Theological Seminary

Research Standards
and Writing Manual

Adventist International Institute of Advanced Studies

Silang, Cavite, Philippines

Updated August 2023

This manual is based on and adapted from the AIIAS Research Standards and Writing Manual
originally written and compiled by Shawna Vyhmeister (edited by Nancy Vyhmeister and Elsie
dela Cruz) on the basis of Creative Commons 3.0 “Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike”
License.

Copyright © 2023
Adventist International Institute of Advanced Studies (AIIAS)
Aguinaldo Hwy km 45.5, Lalaan 1, Silang, Cavite, Philippines

This work is licensed under Creative Commons 4.0

Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike
You are free:
1. to Share — To copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format
2. to Adapt — To remix, transform, and build upon the material
Under the following conditions:
1. Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and
indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any
way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
2. Noncommercial — You may not use this work for commercial purposes.
3. Share Alike — If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you must distribute
your contributions under the same license as the original.

If you need to adapt this work to the needs of your school, please contact AIIAS at
[email protected] to get permission.

General Editor: Eike Mueller

Project committee members: Sheri Joy Namanya, Karole Mercado
Consultants and contributors: Ricardo González, Teófilo Correa, Kyungho Song, Pavel Zubkov,
Eike Mueller, Cristian Dumitrescu, Diana Razmerita, Glenn Jade Mariano,
Sheri Joy Namanya, Kenneth Bergland
Copy editor: Blessing Obaya
Layout: Karole Mercado
Cover design: Christian Rodelas
 Table of Contents

Foreword ............................................................................................................................... iv
Introduction Academic Writing, Style, and Format ............................................................. 1
Chapter 1 Various Types of Writing in the Educational Environment................................ 2
Chapter 2 Academic Writing Conventions .......................................................................... 8
Chapter 3 The Mechanics of Academic Writing ................................................................ 14
Chapter 4 Research Roles and Responsibilities................................................................. 23
Chapter 5 Procedures and Timelines ................................................................................. 27
Chapter 6 Introduction to SBL Style Footnotes and Bibliography .................................... 38
Chapter 7 Introduction to APA Style In-Text Citation and References ............................. 51
Chapter 8 AIIAS Standards ............................................................................................... 60
Chapter 9 Computer Formatting Tips ................................................................................ 91
Chapter 10 Forms .............................................................................................................. 99
Appendixes ........................................................................................................................ 113
Appendix A Outline of the Exegesis Paper ................................................................. 114
Appendix B A Student’s Chronological Guide to Empirical Research ....................... 115
Appendix C A Research Committee Chair’s Chronological Guide to Empirical
Research......................................................................................................................... 119
Appendix D Tips for Making Student Research Publishable ...................................... 122
 Foreword
This AIIAS Theological Seminary manual is a significant departure from
previous AIIAS research and writing manuals. For the first time in the
development of AIIAS manuals, this is a reference work from and for the
AIIAS Theological Seminary alone. Previous editions were a joint venture
between the AIIAS Theological Seminary and the AIIAS Graduate School.
The majority of the principles and procedures are still the same but at this
point, differences in governance structure, naming practices, and styles would
make a joint venture cumbersome to update and to read. It is the hope of both
schools that this path forward will allow each school to more quickly update
this document and that the students find it easier to make use of the manual.
Despite the significant revisions, this manual is based on the invaluable work
of Nancy and Shawna Vyhmeister, who wrote, collated, and edited the
previous editions of this work. Their hard work in organizing and collating this
research manual has assisted students for decades at AIIAS. Additionally, this
current edition developed over many years and with the input of various
scholars and editors. Special thanks goes out to Cristian Dumitrescu for his
contributions, as well as the institutional editor Sheri Namanya for adding
chapters on SBL style and updating the APA style chapters. Thank also goes
out to Karole Mercado without whose organizational and design oversight this
project would not have been realized.
It is the hope of all contributors that this work will assist students in their
research and publications.

Eike Mueller, ThD

Editor
 Introduction
Academic Writing, Style, and Format
Because of its importance in developing thinking skills, scholarly writing is a requirement for
most graduate courses. It is also typically a part of the culminating phase of graduate work.
Properly done, the writing in graduate school requires thinking, organizing, and evaluating
information, synthesizing ideas, and original thought from the writer. It also requires a knowledge
of referencing and formatting techniques that make the work more understandable to other scholars.
Since every institution has its own traditions and practices, each school has its own
guidelines that detail how writing should be designed, conducted, approved, formatted, and edited.
This manual documents the scholarly writing procedures and format rules for the AIIAS
Seminary. It is intended as a guide for any written work connected with degree requirements,
including term papers, research projects, theses, or dissertations. Students should work closely with
their professors, academic program advisor, and/or project/thesis/dissertation research committee
chair concerning any additional requirements that may apply.

Style Guidelines vs. Theological Seminary Research Standards

The difference between style and format is important in order to understand how one
Research Standards document can be used in the Seminary, given the Biblical Studies and
Theological-Historical Studies departments use SBL (Society of Biblical Literature) style, while
the Applied Theology Department uses APA (American Psychological Association) style.
Style
Style dictates such matters as whether to use footnotes or in-text references, when to write
numbers as words or figures, to capitalize, and whether to prepare a bibliography or reference list.
When you begin to write, you and your research committee chair and/or committee must agree on
the style to be used; that style must be followed throughout the document. Because style guidelines
are designed for work that will be published in a variety of different locations, rules about title
pages, placement of tables, and other details are inevitably different from the rules for institutional
papers, where the document is already in its final form. The SBL and APA style manuals are the
authority for everything NOT specified in the Theological Seminary Research Standards manual.
Format
AIIAS requires a certain format for all papers, dissertations, and theses (regardless of style
chosen), which includes (1) margins and spacing, (2) the institutional title page, (3) the order and
layout of preliminary pages, (4) placement of page numbers, (5) headings and subheadings, and (6)
the display of tables and figures. Theological Seminary Research Standards lays out the AIIAS
format requirements and introduces each of the two styles used on campus. It also presents other
academic writing conventions and AIIAS research procedures and forms.
Before writing, you should acquire the style guide recommended by your department (the
division is not strictly department-based: students doing Applied Theology may use APA style—
check with your committee). In matters of format not specified in Theological Seminary Research
Standards, follow the specifications of the style guide prescribed by your department.

Biblical/ Theological-Historical Studies

Society of Biblical Literature. The SBL Handbook of Style, 2nd ed. Atlanta: SBL, 2014.

Applied Theology
American Psychological Association. Publication manual of the American Psychological
Association (7th ed.). Washington, DC: Author, 2020.

Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual | 1

 Chapter 1
Various Types of Writing in the Educational Environment
Students write many different types of scholarly papers during their educational journey.
Some of the most common are defined and differentiated in this chapter, and some basic criteria for
evaluation are suggested. The Term Paper is generic for a writing assignment that gathers
information from multiple sources and discusses and organizes it. Papers come in many varieties
and lengths and have different characteristics and purposes.
For the purposes of this manual, scholarly writing and research writing are considered
synonymous. All approaches to research/scholarship needs to include peer review by
knowledgeable others and wide dissemination (publication). Dissemination includes publishing in
the more traditional journals to books and the production of a wide variety of materials but also
publishable broadly through seminars, e-portfolios, workshops, curriculum documents, or websites.
All papers should be in standard academic English, and be spell-checked and grammar-
checked, at least by the computer. Students who are not native English speakers should also have
their writing proofread by another person to ensure clarity and correctness. It is possible that part of
the grade includes linguistic correctness. In any case, it is appropriate for students at the graduate
level to hand in work that represents both careful thinking and careful editing. Dissertations, theses,
and projects must pass the inspection of the AIIAS editor to see that they conform to all style and
format specifications found in this book. Bibliographic reference tools are also required even
though term papers do not require editor approval, they should be properly referenced and conform
to the same style rules as a thesis or dissertation. Students needing assistance with writing skills,
APA or SBL style, or computer formatting related to research can get free assistance from the
Writing Center in the Library. The list below serves as an introduction to some of the common
types of scholarly papers.
Research, in broad terms, is disciplined inquiry. Research is defined by its method. This
method is defined, understood, and taught by members of the discipline. It is how members of the
discipline, usually in writing, communicate the practice of the discipline. Secondly, the method is
detailed and made transparent in their scholarly practice. Third, any production is vetted by
knowledgeable others in the discipline. Four, it is widely disseminated.

Typical AIIAS Coursework Papers

1. Essay. A class paper, typically from five to ten pages. The essay explores a topic in depth. The
opinions of the writer may be prominent. References/footnotes are needed for all quotations,
citations, or allusions. A reference list/bibliography (see definition p. 15) is usually required. An
introductory paragraph/section charts the direction of the paper. Summary and conclusions
appear at the end. The essay is typically judged on the following criteria:
Direction/problem clearly stated
Clear, evidence-based thinking
Coherent arguments/logical flow
Summary reflects main points in body of paper
Conclusions appropriate to body of paper
Appropriate referencing
2. Sermon. A class paper, written as the basis for an oral presentation. The sermon may be
prepared either in full written form or in a detailed outline form. The professor for whom the
sermon is written may specify style, sources, topic, form, etc. All sources quoted should have
appropriate reference notes. Illustrations (stories) must be included in full. The sermon should
be ready for a person other than its writer to preach. Criteria for evaluation generally include

2 | Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual

 Interesting introduction
Clear biblical basis
Memorable by point
Logical development of main ideas based on biblical basis
Relevant practiced application
Reasonable and appealing conclusion
3. Research Term Paper. A major scholarly paper written for a class assignment, from 15 to 40
pages, enough to cover the problem being considered. An introduction, containing the statement
of the problem, purpose, delimitations, and/or presuppositions is obligatory. The paper must end
with a summary of the major findings and the conclusions derived from them. References are
needed for all quotations, citations, and allusions. A bibliography or reference list is required.
The term paper is usually judged by the following criteria:
Clear statement of problem and purpose
Satisfactory coverage of topic
Critical thinking
Coherent thought flow
Conclusions logically derived from evidence
Documentation (referencing and bibliography)
4. Critical Book Review. A class paper, usually one to four pages long, based on a book or
article. It begins with a full bibliographical entry for the item discussed. If space allows,
information should be given about the author. The book or article should be summarized with
care so that the author’s thrust is not distorted. After a summary, a discussion of the major
points follows including a careful evaluation by the reviewer. The book/article may be
discussed in terms of its usefulness to a certain discipline or situation, or it may be compared to
another work. Criteria for evaluation include
Accurate bibliographical entry
Information regarding author
Summary of book/article
Convincing personal critique of book
Accurate, factual description of what the author said
Interpretation given based upon your experience with the content
Evaluation based on your knowledge and values
Themes, relationships, or connections you make to what other knowledgeable
scholars have written or said
5. Case Study. A paper, usually 10 to 30 pages long, especially used in applied theology. Its parts
include an introduction (background), the written case, analysis of factors affecting the case
(socio-economic, cultural, religious, organizational, etc.), interpretation of biblical-theological
aspects of the case, synthesis of analysis and interpretation, and recommended action derived
from the synthesis. Criteria for evaluation include
Clarity and precision of case presentation
Issues to be studied clearly derived from case
Coverage of related items in analysis
Depth of interpretation
Clear synthesis of analysis and interpretation
Integrative, application, educational (pastoral, administrative, etc.) action
6. Project. A paper for a class (for culminating projects, see below), which usually involves
planning, implementation, evaluation, and a write-up of the results. The project may take many
different forms. All projects must be approved at the proposal stage. Field work is usually

Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual | 3

 required for a project and approval by the Ethics Review Board (ERB) committee is normally
required. The writing of the project follows the same style of research writing as that required
by other papers. The project is typically judged by the following criteria:
Clear introduction to the project
Significance of the project
Quality documentation on what was done
Logical statement of conclusions and recommendations
7. Exegesis Paper. A major research paper based upon primary and secondary data written for a
class assignment in biblical studies, typically from 20 to 25 pages. The purpose of an exegetical
paper is to investigate the biblical text in its primary language (Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek) and
demonstrate an understanding of the text through analysis and discussion of the main segment/s
or the major theme/s in the text. For an example of an outline of an exegetical paper, see
Appendix A. Criteria for evaluation include
Accurate analysis of the text (ancient backgrounds and literature, literary
context and structure, biblical language, intertextuality, theology)
Coherence (construction of argument, reasoning, logical flow)
Creativity and originality (originality of thoughts, concepts, connections)
Expertise in secondary literature (interaction with secondary literature)
Relevance (implications relating to personal, life, church, community, etc.)
Style (clarity and style of writing, spelling, footnotes, bibliography)
8. Academic Journal Article. A publishable article addressing a narrow and cutting-edge topic.
An article usually is 20 to 30 pages in length. A journal article exhibits a very dense writing
style that compresses the information of a full research paper into a tight, readable format.
Introductory questions are summarized succinctly into an opening paragraph and an opening
abstract captures in a few lines the problem and the resolution of the journal article. The purpose
of the journal article is to present to the reader an original and innovative approach to a very
specific problem, based on primary sources/material.
Insightful analysis of the text (ancient backgrounds and literature, literary
context and structure, biblical language, intertextuality, theology)
Logical Coherence (construction of argument, reasoning, logical flow)
Creativity and originality (originality of thoughts, concepts, connections)
Fluid engagement with secondary literature
Relevance (implications relating to scholarship, etc.)
Refined Style (succinct and clear writing style, spelling, footnotes,
bibliography)

Culminating Phase Writing at AIIAS

Action (or Practical) Projects

Projects normally produce something ready to use that is useful to you and others. A
project might take the form of a book, a media development or a digital production, a curriculum,
a seminar, or a workshop. Some projects include data collection and analysis; others employ a
documentary or mixed approach. The results of the project should be significant to the existing
body of scholarly endeavors and should furnish knowledge in which professional scholars will be
interested. The practical project must reflect a high level of scholarship.
Each project consists of (a) a formal topic proposal; (b) the preparation and presentation of
materials (if such is included in the design) and an analysis of the results—unless the project is

4 | Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual

entirely of a historical, philosophical, or theoretical nature; and (c) the formal reporting of the
entire undertaking, including the conclusions and implications of the study. Projects that include
data collection may require additional controls, including approval by the ERB committee. Steps to
follow in the execution of a project vary due to the flexible nature of the project: consult your
research committee chair, and/or program director.
The project must be written in the AIIAS-approved format and style outlined in this
manual. When the content of the culminating project or research has been approved by the
committee, the format and style must also be approved by the institutional editor. The finished
report must be published in some form (traditional print or electronic media, with peer review).
There are differences between the project in which the product developed is presented
publicly, and the one that is only developed and not implemented. The first has a presentation and
an evaluation. In the second case, no time is spent in formal presentation, therefore, the product
(book, course outline) may be larger/more substantial. Done correctly, this type of reading,
analysis, synthesis, and the development of a seminar or series of lectures is actually a form of
research.
Program development. Program development often makes use of an action research
design. The purpose of action research is to improve the program or practice by the person
conducting the study. The following list of steps is for a program/curriculum/practice improvement
study that is implemented and evaluated:
Define the problem
Determine and describe the population
Set goals and objectives
Review the literature
Design the program
Prepare materials and resources
Implement the program
Evaluate the program
Write the paper
Materials preparation. A book/media production might have chapters as follows:
Chapter 1: Introduction. Why this material is needed and the method used to
prepare it
Chapter 2: Review of literature. Discuss similar programs and how materials were
used
Chapter 3: People for whom the material was prepared
Chapter 4: The book/media production. Ready to print and/or implement. Includes
instructions on how to use it
Chapter 5: Summary and Conclusions
DMin project. The culminating paper for DMin studies is typically approximately 125
pages long, excluding appendixes. It must apply theory and research to some area of church
ministry. A typical project explores the theory for and implementation of an “in-ministry” project
to benefit the church. Acceptable types of DMin projects include case studies, church growth
studies, church planting projects, program development, strategies for evangelism, youth or small
group activities, and theological issues in ministry. DMin projects may include fieldwork and/or
the use of questionnaires and statistics. Evaluation criteria include
Well-chosen problem, clearly stated in introduction
Clear purpose of study
Demonstration of knowledge of related literature
Creative application of theory to pastoral situation

Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual | 5

 Careful design and implementation of program
Precise reporting and evaluation of program
Control of personal bias
Clear conclusions, reflecting problem and purpose, and solutions
DMiss/DIS Applied Research Dissertation. The culminating paper for DMiss degree is
typically 150 pages long, excluding appendixes. The dissertation should address a missiological or
intercultural concern in the area of world religions (i.e., Buddhist, Chinese, Islam, Hinduism,
Animism), urban studies, or postmodernism and secularism. The DMiss/DIS applied research
dissertation advances a theoretical component, such as Biblical, missiological, or social science
research, and combines this with an empirical field study. The preferred research method is
qualitative, using ethnographic, case study, action research, phenomenology, and other relevant
designs. The dissertation should contribute to reaching to the unreached people groups,
enhancement of cross-cultural mission, or developing models of engaging with people in different
cultural and social contexts. Evaluation criteria include:
Well-chosen problem, clearly stated in introduction
Clear purpose of study
Demonstration of knowledge of related literature
Appropriate design/sampling methodology
Data analysis and theoretical discussion
Suggested strategy or model of mission
Control of personal bias
Clear conclusions, reflecting problem and purpose

Academic Theses/Dissertations
Research, in broad terms, is disciplined inquiry guided by a clear method. This method is
defined, understood, and taught by members of the discipline. Secondly, the method is detailed and
made transparent in their scholarly practice. Third, any production is vetted by knowledgeable
others in the discipline. Four, it is made publicly available. For the purpose of this manual, research
encompasses two aspects: the actual research (scholarship of discovery) and the presentation of the
research based on integration, logical progression, argumentation, and presentation. Thus, a
thesis/dissertation is not a compilation of research notes (discovery), but the presentation of a
logical and persuasive argument of an original reflection on the topic in question in dialogue with
scholarship.
A thesis/dissertation must reflect the student’s own and original work. A committee is
established to assist the student, but the major ideas, design, and analysis should come from the
student. The goal of the thesis/dissertation is to develop researchers capable of working
independently, not dependent on the ideas of a committee.
Thesis. A major paper containing original discovery, integration, application, implications
for the completion of a master’s degree. The length of an MA thesis is generally 100-150,
excluding appendixes. The thesis must be concerned with some problem or questions in the
student’s area of concentration. It should be a contribution to the existing body of research and
furnish knowledge in which the scholarly community is interested. The substantive content follows
the ideas outlined in the proposal and includes the results, conclusions, and recommendations
yielded by the study. The criteria for judging a thesis are
Well-chosen problem/purpose, clearly stated in introduction
Demonstration of knowledge of related literature
Appropriate design/methodology

6 | Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual

 Original thought that contributes to academic discussion
Concise summary of findings
Clear conclusions, reflecting research problem and purpose of the study
Dissertation. A major study, longer and more complex investigating more variables than a
thesis, usually 200-300 pages long. A dissertation consists of original research contributing new
knowledge/practice to the scholarly community. It seeks to answer a question, develop theory, or
advance a position and sustain it by argument, not just present a collection of other people’s
discoveries. The literature review must be comprehensive in scope and represent all types of
publications (articles, books, dissertations). A good dissertation consists of well-thought-out ideas
expressed in meticulously chosen words. Logical coherence and progression and succinctness are
essential components of a dissertation. Evaluation criteria include
Well-chosen problem/purpose, clearly stated in introduction
Significance of topic in contribution to the field/clear gap in scholarship
Demonstration of knowledge of related literature
Judicious use of scholarly sources
Control of personal bias
Knowledge of needed tools (foreign language, statistics, computer, etc.)
Logical sequence, unity of each section
Appropriate bridges between sections
Appropriate design/sampling methodology
Exploration of complex relationships/associations
Original thought that contributes to academic discussion/practice
Concise explanation and interpretation of findings
Clear conclusions, reflecting research problem and purpose of the study
Appropriate support for research questions

Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual | 7

 Chapter 2
Academic Writing Conventions

Scholarship has a long and proud heritage, and along the way it has acquired an incredible
number of conventions as to how one should or should not write. This chapter presents many of
these general standards for written work that apply to all academic papers.

Organization
Flow
The paper must follow a clear and logical outline. Topics should not recur in multiple
locations. The arrangement of topics, paragraphs, and sentences must contribute to a clear
understanding of the study.
Headings
Each section must display unity and coherence, and appropriate transitions should unite the
sections. Each section, as well as the paper as a whole, must contain appropriate introductory and
summary statements. A section divided into subheadings must have at least two subheadings.
Paragraphs
A paragraph is the basic unit of organization in a paper, consisting of sentences that support
the topic (usually the first) sentence. The first line is indented 0.5 inch, and paragraphs typically
contain five to eight sentences, but must have a minimum of three sentences.
Pointers
The introductory statement serves as a “road map” to the reader, showing the direction of the
research in the section introduced; the summary statements close the section, reminding the reader
of the most important findings. Conclusions are naturally derived from the evidence presented.

Writing Style
Clarity, Directness, and Simplicity of Expression
Eliminate jargons (e.g., SDA terms that only SDA Church members can understand or may
mean something else to others) and wordiness. Make the paper clearly understandable to the
reader/ evaluator. Be as direct as possible—state specifically what you mean, do not leave ideas
half-explained, and do not waste words.
Avoidance of Power Words and Figurative Language
Power words attempt to convince by force rather than reason. Words like wonderful, evil,
solution, or exciting push your reader to accept your argument based on passion rather than
evidence. Research seeks to understand, not so much to convince. Figurative language should also
be avoided; use literal academic language instead. Restraint is appropriate.
Correct Grammar
Correct grammar includes correct grammatical constructions. These include proper verb
tenses, use of pronouns, and use of singular and plural, among many others. Other aspects of
grammar must be considered: all items in a list must be parallel in form and, if they have verbs,
these must be in the same tense; contractions must not be used at all; as much as possible, the
passive voice should be avoided. Students whose mother tongue is not English may need to obtain
editorial help.

