Research Seminar
Fall Semester 2006
Last revised 9/03/06
UNIT ONE: Principles of Research
---Topic Two: Finding Research Data---

The student demonstrates understanding of the appropriate tools, procedures and resources for research in the field of religion.

The student demonstrates understanding of the procedures for developing a research project in the field of religious studies.

The student demonstrates understanding of principles for critical evaluation of research data  in the field of religious studies.

• The student will demonstrate awareness of how to search for research data in both electronic and written sources on selected topics of study.

• The student will give presentations, oral and written, demonstrating understanding of evaluating research data.
• The student will give presentations, oral and written, demonstrating basic skills in the formulation of a thesis declaration and the structuring of research data in a coherent presentation.

• Primary vs. Secondary data
• What constitutes primary sources?
• What constitutes secondary sources?
• Connection to Religious Studies categories

• Good vs. bad materials
• The pitfalls of internet sources
• Assessing commentaries
• Check out Cranfordville bibliographic resources.
• Identifying the perspective of the author
• The role of his/her publisher
• The impact of his/her educational background
• The religious orientation of the author
• Going about identifying the author's perspective
• Using book reviews
• Using the book Preface and jacket cover
• How many sources are enough?
• The impact from the nature of the research project
• The connection to Descriptive vs. Critical approaches
• The ratio of primary to secondary sources
• The connection to Descriptive vs. Critical approaches
• Guidelines mandated by the professor

• Types of research material
See SBL Handbook, section 8.4 for beginning list.
• Books
• Journals
• Periodicals
• Reference Works
• Others
• Multiple language sources
• Why are we to include other foreign languages?
• Why are German and French sources necessary?
• When are Latin sources required?
• Using additional foreign language materials
• Distinctives of Biblical Studies
• Primary vs Secondary sources
• Biblical Languages
• Secondary sources
• Commentaries et als.
• Inter connections between exegesis analysis and theological understanding

Instructions:
Using the previously proposed research project, begin developing an annotated bibliography of primary and secondary sources.

1. Carefully follow the above guidelines for selecting each sources.
2. A minimum of 15 sources is required. List each source alphabetically.
3. The annotation under each source should include an assessment of the points in the first two topics above: Primary vs. Secondary data and  Good vs. bad materials.
4. Use the Bibliography format found in your textbook, The SBL Handbook of Style.

A Turn-in Assignment:

• This written assignment project is due prior to the beginning of week three classes in the Shedule page. Submit your assignment electronically using the Assignment Turn In menu under Assignments in the Online Forms page of Cranfordville.com.
• Use the following file name for your electronic document: r600Topic02ATlastname.doc

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