You should write a paper (3500-4500 words, excluding footnotes) that discusses either
one of the five “Reformation Solas” or one of the five “Doctrines of Grace.” You are free to
choose which one of these ten articles of doctrine to discuss, but you should not try to address
every aspect of the doctrine in your paper. Rather, the paper should have a narrowly-defined
thesis that focuses on one aspect or element of your chosen doctrine. (For example, you might
choose to write specifically on the self-attesting nature of Scripture as an essential element
of the doctrine of Sola Scriptura.) The paper may argue for or against your chosen article of
doctrine (e.g., if you do not agree with the doctrine of Particular Redemption, you may argue
against it). Your paper should include all of the following:
• A clear statement and explanation of the article of doctrine under discussion, with
supporting references.
• An argument either for or against your chosen article, based primarily on a responsible
exegesis of relevant biblical texts. You are strongly encouraged to focus on two or
three key texts, discussing them in some depth and drawing from scholarly exegetical
commentaries to support your interpretations. You may also use arguments based
on other doctrines (e.g., doctrine X is implied by doctrines Y and Z).
• A treatment of at least two prominent objections to the position you have taken (i.e.,
the objections and then try to refute them). You should cite sources (either popular
or scholarly) for these objections.
• A discussion of some of the practical applications of the position you have taken
(i.e., answer the question: what real difference does it or should it make in the life of
a Christian believer?).
• A standard bibliography (see below on sources and citations).
Your paper will be graded according to the following criteria, in no particular order:
responsible use of Scripture, responsible use of sources, extent of research, creativity, clarity,
structure and coherence, cogency of argument, evidence of critical thinking, practical relevance,
and good writing style (including grammar, spelling, and punctuation). Your paper should cite
at least 6 scholarly sources. For the purposes of this paper, a scholarly source is a book or article
by a recognized expert in the field (and not aimed at a popular level for a general audience).
Please consult the professor if you have any doubts about whether a source is scholarly. You
should not rely heavily on web-based sources. Use the library!
The Professor of Record is available via the Student-Professor Forum to provide direction on
formulating a good thesis and finding appropriate scholarly sources. The Global Librarian is
available for assistance in accessing and navigating the library resources.
The paper should be word-processed, not hand-written. Use a 12-point font and double
line-spacing for the main text. Use section headings where applicable to improve readability. Use footnotes (10-point font) rather than endnotes. Use Turabian style for citations, footnoting, and
bibliography. The paper should be submitted with a title page containing all of the following:
the name and year of the course, your name, the professor’s name, the title of the paper, and
the exact word count for the paper (obtained from your word processor’s word-count feature).
The following rubric contains some of the key criteria by which your paper may be graded:
1. Clear & Viable Thesis: The paper puts forth a viable thesis that is clearly stated
and can be reasonably defended in a paper of the assigned length.
2. Structure & Argumentation: The paper has a logical structure and provides
appropriate argumentation in support of the thesis.
3. Use of Resources: The paper uses the proper number and types of resources. This
includes using diverse, quality resources in a responsible manner.
4. Turabian Formatting: The paper is properly formatted according to the RTS
Turabian guidelines. These guidelines can be downloaded within your course on
the “Notebook” page.
5. Depth of Paper: The paper has depth that reflects scholarly research, critical
analysis, theological insight, and creativity.
6. Presentation of Paper: The paper reflects good grammar, spelling, and
punctuation, with clarity of expression and appropriate academic style.
You will be penalized if you do not observe the requirements and guidelines above.