8 | Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual

Inclusive Language
Avoid discriminatory language that indicates prejudice against persons on the basis of
gender, sexual orientation, racial or ethnic group, disability, or age. Statements like the woman
judge, the black flight attendant, or the chairman are better rendered as the judge, the flight
attendant, or the chair/chairperson. Also, do not use he as if it were a neutral pronoun. Alternate
genders (he/she or he or she; either but be consistent) or use plural pronouns. APA users may opt
for the singular they (and variants), a generic third-person singular pronoun (e.g., Each participant
signed their informed consent form).
Avoidance of Bias
Bias consists of drawing conclusions without proper evidence. It can be manifested in many
ways in research: by failure to select the sample carefully, failure to seek opposing opinions on a
topic, privileged treatment of certain sources, or by conclusions not warranted by the data. All
forms of bias should be minimized in research and writing, or when unavoidable, declared openly.
Linking Words
Be careful not to overuse linking words. Therefore, however, for example, might be very
important to connect some ideas, but the use of these words can be overdone. The sentence may
actually be more effective without the artificial connector. It is rarely a good idea to begin a
sentence or a paragraph with terms such as these.
Referring to Yourself
Do not use the editorial we (and variants; e.g., We did not carry out the research or make any
conclusions). You may assume, however, that your reader is following along with you (e.g., “We
now turn to” or “Let us now look at”). Writing in the third person (i.e., using “this writer,” “this
researcher”) gives the impression that you did not take part in the research, or that you are
distancing yourself from what you have done. Either use the first person (e.g., “I instructed the
students” or “my calculations showed . . .”) or recast the sentence (“Students were instructed”).
Writing “the researcher” or “this researcher” is generally no longer appropriate; however, some
professors may still prefer this. Check with your research committee chair and, in any case,
minimize references to yourself and keep the emphasis on the research.

Appropriate Verb Tenses for Research

1. Active Verbs: Use the active rather than passive voice as much as possible: “Johnson (2004)
conducted a study” (active voice) is much more preferred over “A study was conducted by
Johnson (2004)” (passive voice).
2. Maintaining Tense: Generally, one should maintain the tense unless there is a good reason
to change it. Choose a tense and stick with it for at least an entire paragraph. Do not alternate
between past and present unless there is a specific reason to do so. Exceptions to this rule are
common, but they are exceptions.
3. Reporting Results: Research results of a specific study (including yours) are reported in the
past: e.g., “Jones determined that . . .” “Table 5 shows that most people liked oranges.” The
discussion that interprets data presented, extending the results beyond the sample and
identifying principles, however, is usually in the present tense: e.g., “Jones (1963) found that
children do not like interacting with hostile parents.”
4. Reporting Ideas: Ideas are often considered living or timeless, and therefore are referred to
in the present tense: e.g., “Collins suggests that . . .” For that reason, present tense is often
used when discussing ideas or generally accepted facts in the literature review. This is not
always the case, however. Sometimes the idea has been replaced by something else, or the
researcher has at some point changed opinions. If you discuss an idea that is dated, there is a

Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual | 9

 need to use past tense: e.g., “In 1885 Baker concluded that . . .” Present, present perfect, or
past tense are all possible for discussing ideas, depending on situation, and the sense that the
writer wishes to convey.
5. Keeping the Historical Perspective: When you are writing, keep in mind your reader who
will be reading your work in the future. For example, if you write “Today’s educators
promote . . . ,” consider how your statement may be understood in the year 2050. It is better
to clarify such a statement with “Educators in 2009 promote . . .” or use a more specific time
reference.
Consider carefully the historical perspective of your subject, especially in the literature
review. Comparisons, agreements, or disagreements should be thought out very carefully.
For example, it would be misleading to say that Brown, who died in 1920, disagreed with
Smith, who wrote in 1965. It would be permissible, however, for Smith, in 1965, to express
an opinion that disagrees with what Brown wrote in 1915. Also, because of the disparity of
the dates, Brown and Smith can hardly concur with one another. It would be possible for
Smith to concur with Brown’s opinion, however.
Another historical problem that confuses many non-Adventist readers is the dating of the
writings of Ellen G. White. There may be a recent publication date which will be used in the
bibliography or reference list; however, the original date of writing may be important to a
historical setting or treatment. These original dates and names of publications are available
through the Ellen G. White Center and can be used beside the version cited (e.g., White,
1915/1997) or placed in the explanation in the footnote.

Electronic Sources
Until recently, electronic sources have been considered less academic or less trustworthy
than other sources. Today this is less true than before. Yet, not all Internet sources are of equal
standing. Wikipedia may be a good starting point for information on a topic, but it should not be
used as an academic source. Some peer-reviewed journals exist in print and online. Cite them as
you would the print edition. Other equally valuable journals are only online. They must be
documented as online materials. In using electronic databases be aware that copyright years often
represent dates when software publishers acquired rights to historic resources, not the actual
publication years of the authors themselves. At times print editions during the lifetime of the author
will more accurately reflect the historical setting of the work and might be preferable to license
purchase dates.
The documentation of online material must be done with the same (or greater) care as that of
printed material. For information on referencing electronic sources, see the appropriate chapter
(SBL or APA) in this document or the appropriate style manual.

Finding Quality Sources

When many sources are available, such as on the Internet, it is important for the writer to
know how to judge which sources are more valuable than others and how to find and select higher-
quality works. While it is not always easy to separate the wheat from the chaff, here are some
general guidelines:
1. Choose more recent over older sources unless you are doing a historical study of early
sources.
2. Choose refereed sources over those which are personally produced.
3. Prefer primary studies to secondary ones.
4. Choose recent journals over books (especially textbooks); they are newer and contain
primary data.

10 | Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual

 5. Choose sources that cite others rather than those without any references or footnotes.
6. Prefer academic, exploratory writing to hard-sell sources trying to convince you of
something or sell you something.
7. Look for data included in text that support the conclusions drawn.
8. Consider the author’s credentials; choose a professor rather than a student.
9. Prefer academic sources over popular ones; choose a journal article over Time or
Newsweek.

Crediting Sources
Introducing Quotations
The space before a quotation is prime territory and is often wasted or misused by beginning
writers. Beginning a quote by saying “Hudson says that . . .” does not add any information. The
quotation marks and the reference already communicate this. Use this space to say something
important that gives more information. “Comparing students from wealthy communities to those
from poor neighborhoods, Hudson concludes that . . .” The example above gives more information
about the source—in this case, that the conclusion is based on a comparison of two groups of
people. Words such as says, comments, mentions, and writes do not really say much about the
relationship of the quoted material to the ideas you are discussing. When you quote, be sure to add
some value to what is already there. Be sure that you understand what the writer truly intended. Do
not say an author argues if he merely suggests. Do not say she emphasizes if the quotation was
simply one of her many points. Be sure to rightly represent what the author meant. For that reason,
suggest is often a favored term, as it is more tentative about your interpretation.
Discussing Quotations
Never let another author get in the last word (or the only word) about a topic. You are the
author. Tell us what you saw in this quotation (rightly representing the author’s meaning or
intention). Quoting is not an exercise in cutting and pasting. Discuss the quotation, compare and
contrast it with other sources. At all times, make clear to your reader who is speaking. If you do not
give a reference, it is presumed that you are making the statement. If the idea comes from
somewhere else, be quick to give credit. Do not quote more than necessary; trim the quote to the
part that really applies to your study (use ellipsis marks if you leave out information from the
middle of the quote).
Dealing With Secondary Sources
Sometimes, as you read one source, you find that the author quotes another source which you
find interesting. This is a good way of finding additional material. It is not, however, appropriate
for you to quote this already-quoted material as though you had read the original source. You read
only one line or one paragraph of this work—it is not fair for you to judge the entire work based on
such a small sample. Nor is it fair for you to put this source in your reference list, as if you had
actually held it in your hands. If you can find the original text and read it, you may cite it as a
primary source. If you cannot find the primary source, however, you must cite it as a secondary
source, stating that you found Peterson’s quotation in Gibson’s book that you actually read. In this
case, your reference will give the author of the quotation, as well as the article or book where you
found it. Check the SBL or APA chapter for examples of how to cite secondary sources. Make sure
to distinguish between what Peterson wrote and what Gibson wrote. Doing otherwise is deceptive
and is a serious fault in research. Using too many secondary sources is also frowned upon. Finding
the original sources shows you have done your research carefully.

Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual | 11

Citing Abstracts
If you find an abstract but cannot access the complete article, you must cite it in your
bibliography or reference list as an abstract, not as if you actually read the article. To do otherwise
is considered deceptive and unethical. If the entire piece is important to your work, do your best to
find it. If that is not possible, or the piece is not central, cite the abstract properly, showing that you
only read the abstract. Using abstracts is good to get acquainted with a field, but it does not give you
enough depth if you wish to examine the study in your review of literature.

Avoiding Plagiarism
Plagiarism is a serious research fault. In many educational institutions, plagiarism is cause for
giving a failing grade in a class or even expulsion from a program. Plagiarism is an elegant name for
using someone else’s words or ideas as one’s own. It is equivalent to intellectual thievery. For those
who espouse a biblical point of view, plagiarism is condemned by the eighth commandment: “You
shall not steal” (Exod 20:15, ESV).
At AIIAS, plagiarism has been considered sufficiently important for the faculty to take a
public stand against it. The following document was voted as part of AIIAS academic policy many
years ago, and was updated for this publication. Also note the plagiarism form (see Chapter 10) that
must be attached to new submissions to the editor.
The software Turnitin ought to be used at least once prior to submitting your proposal and the
final copy of your document. Turnitin is a helpful tool that can detect and indicate similarities to
other texts. The library staff can assist you in learning how this software can assist your writing.
Keep in mind, however, that Turnitin compares your document with electronic resources only to
detect plagiarism. It will not detect and point out all plagiarized (intentional or unintentional) texts
in your document.
AIIAS Plagiarism Definition
Research and writing are important aspects of scholarship at AIIAS. At the graduate level,
research is not merely the collection of prior studies, but implies the creation of new
knowledge. The research process entails the assimilation and evaluation of the results of prior
research, as well as the extension of the information to include some new dimension. Students
are responsible for giving proper credit whenever they are indebted to another author for
either words or ideas. Failure to give such credit is a breach of academic integrity known as
plagiarism. Plagiarism is not only unethical, it is also a violation of copyright law in most
countries. For more information about copyright rules (see http://library.aiias.edu/about-
us/copyright).
Plagiarism takes various forms:
1. Having someone write or editorially rewrite a paper, even if the student provides some
of the key references.
2. Taking words from a written source exactly as they were found (a direct quotation)
without enclosing them in quotation marks or giving credit to the original author in a
footnote or in-text reference.
3. Creating a paraphrase in which the student expresses the author’s ideas in his or her
own words without giving proper credit.
4. Taking words from a written source, and changing one or two words to claim that it is
a paraphrase rather than a direct quotation, thus making it appear that the words and
ideas were the student’s own. This is plagiarism even if a reference is given.
Leading the reader to believe that words and ideas written are one’s own when they are not
is against the principles of good scholarship, and is not permitted at AIIAS. All words and

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ideas borrowed from a written source must be given credit in a footnote or in-text reference,
depending on the style approved by the school for which the student is writing. Quoted words
must be reproduced exactly as found and enclosed in quotation marks. In order to qualify as a
paraphrase, the ideas of the original author must be accurately preserved, but using different
words and expressions, not dependent on the sentence structure and vocabulary of the original
author. Changing a few words in a sentence or paragraph is not sufficient to constitute a
paraphrase. For those whose facility with the English language is limited, it is generally safer
to quote exactly and enclose in quotation marks.
A research paper, however, should not be a string of quotations joined back-to-back. It is
the student’s responsibility to make the main flow of the text consist of his or her own
expressions. Unless the professor announces differently, not more than one-third of the paper
should be made up of other people’s words. Students should be sufficiently familiar with the
topic, after doing the requisite reading and research, to summarize the main points of the
paper in their own words, reserving quotations for support and authority to back up assertions
made. Thus the student will demonstrate individual learning and independent thought, which
are marks of graduate scholarship. (Voted by AIIAS Faculty, February 2010)

Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual | 13

 Chapter 3
The Mechanics of Academic Writing
Mechanics has to do with all the little rules of writing, such as punctuation, spelling,
capitalization, fonts, spacing, abbreviations, numbers, and such. The rules in this chapter will be
especially useful for those writing a thesis, project, or dissertation, but most also apply to research
papers for coursework. Many specific format rules are revisited in Chapter 8 under AIIAS
Standards.

Spell-Checker and Grammar-Checker

Computers provide tools for correcting typing and grammar errors, as well as levels of
formality. Watch the green lines under words or phrases given by the grammar checker and the red
lines under words given by the spell checker. Clear these up before you hand in your paper (make
sure your dictionary is set to American English as prescribed by both APA and SBL). There are
many optional settings for the grammar checker: in Microsoft Word, go to Review/Spelling and
Grammar/Options. Check the things you want the computer to do (check them all if you wish).
The grammar checker can be wrong, but it tends to be right more often than the language learner,
so do not ignore it.

Format
Page Layout
Margins. For theses, projects, and dissertations, the left-hand margin must be 1.5 inches. All
other margins must be 1.0 inch (the page number can be slightly below this—see page numbers,
below). For term papers, margins are 1.0 inch on all sides.
Justification. Use a left justified, ragged right margin rather than a justified margin.
Font. A proportional, serif font is required for research like Times New Roman. Proportional
means that a narrow letter like l takes up less space on a line than a wider letter, like m. Serif means
that the letters have little lines added, like at the base and the top of the N or the bottom of the p.
While not helpful for projection, these lines make printed text easier to read. Use SBL Hebrew font
for all Hebrew text, and SBL Greek font for all Greek text. The fonts can be downloaded from
here: https://www.sbl-site.org/educational/biblicalfonts.aspx
Page numbers. All pages are numbered at the bottom center of the page, approximately 0.9
inch from the bottom edge of the paper. Placement of numbers must be consistent. Pages that have
landscape material have the page number in the same position and direction as all other pages.
Pages in the appendix that already carry numbers, such as tests or instruments, are also numbered
in accordance with the paging of your paper, but this number is placed just inside the margin in the
bottom right-hand corner, within square brackets.
Line spacing. Research text is double spaced, and indented five spaces (0.5 inch) at the
beginning of each paragraph, with no additional space between paragraphs. Numbered lists and
tables can be single spaced if it improves readability. Further details relating to spacing are found
in Chapter 8. There should be no unnecessary empty space at the bottom of a page.
Block quotations. A block quotation is a direct quote of five or more lines (SBL) or 40 or
more words (APA). Block quotations are single spaced (SBL) or double spaced (APA). Block
quotations are indented 0.5 inch from the left, the same as the first lines of paragraphs. Indent the
first line 0.5 inch further if more than one paragraph is quoted. No blank line is added before or
after (or between paragraphs of) a block quotation. Block quotations do not carry quotation marks
before and after the quotation so materials quoted in the original are enclosed in double quotation

14 | Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual

marks. If the quotation is in the middle of a paragraph, do not indent the first line of the text
following the block quotation.

Line and Page Breaks

Headings. A heading should not be longer than half the page width (or 3 inches). If it cannot
be trimmed, the heading should be divided at a logical grammatical point into two or more lines of
similar proportions. An inverted pyramid shape should be attained.
Word division. In general, words at the ends of lines should be divided only when absolutely
necessary, and then according to syllabication as shown in the dictionary.
Widows/orphans. The first or last line of a paragraph should not appear alone at the bottom
or top of a page (widow/orphan). A subheading at the bottom of a page must have at least two lines
of text below it; otherwise, the subheading should begin at the top of the next page. You may allow
more than 1.0 inch at the bottom of a page in order to avoid “widow” and “orphan” lines.

Lists/enumerations
Parallel construction. Use parallel grammatical construction for items in a list.
Punctuation. In an enumeration within a sentence, use a comma to separate items unless
items in the list contain commas; in that case, use semicolons. An identifying element (letter or
number) should always be on the same line as the item.
Bullets. Numbers are preferably used for vertical lists
Numbering format. For enumerated items in separate paragraphs or vertical list, see pp. 76–
77 of this manual.

Referencing
Every quotation, idea, or information taken from another source must have a reference to
show its origin. In APA this is done using an in-text reference; SBL uses footnotes.

Bibliography vs. Reference List

It is important to ensure that all cited works be included in the bibliography or reference
list at the end of the paper. SBL users may add sources used which were not cited specifically. For
specific instructions on SBL and APA styles, see Chapters 6 and 7.

Quoting and Referencing

Copy direct quotes carefully and accurately:
1. Direct quotations from another author’s work should be reproduced word for word,
including internal punctuation of the original source.
2. Enclose quoted material in double quotation marks (except in a block quotation).
3. Always check direct quotations against the original to ensure that there are no
discrepancies.
4. If something is wrong in the original, copy it faithfully, and put [sic] after it to
show that you found it like that in the original document.
5. If you add emphasis (italics) to the original, add [emphasis added] after the
italicized word/s (APA style) or after the source of the direct quote in the footnote
(SBL style). If it is already there, say [emphasis in original].
6. Use square brackets to enclose materials inserted in a quotation by some person

Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual | 15

 other than the original writer: e.g., Jones (2003) reported that “malnutrition is one
of the [most] prevalent problems in the area” (p. 8).
Referencing. Every time more than three words from another source are used in your
paper, they must be enclosed in quotation marks and a reference given, including page or paragraph
number. If the source is from another person’s work and you cannot find the original, cite it as a
secondary source.
Capitalization. The first letter of the first word of a quotation may be upper or lower case.
If you weave the quotation into the syntax of your sentence, begin it with a lowercase letter even if
the original began with a capital letter (no need to mark this change). If the quotation is set off
syntactically by a comma, period, or colon, and is a complete sentence, begin it with a capital letter
even if the original is lowercase.
White (1962) admonishes preachers to “dare not to preach another discourse until you
know by your own experience, what Christ is to you” (p. 155).
These postulates are encapsulated in the twin queries on the incarnation: “Was it
incarnation for the purpose of suffering unto death; or was it incarnation for redemption,
symbolized in Christ’s death and resurrection?”1

Mechanics
Punctuation
Period. Use a period at the end of a complete sentence. Use it to separate parts of a
bibliographic entry and after all but the most common abbreviations.
Comma. Use commas between elements (including before words such as and and or) in a
series of three or more items. Do not use commas for seriation within a paragraph or sentence if
there are commas within the items; rather, use semicolons: e.g., The respondents were (a) mothers,
20–30 years old; (b) 3rd-grade students; and (c) teachers with 5 years teaching experience.
Colon. Use the colon after a clause to introduce a series of items only if the clause is a
grammatically complete sentence: e.g., The following are ways to treat insomnia: (a) think about
short-term HRT, (b) consider an alternative, (c) wick away the problem, and (d) chill out. Do not
use a colon after an introductory phrase that is not a complete sentence, or after a verb to introduce
a series of items: e.g., The respondents were (a) mothers, (b) 3rd-grade students, and (c) teachers
with 5 years teaching experience. Also, use a colon in references between place of publication and
publisher: e.g., Garden City, NY: Doubleday; New York, NY: Free Press.
Parentheses. Use parentheses (not square brackets) if you wish to explain something that
does not fit with the grammar of your sentence. If it is a complex explanation, put it in a footnote.
Parenthetical material within parentheses is placed in square brackets. Do not use parentheses back
to back; rather, use a semicolon to separate the statements and enclose them in a single set of
parentheses: e.g., (38.2%; Covey, 1987).
Hyphen (-). Hyphenate a compound with a participle when it is before the word it modifies
(e.g., the t-test results, decision-making policies, up-to-date technology, middle-class houses, 4th-
year students). None of these are hyphenated if they occur after the noun (e.g., the results from the
t test, policies about decision making, the technology was up to date, students in the 4th year). Do
not use a hyphen if a compound adjective cannot be misread or its meaning is established (e.g.,
grade point average). Self-compounds are always hyphenated regardless of whether they are used
as an adjective or a noun (e.g., self-explanatory, self-study, self-confidence). To verify whether a
term is hyphenated or not, see the latest edition of Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary or
Merriam-Webster.com (https://www.merriam-webster.com)

16 | Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual

 Em Dash (—). An em dash usually shows an interruption of the flow of thought (e.g.,
Beethoven’s music—unlike that of Mozart—uses emphatic rhymes); when used in pairs, dashes
may replace commas. If you are typing in Word, the em dash will appear automatically if you type
two hyphens simultaneously (without pressing the space bar), then continue typing.
En Dash (–). An en dash signifies up to and through and is used to connect continuing
numbers (less often words) such as dates, times, and pages (pp. 33–44, 1989–2019). However, if
the word from precedes the first number in the range, to should be used instead of en dash (e.g.,
from 1989 to 2019 not from 1989–2019). In Word, you may press option + hyphen on a Mac
computer to generate an en dash or insert the en dash from the special characters section of the
symbols tab on a Windows computer.
Ellipsis points. Three dots indicate omitted words in direct quotations within a sentence. For
omitted words between sentences or paragraphs, use four dots; the first serves as the period for the
first sentence (so it has no space before it): e.g., “Heaven would be to him a place of torture. . . .
The glory of God . . . [is] a consuming fire.” Do not use ellipses at the beginning or end of a
quotation, only when text is removed from the middle. SBL uses the precomposed or non-spaced
ellipses characters (…). APA accepts both non-spaced (…) and spaced (. . .) ellipses characters, but
only one style is acceptable in one document.
Apostrophe and Quotation Marks. Apostrophes and quotation marks should be curly (’)
not straight (‘). Be careful in copying texts from the web and pasting them in your document
because the font style can be different from the one you are using.
Single quotation marks. Use single quotation marks to enclose text that was enclosed in
double quotation marks in someone else’s work (or in a title of a study, an article, or a chapter).
However, within block quotes, double quotations marks are used instead of single quotation marks.
This is a secondary source (you did not read the original quote), and should be used sparingly. The
source of the material in single quotation marks should not be put in your reference list, unless you
had access to the original source and can verify it. In some fields, a specific word may be set off in
single quotation marks, but this is not common.
Double quotation marks. Use double quotation marks to show every place someone else’s
words are quoted directly.
1. In the text of a paper, use quotation marks to set off the title of a study, an article, or a
chapter. Use italics for book and periodical titles. Follow specific style rules for reference
list or bibliography.
2. Use quotation marks to introduce a word or phrase used as an ironic comment (first time
only; e.g., the “home-schooled” children).
3. Use quotation marks to mark material from a survey item or verbatim instructions to
participants (e.g., The item “parents influenced my decision to take up nursing” ranked least
among the factors.)
4. Do not use double quotation marks to cite a letter, word, or phrase as a linguistic example,
or to introduce a key or technical term; instead, italicize them (see Italics section below).
5. Do not use double quotation marks to show possible disagreement with a statement: do not
use any punctuation with such expressions (e.g., the teacher rewarded the class; not, the
teacher “rewarded” the class).
6. Do not use double quotation marks to identify anchors of a scale; instead, italicize them.
Ex.: Answers were ranged from 1 (strongly agree) to 5 (strongly disagree).
7. Commas and periods are always placed inside quotation marks; place other punctuation
marks inside quotation marks only if they are part of the quoted material.

Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual | 17

Possessives
The possessive of nouns are formed by the addition of an apostrophe and an s (‘s). This
rule also applies to nouns ending in sibilants and silent s, x, and z. For compound possessive
phrases, the possessive is added to the final element only (e.g., John and James’s father). However,
if units function independently, the possessive must be added to each one (e.g., John the Baptist’s
and Jesus’s disciples).

Spacing After Punctuation

General spacing. Use only one space between words, after commas, colons, and semicolons.
There is no space before or after a colon in the expression of ratios.
Periods. Current usage puts only one space after a period (full stop). Abbreviations do not
have any space after internal periods (e.g., a.m., etc., U.S.A.). Only one space after periods that
separate parts of a reference citation and after periods in name initials.
Do not use a period after a statistical or metric symbol.
Hyphen. No space is used before or after the hyphen in hyphenated compound words.
Dash. No space is used before or after a dash (em dash/en dash).
Negative value (-). Use a hyphen with a space before but not after it (e.g., the total is -2.31).
Equals (=). Use a space before and after the equal sign: e.g., SD = 1.27.

Italics
Emphasis/clarity. In general, italics, particularly for emphasis, should be used sparingly.
Italicize a new, technical, or key term or label (do not italicize the term in subsequent use); a
letter, word, or phrase used as a linguistic example (e.g., the word leverage here is used to mean . .
.); and words that could be misread.
Titles. Italicize titles of books and names and volume numbers of periodicals in reference or
bibliography lists. Also, italicize titles of books and periodicals mentioned in body text.
Statistical symbols. Italicize all letters used as statistical symbols/abbreviations or algebraic
variables, whether in body text or in tables: e.g., p < .001; (M = 1.37, SD = 2.15). Always italicize
the letter “t” in t test and “p” in p-value.
Scales and scores. Italicize test scores and anchors of a scale: e.g., MMPI scales: Hs, Pd;
answers ranged from 1 (strongly agree) to 5 (strongly disagree).
Foreign words. Italicize foreign (non-English) words and phrases, unless they have passed
into common English usage (e.g., per se, vice versa; check with Merriam-Webster’s).
Transliterated foreign terms are also italicized.

Bold
Bold font is acceptable for certain headings in both APA and SBL. It is not indicated for any
further use within the text of a research paper.

Capitalization
Capitalize proper nouns and certain theological terms. For the rules and a comprehensive list
of examples, see SBLHS2 §4.3.6. These rules and examples apply to both SBL and APA.
Titles. Use title case for heading levels 1 and 2, table titles, subheading entries in table of
contents, and title entries in list of tables and figures. Use full caps for chapter/section headings.
Title case. For APA, title case means capitalizing all nouns; pronouns; verbs; adjectives;
adverbs; other words of four letters or more (including prepositions); both words in hyphenated

18 | Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual

terms; and words after colon, semicolon, and dash. Prepositions of less than four words, articles,
and conjunctions are not capitalized. For SBL, title case means all words are capitalized except
articles, coordinating conjunctions, and prepositions. The first and the last words in the title and the
subtitle are always capitalized in the footnotes and bibliography regardless of their part of speech.
References to literature. In body text, capitalize references to titles of sections within the
same paper (e.g., see Chapter 4, Table 12, or Research Question 4) or references to titles of books,
periodicals, among others. Do not capitalize nouns that indicate common parts of books followed
by numbers or letters and nouns that precede a variable: e.g., column 4, page 39 of this thesis; trial
n or item b.
Academic references. Capitalize names of university departments if they refer to a specific
department within a specific university and academic courses if they refer to a specific course: e.g.,
Biblical Studies Department, Adventist International Institute of Advanced Studies, or Biblical
Foundations of Leadership and Ethics; but do not capitalize generic titles: any department wishing
to participate, expositions and exegesis courses, any history course, and people in position
(president, dean, chair, etc.).
Tests. Capitalize exact, complete titles of tests: e.g., Kolmogorov-Smirnov Test; the words
test or scale are not capitalized if they refer to subscales of tests: e.g., Minnesota Multiphasic
Personality Inventory Depression scale.
Reference list/bibliography. For APA style, use sentence case in reference lists: capitalize
the first word of titles of books and articles; proper nouns; words that are normally capitalized in
the body text; and the first word after a colon, semicolon, or dash. For SBL style, use title case for
these same items. In both APA and SBL, titles of periodicals are in title case.
Tables/figures. Use sentence case for figure titles and headings or text within tables and
figures (also for heading levels 3, 4, and 5). Use title case for table titles.

Foreign Language in Text

A direct quotation in a modern foreign language is treated differently under different
circumstances, depending on the complexity of the material. For example, in a class research paper
at the master’s level, the quotation is translated into English and the original is placed in a footnote
(in APA style, it may be placed in parentheses). In a dissertation heavily dependent on foreign
languages (notably French and German), it may be left in its original form, without translation. It is
understood that scholars reading this complex material understand those languages.
Biblical languages are written in their own alphabets using the SBL font. Other ancient Near
Eastern languages are transliterated according to agreed-upon schemes (see SBL Handbook of Style
for details). The method chosen must be consistent throughout the text. For biblical languages, an
English translation may be provided following the foreign script; enclose the translation either in
parentheses or quotation marks, but only one style must be used consistently in the paper: e.g., ‫ְול ֹא־‬
,‫“ ֹֽבושׁוּ‬not to be shamed” or ‫“( ּ ְול ֹא־ֹֽבושׁו‬not to be shamed”) or “not be shamed (‫) ְול ֹא־ֹֽבושׁוּ‬. Make
specific arrangements with your research committee chair. If a word or phrase is repeated many
times within a few pages, only its first mention needs translation. Biblical language phrases or
words in the title of a thesis or dissertation must use transliteration.

Numbers
Words. For APA, numbers one to nine should be written in words and for SBL, numbers
zero through one hundred and their round multiples. Numbers higher than these should be written
as numerals/figures. For APA, also use words for estimates of time (about four months ago),
common fractions (one fourth), and any number that begins a sentence, title, or heading.

Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual | 19

 Figures. For APA, use figures for exact numbers for time (3:45) and measurements of time
(4 days), dates (June 20), ages (3-year-olds), weights or measures (9.5 kilos, 2 in), mathematical/
statistical functions (divided by 5, 4 times as many), and items in a numbered series (Level 3,
Grade 6). For SBL, use figures for numbers that precede units of measure written in symbol or are
abbreviated. Also, use numerals in the abstract of a paper, in tables, and in parentheses. For
decades or other plurals, the correct form does not require an apostrophe (1980s, 10s, fifteens,
sixes).

Statistics and Metrication

Statistics can be presented in text, in tables, and in figures. A general rule is that if you have
three or fewer numbers, use a sentence; if you have from 4 to 20 numbers, use a table; and if you
have more than 20 numbers, consider using a graph or figure rather than a table.
1. Do not give a reference or a formula for statistics in common use.
2. In tables and parenthetical elements, use a capital, italicized N to specify the number of
members in a total sample; use lowercase, italicized n to specify the number of members in
a limited portion of the total sample. Do not use the statistical symbol of the term in the
text; use the spelled-out form.
3. Use lowercase Greek letters (not italicized) to represent population statistics; use italicized
Latin to express sample statistics.
4. Use the percent symbol (%) only when preceded by a number (APA) or in tables. For SBL,
write out the word unless it is in a table or in parentheses.

Abbreviations/acronyms
Acronyms should be used sparingly. Do not switch between an abbreviation and the spelled-
out form. (For rules regarding the list of abbreviations in a thesis/dissertation, see p. 74.)
Introducing an abbreviation. Explain the term on its first appearance, with the acronym/
abbreviation in parentheses: e.g, Seventh-day Adventist (SDA). Do not introduce an abbreviation if
it will not be used at least three times. Add the abbreviation to the list at the beginning of the paper.
An exception to this rule would be biblical books, which should follow the list in Table 3, and
statistical symbols.
Plural forms. To form the plural of an abbreviation, add s without an apostrophe (SDs,
vols.).
Latin abbreviations. The abbreviations etc., e.g., i.e., viz., and vs. may be used inside
parenthetical information or in footnotes or in tables/figures, but not in the text. Ibid. is not used at
all in APA style and not anymore in SBL style. Et al. is acceptable for use in parentheses or in text.
Note that e.g., i.e., and viz. are followed by a comma, and et al. is followed by a period.
Restrictions. Never begin a sentence with a lowercase abbreviation, statistical symbol, or a
numeral. Never use abbreviations in headings/main titles or as entries in a bibliography/reference
list. Never abbreviate the term “United States” when it is used as a noun.
Abbreviations without punctuation. State names, books of the Bible, statistical symbols,
academic degrees (MA, PhD), and all caps abbreviations (AD, BCE) do not require punctuation
after them. Titles (Mr., Dr., etc.) do, and most other abbreviations do, as well.
Abbreviating state names. Use the two-letter postal abbreviations (no periods) for U.S. state
names and Canadian provinces in reference/bibliography entries (for a complete list of the correct
abbreviations, see Tables 1 and 2). If the state name or province is part of the text, write the whole
word.

20 | Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual

 Some Useful Abbreviations
Abbreviations for US States and Canadian Provinces
In footnotes and reference lists/bibliographies, the names of the states in the United States
and provinces in Canada (SBL only) are always abbreviated. Table 1 contains the two-letter
abbreviations for each US state and Table 2 for each Canadian province.

Table 1
United States Two-Letter State Abbreviations

Location Abbreviation Location Abbreviation Location Abbreviation

Alabama AL Kansas KS Ohio OH
Alaska AK Kentucky KY Oklahoma OK
American Samoa AS Louisiana LA Oregon OR
Arizona AZ Maine ME Pennsylvania PA
Arkansas AR Maryland MD Puerto Rico PR
California CA Massachusetts MA Rhode Island RI
Canal Zone CZ Michigan MI South Carolina SC
Colorado CO Minnesota MN South Dakota SD
Connecticut CT Mississippi MS Tennessee TN
Delaware DE Missouri MO Texas TX
District of Columbia DC Montana MT Utah UT
Florida FL Nebraska NE Vermont VT
Georgia GA Nevada NV Virginia VA
Guam GU New Hampshire NH Virgin Islands VI
Hawaii HI New Jersey NJ Washington WA
Idaho ID New Mexico NM West Virginia WV
Illinois IL New York NY Wisconsin WI
Indiana IN North Carolina NC Wyoming WY
Iowa IA North Dakota ND

Table 2
Canadian Provinces Two-Letter Abbreviations

Location Abbreviation Location Abbreviation

Alberta AB Nova Scotia NS
British Columbia BC Ontario ON
Manitoba MB Prince Edward Island PE
New Brunswick NB Quebec QC
Newfoundland and Labrador NL Saskatchewan SK

Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual | 21

Biblical Book Abbreviations
The Seminary should use the biblical book abbreviations found in Table 3. They are written
without periods. Abbreviations are used when specific chapter or chapter-and-verse references are
given, not when the Bible book name alone is used. Do not use these abbreviations to begin a
sentence, or within a title. When citing several Bible books or Bible references in the text, arrange
them in canonical order. Also, a list of Bible references should be separated by commas if they are
parallel (Gen 1:1, Exod 2:2–3, Dan 8:3) and by semicolons if they are unparallel (Pss 1:1, 90:9,
119:8; Jas 1:5, 7; Rev 14).

Table 3
Biblical Book Abbreviations

Gen 1 Kgs Eccl Obad Matt Phil 1 Pet

Exod 2 Kgs Song Jonah Mark Col 2 Pet
Lev 1 Chr Isa Mic Luke 1 Thess 1 John
Num 2 Chr Jer Nah John 2 Thess 2 John
Deut Ezra Lam Hab Acts 1 Tim 3 John
Josh Neh Ezek Zeph Rom 2 Tim Jude
Judg Esth Dan Hag 1 Cor Titus Rev
Ruth Job Hos Zech 2 Cor Phlm
1 Sam Ps (Pss) Joel Mal Gal Heb
2 Sam Prov Amos Eph Jas

22 | Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual

 Chapter 4
Research Roles and Responsibilities
This chapter deals with policies and procedures regarding the formation of research committees
and the roles of each member of the team.

Research Committee Formation

The following policies govern the formation of research committees.
1. The thesis/project/dissertation committee chair will normally be an AIIAS faculty member
and a member of the department/program in which the student is studying.
Recommendations which do not follow this norm need the approval of the dean.
2. Research committee chairs need an academic preparation and qualification that is suitable
for the research to be performed (this qualification includes having a doctoral degree if one
is to chair a doctoral dissertation, and having been a member of at least two research
committees before chairing one).
3. The committee composition may include members from another department (or from off
campus), but at least two members of the committee must be members of the
department/program in which the student is studying. Students desiring to include an
external member/research committee chair need to realize that this may have financial
implications involving travel expenses that they are responsible to pay for.
4. A thesis/project/dissertation committee of three should not include more than one person
from the same family. If this is unavoidable, a fourth committee member should be added.

Research Roles and Responsibilities

As a student develops a project, thesis, or dissertation, several individuals cooperate. Primary
to the endeavor, of course, is the student, who should not try to work entirely alone. The roles of
those who work with student research are delineated in this chapter. For a chronological guide to
student research responsibilities, see Appendix B.

Student
Even though a student has a committee to help with their research, the work is essentially the
student’s responsibility, not that of the research committee chair, methodologist, or editor. The
student needs to take ownership and responsibility for the ideas, statistical design and analyses,
grammar/editing, and scheduling of the thesis/project/dissertation. Student responsibilities include
the following:
1. Select a suitable topic. The best topic can be found at the intersection of the research
committee chair’s research interests, the student’s interest, emerging trends in scholarship,
and contribution to the community.
2. Submit well-researched and edited chapters. Each chapter submitted to the chair needs to
be a well-researched document that interacts with primary and secondary information
astutely and includes logically cohesive arguments. Additionally, the student should not
submit a first draft, but a personally edited and redacted version that makes use of standard
academic usage of the English language in terms of syntax and sentences/paragraphs
compositions.
3. Initiate and continue communication with the committee. Do not wait for them to come
to you. Do not try to do the work, especially design, analysis, or strategy, without advice. If
you have questions, ask.

Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual | 23

 4. Schedule your work wisely. AIIAS professors may be required to travel at times that are not
convenient for research students. There are times of the semester when the editor and
professors are very busy. Plan with your research committee chair how to make progress in
spite of these potential obstacles. Agree with your research committee chair on a schedule,
put it in writing, and keep it. Make sure that you always have something to do while your
professors are traveling or reading your work, so that you can advance while waiting for
feedback. This can include researching sources, writing new sections, or editing existing
material.
5. Be reasonable. Professors ideally have 2 weeks to read and return your work. If you have
planned your work, you will not hand a chapter to a professor on the day before his departure
for a business trip. Plan ahead! Agree on the time you will hand in the paper and when you
can expect it back. Keep your part of the agreement and negotiate with the professor about
his/hers. If a professor fails to keep an agreement to return your work by a certain date, it is
appropriate to ask when you may expect to see it. You may also enlist help from your
research committee chair or department chair.
6. Be responsible. If you have not done what you agreed to do, do not make matters worse by
skipping your appointment with your research committee chair. If you are having difficulties
or do not understand something, say so! Do not, however, expect the committee to do your
research statistics, analysis, or editing for you. You are the researcher—they are only guiding
you.
7. Use your committee wisely. Your research committee chair is your liaison to the committee
and will contact committee members when required. There are good reasons for following
this advice. If committee members disagree about research procedures, or give you
conflicting advice, let your research committee chair sort it out—this is not your problem. To
avoid conflicts between different approaches, contact researchers or professors outside of the
committee only in consultation with your research committee chair.
8. Be respectful of lines of authority within the committee. Even if a dissertation committee
member is a great friend and very willing to help, the research committee chair is still the
chair.
9. Be realistic. Most students take 2 to 4 hours of study and writing time for every finished
page. Budget your time carefully. Do not submit a first draft to your research committee
chair or committee, instead allow for enough time to reread your chapter and correct spelling,
grammar, or logical mistakes. Research writing and editing are time-intensive tasks and
always take longer than expected (see sample timelines in Chapter 5, p. 27). Do not expect
your committee to work harder just because you did not carefully check your English, or
took longer than expected to write something.
10. Be persistent. Once you have begun your research, you are required to register every term
and to finish within the time allotted by your degree. Stay in touch with your research
committee chair constantly, whether you are on campus or away. If you are discouraged or
have a problem, talk to your research committee chair.
11. Use software appropriately. Documents need to be submitted to the Research committee
Chair in Microsoft Word format, even if the student decides to use alternate programs for the
writing process. If a software other than Microsoft Word is used, the student carries the
responsibility for proper formatting, particularly in light of formatting errors. The use of
bibliographic software as add-on/plug-in to a word processor is also required. In subsequent
edits, track changes should be enabled so that the committee can easily recognize the edited
portions of the text. This expedites the exchange between the committee and the student
dramatically. Additionally, Bible software and Turnitin can be helpful additions in the
research and writing process.

24 | Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual

 Academic Program Advisor
The academic program advisor works with the student until the student has chosen a
thesis/dissertation topic and a research committee chair and a committee has been formed. The
major roles of the academic program advisor relating to research are the following:
1. Academic advising. Help students who plan to write a thesis/dissertation choose courses that
will prepare them for their intended topic, in consultation with the respective department
chair.
2. Mentor the research process. Encourage students to think about research topics from the
very beginning of their coursework. Help them focus their ideas, and begin to write a short
document (thesis/dissertation prospectus) to share with potential thesis/dissertation
committee members.
3. Let go. Encourage the student to discuss research ideas with a variety of professors. Guide
the student to those who might be interested in the topic. Once the committee has been
approved, the research committee chair checks the stage of the research and dissertation
progress, and the program director still registers the student.

Research Committee Chair

Research committee chairs are selected for their interest and expertise in the student’s topic.
The research committee chair is responsible for ensuring that the student meets deadlines, follows
procedures, communicates with the committee, and completes the research (for a chronological
listing of the research committee chair’s responsibilities, see Appendix C). Major roles of a
research committee chair include the following:
1. Direct the thesis/project/dissertation committee. The research committee chair, as the title
implies, chairs the committee and facilitates communication among the members, calling for
meetings as needed. The chair directs the student to share drafts of the research with specific
committee members at the appropriate times. The research committee chair calls a meeting
of the committee before a proposal approval or defense to be sure there is agreement that the
candidate is ready. The research committee chair (in consultation with the committee)
recommends to the program director and programs committee the possible dates, and
suggested names for the external examiner for a doctoral defense.
2. Provide quality control/content editing. The research committee chair is primarily
responsible for quality control of the content, methodology, and content editing of the
student’s document. The research committee chair does not pass on the student’s research to
the other members of the committee (even the methodologist) without reading and editing it
first until fully satisfied with the quality of the work. The research committee chair works
with the student and the editor throughout the study but especially at the end, to achieve a
polished final product.
3. Manage students’ time. The research committee chair should make contact periodically if
the student does not “check in” voluntarily. The chair should keep a written record of dates of
meetings and tasks assigned, in case of complaints about lack of progress from either
students or sponsors. They should set regular appointments, give assignments and dates, and
help students plan and use their time wisely.
4. Be familiar with policies and procedures relating to theses/projects/dissertations.
Empirical studies need ERB approval. If AIIAS is the subject of the study, it also needs
Administrative Committee (AdCom) approval. Policies include time limits for graduation,
steps in the process, required sections of the thesis/dissertation, and APA/SBL format. For
additional information, please check with the AIIAS editor, the Writing Center, or directors
of research centers at AIIAS (Asia-Pacific Research Center, Ellen G. White Research Center,
and Asian Studies Center).

Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual | 25

 5. Be transparent about your schedule. Let students know when you will and will not be on
campus and available to them. If you cannot give the needed feedback in a timely fashion,
negotiate with other committee members who may be willing to help.
6. Provide feedback within a reasonable time. Ideally, the corrected work should be returned
to the student within 2 weeks, but students should also be reasonable and not ask for
feedback before one week. Let the student know when to expect your feedback. Instruct the
student on work that can be accomplished while waiting. Students need to understand that
editing process is cyclical and often will need multiple submissions before it is approved.
Succeeding edits usually take much less time than the two weeks for the first submission.
The chair will often want to see edits and other changes suggested by committee members.
7. Make sure students are registered. Students in the research phase of their program must be
registered continuously, or they should request a leave of absence.

Thesis/Project/Dissertation Methodologist
The methodologist position is especially important when theses, projects and dissertations are
based on empirical research. The methodologist is usually a member of the committee, but could be
the research committee chair in some cases. This person is chosen because of expertise in the design
techniques and methodology used for the study. As a committee member, the methodologist reads
the whole thesis, project or dissertation, but focuses on the method and data analysis chapters.

Thesis/Project/Dissertation Member
The research committee member is usually selected to lend expertise in some aspect of the
topic being researched. The different perspective and support offered by this individual is
extremely useful. The committee members collaborate closely with the research committee Chair
to assist the student’s progress and ensure a quality project/thesis/dissertation.

Internal Examiner
The fourth reader is chosen for his or her expertise in an area related to the research and to give
the finished product a measure of interaction with related disciplines. The fourth reader is not directly
involved in the production of the study and is, therefore, able to be more objective and see possible
problems which might have been overlooked by those already very familiar with the study.

External Examiner
An external examiner is required for a doctoral defense. External examiners are chosen for
their expertise in the field of the dissertation topic. They provide credibility to the process by
having someone not connected to AIIAS evaluate the work which has been done. The external
examiner provides benchmarking and ensures that AIIAS maintains the highest possible standards.

