This section of your paper begins page one of the page numbering system. The requirements
are that the page number goes at the bottom of the page on each new section as is illustrated in this
example. Subsequent page numbers then go at the top right-hand corner of each page. The same
font style and size as with the text of the paper should be used
for the numbers.2
Items to be included in
the Introduction are an assessment of the external
historical aspects
of your passage, such as author, time and place of writing, initial readers of the passage etc. Keep
this to a minimum of two paragraphs of information.
Also to be included here
are certain literary aspects. These
are (1) the identification of the
broad and small genre types of your passage. For example, Matt. 5:3-12 would be classified as
beautitudes (small form) within the gospel form of Matthew. Explore implications these
classifications have for understanding your text. A second literary aspect is (2) the literary setting /
context of your passage. Consult study tools containing outlines etc. for help on this. Matt. 5:3-12
would be the introduction to the Sermon on the Mount, which is the first major speech of Jesus at
the beginning of his public ministry, as Matthew describes it. Thus, this speech helps to establish
from the outset the nature of the message that Jesus was going to preach throughout his public
ministry.
The above items are required issues to be addressed in the Introduction. This section of your
paper should not go over two pages in length.
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1At this place in your paper you should insert a content footnote indicating the computer word processing software used to type your paper, and the brand and type of printer used to print the paper. Also, include notations of any format guidelines that you cannot follow because of the limitations of your computer word processing software. This is important to do: Unless I know the limitations of the mechanical means of producing the paper, ANY deviation from stated format guidelines will reduce the paper grade!
2A note about footnotes. Indent the same number of spaces as the text of the paper. Single spaced lines with a blank line between the separator line and each footnote. Use the same font style and size in the text of the paper. Number each footnote with superscripted number.