THEO 650
RESEARCH PAPER: TOPIC, THESIS, AND PRELIMINARY BIBLIOGRAPHY
ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS
OVERVIEW
The student will begin their research Paper by offering a topic of interest for research, a thesis
explaining the objective of the topic, and a preliminary bibliography outline what sources the
student is considering to argue and defend their topic.
INSTRUCTIONS
The bibliography must have at least three sources (this is preliminary--you will add additional
sources later). These should be representative of sources on your topic. One should be rather
general in nature, covering the broad topic.&The other two may be more specific as to your exact
thesis.&One may be a primary source--one written by a recognized expert, or by someone who
developed the idea in the first place.&Here is an example from another course: Topic: The Form
of the Good in Plato's Philosophy.&One book will be an analysis of Plato's concept of the forms,
one will be on "The Good" in Plato, and one will be an edition of&The Dialogues of Plato.&&&
It should be clear also that, at this stage, all of the sources will be books. You are beginning your
research. You won't turn to journal articles or other types of sources until you've done some
serious reading and have a good working knowledge of the topic. Your "goal" in this assignment
is to show the professor that you have begun work on the paper early and that you are engaged in
serious research upon it.
