CRST 290
Page 1 of 2
RESEARCH PAPER: FINAL RAFT SSIGNMENT D A INSTRUCTIONS
OVERVIEW
For your course research paper, you will research and write about one of the non-traditional
views of the days of Genesis 1 held by some Evangelicals and compare/contrast it with a
traditional 24-hour day, young-Earth view of Genesis 1. Overall, the research paper includes the
following three assignments in a scaffolded sequence:
I. Research Paper: Topic Selection Assignment;
II. Research Paper: Annotated Bibliography Assignment; and
III. Research Paper: Final Draft Assignment.
Please read all of the research paper instructions to familiarize yourself with the assignment.
After doing that, look over the list of non-traditional views low and select one for evaluation. be
INSTRUCTIONS
For this assignment, you will complete a final, 1,000- to 1,200-word paper about one of the non-
traditional views of the days of Genesis 1 compared and constrasted with a traditional 24-hour
day, young-Earth view of Genesis 1. For this paper, you must continue to follow current
Turabian format, as this is the preferred format for the Society of Biblical Literature. The paper
must be divided into the following sections:
A. A title page. See Explore: Turabian Format Quick Guide for help on how to format a
Turabian title page.
B. A 100- to 150-word abstract that summarizes the purpose and findings of your paper.
C. A 350- to 400-word “Overview of [Non traditional View]” section that- documents the
view’s origin and its specific take on the days of Genesis 1. The goal of this section is to
present the non-traditional view concisely but fairly, without editorial comment or
counterarguments. Describe and discuss this view as if it were being presented by a well-
informed proponent. Topics to address include, but are not limited to:
a. Where and when this view entered the theological discussion on origins.
b. The specific view of how the Hebrew word “day” is translated or understood in
Genesis 1.
c. How Creation Week is treated as a whole (e.g., as a historical sequence, literary
convention, non-historical myth, etc.).
d. Does this view make specific claims about the timing of creation in history or
not? For example, does the view require an ancient Earth and universe, or does it
specify if/when the days correspond to Earth history?
D. A 400- to 450-word “Response to [Non traditional View]” section that critically -
evaluates the nontraditional view from young-Earth creation sources. The goal of this
section is to engage with the non-traditional view, evaluating and responding to its
claims. Topics to address include, but are not limited to:
a. How the non-traditional view interprets “day” accurately or inaccurately in
Genesis 1.
CRST 290
Page 2 of 2
b. Points of agreement/disagreement with the sequence of creation events in Genesis
1 as espoused by young-Earth creation.
c. Implications for changes to historical Biblical timelines, such as the age of
creation, time of creation of Adam, and/or other events recorded in the early
passages of Genesis (e.g., Noah’s flood).
d. Does this view require significant changes to, or rethinking of, important
Christian doctrines?
E. A 150- to 200-word conclusion summarizing your findings and providing your
perspective of the views presented.
