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Chapter 7
A Thesis is an extended written study of a
stated subject, based on original research and independent inquiry. It is the
written report and analysis of data collected through careful and thorough
research of all available sources relevant to the chosen topic. It embodies the
results of critical reflection and questioning. It is both investigative and
evaluative. A Thesis is not a propagandistic or
hortatory attempt to "prove" what one has concluded on ideological or
other grounds to be "true."
The concern is a quest for truth and understanding, rather than a
partisan defense of a pre-determined point of view. Theses vary in their data collection
procedures. Some involve documents research and critical evaluation. These are
primarily library-based. Others involve
the use of questionnaires, interviews, and observation. These are primarily field-based. Many studies use a
combination of both approaches. A Master's Thesis may only be written in Biblical Studies (BIST), Historical and Intercultural Studies (HCUS), or Theological Studies (THST). The student who wishes to write a Thesis will first decide on one of these three fields of study, and will then register for BIST 7900 (or HCUS 7900, or THST 7900), which is offered every year during the Summer term. Upon successful completion of 7900, the student will then register for BIST 7950 (or HCUS 7950, or THST 7950); at that time a Thesis Fee of $85 will be charged to the student's account in the Business Office. The Proposal Before undertaking a Thesis, the
student must submit to the Academic Cabinet of the School of Theology both a Thesis Proposal and "An Application for Approval of Thesis," obtainable from the Office of Student Services. The Proposal is essentially a formal
document. It should, therefore be typed, double-spaced, and professional
looking. Careless typing and inexact, opaque, or incorrect use of language will
certainly not convince the Academic Cabinet that the applicant is capable of
doing a Thesis. The appropriate style and format of the Proposal are
those of any other formal writing, as defined by this Guide. The Proposal should make it clear both to the
student's academic advisor and the Academic Cabinet of the School of Theology
exactly what it is the student proposes to do. In other words, it should answer
the following questions: what is the issue to be studied? why is it important to do so? how will it be studied? and what contribution will such a study make
to our knowledge and understanding of the field? The Proposal should generally be structured
as follows: 1. Introduction: description of the problem, issue, or
research question to be dealt with, why the student considers it important,
what the student has to say that has not been stated by others, and how the
student proposes to contribute to the solution or answer. 2. Theoretical
Orientation: overview of major
theoretical approaches to the field of inquiry, a brief critique of them, a
description of the student's own theoretical approach, and where and how the
student differs from others. 3. Thesis
Statement: may take the form of
hypotheses to be tested, questions to be answered, or objectives to be
achieved. 4. Methodology: how the student proposes to collect and
analyze data, what the relevant sources of information are, and how they will
be obtained. 5. Chapter
Outline: tentative chapter titles
and summaries of the contents of each chapter. 6. Annotated
Bibliography: a preliminary listing
in correct bibliographic form, as defined by this Guide of books and articles relevant to the chosen topic and a two
or three sentence annotation of each entry, demonstrating its relevance to the
study in question. A
great deal of thinking, planning, and writing are advisable in the presentation
of the Thesis Proposal. The finished product may well be twelve to
fifteen pages in length. A well-written proposal may, with some modification,
serve as the introduction to the Thesis. Further, automatic
approval of a Thesis Proposal by the Academic Cabinet of the School
of Theology should not be assumed. But a clear, well-written proposal will much
more likely be approved and thus save the student a great deal of time in the
long run. The student should work closely with her or
his Thesis director in the preparation of the Proposal. Never should a
first-draft of the Proposal be submitted to the Academic Cabinet. Rather, it
should be submitted to the Thesis director for discussion and revision
of content, form, and writing style. Thus, only a first—and perhaps a
second—revision should be submitted to the Academic Cabinet. Procedures Following are several steps to be taken in
the planning and writing of a Thesis. These are advisable procedures
rather than regulations. Their purpose is to help standardize the
Thesis process. Individual needs and programs may necessitate some
changes in procedures. Such changes should not, however, be arbitrary and random,
but based on mutual agreement by all concerned. 1. Selection of a topic or field problem. 2. Writing the Proposal. 3. Selection of a Reading Committee
The Thesis Reading Committee
consists of three (3) members, all of whom are selected by the student, in
consultation with the student's Academic Advisor. The people thus selected
should generally be from the faculty of Anderson University School of Theology. Occasionally, however, the nature of the
Thesis makes it advisable that one or more people from outside the
School of Theology—and even from outside Anderson University—be selected. But
they must, in the judgment of the Academic Cabinet, be suitably qualified
professionally and academically to judge the adequacy of the Thesis. Before the Application for Approval of
Thesis is submitted, the signatures of the proposed Committee
members must be obtained by the student. This
indicates only their willingness to serve if approved by the Academic Cabinet.
