PRTH 847 Practical Theology Topical Research I

In this course, students will be introduced to the various methods and requisite skills involved in conducting focused doctoral-level research of a proposed topic, including both research modalities and resources required to conduct a thorough investigation of a topic in support of a proposed dissertation.

Each PhD student in applied theology will need to develop the skills required to conduct focused research of a proposed topic in an academic discipline. Consequently, the student has a need for an understanding of both the research modalities and scholarly resources required to conduct an appropriate investigation of a topic in preparation for the writing of a doctoral dissertation.

Textbooks readings and lecture presentations

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Course Requirements Checklist

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

Peer-Review Discussions (4)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student will complete 4 Peer-Review Discussions in this course. Peer-Review Discussions facilitate collaborative learning in which the student will share insights on peers’ work, noting strengths and weaknesses and offering suggestions for improvement. Responding to the prompt, the student will upload the appropriate Peer-Review Discussion assignment for his or her classmates’ review. The student will then post two (2) replies commenting on two (2) different papers, making a minimum of two (2) comments per paper (four (4) comments total), offering additional insights, helpful critique, noting strengths and weaknesses, and making suggestions for improvement. (CLO: A, B, C, D)

Readiness Assessment Assignment

In this assignment, the student will reflect on his or her readiness to engage in the research required by his or her research topic by composing an essay in which he or she assesses his or her readiness to engage in research on the proposed topic. The essay will contain the following information about the student’s research plan: (1) research topic; (2) research type(s); (3) research requirements; and (4) readiness assessment. (CLO: A, B, C)

Sketch Research Proposal Assignment

Just as in art a sketch is a preliminary black-and-white drawing made in advance of, and to guide the creation of, the subsequent full-color painting, in this assignment, the student will create a sketch of his or her prospectus from which the detailed prospectus can be constructed. The sketch of the proposed prospectus must contain the following information: (1) research topic; (2) research problem; (3) research plan. (CLO: D)

Statement of the Problem Assignment

Working from the Sketch Research Proposal Assignment, the student will flesh out that proposal in terms of the research problem and plan. The Statement of the Problem Assignment will be comprised of a brief essay in which the student describes the process of identifying his or her Research Problem. The essay must address the following five (5) issues: (1) the Genesis of the Research Idea; (2) a Preliminary Literature Review; (3) the Statement of the Problem; (4) Key Questions to be answered in the course of research; (5) the Research Parameters demanded by the research. (CLO: B)

Research Plan Assignment

Elaborating on the Statement of the Problem Assignment, the student will expand that into the development of a Research Plan. The Research Plan will be comprised of a brief essay in which the student describes his or her Research Plan and must describe in detail his or her (1) Research Design; (2) Research Methodology; (3) Research Resources (in the form of an annotated bibliography). (CLO: B, C)