Institutional Editor
The institutional editor must approve a student’s research before it is sent to the external
examiner, and before copying and binding. The editor is accessed through the research committee
chair, and any concerns about the editor’s requested modifications should be discussed with the
editor and the student’s research committee chair. The editor’s role in working with student
research is primarily to check that the work is well done, not to correct the student’s mistakes.
For this reason, if the work has many errors, the editor will return it and wait for a revised copy
before continuing to read. It is wise to work with the editor early to make sure this step does not
cause delay in the completion process.

26 | Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual

 Chapter 5
Procedures and Timelines
The following guidelines apply mainly to culminating projects, theses, and dissertations.
Because of the differences in procedures based on whether one is conducting research or a project,
collecting data from human subjects or not, or conducting documentary or empirical research, these
terms are discussed in detail at the beginning of this chapter. Follow the procedures outlined for the
type of research selected.

Types of Research
At AIIAS, there are three basic types of research—projects, interpretive research, and
research involving human subjects. The research process may vary based on the type of research
being done.
Projects
Due to the practical and flexible nature of a project, the form that planning takes, while
necessary before acceptance, may vary based on the specific project undertaken. The document
presented for approval may be shorter than the one presented for a thesis or a dissertation. Some
projects include empirical research, and may be subject to stricter controls (Ethics Review Board,
full proposal approval) than others that are more documentary in nature. Consult your research
committee chair and check for any specific departmental guidelines that may apply. The exact steps
your project must follow will be determined by your committee when your topic request is
approved.
Interpretive Research
Interpretive research (sometimes called documentary research) is typically done in the
biblical, and theological-historical studies departments. Because of the nature of this type of
research, the proposal is usually much shorter than for an empirical study, but the research itself
may take longer. ERB approval is not generally necessary, and the organization of chapters is
slightly different from that of a study involving human subjects.
Research Involving Human Subjects
Human subject research (sometimes called empirical research) is usually done in the applied
theology department; it includes the collection and analysis of data. Because this process usually
involves the selection/ development of instruments and involves human subjects, certain ethical
controls are necessary that are not required for interpretive research. The nature of quantitative
empirical research requires a more complete proposal before data is collected while qualitative
usually requires a shorter proposal as it is emergent and developmental in nature.

Types of Additional Approval

All projects, theses, and dissertations must go through departmental/program approval as a
topic request. Theses/dissertations and some projects require a complete proposal, as well. Check
with your research committee chair. Some studies also require the following approvals.
Administrative Committee
Any research that involves data collected on or about the AIIAS campus must secure AdCom
approval. This can be requested any time after topic approval. It is, however, to your advantage to
seek counsel from the administration as to the wisdom of conducting your study at AIIAS as early
as possible in the research design process. Work with your research committee chair to prepare a
short (not more than one page) but complete statement on purpose of the study, research questions,
the nature and extent of the involvement of AIIAS personnel or students, the nature of the data to
be collected, and the reason why you feel this is advantageous for AIIAS, or at least not

Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual | 27

detrimental. Indicate how you will protect the privacy of those involved. The research committee
chair should submit this request via the office of the Vice President for Academic Administration.
Ethics Review Board
Any study including empirical data must be presented to the Ethics Review Board (ERB) for
approval before data can be collected. This is normally done at proposal approval time. Once the
committee has agreed the document is ready for approval, it may be submitted for ERB checking.
If any change is made to the methodology, an amended ERB document must be filed. ERB
approval must be secured before data is collected.

Steps in the Research Process

The process outlined in Table 4 is for research done at AIIAS. Where empirical research and
documentary research vary in the procedures, they are described separately. Table 5 summarizes
the major steps in the research approval process for each different type of study.

Table 4
Steps in the Research Process

Step Details
Choosing a topic The student should read widely, talk informally with professors and
friends, and experiment with multiple ideas before settling on one.
Choosing a research The committee chair, selected by the department should be
committee chair knowledgeable on the topic, interested in the research, and willing to
serve. The student may write 1-2 pages about the envisioned
research (a prospectus) to share with potential candidates for
research committee chair. Contact your department for orientation on
this point.
Topic request The student develops a topic request with a proposed research
committee chair and/or a mentor. This document is 5-6 pages long
and details the scope of the study, methodology, and evidence that it
will contribute new knowledge to the field. A proposed timeline for
completion should be attached. The structure of the topic request
may differ depending on methodology employed. Topic request is
initially presented to the Department/Program Committees and
forwarded if further approval is needed.
Committee and topic are proposed by the Department and approved
by the Programs Committee.
Administrative Committee If the study is about AIIAS or if data from AIIAS is required,
approval (for research permission must be obtained from AdCom. This is true for class-
done at/about AIIAS) based research, faculty research, and theses/projects/dissertations.
The need for AdCom approval will be determined at topic approval.
Work with your research committee chair to make a request to
AdCom if needed.
Writing phase Once the approval phase is accomplished the student works chapter
by chapter, first with the research committee chair, then with the
other members of the committee, as directed by the research
committee chair. Once approved and formatted or edited, it is wise
to submit two or three chapters to the editor so that mistakes are
corrected early, before they become habits.

28 | Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual

Step Details
Ethics Review Board All empirical research done by AIIAS faculty or students must be
(ERB) approval reviewed by the ERB. If it will not include human subjects, a waiver
(empirical research) may be requested. The application is made after committee
consensus that the document is ready for proposal approval. ERB
approval must be secured before data is collected. If changes are
made to the design, an amendment must be filed.
Proposal All research requires a proposal approval, but the form is different
for quantitative and qualitative human subject research and
interpretive research. The committee will meet to agree when a
study is ready for proposal approval. The student presents and the
committee asks questions (the public is not invited).
Human subject research: The proposal consists of the complete
first three chapters of the thesis/project/dissertation for quantitative
studies. For qualitative studies the proposal is emergent and
developmental and therefore shorter than a quantitative study.
Permission to collect data is given by the research committee chair
and methodologist after the proposal approval, once instruments are
perfected. At least a week is allowed for the Dean to read the
document presented.
Interpretive: The first complete chapter, an outline and a working
bibliography must be presented.
DMin: A DMin proposal contains the problem to be solved,
justification, rationale, approach, and end result. It will be partly
interpretive, but may include human subject data as well (sometimes
called mixed methods research).
Editing The research committee chair must approve all work that goes to the
editor. A date for the defense is not fixed until the work has been
fully edited and released by the editor for defense.
Pre-defense steps The committee will meet when the work is nearing its conclusion to
discuss its readiness for defense. Once fully edited, the defense date
can be set. The paper goes to all the examiners. In the case of a
dissertation, this includes the external examiner, who is given a
minimum of 3 weeks to read it and prepare for the defense. During
this time, a mock defense, preferably organized and implemented by
the students with the assistance of the research committee chair,
should meet. This experience is usually invaluable to the students
holding the mock defense and the student defending the research.
Defense At the defense, the completed work is presented to the defense
committee (the public may be invited to witness this event).
Examiners ask questions and usually suggest revisions. Minor
revisions are supervised by the research committee chair; major
revisions may require the entire committee to review the document.
Editing/copying/binding/ The chair indicates when the work should be sent to the editor for the
electronic submission final check, but does not sign the approval page until editorial
approval is gained. The dean signs last, and this signature indicates
approval for copying and binding, and electronic submission.

Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual | 29

30 | Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual

Table 5
Research Approval Comparison Chart

Research Ethics Signatures

Topic Request Proposal Defense
Committee Review Proposal Contents on Approval
Approval Approval Examiners**
Approval Board* Page
Department + Department +
If data is First chapter (+/-30 pp.) Department
MA Thesis Programs Programs
collected plus bibliography Committee
3+1 4
Committee Committee

Department + Department +
If data is Department
DMin Project Programs Programs Depends on the project 3+2 5
collected Committee
Committee Committee

DMiss Applied Department + Department +

If data is Depends on the applied Department
Research Programs Programs
collected research dissertation Committee
3+3 6
Dissertation Committee Committee

Department + Department +
PhD If data is First chapter (+/-50 pp.) Department
Programs Programs
collected plus bibliography Committee
3+3 6
Dissertation Committee Committee

Thesis If data is Department

Only w/2 profs
collected
6 cred, 2 prof
Committee
2 + prog dir N/A
equivalent
*This step includes AdCom permission where necessary.
**This number includes the presider.
The Editing Process
The editing process always takes longer than most students expect. This is partly because
students are not generally experienced in the publishing process and have not learned to look at the
details that make their work more readable and professional. In addition, many students are not
native English speakers. One recommendation for getting work through the editor’s office quickly
is to submit a chapter for editing as soon as it is approved by the committee (with a soft copy for
submission to a plagiarism-checking database). Learn from the chapter what errors to avoid in the
rest of the document. Remember that you may only submit your work to the editor via your
research committee chair. In some instances, such as when the research committee chair is off
campus, you may submit your work directly to the editor with an email confirmation from your
research committee chair. Projects and applied research dissertations are subject to the same editing
process as theses/dissertations, so do not wait until the end to begin the process. This process
continues until the student’s work is ready for defense and for binding.
The AIIAS editor’s work is the final step in what should be a series of revisions. Sources of
aid to help students produce a document that will spend less time in the editor’s office are
1. Academic writing/research classes. They include courses such as Academic
Writing, Documentary Research and Writing, Applied Theology Research and
Writing, Academic Composition, and Dissertation Proposal Seminar. This is the place
to learn how to organize, reference, and format your writing.
2. Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing manual. This is the final
word for format.
3. APA or SBL style manuals. These have more details, and do not override the
Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing manual in terms of format
(see p. 1 for the differences between style and format).
4. AIIAS Writing Center. This peer-tutoring facility has students who are talented in
writing and editing, who can help you for free with organization, referencing,
computer formatting tips, and other advice. Tutors are not editors.
5. Research committee chair. Your research committee chair may help you with
issues of grammar and format, as well as organization and content. The document
may not go to the editor until you and your research committee chair have made it as
clean as you can.
6. Format checklist. Before the document goes to the editor, you need to check it
against the checklist of common errors (see p. 112) and sign that you do not find these
errors in the paper. It is faster to do this yourself than to wait 2 weeks for the editor to
tell you the same thing.
7. AIIAS editor. This is the final check to make sure that you have an error-free
document. The editor’s office should be seen as a final check, not a place to send your
document for formatting. If the editor finds more than 20 errors in your document, it
will be returned to you for further editing. If you want to finish sooner, make your
paper as perfect as possible before sending it to the editor!

Deadlines and Requirements

The scheduling of research is partly art, partly science. Some procedures have suggested
times, and some of these times are fixed by regulation. Most of the early parts of the research work
are flexible, limited generally by the student’s dedication and ability. As the process draws to a
close, however, the student has less and less control, as the process necessarily depends on the
work of others for checking, editing, and feedback. Below is a list of non-negotiable requirements
and deadlines.

Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual | 31

 Advancement to candidacy. A doctoral student applies for candidacy when all coursework
is finished with a satisfactory GPA, and he or she has passed the comprehensive exam. DMin and
DMiss students must have an accepted proposal, in lieu of comprehensives.
Continuous registration and leaves of absence. Students in the research phase are expected
to remain registered continuously, whether they are on or off campus. A leave of absence, of no
more than 15 months, may be requested through the student’s program director. Students on leave
do not have access to AIIAS faculty support or AIIAS Library services. See the Academic Bulletin
for details and other options, such as the one-time extended registration policy.
Time to read and return a document to a student. Professors ideally have up to 2 weeks to
read and return a document. If a professor does not meet this deadline, the student should check
with the professor about the state of his/her work, or request advice/assistance from the Program
Director and/or Department Chair.
Editing. By policy, the editor does not have to read a student’s document if he/she finds
more than 20 errors in the paper. The editor is expected to return a student’s document after 2 or 3
weeks. If the editor has fewer papers to read, the turn-around time may be shorter, but students
must count on the 2-3 weeks. This is for every time a document goes to the editor. Thus, if the
paper goes to the editor 3 times before it is approved, 6 or 9 weeks will pass. For this reason, the
document should be as nearly perfect as possible before the editor sees it.
Application for graduation. Application for graduation is the student’s responsibility, and
must be done 4 months before graduation, even if the student is uncertain whether he or she will
complete in time for graduation. The Academic Bulletin gives the deadlines for application. If
students cannot graduate on the date requested, they must reapply for a different date, but they will
not be charged any additional fees.
External examiner reading time. A copy of the editor-approved project/dissertation is
given to the external examiner, typically three or four weeks before the defense date. This date may
be adjusted slightly, if necessary, to suit the schedule of the external examiner.
Defense date. The oral defense of a thesis, project, or dissertation must take place at least
four weeks before graduation. These deadlines are published on the AIIAS calendar in the
Academic Bulletin.
Final editing. Projects must go through the same editing process as a thesis/dissertation.
Once thesis, project, or dissertation defense corrections are made, the document returns to the
editor for final checking. If the defense takes place exactly 4 weeks before graduation (the last
possible day), the student has only one week to get the approved changes to the editor. The editor
then has 2 weeks to read the document and give final approval.
Approval page. A photocopy of the completely signed approval page (all corrections made,
editor-approved, ready for copying/binding) must be given to the Registrar no later than Friday,
one week before graduation. This is the rule for all research students.
Copying, binding, and electronic submission. There is no specific due date for handing in
the bound copies that AIIAS requires as part of the research process. These copies must be handed
in, however, along with the submission of the electronic document to the Library (via the editor),
before the Clearance Form is signed, and the Clearance Form must be completed before you may
collect your diploma (you can march and celebrate graduation, but you cannot get your actual
documents until you complete the clearance form). A word to the wise is sufficient.
Overall deadline. AIIAS has a 10-year deadline, after which credits will expire and can no
longer be used for an AIIAS degree. AIIAS also has a 4-year time limit for dissertation writing,
starting from advancement to candidacy.

32 | Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual

 Defense Procedures
Policies
1. Once the research committee agrees that the research document meets suitable standards
and is edited (i.e., ready for defense), the committee completes the first portion of the
Defense Report form.
2. This form must be accompanied by two copies of the editor-approved defense-ready
document. The research committee chair is then responsible for selecting and contacting an
external examiner (for projects/dissertations) with approval of the Programs Committee,
and setting a date for the oral defense. The defense date will not be set until an edited copy
of the defense document is in the Dean’s hands, and normally the date is not less than a
minimum of 3 weeks after the copy is received.
3. In preparation for the oral defense, the research committee chair is strongly encouraged to
hold a mock defense or pre-defense (usually organized and implemented by the students
with the assistance of the research committee chair) with the candidate between 3 weeks up
until 3 days before the public event.
4. The dean or program director moderates the defense, and prepares and brings the
appropriate documents to the defense for signature: both the defense document and the
approval page. The dean’s office holds these documents until the revisions are completed.
5. When the dean’s office turns in a copy of the completed approval page to the Registrar’s
office, the research work is considered officially completed.

Procedures
An oral defense is a public event that inspires the academic community through quality
research work at AIIAS. To maintain the dignity of this formal occasion children are not generally
allowed (except the candidate’s family if they are at an appropriate age to be quiet) and participants
are expected to remain silent in their seats for the duration of the defense. Entering or leaving the
room during a defense is not proper behavior, except for an emergency.
The defense panel consists of the entire research committee, the internal/external examiner(s)
(as applicable), and the presider. The presider is typically the dean or someone designated by the
dean when the program director is not available. In rare exceptions when a panel member cannot be
physically present, video conference or teleconferencing can be used, but a contingency plan must
be in place in case of possible IT failure.
The presider reminds the audience of the following before beginning a defense:
• Turn off cell phones and any devices that might disturb the proceedings.
• No photographs or videos are allowed during proceedings.
During the preliminaries the presider introduces the candidate and each member of the defense
panel.
A candidate will be invited to make a presentation of the research findings to the defense
panel, which is not to exceed 10–15 minutes in the case of a thesis, and 15–20 minutes for a
project/dissertation. Two rounds of questions from the defense panel on the presentation and its
underlying research will then be addressed to the candidate, providing opportunity for the
candidate to respond to each question. The two rounds of questions should be limited to no more
than 90 minutes. Questions should be objective and focus on the study. Members are to avoid
personal opinions and informal comments of a personal nature.
Once the candidate responds to the questions, the open session of the defense is complete and
the audience and candidate leave the room so that the Defense Panel can deliberate before they
recall the candidate to deliver their evaluation.

Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual | 33

Thesis/Project/Dissertation Defense Evaluation
The goal is that a thesis/project/dissertation defense is generally approved by consensus of all
defense panel members according to the defense evaluation levels and criteria (see Table 6). If this
is not possible, one dissenting voice may be allowed, at the presider’s discretion. The reason for
dissenting vote should be noted, and stipulations written as to how the issue must be addressed, if it
cannot be entirely resolved.
The evaluation frequently requires revisions and these must be clearly identified on the
Defense Report (attach a sheet if there is insufficient space). Both the candidate and the research
committee chair receive a copy of this report. Minor revisions are supervised by the chair,
however, individual members may request to see the changes made to the document; major
revisions usually require the entire committee to review the document. A signature on the approval
page waives the member’s right to review the revisions later and entrusts the committee chair with
this responsibility. A defense panel member may choose to withhold signature if he/she wishes to
personally review the requested revisions. If the research committee chair is absent, another
member may be designated to supervise the changes, and that individual does not sign the approval
page until all the stipulated revisions are satisfied. The original Defense Report must be kept on file
in the Dean’s office. The original approval page is bound into the student’s copy of the dissertation.
Table 6 shows the criteria used for evaluating a defense.

Table 6
Criteria for Evaluating a Defense

Level Criteria
Acceptance of the • Minor non-substantive editing only
thesis/project/dissertation as • No required deletions, insertions, or restructuring of the
presented document
• No required changes to the conclusions
Acceptance of the • Deletion or insertion of sections of the study (e.g.,
thesis/project/dissertation additional footnotes or bibliographic entries, additional
subject to revisions authors in the Review of Literature)
• Editorial changes in foundational components (e.g.,
statement of the problem, significance, research questions,
conclusions)
• Methodological revisions/re-analysis of data
• Addition of a chapter
• Revision of the exegesis
• Excessive minor corrections
Rejection • Flawed research design
• Irreconcilable problems with the results
• Plagiarism
• Candidate unacquainted with contents of the document
and unable to respond adequately to direct questions on it

Note
• Approval date, as indicated on the approval page, is the date of final approval when all
revisions have been satisfactorily completed and confirmed.

34 | Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual

 • A doctoral student technically remains a doctoral candidate until graduation (or Conferral
by Personal Collection [CPC]), and may not officially use the academic title of “Doctor”
until after graduation.

End of Thesis/Project/Dissertation to-do List

The end-of-thesis/project/dissertation to-do list begins with the signature of the AIIAS
editor. Once the editing is completed, the remaining steps often happen in quick succession.
1. Bring the printed editor-approved document to the editor. The dean’s secretary will
notify you when the approval page is completely signed. Note that the dean signs the
approval page last, and his signature indicates approval for copying and binding, and
electronic submission of your thesis/project/dissertation.
2. The dean’s secretary must submit a photocopy of the signed approval page to the Office
of Admissions and Records no later than Friday, one week before graduation. At this
point, your thesis, project, or dissertation is considered completed, and your name can be
included among the graduation candidates.
3. Once you receive the approval page, insert it into its correct location in your document,
and make copies of your research. Check AIIAS Standards (Chapter 8, p. 60) for details
about quality requirements. The original is yours to keep; you must provide AIIAS with
5 copies of your thesis/project/dissertation. Extra copies for committee members are at
your discretion.
4. Copying and binding of the research are the student’s expense. Bound copies are
delivered to the:
Dean’s office (2) (one for the research committee chair)
Library (3) (one for the National Library)
5. All students who have defended their work publicly will need to provide an electronic
copy of their research (in PDF and Word formats) to the Systems Librarian (via the
AIIAS editor) for the AIIAS repository and to the Networked Digital Library of Theses
and Dissertations (www.ndltd.org). This will make the study available to other AIIAS
students and to other researchers throughout the world through online tools. If you feel
for commercial purposes (2-year delay) or because of the sensitive nature of your study
that it should not be made available, this must be arranged with the Dean of your school
and the librarians. Such works would only be available on campus, and external links
would show only the title and the abstract. Any request for external access to this work
would be forwarded to the author. If, after a 2-week delay the author has not responded,
the dean would be asked to make a decision.
You maintain full rights to your document, and you may publish it or use it in any
way you like. The library has no rights beyond archiving it and making the text available
to others. For information about how AIIAS recommends that you protect your
document, see the section on Creative Commons Licensing on p. 65. Once you have
received final approval and given your document to the library, you may not remove it
from the AIIAS archives, or make any further changes to it. Anyone wishing to contact
you about your research can do so through the library, who will forward any
correspondence to your permanent e-mail address.
6. The following steps may be followed to prepare your document for electronic
submission:

Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual | 35

 a. Make sure your research is saved in a single file. If there are pages that were
photocopied (e.g., permission letter), get them scanned and inserted such that the
entire thesis/project/dissertation is contained in a single file.
b. Save your file as a PDF document. Use your surname and the year of graduation
as the filename for your dissertation (e.g., Sim2022.pdf). Contact IMRC
personnel or the Systems Librarian if you have difficulty with this procedure.
c. E-mail your file, or put it on a USB drive and take it to the AIIAS editor. The
editor will check that the file is the same as your approved thesis/project/
dissertation (bring this document for comparison), and will then forward it to the
Systems Librarian. Once the Library has received the electronic copy of your
thesis/project/dissertation and you have filled out the data sheet with your
information, they will sign the clearance form. Once the file is uploaded, no
further changes may be made in the electronic document.
7. In order to collect your diploma, and before leaving AIIAS, you need to complete the
Clearance Form. Among other things, the Clearance Form requires you to have
completed items 1-4 on this list, so it is important to do these without delay once your
research is completed.

Additional Research Information

Research seminars/forums. Research results are meant to be shared. The Seminary provides
opportunities for sharing research among friends and colleagues. Research seminars are scheduled
periodically, and annual forums are also organized at times when students and faculty are free to
attend. If you have research you feel could be shared with others, talk with your research
committee chair and contact the organizers of the research seminars in your school. These are
opportunities for professional growth that should not be missed.
Research journals. The Seminary publishes peer-reviewed research journals. This is an
opportunity to hone your research skills by producing a publishable article. Book reviews and other
shorter pieces may also be accepted. Thesis equivalent papers, or certain class papers may be
considered for publication. Check with a professor who knows your work or contact the journal
editor directly.
Additional guidelines. The Seminary PhD program has additional documentation detailing
procedures and time scheduling for theses/dissertations. Consult your department chair or program
director to find out what is available.

