RESEARCH PAPER: TOPIC AND FOCUS SELECTION TEMPLATE
RESEARCH PAPER: TOPIC AND FOCUS SELECTION SUBMISSION FORM
APOL 520
05/27/2021
Instructions for this submission:
Be sure to read and understand the Research Paper Instructions document before you attempt to
complete any part of this form. Attempted submissions that do not use the submission form
provided will not be accepted for credit.
To complete this part of the project, download this form to your computer, save it with a different
file name using your last name and the assignment name, and type your submission directly in
the space provided below. Do not change any aspect of the formatting, arrangement, or layout of
this form. In the space below, provide the information indicated.
1. Apologetics Argument and Focus Selection
Of the choices listed in the Research Paper Instructions, about which argument will you write in
this paper, and on which figure will you focus it (e.g., the ontological argument for the existence
of God, focus on Descartes)?
Argument selected: Miracles and divine action in the world
Focus selected: C. S. Lewis apologetics on miracles
2. List of Issues to be Addressed
Based on your reading so far, give a list of 5 issues that you think you will need to explore in the
paper.
Append your list here:
1. Definition of miracles.
2. How the bible portrays supernatural incidences of the divinity.
3. The issue with naturalist beliefs and why supernaturalism makes sense.
4. The law of nature and miracles.
5. Logical and rational consequences of miracles.
3. Preliminary Bibliography
In addition to your course textbooks, identify the major primary sources you will use (i.e.,
books/articles written by the apologist of your focus). Additionally, identify 3 scholarly
secondary sources (i.e., books/articles that interpret, discuss, and assess the work of your
historical figure). A scholarly source is one that is published in print by an academic publisher,
university, or scholarly society. Academic journal articles and printed books (or electronic
facsimile copies of these) are acceptable sources. Articles appearing on scholarly websites
published and maintained by universities or scholarly societies (such as the Stanford
Encyclopedia of Philosophy) may be used, but generic websites (such as bible.org, CARM.org,
Wikipedia, personal websites, blogs, etc.) must not be used. Format each according to current
Turabian and LUSD requirements for a bibliography.
Append bibliography here:
Brown, Colin. That you may believe: Miracles and faith then and now. Wipf and Stock
Publishers, 1996.
Lewis, C. S. 2009. Miracles. HarperCollins.
Moberly, R. Walter L., and L. Walter. "Miracles in the hebrew Bible." The Cambridge
Companion to Miracles (2011): 57-74.
Purtill, Richard L. CS Lewis' case for the Christian faith. Ignatius Press, 2004.
Ward, Keith. "Believing in miracles." Zygon® 37, no. 3 (2002): 741-750.