If for any reason during the Thesis process a Committee member is unable to continue to serve, the student must
submit a written request to the Dean of the School of Theology asking that the
member be replaced. After consultation with the Thesis director, the
student should suggest to the Dean a likely candidate. Normally, the student's Academic Advisor
will serve as Chair of the Reading Committee and as Director of the
Thesis. In a few cases, however, the Academic Advisor may be unfamiliar
with the subject area involved, or for other valid personal or professional
reasons, may wish to defer to a colleague. Thus, by mutual agreement between
the Academic Advisor and the student, another person may assume this role. 4. Submission of Application for Approval of Thesis. This must be accompanied by the Thesis Proposal. As we have noted, Academic Cabinet approval of the Proposal
is not automatic. Modifications in title, content, or methodology may be
recommended. Students who proceed,
therefore, with the writing of the Thesis before
Academic Cabinet approval is received do so at their own risk. 5. Writing of the first draft. It is advisable that first draft writing be
submitted chapter by chapter to the Thesis Director. Changes or
additions needed in a chapter very often affect the writing of later chapters.
Early changes or re-directions often help prevent massive re-writing of a
manuscript at some later point when time is at a premium. No such thing as good writing exists, only good re-writing. 6. Preparation of the second draft The second draft is the end result of all
the editorial work and re-writing of the first draft. The second draft should
be a complete Thesis, including Title Page, Abstract, Table of
Contents, Appendices, if any, and Bibliography. Each member of the Reading Committee should
be supplied with a copy of the second draft at least three weeks before the date of the oral defense. This
draft is the basis of the oral defense. 7. Abstract As a final step in the second draft
process, the student must prepare an Abstract. An Abstract is a brief summary
of the contents of the Thesis. That is, a summary of hypotheses,
questions, or problems; methodological approach; findings; and conclusions. The
Abstract should generally be no longer than two pages.
8. Oral Defense The student, in consultation with the
Thesis director and other members of the Committee, is responsible to
schedule an oral defense of the Thesis. During this time, the
student will answer questions raised by Committee members, offer explanations
and elaborations, and generally "defend" the accuracy of the information collected and the validity of the
conclusions drawn from it. Generally, not less than one and a half hours should
be allowed for the defense. In some cases, two hours may be more appropriate. It
should be noted that a Thesis Defense may not take place by telephone
conference call—except under very special circumstances and only then if
pre-approved by the Academic Cabinet. It
is necessary that the student and the Committee have sufficient time together
to resolve any outstanding problems and to answer important questions that may
not have been answered. It is difficult to do this by telephone. 9. Final Draft The final draft of the Thesis is
the result of the oral defense. Committee recommendations for corrections,
deletions, or additions are the basis of this final revision. It is the
responsibility of the Thesis director to see to it that all
Committee demands are fully carried out. 10. Copies for binding/microfilming When all final draft requirements have been
completely met and are approved by the Thesis director, the student may
proceed to the final typing of the manuscript in preparation for microfilming
and binding. The final typescript must conform to all form and style
requirements as laid down in this Guide, and to all requirements set forth in Turabian (including sequencing, pagination, margins, indentations, and title page). Final
Copies: the final two copies of the Thesis must be printed on 100% rag bond watermarked paper. The final copies must be clean, professional-looking, and typographically
error-free; and they must meet all standards detailed in Turabian. Signing: upon completion of the final copies,
the student is to obtain the signatures of the Committee members on the two copies
before submitting them to Nicholson Library. Final
Approval: upon receipt by Nicholson
Library, the Thesis becomes the property of Anderson University
School of Theology. The Thesis Fee covers the cost of binding and
microfilming of the copies submitted to the Library, but students themselves
are responsible for paying for the binding of personal copies.
Completion
of Thesis form: when the Thesis is submitted to the
Library, it must be accompanied by a "Completion
of Thesis Form," to
be obtained from the School of Theology Faculty Secretary. It
is to be signed by a Librarian and returned by the student personally to the Faculty Secretary. Microfilming
Agreement: at the time the student submits
the required copies of the Thesis to Library, the student must sign
a "Masters Thesis Agreement Form"
(University Microfilms), to be provided by the School of Theology Faculty Secretary. Completion Date The two copies of the Thesis must be submitted by the student personally to a Librarian at Nicholson Library
on or before April 30 of the year in
which the student proposes to graduate. Theses submitted after that
date will delay the candidates graduation until the following year. In the event of special or extenuating
circumstances which make it impossible for the student to meet this deadline,
the Academic Cabinet of the School of Theology may extend it upon formal, written request by the
student and with full approval and support of the Thesis Committee. This support should be indicated by the signatures of the Committee members on
the student's written request to the Cabinet. But, in no case will the deadline be extended beyond the actual date of
the final graduation listing by the Registrar of Anderson University. |