THE GOAL OF ASSIGNMENTS
- The primary goal in your assignments is for you to deepen your understanding by thinking through for yourself the subject of the question.
- The set reading and input in lectures, seminars etc. will hopefully enable you to develop the discipline of Christian moral reasoning and shape your own thinking on the subject studied.
- The set reading is therefore not simply to give you a stock of possible "academic" answers to the question. It will orient you to discussions of subject but its goal is to help you to engage with others views and arguments and to develop your own thinking and reach your own conclusions.
- Take time therefore not just to read and note but to weigh and critique the reading you do as you go along.
POSSIBLE PLAN FOR APPROACHING ESSAYS
a. Before reading, stop and think how you would answer the question
In many areas you will already have some opinion and previous experience and thinking to draw on. Think about such issues as:
- What is the qusestion asking me?
- Your reasons for thinking as you do
- What bits of the Bible or Christian tradition you think are relevant
- What different answers other Christians might give
- What the areas of disagreement are between you and them.
Note areas you see as important to address in order to answer the question
Note areas you wish to find out more about in your reading
Write a simple sentence or two in response to the question – a draft initial conclusion to the essay that you will then sharpen, strengthen or modify in the course of your study.
b. Progress with the reading
Start with the introductory overviews suggested and move to the more detailed treatments.
Remember the pages cited in the reading list are the bare minimum. It is worth at least looking at (even if not reading in the same depth) the wider context. Further reading may be available in bibliographies on the web site.
Where I've listed biblical passages (or you find them referred to in your reading) look these up to see their context, consider their relevance, and evaluate the way the author is using the Bible in ethical argument.
Inevitably there will be repetition in different discussions of the subject. It is important you avoid either getting bogged down in stuff you already know or give up and miss out on something new and important.
You will easily find other books on the subject which are not on the list but beware of ignoring the set reading and choosing whatever you find on the library shelf. If you want an opinion on other sources do ask me for advice.
c. Note your responses to the reading
After taking notes on each book quickly think through and summarise your response to it. This might include such issues as:
- Main points you learned
- Areas of agreement and disagreement
- Why you disagreed
- How the argument was advanced
- A new short answer to the essay question in the light of your reading
d. Use notes from other learning
You will have material from ISWs, lectures & seminars and from other general ethics reading as well as the essay reading.
Material in other courses – especially biblical and doctrinal – are also worth remembering as you write !
e. Before writing your essay go back and think how you would now answer the question in the light of your reading and thinking.
It may help here simply to repeat (a) having reviewed your various notes.
Think how your answer has changed as a result of your study and what you have read that disagreed with your initial response.
f. Write the assignment
Keep your "simple answer" to the question clear in your mind throughout. If you don't know this you will either not answer the question or your conclusion will be a 'rabbit out of a hat' trick to the reader.
Use the essay to develop your argument for the answer, noting and engaging with the authors you have read whether you agree or disagree with them.
Obviously general points on essay writing apply - introduction and conclusion, structure, care to avoid plagiarism etc. The College Handbook gives guidance on all these.
Always include a bibliography of works used in preparation.
If at any stage in working on the assignment you want to come and bounce ideas off me or discuss something then please pop round or drop me an email (andrew.goddard@wycliffe.ox.ac.uk) and we can fix a time to do so.
NON-ESSAY ASSIGNMENTS
Please talk to me before you start any non-essay assignment.
In the Diploma, two assignments can be non-essay assignments. Some are given in the set assignments. Where there is not a non-essay assignment but you would be interested in doing one please speak to me.
BTh/CTh students must write 3 essays in their exam so I discourage non-essay assignments but can sometimes be persuaded if you talk to me about it.
The form of these non-essay assignments include:
Sermon – The text of a sermon on a subject with Scripture readings. Please include a short covering explanation of the context, aim and purpose of the sermon. You may wish to add notes to the sermon to show your sources but must take care you submit a sermon not an essay Always include a bibliography.
Plans for a PCC discussion – This will provide the outline structure of the PCC meeting with a short statement of its rationale and aims. Provide copies of any background paper circulated in advance, texts of presentations (eg talk), details of group work (eg Bible study passages, case studies, discussion questions).
Book Review – If you are not sure of the style then look at book reviews and follow that. You may wish to add introduction explaining the audience (eg parish magazine, Christian magazine, academic or specialist journal). The book review can work through each chapter in sequence but need not do so. It should show knowledge and critical assessment of the content of the book as a whole.
A moral case study (as in BTh examination) – See details on approaching a moral case
I am happy to consider other forms of non-essay assignment if you have suggestions
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