Sample Timeline
The following page contains sample timeline for empirical and documentary research. This
timeline is based on typical student progress, and may vary by individual. Note that in order to
graduate by a certain date, the first draft of the last chapter must be in the hands of the research
committee chair as much as 5 months before graduation. Do not underestimate the time needed for
the last stages of research writing.

36 | Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual

 Completed
manuscript to
Topic Approval/ the Editor
Appointment of Submit Complete Corrected
Advisor & Proposal to the Programs manuscript
Committee Committee Submission Committee to the
to committee schedules defense Editor
members date & authorizes Graduation
the release of
Submit Topic defense copy to
Proposal Final copy
Request to external examiner
Approval to the
the Dept
Reading by Dean’s
Chair Defense
committee Office
members &
Proposal 10 weeks or Writing of the Chapters with
Research Committee and Editor Approval corrections
5 weeks for Allow Min Min Min
Class 3 weeks MA Thesis Chapter by Chapter 4 weeks 3 weeks 3 weeks 4 weeks 2 weeks 1 week
3 weeks
Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual |

Idealistic Seminary
Project/Thesis/Dissertation
Completion Timeline
Indicates ideal duration
Indicates back and forth approval

This chart indicates idealistic or minimum time frames and should not be used as
reflecting the average time for each step of the process.
37
 Chapter 6
Introduction to SBL Style Footnotes and Bibliography
Footnotes
Every direct quotation (whether in the main text or in the footnotes) must have a reference.
The reference number appears immediately after the quotation mark (when in the text) or at the end
of the block. Other specific information, whether a direct quote or not, should also be referenced.
It is impossible for any manual to give detailed information to cover every type of reference.
If you do not find what you need here, check with the latest edition of The SBL Handbook of Style
(SBLHS). If your paper requires specialized types of references that are not included in these
manuals, work with your advisor to establish a format that you can maintain throughout the paper.
Students are required to use a reference management software for major papers like theses,
projects, and dissertations. However, it will be beneficial for you to start learning and using one as
early as your first courses so that you will have mastered it by the time you write your culminating
research. AIIAS makes bibliographic software (currently Citavi and Zotero) available for students
to use. The Leslie Hardinge Library has all the information and tutorials for these software. If you
know or have other such software, however, you are free to use them. Again, the use of a
reference management software is compulsory, not voluntary. However, as effective as they
may be, they are still only software that require you to operate and supply it with information. Use
it properly.

Format
1. Notes are below the text and not at the bottom of the page.
2. Type size is recommended to be 12 points and typeface is the same as the text.
3. Footnote number is superscript in text and superscript below.
4. Left alignment (ragged right edge).
5. Footnote is indented the same as the paragraph.
6. There should be a space between the footnote number and the footnote.
7. There is an empty line between notes.
8. Footnotes are numbered consecutively and start anew with every new chapter.
9. The footnote always begins on the page where the superscript number appears.
10. Unless a footnote is half a page in length, it should appear in its totality on the page where it is
announced. This may require using a hard return to force some of the text to the next page.

Specific Content Matters

1. The first citation of an author’s name should be written in full exactly as it appears in the
bibliography entry. Follow the Library of Congress entry or similar on the bibliography
page of most books. For example, the correct reference would be N. T. Wright, not Nicholas
T. Wright nor Nicholas Thomas Wright. Even if the author’s full name has already been
mentioned as part of a sentence in the main text or in a footnote comment (content note), it
should be repeated in full in the first footnote to a reference.
2. SBL style recommends in some cases the abbreviation of inclusive numbers or the omission of
certain repeated digits (e.g., 207–9; 655–60). See SBLHS §4.2.4 and The Chicago Manual of
Style (16th ed.), §9.60 for the comprehensive rules to follow.
3. When referencing the Bible, indicate the version used immediately following the reference, in
parentheses (Josh 4:7, RSV; Matt 2:3, KJV). When only one version is used throughout the
paper, you must declare this in the footnote to the first Bible reference. You may use different
versions or only one version in one paper, but the latter is preferred. Bible references are
38 | Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual
 always cited in-text but a long list of Bible references (three or more texts) are best placed in
the footnotes.
4. Whenever titles of materials (books, dissertations, articles, etc.) are mentioned, they should be
given in full (i.e., main title and subtitle/s).

Guidelines for Preparing Footnotes

1. The first note to a reference includes author (or editor), title (full title, including subtitle),
publication facts (words like Press, Inc., or Publishers/Publishing are usually omitted), and
the page(s) from which the material was taken. Every detail must reconcile exactly with the
bibliography entry.
2. The full title of the book, including subtitle, should be used in the first entry, with first and last
and all the important words capitalized (title case). A colon separates the title and subtitle,
whether or not a colon is found in the original work; when there are two subtitles, use a
semicolon after the first one. Both parts are italicized throughout; however, the punctuation
mark following the title is not italicized. Titles of unpublished materials or parts of published
works are enclosed in quotation marks, not italicized.
3. Subsequent notes should be shortened as in the samples below. Shortened titles should not be
longer than four words and should be made up of key words from the main title (never the
subtitle) in the order that they appear in the full title. Full titles with only four words or less
should not be shortened. The same shortened title for exactly the same entry must be used
throughout a paper. This format also takes the place of ibid. which is no longer used by both
Chicago style and SBL style.
4. The author’s full name should appear in the first footnote entry to a material, unless the author
does not use a full name; then the initials are sufficient. Consult the Library of Congress
(http://catalog.loc.gov) or WorldCat (http://www.worldcat.org). Additionally, an author with
multiple entries in the bibliography must have his or her name written consistently, not in
different forms, to avoid confusion. Similarly, the author’s full name should be used the first
time it is cited or mentioned in a sentence (e.g., Gordon D. Fee asserts that….; this is different
from a footnote entry) which must be exactly the same with the name provided in the
bibliography. Subsequent citations of the same author require only the last name, except in
cases where there are several authors of the same surname cited or referenced in one paper
(see rule no. 5 below).
5. When two or more authors with the same surname are cited and referenced, succeeding entries
and citations for these authors must include the first name or first name initial (either, but be
consistent) to distinguish between them.
1 2 3
T. Matthews R. Matthews W. Matthews
6. Each footnote entry must have a corresponding bibliography entry.
7. No footnote callout should be attached to any headings.
8. A content note (an explanation or amplification of textual matter) may be followed by its
source in one of two ways: (1) The reference may follow the content note in parentheses, with
the publication information in square brackets. (2) Introduce the reference in normal footnote
style with “See” when placing it after the period and without parenthesis. See the following
examples:
1
Bissell points out the importance of consistence in the method of giving the reference for
a content note (Juanita Bissell, A Guide for Research Writing: AIIAS Theological Seminary, 2nd
ed. [Silang, Philippines: AIIAS Publications, 2002], 69).

Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual | 39

 2
Bissell points out the importance of consistence in the method of giving the reference for
a content note. See Juanita Bissell, A Guide for Research Writing: AIIAS Theological Seminary,
2nd ed. (Silang, Philippines: AIIAS Publications, 2002), 69.

While both styles are acceptable, only one may be used in any one paper.

Guidelines for Bibliography Entries

1. English titles are written in title case—all words are capitalized except prepositions,
coordinating conjunctions, and articles. The first and last words in the main title and subtitle
are also always capitalized.
2. Titles in languages other than English are written in sentence case.
3. And instead of ampersands (&) are used for titles in notes and bibliographies regardless of
how the original title is written. On the other hand, use ampersand for a publisher’s name
instead of and. The rules for writing numbers in the running text apply to numbers in titles
(spell out zero to one hundred and round multiples; arabic over roman numerals).
4. The SBLHS provides a list of the most common publishers and their places and how they
should be written. Follow exactly the rules and the list provided in the section “Publication
Information” in the handbook (SBLHS §6.1.4.1).
5. Series titles, journals, magazines, dictionaries, lexicons, encyclopedias, and commentaries are
always abbreviated in the bibliography and the footnotes. These abbreviations are listed in the
SBLHS in the section titled “Secondary Sources: Journals, Major Reference Works, and
Series” (SBLHS §8.4). You may create the abbreviation for titles of any such materials whose
abbreviations do not appear in the list, but you should make sure that it does not duplicate any
abbreviation that is already in the list that stands for another title. A list of all these
abbreviations should be provided at the beginning of the paper.
6. The use of n.d. (no date) should be avoided as much as possible.
7. Actual page ranges instead of f. and ff. should be provided. It is important to note that the page
number is especially required for direct quotes. Where the page number is not available, such
as in online articles, use the paragraph number (e.g., para. 3). If the material or document from
which the direct quote is taken is huge and the paragraph number alone can still be misleading,
include the heading nearest the quoted material followed by the paragraph number (e.g.,
“Ancient Near Eastern Texts,” para. 3).
8. The use of access dates for materials retrieved online is no longer recommended as they are
not verifiable.
9. URL addresses should be broken correctly, usually before punctuation marks, never within words.
Use shift + enter to move texts to a new line. Check the rules in the section “URLs or DOIs and
Line Breaks” in the Chicago manual. Always test URLs before submitting your document.
10. Bibliography entries appear in hanging indention format. Run-over lines are indented the same
as the paragraph.
11. Entries are single-spaced, with a double space between entries.
12. If two or more books or articles are used from the same author/s and editor/s, for all entries
after the first one, a 3-em dash is used in place of the name/s. This “abbreviation” also applies
to multiple authors only if all the authors of the entry and the order that their names are listed
are exactly the same as in the previous entry. See The Chicago Manual of Style (16th ed.), pp.
691–693 for the elaborate explanation of this rule.
13. The bibliography is alphabetized by the author’s surname, or in the absence of an author, by
the title, disregarding any initial article. The author may be corporative (e.g., General
Conference of Seventh-day Adventists). Entries from the same author/s should be
alphabetized by their titles.

40 | Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual

14. Do not split a bibliography entry between two pages. If there is no room at the bottom of a
page to complete an entry, the entire entry should be moved to the following page.
15. There must be a bibliography entry for every source used in the text. A bibliography entry
beginning with a 3-em dash should not appear at the top of a page; repeat the author’s name at
the top of a new page.
16. Make sure that all information in every bibliography entry is correct. Incorrect or false
information casts doubts on the author’s integrity and ability to produce reliable research.

Harmony between Footnotes and Bibliography

It is imperative to credible research that footnote entries and bibliography entries agree
entirely. Information that does not match casts a question mark upon an otherwise fruitful study.
Indention, format, and punctuation vary between footnotes and bibliography, but basic content and
information must be essentially the same. There is no suitable substitute for harmony and
consistency.
Sample Entries for Footnotes and Bibliography
While not exhaustive, these sample entries are the most common materials used by
students. Hence, if you are using a material that is not included in the list, refer to the latest edition
of the SBLHS or the sblhs2.com. Please note the sblhs2.com provides the latest updates.

A Book by a Single Author

7
David A. Dorsey, The Literary Structure of the Old Testament: A Commentary on Genesis-
Malachi (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1999), 20.
14
Dorsey, Literary Structure, 89.

Dorsey, David A. The Literary Structure of the Old Testament: A Commentary on Genesis-
Malachi. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1999.

A Book by Two or Three Authors

6
Peter J. Gentry and Stephen J. Wellum, Kingdom through Covenant: A Biblical-
Theological Understanding of the Covenants (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2012), 248.
20
Gentry and Wellum, Kingdom through Covenant, 387.

Gentry, Peter J., and Stephen J. Wellum. Kingdom through Covenant: A Biblical-Theological
Understanding of the Covenants. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2012.

A Book by More Than Three Authors

4
Roland K. Harrison et al., Biblical Criticism: Historical, Literary and Textual (Grand
Rapids: Zondervan, 1978), 78.
56
Harrison et al., Biblical Criticism, 90.

Harrison, Roland K., Bruce K. Waltke, Donald Guthrie, and Gordon D. Fee. Biblical Criticism:
Historical, Literary and Textual. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1978.

A Book with One Editor

59
Richard L. Rohrbaugh, ed., The Social Sciences and New Testament Interpretation
(Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1996), 154.

Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual | 41

 60
Rohrbaugh, Social Sciences, 154.

Rohrbaugh, Richard L., ed. The Social Sciences and New Testament Interpretation. Peabody, MA:
Hendrickson, 1996.

A Book with Two or Three Editors

12
John J. Pilch and Bruce J. Malina, eds., Biblical Social Values and Their Meaning: A
Handbook (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1993).
13
Pilch and Malina, Biblical Social Values, 190.

Pilch, John J., and Bruce J. Malina, eds. Biblical Social Values and Their Meaning: A Handbook.
Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1993.

A Book with Four or More Editors

12
Craig G. Bartholomew et al., Canon and Biblical Interpretation. The Scripture and
Hermeneutics Series 7 (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006), 243.
15
Bartholomew et al., Canon and Biblical Interpretation, 123.

Bartholomew, Craig G., Scott Hahn, Robin Parry, Christopher Seitz, and Al Wolters, eds. Canon
and Biblical Interpretation. The Scripture and Hermeneutics Series 7. Grand Rapids:
Zondervan, 2006.

A Book with an Author and Editor

100
Bill T. Arnold, Old Testament Eschatology and the Rise of Apocalypticism, ed. Jerry L.
Walls. New York: Oxford University Press, 2008.
102
Arnold, Old Testament Eschatology, 345.

Arnold, Bill T. Old Testament Eschatology and the Rise of Apocalypticism. Edited by Jerry L.
Walls. New York: Oxford University Press, 2008.

A Book with Author, Editor, and Translator

34
Jacques-Benigne Bossuet, Discourse on Universal History, ed. Orest Ranum, trans.
Elborg Forster (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1976).
43
Bossuet, Discourse on Universal History, 43.

Bossuet, Jacques-Benigne. Discourse on Universal History. Edited by Orest Ranum. Tranlated by

Elborg Forster. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1976.

An Article in an Edited Volume

12
Carole R. Fontaine, “The Sage in Family and Tribe,” in The Sage in Israel and the
Ancient Near East, ed. John C. Gammie and Leo G. Perdue (Winona Lake, IN: Eisenbrauns, 1990),
159.
23
Fontaine, “Sage in Family,” 160.

Fontaine, Carole R. “The Sage in Family and Tribe.” Pages 155–164 in The Sage in Israel and the
Ancient Near East. Edited by John C. Gammie and Leo G. Perdue. Winona Lake, IN:
Eisenbrauns, 1990.
42 | Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual
 Notice the difference between the location of the pages in the bibliography entry and the
footnote entry.

An Introduction, Preface, or Foreword Written by Someone Other Than the Author

28
Gary Land, foreword to William Miller and the Advent Crisis, by Everett N. Dick
(Berrien Springs, MI: Andrews University Press, 1994), i–viii.
32
Land, foreword, v.

Land, Gary. Foreword to William Miller and the Advent Crisis. By Everett N. Dick. Berrien
Springs, MI: Andrews University Press, 1994.

A Revised Edition
99
Bruce Corley, Steve Lemke, and Grant Lovejoy, Biblical Hermeneutics: A
Comprehensive Introduction to Interpreting Scripture, 2nd ed. (Nashville, TN: Broadman &
Holman, 2002).
23
Corley, Lemke, and Lovejoy, Biblical Hermeneutics, 90.

Corley, Bruce, Steve Lemke, and Grant Lovejoy. Biblical Hermeneutics: A Comprehensive
Introduction to Interpreting Scripture. 2nd ed. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2002.

Reprint of a Recent Title

35
Edwyn Bevan, Symbolism and Belief (London: G. Allen & Unwin, 1938; repr., Folcroft,
PA: Folcroft Library Editions, 1976), 23.
39
Bevan, Symbolism and Belief, 23.

Bevan, Edwyn. Symbolism and Belief. London: G. Allen & Unwin, 1938. Repr., Folcroft, PA:
Folcroft Library Editions, 1976.

A Forthcoming Book
14
S. Talmon, U. Glessmer, and S. Pfann, Qumran Cave 4.16: Calendrical Texts, DJD 21
(Oxford: Clarendon, forthcoming), 12.
25
Talmo, Glessner, and Pfann, Qumran Cave 4.16, 14.

Talmon, S., U. Glessmer, and S. Pfann. Qumran Cave 4.16: Calendrical Texts. DJD 21. Oxford:
Clarendon, forthcoming.

A Multivolume Work
6
Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church (Mountain View, CA: Pacific Press, 1902),
3:24.
8
White, Testimonies for the Church, 9:125.

White, Ellen G. Testimonies for the Church. 9 vols. Mountain View, CA: Pacific Press, 1902.

A Titled Volume in a Multivolume Work

51
Martin Luther, Sermon 1, vol. 51 of Luther’s Works, ed. and trans. by John W.
Doberstein (Philadelphia: Fortress, 1959), 51.

Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual | 43

 55
Luther, Sermon 1, 51.

Luther, Martin. Sermons 1. Vol. 51 of Luther’s Works. Edited and translated by John W.
Doberstein. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1959.

Work in a Series
21
Birger Gerhardsson, Memory and Manuscript: Oral Tradition and Written Transmission
in Rabbinic Judaism and Early Christianity, ASNU 22 (Lund: Gleerup; Copenhagen: Munksgaard,
1961), 78.
16
Gerhardsson, Memory and Manuscript, 10.

Gerhardsson, Birger. Memory and Manuscript: Oral Tradition and Written Transmission in
Rabbinic Judaism and Early Christianity. ASNU 22. Lund: Gleerup; Copenhagen:
Munksgaard, 1961.

Electronic Book
240
Robin Stockitt, Restoring the Shamed: Towards a Theology of Shame (Eugene, OR:
Cascade, 2012), E-book edition, ch. 3, “Architecture, Shame and Division,” para. 2.
50
Stockitt, Restoring the Shamed.

Stockitt, Robin. Restoring the Shamed: Towards a Theology of Shame. Eugene, OR: Cascade,
2012. E-book edition.

Note: It is not necessary to indicate the edition cited if both print and electronic editions are
identical in all respects.

Journal Article
16
Peter L. Leithart, “Where Was Ancient Zion?” TynBul 53.2 (2002): 161–175.
45
Leithart, “Where Was Ancient Zion?” 165.
Leithart, Peter L. “Where Was Ancient Zion?” TynBul 53.2 (2002): 161–175.
15
Herman, Ridderbos, “The Structure and Scope of the Prologue to the Gospel of
John,” NovT 8.2–4 (1966): 180, doi:10.2307/1559990.
30
Ridderbos, “Structure and Scope,” 200.

Ridderbos, Herman. “The Structure and Scope of the Prologue to the Gospel of John.” NovT 8.2–4
(1966): 180–201. doi:10.2307/1559990.

Electronic journal articles must include DOI (preferred) or URL.

SDA Church Manual

88
General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Seventh-day Adventist Church Manual
(Silver Spring, MD: General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, 1990), 23.
90
Church Manual, 57.

General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Seventh-day Adventist Church Manual. Silver

Spring, MD: General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, 1990.

44 | Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual

Minister’s Manual
51
General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Ministerial Association, Seventh-day
Adventist Minister’s Manual (Silver Spring, MD: General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists,
1992), 48.
102
Minister’s Manual, 85.

General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Ministerial Association. Seventh-day Adventist

Minister’s Manual. Silver Spring, MD: General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists,
1992.

SDA Yearbook
75
General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Office of Archives and Statistics, Seventh-
day Adventist Yearbook 1995 (SDA Yearbook 1995) (Silver Spring, MD: General Conference of
Seventh-day Adventists, 1995), 75.
94
SDA Yearbook 1995, 64.

General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Office of Archives and Statistics. Seventh-day

Adventist Yearbook 1995. Silver Spring, MD: General Conference of Seventh-day
Adventists, 1995.

GC Working Policy
If more than one edition of the Working Policy is cited, the second note will add the year.
83
General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Working Policy of the General
Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, 1992-1993 ed. (Hagerstown, MD: Review & Herald, 1993),
136.
98
Working Policy, 148.

General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Working Policy of the General Conference of

Seventh-day Adventists. 1992-1993 ed. Hagerstown, MD: Review & Herald, 1993.

Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal

43
The Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal (SDA Hymnal; Washington, DC: Review & Herald,
1987), 213.
67
SDA Hymnal, 100.

The Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal. Washington, DC: Review & Herald, 1987.

A Book Review
22
John Dybdahl, review of Learning about Theology from the Third World, by William A.
Dryness, AUSS 29.2 (1991): 172–173.
44
Dybdahl, review of Learning about Theology (by Dryness), 173.

Dybdahl, John. Review of Learning about Theology from the Third World, by William A. Dryness.
AUSS 29.2 (1991): 172–173.

Note: Titled book reviews should be cited as normal journal articles.

Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual | 45

Theses and Dissertations
21
Johnson A. Leader, “How Christologies May Be Shaped by the Broader Visual Cultural
Environment” (PhD diss., Lancaster Theological Seminary, 2010), 350.
52
Leader, “Christologies May Be Shaped,” 345.

Leader, Johnson A. “How Christologies May Be Shaped by the Broader Visual Cultural
Environment.” PhD diss., Lancaster Theological Seminary, 2010.

Signed Entries in Lexicons, Dictionaries, and Encyclopedias

18
H. Simian-Yofre, “‫ֵﬠד‬,” TDOT 8:495–515.
80
Simian-Yofre, “‫ֵﬠד‬,” 8:510.

Simian-Yofre, H. “‫ֵﬠד‬.” TDOT 8:495–515.

31
Willem VanGemeren, “Isaiah,” NIEBC, 270.
72
VanGemeren, “Isaiah,” 270.

VanGemeren, Willem. “Isaiah.” NIEBC, 269–76.

Note that if the volume number is unavailable, a comma is used to separate the
encyclopedia/dictionary/lexicon title from the page number/s, as in the example above.

