Fall 2014/Pasadena

ST511

Heringer

ST511: ORIENTATION TO THEOLOGICAL STUDIES (4 Units: 160 hours). Seth Heringer.

DESCRIPTION: This course prepares beginning theology students for seminary studies. It introduces them to the academic environment and ethos of Fuller Seminary, with particular focus on developing skills of research and writing necessary to participate and thrive in this environment.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students completing this course will be able to (1) use critical thinking and analytical reading skills to evaluate writings; (2) conduct focused research by using library resources and manage this research throughout a quarter producing a graduate-level 3000-word research essay; (3) demonstrate introductory knowledge of theological methods within Christian thought; (4) formulate and locate their own theological tradition and positions across the spectrum of Christian thought; and (5) define important theological, philosophical, and historical terminology.

COURSE FORMAT: This class meets once per week for three hour sessions for a total of 30 hours of classroom instruction for lecture and discussion plus 10 hours of directed learning activities for a total of 40 instructional hours. The course includes reading, writing, peer review, library and resources orientation, discussion, and lecture.

REQUIRED READING: A maximum of 650 pages taken from the following:

Adler, Mortimer J., and Charles Van Doren. How to Read a Book. Simon & Schuster, 1972. ISBN: 978-0671212094, Pub. Price $16.99 [126 pp. assigned].

Graff, Gerald, and Cathy Birkenstein. They Say, I Say: The Moves that Matter in Academic Writing. W.W. Norton, 2009. ISBN: 978-0393933611, Pub. Price $25.00 [140 pp. assigned].

Paul, Richard and Linda Elder. The Miniature Guide to Critical Thinking: Concepts & Tools. Foundation for Critical Thinking, 2009. ISBN: 978-0944583104, Pub. Price $4.00 [23 pp. assigned].

Plantinga, Richard J., Thomas R. Thompson, and Matthew D. Lundberg. An Introduction to Christian Theology. Cambridge University Press, 2010. ISBN: 978-0521690379, Pub. Price $31.99 [131 pp. assigned].

Thielicke, Helmut. A Little Exercise for Young Theologians. Eerdmans, 1980. ISBN: 978-0802811981, Pub. Price $9.00 [56 pp. assigned].

Turabian, K. A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations. 8th ed. Chicago University Press, 2013. ISBN: 978-0226816388, Pub. Price $18.00 [70 pp. assigned].

Course Reader.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. REQUIRED reading of 600 pp. [This assignment is related to outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5] [60 hours].

2. Active participation in Student Reading Groups (Directed Learning Activity) and class (10%). [This assignment is related to outcomes 1, 3, and 4] [10 hours].

3. Weekly theological vocabulary quizzes (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome 5] [6 hours].

4. Progress assessments for the stages of research and writing of the research essay (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome 2] [5 hours].

5. Weekly critical writing papers based on course readings (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, and 4] [20 hours].

6. Completing peer reviews of weekly assignments focusing on a writing technique (5%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome 2] [2.5 hours].

7. A 2,500-word research essay reflecting on a theological topic (25%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome 2] [20 hours].

8. FINAL Exam (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes 3, 4, and 5] [10 hours].

PREREQUISITES: Permission of the Director of Academic Advising. No audits.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Elective.

FINAL EXAMINATION: Yes.