DMIN 820 Research and Thesis Development

This introductory course prepares the DMIN candidate for an understanding and completion of the groundwork elements required to begin writing their DMIN proposal. The course is designed to help students identify researchable DMIN thesis projects, build sound arguments for a thesis through literature and biblical evaluation, and develop competent research skills to complete the thesis project.

For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic Course Catalog.

Course Guide

View this course’s outcomes, policies, schedule, and more.*

*The information contained in our Course Guides is provided as a sample. Specific course curriculum and requirements for each course are provided by individual instructors each semester. Students should not use Course Guides to find and complete assignments, class prerequisites, or order books.


It is helpful to write in stages when preparing a DMIN thesis with a solid thesis statement, sound research, verifiable conclusions, and a grounded biblical basis. These various skills are best learned in a scaffolding model where each is built upon one another. Once the student grasps the elemental pieces of a DMIN thesis project, he/she can then move into the actual writing and explication of those elements. This course begins with the basic components of a good thesis and quickly advances to thesis development using library tools for creating a thesis framework.

Textbook readings and lecture presentations

No details available.

Course Requirements Checklist

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

Discussion: Kuhne’s Questions and Problem, Purpose, & Thesis Statements

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student is required to provide a thread in response to the provided prompt for the assigned discussion. The thread must demonstrate course-related knowledge. In addition to the thread, the student is required to reply to 1 other classmate’s thread. (CLOs: B, C)

Peer-Review Discussion: Literature Matrix

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Peer-Review Discussions are opportunities to collaborate and critically analyze a fellow student’s coursework. Therefore, the student is required to attach the requested assignment and provide a thread in response to the provided prompt for the Peer-Review Discussion. The thread must be 300 words and demonstrate course-related knowledge. In addition to the thread, the student is required to reply to 1 other classmate’s thread providing Christlike critical analysis and offering suggestions for growth while observing areas of strength. The reply must be 400 words. (CLOs: C, D)

Literature Matrix Assignments (3)

The student will build a Literature Matrix by adding 5 or 10 sources per assigned Module: Week. Each submission will be related to the proposed topic for that Module: Week, building upon the previous module’s submission related to the proposed topic per module. (CLOs: A, D)

Revised Problem, Purpose, and Thesis Statements Assignment

The student will resubmit the original problem, purpose, and thesis statement from the first Discussion but with revisions per instructor feedback. (CLOs: B, C)

Self-Selected Bibliography Assignment

The student will select a book related to his/her proposed thesis topic that the student has not previously read and will report the bibliographic information. The student will submit the citation information for the book that he/she chooses to read in correct Turabian format. (CLOs: A, D)

My Learning Journal Assignments (2)

The student will respond to a prompt and will complete a reflective journal based upon it. The response must be at least 400 words. (CLOs: A, C)

Review of Literature Analysis Assignment

The student will analyze and critique two review of literature samples providing critical analysis of the content and structure. (CLOs: A, C)

Problem, Purpose, and Thesis and Review of Literature Draft Assignment

The student will submit his/her Problem, Purpose, and Thesis statements along with his/her initial Review of Literature draft based upon his/her Literature Matrix findings. The Review of Literature draft must be 5 pages. (CLO: B)

Review of Literature Assignment

The student will submit a 10+ page double-spaced Review of Literature containing multiple sources from the matrix. The submission will include a properly formatted thesis template, and revised and augmented Statements in Chapter 1 as well as a Turabian formatted Review of Literature section with subheadings as needed, and a Bibliography page. (CLOs: A, C, D)

Self-Selected Annotated Bibliography Assignment

The student will compose an annotated bibliography of the book he/she self-selected during the Self-Selected Bibliography Assignment. The student must provide the complete bibliographic information in current Turabian format, followed by a single page that serves to summarize the source, and what it will accomplish in his/her paper. (CLO: A)

Memo to Myself Assignment

The student will evaluate and reflect upon his/her understanding of the requirement for completing a DMIN thesis project. (CLO: C)

The student will write 6 (six) $12 summaries (each word worth $0.10) of the readings from Christian Formation (Chapters 3-8). This means the student is developing 6 summaries of 120 words each (1 for each of the 6 chapters in the assigned reading). (CLO: A)

Quiz: DMIN Handbook

The quiz will cover the DMIN Handbook material. The quiz will be open-book/open-notes, contain 25 multiple-choice and true/false questions, and have a 1-hour time limit. (CLO: C)


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