Unsigned Entries in Lexicons, Dictionaries, and Encyclopedias

61
BDAG, s.v. “παρρησία.”
10
BDAG, s.vv. “παρρησία,” “λεαίνω.”

Danker, Frederick W., Walter Bauer, William F. Arndt, and F. Wilbur Gingrich. Greek-English
Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. 3rd ed. Chicago:
University of Chicago Press, 2000.
12
CAD 20, s.v. “ubšukkinakku.”
20
CAD 20, s.v. “ubšukkinakku”; CAD 21, s.v. “zaqātu.”

Gelb, Ignace J., et al., eds. The Assyrian Dictionary of the Oriental Institute of the University of
Chicago. 21 vols. Chicago: The Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago, 1956–2010.

BDAG in the example is not italicized because it stands for the names of the authors rather
than the title of the material.
Only the headword (excluding the transliteration, original language, etc.) provided in the
source material should be listed as title in the footnote entry.
According to SBL, unsigned dictionaries, lexicons, and encyclopedias do not need
bibliography entries since their complete bibliographic information should already be indicated in
the list of abbreviations. In a departure from the SBL recommendation, AIIAS requires that
unsigned dictionaries, lexicons, and encyclopedias be included in the bibliography as the
AIIAS list of abbreviations is simplified in that it does not require the inclusion of full

46 | Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual

bibliographic information for all entries (see List of Abbreviations rules and principles in Chapter 8
of this document).

Language Dictionaries and Encyclopedias

Editors are not given for language dictionaries and encyclopedias. Footnote entry includes
title, edition, and s.v. “entry” (s.v. is Latin for “under the word”). Publishing information is not
given in footnotes for general dictionaries.
59
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 15th ed., s.v. “salvation.”
61
Webster’s Third New International Dictionary of the English Language Unabridged, s.v.
“theodicy.”

A Paper Presented at a Professional Society

9
Fernando Canale, “A Biblical Epistemology for Adventist Scholarship” (paper presented
at the 4th Symposium on the Bible and Adventist Scholarship, Riviera Maya, Mexico, 16–22
March 2008), 11.
11
Canale, “Biblical Epistemology,” 12.

Canale, Fernando. “A Biblical Epistemology for Adventist Scholarship.” Paper presented at the 4th
Symposium on the Bible and Adventist Scholarship. Riviera Maya, Mexico, 16–22 March
2008.

An Article in a Magazine
23
Elizabeth Viera Talbot, “Let Not Your Hearts Be Troubled,” Adventist World (July
2020): 20–21.
66
Talbot, “Let Not Your Hearts,” 20.

Talbot, Elizabeth Viera. “Let Not Your Hearts Be Troubled.” Adventist World (July 2020): 20–21.

Bible Commentaries in Numbered Series and Nonnumbered Series

8
E. A. Speiser, Genesis, AB 1 (Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1987), 132.
61
Speiser, Genesis, 90.

Speiser, E. A. Genesis. AB 1. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1987.

34
F. F. Bruce, The Book of the Acts, NICNT (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1988), 65.
78
Bruce, Acts, 66.

Bruce, F. F. The Book of the Acts. NICNT. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1988.

A Single Volume of a Multivolume Commentary

30
G. W. Grogan, Isaiah, vol. 6 of The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, ed. Frank E.
Gaebelein (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1986), 3–356.
6
Grogran, Isaiah, 333.

Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual | 47

Grogan, G. W. Isaiah. Vol. 6 of The Expositor’s Bible Commentary. Edited by Frank E. Gaebelein.
Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1986.

Seventh-day Adventist Commentary

Authors’ names are not given for this commentary.
33
“Fourteenth Year” [Ezek 40:1], SDABC 4:715.
42
“Fourteenth Year,” SDABC 4:717.
58
“Were Among Them” [Josh 10:1], SDABC 2:223.

Nichol, Francis, ed. Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary. Rev. ed. Washington, DC: Review
& Herald, 1976–1980.

Websites and Blogs

85
Daniel Howden, “Polio at Mecca Sparks Fear for Muslim Thousands,” Independent, 12
February 2005, https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/polio-at-mecca-sparks-fear-for
-muslims-thousands-5386984.html.
18
Howden, “Polio at Mecca,” para. 4.

Howden, Daniel. “Polio at Mecca Sparks Fear for Muslim Thousands.” Independent, 12 February
2005. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/polio-at-mecca-sparks-fear-for-muslims
-thousands-5386984.html

Statistical Reports
21
General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Office of Archives and Statistics,
Annual Statistical Reports (Silver Spring, MD: General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists,
1992), 16.

General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Office of Archives and Statistics. Annual

Statistical Reports. Silver Spring, MD: General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists,
1992.

Texts from the Ancient Near East

25
“Ludlul Bēl Nēmeqi,” trans. Robert D. Biggs (ANET, 365–9).
98
ANET, 365.

Pritchard, James B., ed. Ancient Near Eastern Texts Relating to the Old Testament. 3rd ed.
Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1969.
3
“Hittite Laws,” trans. Harry A. Hoffner, COS 2.19:118.
10
COS 2.19:118–19.

Hallo, William W., ed. Canonical Compositions from the Biblical World. Vol. 2 of The Context of
Scripture. Leiden: Brill, 1997.

48 | Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual

Note: For ANET and COS citations, both first and subsequent citations require only the simple
form, which includes the abbreviated title and the necessary numbers. However, if the title is
important, it may also be included but always together with the translator.

Classical Sources
(Origen, Princ. 1.1.5 [Behr])
21
Origen, Princ. 1.1.5 (Behr).
59
Origen, Princ. 2.9.2.

Origen. On First Principles. Translated by John Behr. 2 vols. OECS. Oxford: Oxford University
Press, 2017.
14
Pseudo-Ignatius, Magnesians 9.3–4 (ANF 1:62–63).
16
Pseudo-Ignatius, Magnesians 9.3–4 (ANF 1:50).

The Ante-Nicene Fathers. Edited by Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson. 1885–1887. 10 vols.
Repr., Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1994.

Classical sources are considered primary sources so they can be cited both in text and in
the footnotes.

Abbreviations for the titles of primary sources are found in SBLHS2, 8.3.

A Secondary Source
The primary source should be used if possible. Use this entry only if the primary source is
not available.
10
Clark H. Pinnock, A Defense of Biblical Infallibility (Philadelphia: Presbyterian &
Reformed,1967), quoted in Avery Dulles, Models of Revelation (Garden City, NY: Doubleday,
1983), 45.
14
Pinnock, Biblical Infallibility, 45.

Avery Dulles, Models of Revelation. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1983

Letters and E-mail

Personal letters and e-mail appear in the notes but not in the bibliography, unless it is vital
that a person who checks the bibliography be aware of them.
105
John Henry, personal communication to the author, March 23, 2009.

Letters in archival collections go in both notes and bibliography.

16
Ellen G. White to Dr. Patience Bordeau, June 8, 1905, Letter 177, 1905, Ellen G. White
Research Center, Andrews University (EGWRC-AU), Berrien Springs, MI.
127
White to Bordeau, Letter 177, 1905.

Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual | 49

White, Ellen G., to Dr. Patience Bordeau, June 8, 1905. Letter 177, 1905. Ellen G. White Research
Center, Andrews University, Berrien Springs, MI.

Manuscripts
18
Ellen G. White, “Our Opportunity to Work in the Cities of America,” Manuscript 154,
1902, Ellen G. White Research Center, Adventist International Institute of Advanced Studies
(EGWRC-AIIAS),1 Cavite, Philippines.
79
White, MS 154, 1902.

White, Ellen G. “Our Opportunity to Work in the Cities of America.” Manuscript 154, 1902. Ellen
G. White Research Center, Adventist International Institute of Advanced Studies, Cavite,
Philippines.

Class Notes, Syllabi, and Course Outlines

Class notes, syllabi, and course outlines are not anymore acceptable reference materials; in other
words, they may be included in the bibliography as materials consulted but they cannot be
referenced in the main text of your paper. This is so because these are not verifiable materials or
materials that readers can retrieve. In addition, information in syllabi and course outlines are most
often than not taken from primary sources like books and journal, among others. Students should
read and verify information in the primary sources and reference the primary sources instead.

1
The school name is not required here, but it is helpful. If additional information is available and
could be helpful, it is appropriate to include it.

50 | Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual

 Chapter 7
Introduction to APA Style In-Text Citation and References
The Applied Theology Department of the Theological Seminary uses APA style for its
research. This includes term papers and class assignments, theses, and dissertations. If you plan to
write a major paper using APA style, consider the latest edition of The Publication Manual of the
American Psychological Association an essential tool. You may also visit the official website of
APA: http://www.apastyle.org/index.aspx
Only a brief introduction to APA referencing is shown here since students are required to use
a reference management software. The AIIAS style requirements in Chapter 8 supersede the APA
manual in matters of document format. In all other matters, the APA manual is the final authority.
Students are required to use a reference management software for major papers likes theses,
projects, and dissertations. However, it will be beneficial for them to start learning and using one as
early as their first courses so that they will have mastered it by the time they write their culminating
research. AIIAS has purchased two software (Citavi and Zotero) for students to use. The Leslie
Hardinge Library has all the information and tutorials for these software. If students know or have
other such software, however, they are free to use them. Again, the use of a reference
management software is compulsory, not voluntary. However, as effective as they may be, they
are still only software that require you to operate and supply it with information. Use it properly.

In-Text Referencing
Any idea that is not original to yourself should carry a reference in your paper. The
referencing rules vary slightly depending on whether you have quoted someone’s words or merely
referred to their ideas.

How to Reference Direct Quotations

Page number information. If you use a direct quote, you must always include the page
number. The author’s name and date may appear in various positions, but the page number is
placed at the end of the quote, after the quotation marks but before the period.

“Thus, preachers committed to Gospel-centered, expository preaching operate from the

presupposition that each text bears a discernible and an organic relationship with the person
and work of Jesus Christ” (Arthur, 2011, p. 21).

LaRue (2011) says, “The most potent spiritual transformation comes from expository,
doctrinal, and Christ-centered preaching” (p. 56).
Note: If a quote includes two or more pages, use a double p before the page number (e.g., pp. 33–
34).

Block quotations. A direct quotation of 40 words or more must be formatted as a block

quotation, indented one tab position (it remains double-spaced). Punctuation after the introductory
statement is optional—it depends on what introduction is used.
White (1902) states,
In every city that is entered a solid foundation is to be laid for permanent work. The Lord’s
methods are to be followed. By doing house-to-house work, by giving Bible readings in
families, the worker may gain access to many who are seeking for truth. By opening the
Scriptures, by prayer, by exercising faith, he is to teach the people the way of the Lord. (vol.
7, p. 38)

Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual | 51

Note: In block quotations (unlike in-text quotations), the final punctuation follows the material
quoted, and is followed by the reference, without any final period.

Introducing Citations or Quotations

In-text references have two formats: narrative and parenthetical. In the narrative format, the
author is part of the narrative or the sentence grammar. So, the author appears in the running text
and the date is placed inside parentheses always right next to the author. In the parenthetical
format, both author and date are placed inside parentheses.
The two formats mentioned above are acceptable, but the ideal forms use sentence space to
discuss and analyze the quote or the citation, not to indicate who said it (the reference already
does that).
The following examples are parenthetical citations (preferred):

a) The results of one experiment (Smith, 1985) showed that “. . .” (pp. 73–75).
b) Sampling is “a process in which researchers intentionally select individuals and sites to
learn or understand the central phenomenon” (Creswell, 2014, p. 204).

If you occasionally wish to discuss the author, or wish to emphasize something about the
individual, the narrative citation would be appropriate.

c) Critics like Lopez (2016) see a significant failure of the medical model because it does
not distinguish between impairment and disability.
d) This study followed Yin’s (2017) three precautions for developing data for analysis (p.
177).
e) Merriam and Tisdell (2016) point out that “…” (p. 118).

Specific In-Text Referencing Rules

1. If information is given in the sentence, it is not repeated in the parentheses. See example d)
above.
2. The name and date can go with the page or earlier. See examples a) and b) above.
3. If the name is used in text, the date always follows it.
4. All punctuation marks are placed after the final parenthesis or at the end of the sentence.
5. When the authors Merriam and Tisdell appear in the text, the word and is written out.
When the names appear in parentheses, an ampersand (&) is used (Merriam & Tisdell).
6. What is inside the parentheses is NOT considered part of the grammar of the sentence.
Incorrect: As (Merriam & Tisdell, 2016) suggests….
Correct: As Merriam and Tisdell (2016) suggest….
7. When more than one source is given in parentheses, the sources are listed in alphabetical
order and separated by a semicolon. You should have read all the studies you include in
your citation. Even if a source lists several references, you may only list the one(s) you
read—you do not simply copy a list of references taken from someone else’s study.
8. Works by the same author are arranged chronologically. Give the author’s name only once
at the beginning and provide only the date for the subsequent works separated by a comma.
Narrative citation: Lewis (1989, 1995, in press)
Parenthetical citation: (Lewis, n.d., 1989, 1995, 2019)

52 | Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual

 9. When two or more authors with the same surname appear in the reference list, citations of
their works must include their first name initial (E. White, 1903; J. White, 1849) to avoid
confusion.
10. Letters, e-mails, conversations with the author, and other materials (class notes, course
outlines, etc.) that readers cannot retrieve must be cited as personal communication. Such
references do not appear in the reference list because, again, readers cannot retrieve them.
Give the initials with the surname and the complete date.

Narrative citation: M. Finley (personal communication, October 22, 2020) said that ….
Parenthetical citation: Evangelistic meetings are conducted every year (G. T. Ng,
personal communication, August 21, 2019).
11. Page numbers may be provided for paraphrases but it is not required. It is required,
however, for direct quotations. If a page number is not available, provide the paragraph
number (para. 5). If the paragraph number alone insufficient or may still be misleading,
provide the heading or section name (may be abbreviated if too long) and paragraph
number (“Research Design” section, para. 2).
12. All in-text citations must have a corresponding reference entry and both in-text citation and
reference entry must reconcile perfectly.

Repeated References to an Author Within a Paragraph

1. APA requires that the name and date reappear with each new paragraph.
2. A study or an author may be mentioned again within the same paragraph without repeating
the name, as long as it is clear to the reader which study is indicated. If a page number for a
direct quote is provided, however, the name of the author and the year must come with it.
3. If the name is used a second time within a paragraph in narrative citation, the year may be
omitted. The years must appear, however, if the author’s name is mentioned
parenthetically or multiple works from the same author are cited in the paper. If the
author’s name is placed within parentheses the first time, as in examples a) and b) above, it
cannot appear as he or she thereafter, since texts in parentheses are not part of your
sentence.

Secondary Source
Always indicate the source where you read a citation. If you read certain information in
someone else’s paper, you must indicate it properly as a secondary source. Citing secondary
sources is generally frowned upon, but it is acceptable for supporting works that are difficult to
find. Always try to find the original sources whenever possible. Note that the original source is
mentioned first, and then the source where you read the citation, after “as cited in.”
a) Brown (as cited in Smith, 2007) stated that . . .
b) A recent study (Johnson, as cited in Smith, 2007) points out . . .
Note: In the reference list, only the source where you found the material is listed.

Reprinted or Republished Works

The first date is that of the original publication and the second is the date it was republished,
reprinted, or published in the translated form. This information is especially useful if the study is
following a historical sequence.
a) Early research on Cerebral Palsy (Freud, 1933/1974) pointed out that . . .
b) The aim of true education is . . . (White, 1903/1952).

Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual | 53

Electronic Media
Often no page numbers are provided with electronic sources. In that case, use paragraph
numbers (preceded by “para.”) to direct the reader to quoted material. Give the nearest document
heading, and then count the paragraphs after that heading. Note that the web address (URL) does
not go in the in-text reference. It goes in the reference list.
a) As Rittenhouse (2001) aptly phrased it, “There is no need …” (para. 3).
b) “It is clear from conditions today that …” (Jacobs, 2003, Conclusion section, para. 1).

Reference List Basics

The APA Publication Manual requires a reference list at the end of the paper, where each
source actually cited in the paper must be included in the alphabetical list. No extra works are
allowed. However, APA advises that some committees may require evidence that students are
familiar with a broader spectrum of literature. If sources other than those actually cited in the paper
are included, the reference list would be titled “Bibliography.”

General Rules for Reference Lists

1. Reference lists should appear as one alphabetical list.
2. Run-over lines in references are indented by the regular default of 0.5 inch.
3. Entries are single spaced (the APA manual shows double spacing for those preparing a
journal for publication). Since you are preparing a document in final form, single
spacing, which looks nicer and saves space is used. Double space between entries.
4. One entry should not be split across two pages.
5. When an author has several works, each entry must provide the author’s name (APA
does not use the 3-em dash line or Ibid.).
6. Several references by one author are arranged by year of publication, the earliest first—
not alphabetically by title. References by the same author with the same publication date
are arranged alphabetically by title and assigned lowercase letters—a, b, c (for more
detailed examples, see References How-To below).
Smith, B. J. (2000a). Specific concerns . . .
Smith, B. J. (2000b). Trying to overcome . . .
7. For works with 20 authors, provide surnames and initials of all authors in the reference
list. The in-text citation format is the same as those with three authors.
8. For 21 authors or more, provide the surnames and initials of the first 19 authors, followed
by an ellipsis (no ampersand), then the surname and initials of the last author in the list.
The in-text citation format is the same as those with three authors.
9. Publisher names should be written exactly as they appear on the copyright page of the
cited works. Designations of business structure (e.g. Inc., Ltd.), however, are omitted.
10. Some works are published by more than one publisher. In this case, all publishers listed
in the copyright page must be included and separated by semicolons.
11. Titles and subtitles of books, chapters, reports, and articles are presented in sentence case.
Proper nouns and the first word after a colon, semicolon, or dash are capitalized.
12. Only works cited in text may appear in the reference list.

Sample Entries for In-Text Citations and References

Since this chapter is only a concise guide to APA citation and referencing, the samples
provided below are not exhaustive. They are chosen mainly because they are the most commonly
used by students. If you are using a material that is not included in the list, see the latest edition of
the APA Publication Manual.
54 | Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual
Single author entries. Single author entries precede multiple-author entries:
Alleyne, R. L. (2001).
Alleyne, R. L., & Evans, A. J. (1999).

Same authors, different year of publication. Identical author entries are arranged by year of
publication, the earliest first:
Cabading, J. R., & Wright, K. (2000).
Cabading, J. R., & Wright, K. (2001).

Same authors, same year of publication. Identical author entries with the same publication date
are arranged alphabetically by the title. Lower case letters (a, b, c) are placed immediately after
the year within the parentheses:
Baheti, J. R. (2001a). Control . . .
Baheti, J. R. (2001b). Roles of . . .

Different subsequent authors. These are arranged alphabetically by the surname of the second
author or third author (if the second author is the same), and so on:
Gosling, J. R., Jerald, K., & Belfar, S. F. (2000).
Gosling, J. R., & Tevlin, D. F. (1996).

Hayward, D., Firsching, A., & Brown, J. (1999).

Hayward, D., Firsching, A., & Smigel, J. (1999).

Different authors with the same surname. Arrange alphabetically by the first name initial.
Mathur, A. L., & Wallston, J. (2009).
Mathur, S. E., & Ahlers, R. J. (1998).

One Author
Lewis, C. S. (1952). Mere Christianity. HarperOne.

Narrative citation: Lewis (1952)

Parenthetical citation: (Lewis, 1952)

Two Authors
Merriam, S. B., & Tisdell, E. J. (2015). Qualitative research: A guide to design and implementation
(4th ed.). Jossey-Bass.

Narrative citation: Merriam and Tisdell (2015)

Parenthetical citation: (Merriam & Tisdell, 2015)

Three or More Authors

Towns, E., Wagner, C. P., & Rainer, T. S. (1998). The everychurch guide to growth: How any
plateaued church can grow. Broadman and Holman Publishers.

Narrative citation: Towns et al. (1998)

Parenthetical citation: (Towns et al., 1998)

Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual | 55

Note: The shortened form (with et al.) is used even on the first citation. In cases where ambiguity
results from the use of the shortened form, write out as many names as needed to distinguish the
different reference materials that are almost identical.

Author as Publisher
American Psychiatric Association. (1990). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders
(3rd ed.). Author.

Edition Other Than the First or Book in a Series

Miles, M. B., Huberman, A. M., & Saldaña, J. (2014). Qualitative data analysis: A methods
sourcebook (3rd ed.). SAGE.

Edited Book (Editor as Author)

Ashford, B. R. (Ed.). (2011). Theology and practice of mission: God, the church, and the nations. B
& H Academic.

Authored Book With Editor Credited on the Book Cover

Kant, I. (1996). Critique of pure reason (P. Guyer & A. W. Wood, Eds.). Cambridge University
Press.

Chapter in an Edited Book

Towns, C. V. (2004). An effective evangelism view. In G. McIntosh (Ed.), Evaluating the Church
Growth Movement: Five views (pp. 29–53). Zondervan.

Translation
Confucius. (2008). The analects (D. C. Lau, Trans.; Chinese-English ed.). Zhonghua Book.

Book in a Foreign Language

Kleinert, U., & Kühn, R. (2011). Und Sie zogen aus in Ein wüstes Land: Auf den Spuren der Bibel
Durch den Sinai [And they went out into a barren land: On the trail of the Bible through
the Sinai]. Wissenverbindet.

Book Review
Rah, S. (2010, April). Heroic tales from distant lands [Review of the book Kingdom without
borders, by M. Adeney]. Christianity Today.

Gunton, C. (1991). Review of The concept of the knowledge of God, by Brian Haymes. Baptist
Quarterly, 34(3), 139.

Article in a Magazine
Loveless, W. (1998, June). The essence of good preaching. Ministry Magazine. Retrieved from
https://www.ministrymagazine.org/archive/1998/06/the-essence-of-good-preaching

Talbot, Elizabeth Viera. (2020, July). Let not your hearts be troubled. Adventist World.

Article in a Newspaper
Gardiner, B. (2010, April 15). Emphasis on ethics. The Wall Street Journal.
56 | Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual
Kershaw, A. (2010, May 5). Students hit by lecturers’ strike. The Independent. Retrieved from
http://www.independent.co.uk

Article in a Journal
Rosario, A. H., Aguillon, C. J., Opao, R. G., Opao, S. R., & Adil, J. V. (2014). Holding on to their
faith: The lived experiences of Adventist Church members in South East Asia.
International Journal, 17(1), 17–37.

