choosing a topic. very general very general –“the divinity of christ in the nt” more specific...

Choosing A TopicChoosing A Topic


VERY GENERALVERY GENERAL– ““The Divinity of Christ in the NT”The Divinity of Christ in the NT”

MORE SPECIFICMORE SPECIFIC– ““The Divinity of Christ in the The Divinity of Christ in the

Gospel of John”Gospel of John” MUCH BETTERMUCH BETTER

– ““Christ as the Bread of Life in Christ as the Bread of Life in John 6”John 6”


Topic goes fromTopic goes from– Shallow to Shallow to DeepDeep– ImpossibleImpossible toto FeasibleFeasible


STEPS in choosing topicSTEPS in choosing topic– ReadingReading– Asking QuestionsAsking Questions– Narrowing ScopeNarrowing Scope

Even when topic is assigned, Even when topic is assigned, following these steps can following these steps can result in better topic.result in better topic.


ReadingReading– TextbooksTextbooks– DictionariesDictionaries– EncyclopediasEncyclopedias

Key: Move from general to specificKey: Move from general to specific As read, note information on As read, note information on

sources (to find again)sources (to find again) As read, take notesAs read, take notes Be especially attentive to Be especially attentive to

questions reading brings up.questions reading brings up.


Asking QuestionsAsking Questions– Of yourselfOf yourself– Of your peersOf your peers– Of your professorsOf your professors– Of what you readOf what you read


Asking QuestionsAsking Questions

– Can help you determine if Can help you determine if you have a good topicyou have a good topic

– Can narrow the topic & focus Can narrow the topic & focus on an issue to researchon an issue to research


Asking QuestionsAsking Questions– ConcerningConcerning

ContentContentFeasibility Feasibility


Asking Questions on contentAsking Questions on content– 1) Questions on organization of 1) Questions on organization of

the topicthe topicWhat are its parts?What are its parts?Of what larger whole is this a Of what larger whole is this a part?part?

Sources?Sources?– Subdivisions (outline) of Subdivisions (outline) of

encyclopedia articleencyclopedia article– Table of contents of a bookTable of contents of a book


Asking Questions on contentAsking Questions on content– 2) Questions regarding history 2) Questions regarding history

of the topicof the topicWhat has been written on this What has been written on this topic?topic?

Is this a controversial topic?Is this a controversial topic?Are lines already drawn between Are lines already drawn between opposing sides over this topic?opposing sides over this topic?

What can I add to this history?What can I add to this history?


Asking Questions on Asking Questions on contentcontent– 3) Questions regarding 3) Questions regarding

usefulness of topicusefulness of topicWhat good is this topic?What good is this topic?How can I use the results of my How can I use the results of my research?research?

Besides me, who will benefit Besides me, who will benefit from my work?from my work?


Asking Questions On Asking Questions On FeasibilityFeasibility– 1) Do I have the necessary 1) Do I have the necessary

sources to do this research?sources to do this research?Heb. word—do I have lexicons, Heb. word—do I have lexicons, word studies?word studies?

– 2) Am I qualified to do this 2) Am I qualified to do this research?research?Heb. word—do I know Hebrew?Heb. word—do I know Hebrew?


Asking Questions On Asking Questions On FeasibilityFeasibility– 3) Do I have enough time to 3) Do I have enough time to

complete research before the complete research before the due date?due date?Interlibrary loanInterlibrary loanInterviewing someone Interviewing someone hundreds of miles awayhundreds of miles away


Asking Questions On Asking Questions On FeasibilityFeasibility

4) Does this research demand 4) Does this research demand costs that I cannot afford?costs that I cannot afford?– Mailing questionnaires Mailing questionnaires


Narrowing The TopicNarrowing The Topic Delimitations—limits that make Delimitations—limits that make

the topic better, clearer, more the topic better, clearer, more manageablemanageable

Delimiting indispensable—in Delimiting indispensable—in good research, researcher good research, researcher responsible for turning up and responsible for turning up and examining every single piece examining every single piece of information on a topicof information on a topic


Narrowing The TopicNarrowing The Topic Think of research as fencing Think of research as fencing

off land and turning every off land and turning every stone.stone.

If area is too big, don’t have If area is too big, don’t have time to turn all the stones.time to turn all the stones.


Narrowing The TopicNarrowing The Topic Types of DelimitationTypes of Delimitation

– 1) Time1) Time Research project studying the Research project studying the

chronology of kings of Judah could chronology of kings of Judah could take yearstake years

Wiser to do chronology of JosiahWiser to do chronology of Josiah Having set the time limitation, no Having set the time limitation, no

one will ask why you didn’t include one will ask why you didn’t include other kingsother kings



– 2) Sources2) SourcesDivorce passages in Matthew 5 Divorce passages in Matthew 5 and Mark 10and Mark 10

Can’t be called into question as Can’t be called into question as to why didn’t include latest to why didn’t include latest book on divorcebook on divorce



– 3) Aspects3) AspectsPaper in theology of worship—Paper in theology of worship—exclude contemporary musicexclude contemporary music

No room for that discussionNo room for that discussion– Note—don’t go too far; make Note—don’t go too far; make

sure the delimitations make sure the delimitations make as much sense to others as to as much sense to others as to youyou

choosing a topic. very general very general –“the divinity of christ in the nt” more specific...

Documents