Enrollment – AA Biblical Studies (DUBS-DPL-D)
  • DPL: Dual Enrollment – AA Religion (DURL-DPL-D)

Prerequisite Requirements*

Any of the following:

  • All of the following:
    • BIB 3104 previously completed with a minimum grade of D
         and
    • BIB 3106 previously completed with a minimum grade of D
         and
    • CSB 3101 previously completed with a minimum grade of D
         and
    • LAN 3101 previously completed with a minimum grade of D
         and
    • LAN 3102 previously completed with a minimum grade of D

       or

  • All of the following:
    • BIB 3104 previously completed with a minimum grade of D
         and
    • BIB 3105 previously completed with a minimum grade of D
         and
    • BIB 3110 previously completed with a minimum grade of D
         and
    • CSB 3101 previously completed with a minimum grade of D
         and
    • LAN 3101 previously completed with a minimum grade of D
         and
    • LAN 3102 previously completed with a minimum grade of D

High School Diploma Requirements*

  • Contributes .5 credits to LUOA – Fine Art/Career/Tech Ed, Fine Art/Career/Technical Ed Requirement.

Rationale

This course prepares the student for advanced courses in the religious studies disciplines by reinforcing prior learning of the information literacy skills and resources needed for academic research, introducing a variety of credible resources and tools within the religious disciplines, and providing the student with opportunities to engage in academic writing on religious topics prior to entering upper-level religion courses.

Course Assignment

Textbook readings and lecture presentations

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Discussions (2)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student is required to create a thread in response to the provided prompt for each discussion. Each thread must be 250–300 words and demonstrate course-related knowledge. In addition to the thread, the student is required to reply to 2 other classmates’ threads. Each reply must be at least 150 words. (CLO: D)

Peer Review Discussion

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student will complete 1 Peer-Review Discussion in this course. The student will post in one thread his or her introduction paragraph for peers to review. The introduction should be one paragraph closely following the course instruction for developing an introduction. The student must then post 2 replies of at least 150 words each, providing feedback to peers for the purpose of strengthening and developing the ideas of the introduction. (CLO: D)

Research Project Assignments (5)

Research Project: Topic and Question Assignment

The student will select a research topic from a list of approved topics provided in the course and narrow that topic by proposing a specific research question to be addressed in his or her Research Project: Paper Assignment. (CLO: A, D)

Research Project: Working Bibliography Assignment

The student will develop a Working Bibliography of at least 8 scholarly sources that will be used to address the research topic. This bibliography must be appropriately formatted in current Turabian style. Accompanying each citation will be an 100-150 word annotation addressing how the source addresses the research problem. (CLO: A, B, C, D)

Research Project: Thesis and Outline Assignment

After collecting, reading, and evaluating the research materials, the student will produce his or her Thesis and Outline for the Paper. (CLO: A, B, C, D)

Research Project: Paper Assignment

Using the materials collected throughout the course, the student will write a 2,000–2,500-word research-based paper in current Turabian format. A title page and reference page are required and are not included in the word count requirement. The paper must include at least 8 scholarly references in addition to the Bible. (CLO: A, B, C, D, E)

Research Project: Revisions and Summary Assignment

Using the comments from the instructor and the principles learned in the course, the student will revise his or her Paper and resubmit it along with a 200-word explanation of the overall impact of the revisions on the paper. (CLO: A, B, C, D, E) 

Quizzes (4)

Each quiz will cover the Learn material for the assigned Modules: Weeks. Each quiz will be open-book/open-notes, contain 25 multiple-choice and true/false questions, and have a 45-minute time limit. Each quiz will allow 1 attempt. (CLO: D)

*Course specifics are tentative and subject to change each year. For the most current information, please refer to the Course Registration Tool.

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