Montgomery, R. L. (1986). Receptivity to an outside religion: Light from interaction between

sociology and missiology. Practical Anthropology, 14(3), 287–299. https://doi.org/10.1177
/009182968601400303

Multivolume Work
White, E. G. (2000). Mind, character, and personality (Vols. 1–2). Review and Herald Publishing
Association.

Specific Volume in a Multivolume Work

White, E. G. (1902). Testimonies for the church (Vol. 7). Pacific Press.

Goldingay, J. (2006). Old Testament theology: Vol. 2. Israel’s faith. IVP Academics.

Chapter in a Volume of a Multivolume Work

Schabas, M. (2019). Hume. In S. Gaukroger (Ed.), The Philosophy of Knowledge: A history; Vol.
3. Knowledge in the Modern Philosophy (pp. 129–146). Bloomsbury Academic.

Note: The first title is the chapter title, the second is the title of the multivolume work, and the last
title is the title of the specific volume.

Signed Dictionary, Lexicon, or Encyclopedia

Fortune, A. W. (1979). Clothes, rending of. In G. W. Bromiley (Ed.), The International Standard
Bible Encyclopedia (Vol. 1, p. 725). William B. Eerdmans Publishing.

Notice that the format is the same with the reference for chapter in an edited book, because entries
have specific authors and the entire work has an editor.

Unsigned Dictionary, Lexicon, or Encyclopedia

Horn, S. H. (1979). Fourteenth year. In Seventh-day Adventist Bible Dictionary (Rev. ed.). Review
and Herald Publishing Association.

Secondary Source
Burrill, R. (2004). Walking the dead: Returning plateaued and declining churches to vibrancy.
Review and Herald Publishing Association.

Narrative citation: Dudley (as cited in Burrill, 2004)

Parenthetical citation: (Dudley, as cited in Burrill, 2004)

Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual | 57

Paper Presented at a Conference
Canale, F. (2008, March 16–22). A biblical epistemology for Adventist scholarship [Paper
presentation]. 4th Symposium on the Bible and Adventist Scholarship, Riviera Maya,
Mexico.

Website of Organization or Governmental Agency

General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. (n.d.). Fundamental beliefs. https://www.adventist.
org/beliefs/fundamental-beliefs/

United Nations. (1948). Universal declaration of human rights. https://www.ohchr.org/EN/UDHR/

Documents/UDHR_Translations/eng.pdf

Unpublished Thesis or Dissertation

Činčala, P. (2002). A theoretical proposal for reaching irreligious Czech people through a mission
revitalization movement [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. Andrews University.

Thesis or Dissertation Published Online

Askeland, K., Bull, T., & Mittelmark, M. B. (2010). Understanding how the poorest can thrive: A
case study of the Mangyan women on Mindoro, Philippines [Master’s thesis, University of
Bergen].
http://dspace.uib.no/bitstream/handle/1956/4277/69634922.pdf?sequence=1
&isAllowed=y
Morris, J. M. (2009). An evaluation of Gospel receptivity with a view toward prioritizing the
engagement of groups and individuals for evangelism and church planting (UMI No.
3388877) [Doctoral dissertation, Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary]. ProQuest
Dissertations and Theses.

Online Encyclopedia or Dictionary

Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved December 13, 2018, from
https://www.merriam-webster.com/

Encyclopedia Britannica. (n.d.). Britannica.com encyclopedia. Retrieved May 5, 2019, from

https://www.britannica.com/

Note: The retrieval date is necessary only for online materials which are continuously updated and
whose versions are not archived.

Software
Nie, N. H., Bent, D. H., & Hull C. H. (2020). SPSS (Version 27.0) [ Computer software]. Statistics.
https://www.ibm.com/analytics/spss-statistics-software

YouTube Video or Other Streaming Video

Adventist News Network. (2020, October 24). ADRA Responds to the rising crisis in Azerbaijan
and Armenia; and other world news [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com
/watch?v=LmifFIXuKTM

58 | Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual

Unpublished Manuscript
Bolden, R., & Gosling, J. (2004). Leadership and management competencies: Lessons from the
national occupational standards [Unpublished manuscript]. University of Exeter, Exeter,
UK.

How to Reference Electronic Media

The variety of materials available via the Internet can present challenges for referencing
because information is frequently missing. Internet sources should provide the same information as
any other reference, if it is available, and a URL address. The retrieval date is no longer generally
required. Specific suggestions include
1. Direct your reader as closely as possible to the information being cited (the actual link)—
rather than the home page or menu pages.
2. Test the hyperlink in your reference list before the final submission of the document. If the
hyperlink does not work, your reader will not be able to access the material you cited.
Always retain copies of downloaded material until your paper is approved.
3. Do not put a period after a hyperlink.
4. Break a long hyperlink after punctuation, never within a word or number element. Use
shift + enter to move the text to a new line.
5. When there is a high possibility of change (personal websites, blogs, online discussions)
the retrieval date should be included.
Juke, A. (n.d.). My opinion about homework. Retrieved January 13, 2010, from
http://www.myopinion.com
6. Remove the underlining and blue color from hyperlinks before you submit your paper.
7. Both DOIs and URLs are acceptable but only one is needed for an online material.
8. Both DOIs and URLs must be presented as hyperlinks.
9. The phrase “Retrieved from” before the hyperlink is unnecessary.
10. If the DOI is available, you must provide it, regardless of whether you read the print or the
electronic version.

Missing Information
No Date
Bligh, B. (n.d.). Cherish the earth. Macmillan.

No Author
Handbook of research. (1998). College Board Publications.

Wikipedia
Wikipedia is not acceptable reference material. Although it is called an encyclopedia, its
contents and information are not totally reliable because they can be edited by anybody. Wikipedia
may be a good starting point for information on a topic, but it should not be used as an academic
source.

Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual | 59

 Chapter 8
AIIAS Standards
The format requirements in the Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing
manual take precedence over requirements in the APA or SBL handbook of style for formatting
purposes. In this chapter, the AIIAS standards are summarized and illustrated for the convenience
of the researcher.

Specifications
Paper: Letter size (8 ½ x 11 inches), 20+ pound (subs) or 80+ g/m2, high whiteness/brightness.
Font: A proportional, serif font is required (Times New Roman), except for Hebrew and Greeks
texts where you should use SBL Hebrew and SBL Greek respectively (since the SBL Hebrew font
uses puncta extraordinaria above and below the level of most other marks, it will automatically
increase the linespacing. To keep the linespacing at double spaced, use ‘Exactly’ 24pt in the
‘Spacing’ Paragraph-tab in Word). Text in the body and in the footnotes should be 12 points. Data
in tables and figures may be as small as 10 points, but this size should be used consistently. Table
titles and figure captions remain 12 points.
Justification: Justification should be left (not justified) for all body text.
Print: Original must be dark enough to photocopy well. Laser printout is recommended for both
preservation and readability. Copies must be difficult to tell from the original. They must be clear,
straight, legible, without smudges, and must photocopy well.
Margins: 1.5 inches left, 1.0 inch top, right, and bottom margin for all pages. The initial page of a
chapter or a major section (Table of Contents, Bibliography) has a 2.0-inch top margin. The page
number should be at 0.9 inch from the bottom of the page (see Chapter 9 for details).
Page Numbering: Numbers are placed at the bottom center, in the same font/size as the text.
Line Spacing: Generally, the text is double spaced. Titles, tables, and headings have specific rules
for spacing, which need to be followed carefully and consistently. Check the appropriate sections
of this chapter. A generic summary is as follows:
single space: reference list/bibliography, footnotes, tables (usually), headings (internal
spacing), table/figure notes, between table title and table, SBL block quotes
double space: Title page, body text, after headings, between reference/footnote entries,
between main divisions of table of contents and subsections, lists of tables/figures.
triple space: Before major headings (levels 1 and 2) preceded by text, after chapter titles
two double spaces: Before/after tables/figures
Organization of Research: Research contains preliminary pages, body, and references presented
in a required order and are counted and/or numbered according to specific rules.
preliminary pages: Use lower case roman numerals. Every page after the abstract is
counted, but not all have a number printed on them. A blank page begins and ends the work.
1. Abstract (approximately 350 words or 2 pages)
2. Title page (page i, but the number does not show)
3. Copyright page
4. Approval page (with original signatures in black ink)
5. Dedication page (optional—if you use it, keep it short)
6. Table of contents (page numbering shows from here through acknowledgements)
7. List of tables (if 5 or more are used)
8. List of figures (if 5 or more are used; combine on one page with Tables if possible)

60 | Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual

 9. List of symbols and/or abbreviations (if 5 or more are used at least 3 times each)
10. Acknowledgements (2 pages only)
body of thesis/dissertation: The body begins with page 1.
11. Body of thesis/dissertation/project (divided into chapters)
references/bibliography:
12. Appendix(es) with title(s) for each appendix (numbers not shown on title page)
13. References/Bibliography
14. Curriculum vitae (one page only)

Sample Pages With Detailed Explanations

An old adage tells us that a picture is worth a thousand words. This section presents sample
pages, which are pictures of what your AIIAS paper should look like. The chapter shows samples
of all types of pages required for a thesis, project or dissertation, with tips on how to format them
correctly. These pages indicate the AIIAS required format for theses, projects and dissertations.
The format of these pages is also appropriate for other written papers. The recommendations are
mandatory except where otherwise specifically indicated. Not every study necessitates the
inclusion of all the sample pages illustrated. For example, studies do not always contain tables or
figures. However, every preliminary page necessitated by the nature of the study must follow the
indicated form precisely.
These sample pages appear in the same order in which they will be placed in the final
thesis, project or dissertation. Detailed explanations will be placed on the left-hand pages, with
sample pages on the right throughout this chapter. Where there are differences, both APA and SBL
examples will be given. Explanations marked with gray circles are illustrated on the sample
pages.

Abstract
The project, thesis, or dissertation begins with the abstract, which is a brief, comprehensive
summary of the contents of the document. The abstract must follow AIIAS standards and include
the required information. There are no page numbers on the abstract.
Abstracts must not be longer than 2 pages. An abstract that is dense with information,
concise, and quickly comprehensible will increase the audience and future retrievability of the
document. Embedding keywords in the abstract will enhance other researchers’ ability to find it in
a database. An abstract may or may not have titled sections.
Abstracts for an empirical study include
The problem A clear statement of the purpose of the study—in one sentence if possible
The method A clear but brief description of the subjects and pertinent characteristics
(number, age, gender) and the methods that were used (data-gathering
procedures, instruments, etc.)
The results The major findings, including statistical significance levels
Conclusions A list of conclusions, implications, recommendations, and applications
Abstracts for a theoretical or philosophical study include
The topic A clear statement of what the study is about—in one sentence if possible
The purpose A statement that describes the organizing construct and scope of the paper
The sources An indication of the basic literature used and/or personal observations
Conclusions A statement of conclusions reached with implications or applications

Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual | 61

 11. The abstract begins 2.0 inches from the top of the page, the same as all other chapter or
major section headings. The abstract pages are neither counted nor numbered.

22. The title is all capitals, bold: THESIS ABSTRACT, PROJECT ABSTRACT, APPLIED
RESEARCH DISSERTATION ABSTRACT, or DISSERTATION ABSTRACT.
Following are details about your degree and your school.

33. The details of your degree should include your emphasis (for project and applied research
dissertation), or concentration (for thesis and dissertation).

44. Single space within headings, double space between them.

54. The title of the research is block indented and all capital letters.

66. Use the exact headings and information given here. The date completed is the defense date.

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1

Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual | 63

Title Page
A title page must appear on all papers. Even class papers require the use of the AIIAS
title page. The format is the same for any paper, except for the name of the department and the
degree. Watch carefully for capitalization rules and follow the AIIAS format and wording exactly.

11. The title page is page i, but the number does not appear on the page. All preliminary pages
after this are counted, but some are not numbered.

22. The date used on the title page is the month and year of the defense, which must be exactly
the same as the date printed on the abstract page.

33. The title page is generally double spaced and approximately centered on the page.

44. The first line should begin 2.0 inches from the top of the page, with the title beginning at
4.0 inches, the description of the research beginning at 6.0 inches, and the word by
beginning at 8.0 inches.

55. The longest line must not be more than one half (or 3.0 inches) of the width of the line.
Line breaks should come at logical points, and a general inverted pyramid shape should be
attempted.

66. The title should be as short as possible (10–12 words is ideal) but should clearly state what
the study is about. Titles of only two lines must be double spaced. If the title is more than
two lines long, it should be single spaced. Abbreviations/acronyms are not to be used (with
exceptions).

7. Follow the wording and the capitalization rules exactly. If you have questions, check with
the dean’s secretary or the editor.

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 3
6

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Copyright Page (Creative Commons Licensing)
Creative Commons is a parallel structure to copyright law that is used extensively for academic
works. The license is selected and noted by the author at the front of the work, and does not require
the intervention of any external body. While copyrighting of a thesis or dissertation is entirely
optional, and your work does have some rights just because your name is on the cover, AIIAS
recommends Creative Commons Licensing as a basic level of protection for AIIAS students.
The licensing scheme is summarized in the table below. AIIAS recommends Attribution-Non-
Commercial, Share Alike as the default option for theses and dissertations, but students are free to
select any of these options, in consultation with their research committee chair. Licenses below the
dark line on the table do not allow others to use your work commercially.
A sample copyright page is given for the AIIAS default option. For the text for any other
license, go to http://creativecommons.org/about/licenses and select “view the license deed” for
your preferred license. Copy that text to the copyright page of your thesis/project/dissertation.
Table 7
Creative Commons Licensing Scheme

License Free to Conditions Implications

Attribution Share Credit must be given as Free to do anything to or with the
Remix specified by licensor work as long as credit is given to
(cc by) Sell the licensor.
Attribution Share Credit must be given as Free to do anything provided that
Share Alike Remix specified by licensor any adaptation of the work carries
Sell Any derivative work must the same license as the original
(cc by-sa) carry the same license work.
Attribution Share Credit must be given as You cannot remix the work; you
No Derivatives Sell specified by licensor can only use it as it is or sell
No derivative works something that includes it, if you
(cc by-nd) give credit to the licensor of the
work.
Attribution Share Credit must be given as Free to do anything with the work
Noncommercial Remix specified by licensor as long as credit is given and it is
Derivative works may not for non-commercial purposes.
(cc by-nc) be sold
Attribution Share Credit must be given as Free to do anything provided it is
Noncommercial Remix specified by licensor for noncommercial use and that
Share Alike Any derivative works may any adaptation of the work carries
not be sold, and must carry the same license as the original
(cc by-nc-sa) the same license work.
Attribution Share Credit must be given as You cannot remix the work. You
Noncommercial specified by licensor may use it as it is, but may not
No Derivatives Work may not be sold, and adapt a survey or table for your
you may not create use without specific additional
derivative works based on permission. As always, you must
the original give credit to the source. You
(cc by-nc-nd)
may not sell this work or use it
for commercial purposes.

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Key
Share: To copy, distribute, and transmit the work
Remix: To adapt, add to, or restructure the work
To give credit: Credit must be given as to the source of an idea in the manner specified by the
licensor, but not in any way to suggest that the licensor endorses you or your use of the
work

Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual | 67

Approval Page

1. The title begins at 2.0 inches from the top of the page.

22. This page is not numbered but it is counted.

3. The number of signatures on this page depends on the makeup of the student’s committee
and the degree sought. Work closely with the dean’s secretary to prepare this page correctly.
The original approval page is included in the student’s thesis/project/dissertation.

4. When all committee members have signed (the editor must sign the approval for copying
and binding before the dean and the chair sign the approval page), the research is considered
completed, and the document is ready for copying and binding.

45. The date on the approval page is the date the dean signs, as opposed to the date on the
abstract page and the title page, which is the date of the defense.

Dedication (optional)
If you make a dedication, keep it brief and center it on the page. This page has no printed
number.

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 2 inches

2 4

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Table of Contents
Any paper longer than 20 pages should have a table of contents. This can be generated
automatically or manually, but must be done carefully, as many revisions are frequently required in
this section.

11. The table of contents begins with headings of pages that come after the table of contents in
your manuscript. Earlier pages may have headings of the same level, but they are not
included in the table of contents list.

22. While the page count begins with the title page, the actual printed numbers begin with the
table of contents. All preliminary pages following the table of contents have lower case
roman numerals at the bottom center of each page.

3
3. The table of contents must reflect only the first three levels of subheadings used.

4. All entries must reconcile accurately (word-for-word, including punctuation) with the
headings and page numbers in the text. For this reason, the table of contents should be the
last thing checked before printing. The wording of the subheads in the table of contents
should contain exactly the same wording as in the actual subheads of the paper.

5.
5 Heading entries are aligned by levels, each level one tab stop (usually 0.3 inch or 4
character spaces) indented further than the one before.

6
6. Dot leaders are placed between the heading and its corresponding page number. For
aesthetics and neatness, there should at least be four character spaces (0.3 inch) between
the last dot leader and the first digit of the page number. If you do not use automatic table
of contents generation, define a tab stop with dot leaders so they are uniform (see computer
tips chapter).

7
7. Run-over lines should be hanging indented 0.3 inch or 4 character spaces; text should not
extend beyond the last three dot leaders.

8. Dot leaders must be aligned. Page numbers must be aligned at the units/ones digit.

99. Table of contents entries for chapter headings and other major section headings are
uppercase, flush left, single-spaced if there are run-over lines, and separated from
subheading entries by a blank line.

10.
10 Subheading entries are title case and single-spaced.

11.
11 Double space between appendix entries.

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 1

10

7
7

6
2

11

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List of Tables (if required)

1. When five or more tables appear in your text, include a list of tables.

2.
2 The title begins 2.0 inches from the top of the page, as all other sections.

3. If both the list of tables and the list of figures can fit comfortably on one page, this is
preferred.

4.
4 The titles for lists of tables, figures, and abbreviations are bold with capital letters, like any
chapter title, with a triple space after.

5. The wording of the titles of tables in the list should correspond exactly with that used in the
tables as they appear in the text.

6.
6 Each entry in the list of tables/figures should be title case, single spaced, with double
spacing between entries.

7. Table and figure numbers are included in the list of tables and figures. Note that the dot
after the numbers must line up.

List of Figures (if required)

8. When five or more figures (or illustrations) are used in your text, a list of figures is
required.

9. The wording in the list of figures should correspond exactly with the title that appears
beneath the figure in the main text.

10. If the legend is expanded to give further explanatory information, the expanded portion is
not included in the list.

11. As for any other title in the table of contents, if the figure/table title is too long to fit on one
11
line, allow for at least four to five dots of the dot leaders; the run-over line should be
hanging indented four character spaces (or 0.3 inch).

12. As in the table of contents, there should be at least four characters (0.3 inch) of space between
12
the end of the dot leaders and the page numbers, which should be flush with the right margin.

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 2

11

12

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List of Abbreviations

1. An APA paper that uses five or more abbreviations at least three times each must have a
list of abbreviations. This is, however, required for SBL papers where most secondary
sources must be abbreviated, in addition to other abbreviations that students generate or
use. This list must be simplified, which means that it does not need to include the full
bibliographic information of unsigned materials, as opposed to the SBL recommendation.
This is so that both APA and SBL papers have a uniform list of abbreviation format.

2
2. The title begins at 2.0 inches and the list is double spaced between items.

3. When a list of abbreviations is included in the paper, the list is arranged alphabetically
according to the abbreviation.

4.
4 The abbreviations (usually in capitals) appear in the left-hand column, with the source they
stand for in the right-hand column. Do not add punctuation or anything additional.

5. The capitalization and type face (roman or italics) of the abbreviations and sources they
stand for must correspond exactly.

Acknowledgements (optional)
This is the place to thank those who have helped you and supported you in this research. It is
appropriate, but not required. If you write an acknowledgements section, keep it to a maximum of
two pages.

6.
6 The title, ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, begins 2.0 inches from the top of the page, as all
other sections.

7. Acknowledgements should include committee members and family/friends who have

supported you during your research.

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Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual | 75

Text
All pages of the text and all reference materials that follow are numbered with consecutive
arabic numerals. The text is generally double spaced throughout, except SBL style block
quotations, some lists, headings, tables, and figures (see details below). Chapter numbers are
written in arabic numbers. The text should be organized logically according to the nature of the
study. Empirical research often has a typical five-chapter model.
Introduction Explains the goals of the study and an idea of what follows; usually titled Chapter 1.
Body of Paper Describes the study, including a review of previous research and for empirical
studies, the results and an interpretive discussion. The organization will vary with
the discipline, but arguments must be logically presented and supported with facts.
Conclusions At the close, the principal findings are briefly stated. The conclusion contains the
final discussion of the findings and implications of the study, with recommenda-
tions for further research. In short papers, the introduction and conclusion may not
have chapter status. If one is a chapter, the other should be also.

Lists
A numbered list in the text alerts readers to the organization of your ideas. In any list, items
must be parallel, both grammatically and conceptually. If you do not wish to indicate order or
priority, a bulleted list is an acceptable alternative. A list in a paragraph may be indicated by
lowercase letters enclosed in parentheses: e.g., (a) with another person, (b) alone.
1. Spacing. Lists are usually double spaced like the rest of the text, but may be single
spaced (perhaps with double spacing between items) if it will increase readability.
2. Capitalization. Items in a vertical list should begin with a capital letter, and if they are
sentences, end with a period.
3. Numeration. Arabic numerals should be used, followed by a period. If the list includes
two-digit numbers, the decimal points should be aligned. Bullet points may be used to
avoid the appearance of order in a truly unranked list. This may be done, however, with
the permission of the research committee chair.
4. Format. Run-over lines should be indented to the same tab stop (hanging indent) as the
first line of text. This numbered list is an example of correct list formatting.

Headings
In a manuscript or research paper, headings serve as an outline, showing how the study is
organized. These subheadings must be formatted properly and used in the correct order.
1. Headings should be concise but descriptive. Generally, a section should have at least
two to three paragraphs. There are exceptions, but there can never be three successive
headings.
2. If a section is divided, it must have at least two subsections. Only one subsection under
a heading level is unacceptable.
3
3. A chapter title begins at 2.0 inches from the top of the page, and should have a double
space between chapter number and title, and a triple space between the title and the text.
4. Abbreviations are rarely used in titles and headings, and words may not be hyphenated
at the end of a line. Headings generally have little or no punctuation.
5. The first two heading levels are written in title case (also called headline style), with the
major words capitalized. The last three levels (3, 4, and 5) are in sentence style (the first
word and proper nouns are capitalized), ending with a period. See examples on p. 86.

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6.
6 Heading levels 1 and 2 cannot extend beyond one half (or 3.0 inches) the width of the
line. A long heading must be broken into two lines, single spaced, with the first line
usually longer than the second (see examples on pp. 79 & 83).
7. At least two lines of text must appear after the heading at the bottom of a page.
8. As much as possible, use a maximum of three levels of subheadings; more can be
complicated and confusing.

2 inches

3
Single
Space

see p. 82

Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual | 77

Sample Headings
Below are samples and explanations for how to create each level of subheading in an
AIIAS research paper.

Table 8
Heading Levels

CHAPTER 1
Level 0
(centered, all capitals, bold)
INTRODUCTION

Existing Cross-Cultural Mission Level 1

Approaches (centered, title case, bold)

Level 2
Kinship in the Exilic Period
(left margin, title case, bold)

God and disabilities. What role does God play in Level 3

(indented, bold, sentence case,
disability? Does He purposely allow . . . ending with a period)

Sons of prophets. The study also seeks to trace Level 4

(indented, bold, sentence case,
relationship, conduct, and kinship in . . . italics, ending with a period)

Ministering to people’s needs. Jesus went about Level 5

(indented, italics, sentence
ministering to people’s needs. He healed the . . . case, ending with a period)

Heading Spacing
Below is a summary of how much space should go before or after each heading.
Two Double Spaces (Three Blank Lines)
Before and after tables and figures
Triple Space (Two Blank Lines)*
1. Before major (level 1 and 2) headings that are preceded by text
2. After chapter titles and section headings (table of contents, reference list, etc.)
Double Space (One Blank Line)
3. Between lines of a two-line title on the title page
4. Between major headings and text or consecutive headings with no intervening text
5. Between body text and subheads that end with a period
6. Between table number and table title
No Blank Line (Single Space)
7. Between lines of a title (chapter title, table title, or subhead) when it is more than
one line long
8. Between table title and table

*Triple spacing can be achieved automatically; when you modify the levels of headings in the
styles menu (see p. 94), go to Format, choose Paragraph, and in Spacing, opt for 24 pt Before
(also 24 pt After for triple spacing after chapter/section [level 0] headings).

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 Triple
Space

Double 6
Space
see p. 77

Double
Space

Triple
Space

Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual | 79

Footnotes
Different word processors deal slightly differently with footnotes. The student is not required
to reprogram the computer to meet an arbitrary standard, but it is very important to be consistent.
1. Footnote size is the same as the body text. Footnotes are single spaced with a double space
between them
22. Footnotes are indented the same as a paragraph or a block quotation—usually 0.5 inch.

3. Footnotes are numbered consecutively from the beginning to the end of the chapter. A
new chapter begins again with footnote number 1.
4. A footnote must begin on the page it is cited. It should begin and end on the same page
whenever possible. If there is no room for it on one page, transfer a line or two of text to
the next page so that the footnote falls on a page with more space. A very long footnote
may appropriately break over more than one page.
55. The computer will put a separator line before a footnote. The length of this line is not
important, but it is usually about 20 spaces.
6. The separator line may or may not have a blank line after it before the first footnote,
depending on the computer software and settings used. Both ways are acceptable (with or
without a blank line before the first note), but the document must be consistent from
beginning to end.
7 When a footnote is continued from one page to the next, the computer may make this
7.
separator line the full length of the line. This is perfectly acceptable, as it indicates a
continued footnote, provided the footnote should continue on the new page.
8. A footnote reference number must not appear anywhere in titles or headings; place it in
an appropriate location within the paragraph. Whenever possible, a footnote number
should be placed preferably at the end of a sentence.

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Tables
Tables are efficient in presenting a large amount of data in a small space, where exact
numerical values are shown and data are displayed in columns and rows, which aid comparison.
11. Titles. Table titles are placed above the table. Tables are numbered consecutively in the
order they are mentioned in the text (e.g., Table 3). Do not use suffix letters to number
tables. In the appendix, tables are numbered using the capital letter of the appendix (e.g.,
Table C1). The table number is followed by a double space, then the table title, then a
single space before the table. Table titles are italicized, flush left, single-spaced, 12 pts,
title case. The table title is not restricted to half the length of the line.
2. Lines. Use horizontal lines to separate table title from the headings, the headings from the
body of the table, and the body from the table notes; generally, all other horizontal lines are
removed unless they are necessary for readability. Do not use vertical rules in tables.
Space above and below horizontal lines should be uniform across all tables.
3. Spacing. Tables may be single or double-spaced, based on readability and good taste.
Vertical spacing can be adjusted by using format/paragraph/spacing before and after, and
adding 2 or 3 points above and below each paragraph. Be consistent throughout the paper.
4 Alignment. Table content may be centered or flush left or right, depending on readability
4.
and good taste (but be consistent). Decimal points in a column must be aligned. Run-over
lines in word entries may be indented by two spaces. There should at least be three charac-
ter spaces between the longest word in a column and the next column. A table should fill
the width of the page. If data are limited, extend the table lines and keep data to the left.
55. Capitalization. Column headings and text entries/table items are sentence case.
6. Font. The same typeface and font size used for the main body text should also be used for
tables. However, for tables with a large amount of data, a smaller font size may be used
(never less than 10 points). In this case, the same font size should be consistently used for
all tables. Note: Font size for table titles should remain at 12 pts.
Placement of Tables. Place table(s) either at the top or at the bottom of a page, near (but not
before) the paragraph where first referred to and discussed. If only two or three lines of text fit on a
page with a table/between tables, move the text to another page. Do not split a table across two
pages unless it is larger than one page. Tables on a page with text or another table must be
preceded/followed by two double spaces.
77. Landscape Tables. Large tables or figures may be placed in landscape orientation. The
table number and title should be closest to the 1.5-inch left margin (the binding side). The
page number remains oriented in the same way as all other page numbers on pages with
portrait (vertical) orientation.
88. Continued Tables. A table may be continued over two or more pages. However, a table
that is continued must start at the very top of the page. On the second page, Table X
(continued) appears as well as the title for the continued table and the table headings, and
(table continues) appears at the bottom of the first page of the table.
99. Notes. For APA, table notes begin with the word Note below the table, after a blank line. A
smaller font size (as small as 9 points.) may be used, but be consistent. Arrange the notes
in the following order: general note (refers to the whole table), specific note (refers to part
of the table), probability note. Tables reproduced from another source must be properly
referenced in the note, giving credit to the source (see example on p. 77). For SBL, table
notes must appear in the footnotes.
10. Introducing Tables. Tables must be introduced by number before they appear in the text.
Discussing Tables. Use the text to highlight important aspects of a table, or discuss possible
implications. Do not simply repeat the table information in the text. Table discussion should
happen in plain English, not statistical jargon, and should highlight the meaning and the
implications of the findings, not merely the numeric results.

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 6
see p. 77
see p. 77

8
7

Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual | 83

Figures
Any type of illustration that is not a table is called a figure. A figure may be a chart, graph,
photograph, drawing, or other depiction. Most guidelines for figures are similar to those for tables.
11. Titles. Figures in the main body are numbered (use arabic numerals) consecutively in the
order in which they are first mentioned in text. The number and caption or figure title are
written below the figure in italics, and flushed left, ending with a period (e.g., Figure 3.);
the caption is written right after the figure number, not italicized, sentence case, and
ending with a period. Figure number and title/caption are both 12 points.
22. Placement of Figures. On a page, place figure(s) either at the top or at the bottom, near
(but not before) the paragraph where first referred to and discussed. Do not place only a
few lines of text on a page with a figure; if only a small amount of text fits, leave the
figure alone on its own page. Two double spaces are used before and after all figures
within the text.
3. Discussion. As with tables, the text should expand, explore, and highlight the most
interesting parts of the figure. It should not merely repeat the information included in the
figure. The figure must be mentioned by name in the text before it appears on the page.
44. Notes. Notes for figures follow the same style as table notes (see above, p. 83). Figures
reproduced from another source must be properly referenced in the note, giving credit to
the source (see examples, p. 85). The note should appear below the figure title for APA
and in the footnotes for SBL.
5. Readability. All diagrams, drawings, and figures must be clear, sharp, and large enough
to be readable. A figure may be reduced (but still readable) to accommodate the caption.
Landscape Orientation. The page number for landscape tables/figures should be in the same
position as other pages in the text (portrait orientation). For tips on how to do this (and other
formatting) on the computer, see Chapter 9.

TABLE/FIGURE REPRINTS FROM ANOTHER SOURCE:

From a Periodical (journal/magazine):

Note. From “The Home School Partnership: Learning to Share Accountability,” by R. D. Strom,
2001, Journal of Adventist Education, 52(2), pp. 23–26, 38.
From a Book:
Note. Adapted from Handbook for Writers (p. 759), by J. Ruszkiewicz, C. Friend, and M. Hairston,
2007, Pearson Prentice Hall.
From an Internet Source:
Note. From A New Generation of Evidence: The Family Is Critical to Student Achievement, by A.
T. Henderson and N. Berla, 1994, National Committee for Citizens in Education, retrieved from
http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED375968.pdf

Note: This format in citing figure and table source only applies to APA. Sources of tables and
figures in SBL should appear in the footnotes and formatted as any other footnote entry.

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Appendixes
The appendix contains materials that are not essential to the paper but that are useful to the
reader, often including questionnaires, correspondence, additional data/analyses, original
transcriptions, etc.
11. Appendix Titles. The appendixes follow the text and are numbered with arabic letters (A,
B, C). Appendix titles are bold, and 2.0 inches from the top of the page, like other chapter
title pages. Each appendix is listed separately by letter in the table of contents. Examples:
APPENDIX A APPENDIX B APPENDIX C

CORRESPONDENCE QUESTIONNAIRES RAW DATA

2. Reference to Appendix Material. Like tables and figures, EVERY appendix MUST be
mentioned at least once in the text, to draw the reader’s attention to its existence. It is also
good to indicate the purpose of making the material available (e.g., for a more complete
discussion of this anomaly, see Appendix C).
3. Appendix Organization. Grouping like materials into one appendix is recommended
unless there are very few items. There is no required order, but materials are usually
organized in the order in which they are mentioned in text.
44. Cover Sheets. Cover sheets are usually used to identify and/or group appendix materials.
The appendix title and number/letter appear EITHER on the cover sheet (5 inches from the
top of the paper) before each appendix, OR at the top of the first page of the appendix (not
both places). Cover sheets are counted, but page numbers do NOT appear on them.
55. Do I Need Cover Sheets? Cover sheets are necessary if you have an instrument, letter, or
other document which doesn’t have room for the appendix title at the top of it. If NONE of
your appendixes require cover sheets, you may put the appendix labels at the top of the
first page of every appendix. If ONE of them needs a cover sheet, however, they all should
have a cover sheet, for uniformity.
6. Page Numbering. If page numbers already appear on the appendix material, place your
new page numbers in the bottom right-hand corner in square brackets.
7. Spacing/Format. Appendixes are ideally double-spaced and with the same margins as the
rest of the research document, however, this is not always possible. Flexibility in format is
required in this section, since the documents are frequently may not be reformatted. It is
important, however, to be sure that text will still be visible after the binding/trimming
process.
8. Questionnaire Considerations. Many research studies require student-prepared
questionnaires. If your paper requires such an instrument, it must appear in the appendix as
it was presented to the respondents. A description of the instrument, as well as a few
sample questions or parts of the instrument may also appear in the main body of your
paper. With this in mind, observe the following:
a. Each item must be in the same tense, and in parallel grammatical
construction.
b. Spelling, grammar, and punctuation must be corrected before the instrument
is used.
c. Rules governing margins, spacing, etc., of the dissertation proper should be
followed whenever possible in the preparation of the questionnaire.
d. If a prepared instrument is used which does not meet the margin/spacing
rules, it can be included. If need be, it can be photocopied and reduced in size
so that it fits the necessary margins for binding.

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Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual | 87

Reference List/Bibliography
Papers using SBL usually include a bibliography that lists every source cited and other
works that were consulted but not cited. Papers in APA include a reference list, which includes
only those sources cited in the paper. In either case, all sources quoted or mentioned in the text
must appear in the bibliography/reference list. In most cases, it is preferable for the bibliography to
appear in one list rather than in several categories. Other scholars will find it much simpler to
search one list rather than search through several categories to locate items of particular interest.
Two or more categories may be used if it is considered essential, but only with the approval of the
research committee chair.
1 APA style uses a reference list. SBL uses a bibliography. Follow exactly the rules for the
1.
style in which your paper is written.
2 In either case, the heading begins 2.0 inches below the top of the page.
2.
3. Single space the reference list/bibliography. Double space between entries.
4. Reference lists and footnotes have a lot of detailed format rules contained in the style
manual. The introductory style chapters in this book are not intended to replace the APA
manual or the SBLHS. Consult the style manual or check online if you have questions about
how to format a reference. Check with your professor(s) or the editor if you do not find the
answer.
5. Consistency is raised to an art form in the reference list. Check things, then check them
again. Check one by one to be sure all authors cited in text are actually in your reference
list. APA style users, check that all authors in the reference list are actually cited in text
(SBL allows for materials in the bibliography that were read but not cited).
6 Web sources can be difficult to cite properly, are often missing information, and the rules
6.
keep shifting in order to keep up with the changes in technology. For internet sources, it is
important to find up-to-date tools to help you cite them properly. Fortunately, the internet is
also a good source of information on how to format web references. Be sure to consult it.
Check your online sources near the end of your research, to be sure the URLs actually work.
Update/change sources as needed.
77. Break a URL before punctuation, never within a word or number element. Do not insert a
period at the end of a URL (for APA), or add a hyphen if you break it over two lines—these
could make retrieval impossible. URLs should be in black font and not underlined.
8. In general, in APA style, URLs no longer require a retrieval date for published material.
Check with your research style guide or with one of your professors if you have a question
about this.
9. Acronyms/abbreviations are not acceptable as entries nor are they included anywhere in the
entries, except if they appear in the original source as part of the title or corporate author.

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 2 2 inches

Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual | 89

Curriculum Vitae
A brief résumé (one page only) in list format of your educational and professional
accomplishments is required for all dissertations and theses. Follow the format in the sample
below.

Blank pages
The first and last sheets of your work should be blank. These blank pages are not counted.

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 Chapter 9
Computer Formatting Tips
Computer formatting tips are frequently learned during the process of writing a major
research paper rather than before, which often leads to extra time needed to complete the work.
This collection of suggestions by researchers who have gone before is designed to save you time
and energy but will not replace a basic knowledge of word processing or the ability to use the help
screens when you don’t know what to do. Since most students at AIIAS use Microsoft Word
(Microsoft Office), many specific tips will be given for that software. Many, however, are more
generic in nature and can be used with any word processor.

General Instructions
Consistency
Human beings are not by nature as consistent as is necessary for computer work. All
headings need to be used in the same way in every chapter. Spacing, margins, fonts, among others
need to be consistent throughout the entire document. Research does not leave room for much
creativity in the way it is displayed. There is only one font and, generally, only one font size.
Spacing before and after headings must be exactly consistent throughout.
The easiest way to achieve this kind of consistency involves two steps.
1. Try to take note of the basic pattern to follow while you are writing the document and
follow it as well as you can. Write down the pattern so you can refer to it if you forget.
2. Once a major section of your document is completed, go over it to check for consistency.
This involves scanning the electronic document for one specific concern at a time.
Look through it to check heading levels and spacing. Look for margins and page
numbering. Check that all indents are the same and that all numbered lists match. Work
with table titles, spacing, and contents.
These things are difficult to see if you search for all of them at the same time. Take the
time to check each one before printing and giving your paper to your research committee chair or
the editor.

Spacing vs. Tabs

Many people try to use spaces to format lists, to align information inside tables, or for
parallel columns. A general rule in electronic documents is to avoid using spaces for aligning
information at all times. Use tabs. If there is no tab set in the position you desire, it can easily be
adjusted on the ruler bar or through the menu system. Inside tables, use Control + Tab to achieve
the same result.

Page Setup
Page layout is easiest when the correct page layout is set up before typing begins. If you are
using Word (Microsoft Office), go to Layout > Margins, choose Custom Margins. With the paper
in portrait mode, set the margins at 1.5 inches for the left and 1.0 inch for the other three. In the
Paper tab, set the paper size to Letter. In the Layout tab, set the footer to 0.9 inch. The page
numbering can be set to bottom center.

Printers
Early in a research project, you may not yet know what printer you will use to print your
final draft. This needs to be decided nearer the beginning than the end, as different printers deal
with text differently, and pagination may shift noticeably. Once you have done the fine formatting
for page breaks, do not change printers unless it is absolutely necessary.

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Large Documents
Computers have many tools for working with a large document that are worth knowing
about. Moving about in a document can be greatly facilitated by the following:

Table 9
Keyboard Shortcuts for Moving Around in a Large Document

Effect Windows Command Mac Command

Go to the last page of the document Ctrl + end Fn + cmd + right arrow
Go to the first page of the document Ctrl + home Fn + cmd + left arrow
Go to the beginning/end of the line Home/end Cmd + left/right
Go to a specific part of the document Ctrl + G Opt + Cmd + G
Find a specific word/phrase in the Ctrl + F Cmd + F
document
Highlight entire document Ctrl + A Cmd + A
Find and replace words in a document Ctrl + H Cmd + shift + H

Quick Formatting
Keyboard shortcuts tend to be much faster than mouse/menu combinations, so learning some
of them can save you a lot of time. Commonly used shortcuts for formatting include the following:

Table 10
Quick Formatting Keyboard Shortcuts

Effect Command Mac Command

Center Ctrl + E Cmd + E
Left/right justify Ctrl + L/R Cmd + L/R
Bold/italics/underline Ctrl + B/I/U Cmd + B/I/U
Single/double line spacing Ctrl + 1/2 Cmd + 1/2
Undo Ctrl + Z Cmd + Z
Redo an undone action F4 or Ctrl + Y Cmd + shift + Z
Copy/cut/paste Ctrl + C/X/V Cmd + C/X/V
Adjust spacing (table lines, tabs) more Alt + click and drag Fn + Opt + click and
finely than a whole space at a time to adjust drag to adjust

Changing Page Layout in the Middle of a Document: Section Breaks

Most have struggled with trying to insert a single landscape page into a Word document or
moving/removing the page number without destroying all the formatting that is already set. The
reason is that Word has the underlying philosophy that if you want something changed on page 57,
you really meant to change it all the way back on page 1. Fortunately, there are solutions for this.
The first is to insert a section break anytime you wish to do something different with the
formatting. Go to Layout > Breaks> Section Breaks> Next Page on the page just before the page
you want to format. If the new section is different from what follows, also insert a section break
after it.

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 Second, if the change has to do with headers or footers (read, page numbering—style,
position, etc.), you need to go to the footer and “disconnect” it from other footers, so it will not
affect all the other footers back toward the beginning of the document or forward to the end.
Double click on the page number to enter the footer editing space. Click the button Link to
previous from the Header & Footer menu bar, and you will see that on your footer, it no longer
says “Same as Previous.” Go to the footer for the next section and also “disconnect” it from the
section you wish to modify. Once this is done, any changes made to the numbering in this section
will not affect the other sections.

Tips for Specific Problem Areas

Footnotes
Footnotes may be handled slightly differently by different word processing programs. The
basic AIIAS idea is to allow some variation in format based on program differences but to require
the student to be consistent. The length of the separator line and the spacing before/after it may
vary from individual to individual, but should be consistent throughout your paper.
To achieve continuous footnote numbering for each chapter in Word, you have two options:
(1) make each chapter a separate document (this will work for a while, but not when you need to
submit your electronic document to the Library once you have finished); (2) keep all chapters in
one document, but insert a section break at the end of a chapter, as explained above. Click
References> Footnote pull-down menu choose Below text under Location, and choose Restart
each section under Numbering. Make sure to start at 1 (under format) and apply the changes to
This section (under apply changes).

Page Numbering
Be sure to change the default page number to the same font type you are using for the text. If
you need to restart page numbering, leave a page without a number, or paginate a landscape page,
insert a section break and make sure that footer is not connected to the others before you continue.
If you have a landscape page and need to put page numbers on it, if it will not format
automatically, insert a text box with the number in the appropriate position.

Section Breaks
If you need to change from letter to landscape, roman to Arabic numerals, or any other major
format change, be sure to insert a section break on the page before the change. This will allow you
to have several different format styles together in the same document.

Table of Contents
The table of contents contains the first 3 levels of headings exactly as they appear in your
paper and the page numbers on which they are found. There are two basic approaches to creating a
table of contents: you can type the titles manually or have the computer do them for you
automatically.

Manual Method
Type the entries you wish to include in the table of contents and set a tab with dot leaders to
create the line of dots. Set the tab by choosing Home> Paragraph> Tabs. Clear the other tab stops
and set one at 5.5” with alignment left and leader 2 (the one with dots). Add a second tab at 6.0”
with alignment right and no dot leader to make the blank space before the number. At the end of
each table of contents entry, insert a tab, which should create the dot leader. Insert a second tab,
which should make the space and right align the page numbers. Additional tab stops should be
added at 0.3” and 0.6” (left, no dot leader) for indenting the second and third level headings (see
below).

Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual | 93

Sample Heading 1 .................................................................................................................... 13
Second Level .................................................................................................................... 65
Third level ................................................................................................................ 134

Automatic Method
The easiest way to create a table of contents is to use the built-in heading styles (preset
formatting applied to headings). Microsoft Word has different built-in styles already created. Built-
in heading styles in Word will not match the exact heading styles that AIIAS requires, however. To
solve this problem, you will need to modify them. Once set, however, you may use the styles for
your entire paper, so it is worth the 5 minutes to set them up.
1. Marking entries using built-in heading styles. To mark entries by using built-in heading
styles, use the following procedures:
a. Select the heading in your text to which you want to apply a heading style.
b. On the Home tab, in the Styles group, click the style that you want.

For example, if you selected a heading in your text that you want to style as a main
heading, click the style called Heading 1 in the Quick Style gallery.
You can also create a table of contents based on the custom styles that you have created.
To do this, select a heading or a text from your document. Go to Home, open the Styles
group, and select Save Selection as a New Quick Style.

Modifying the Styles for Various Levels of Headings. To modify the built-in styles of
headings for the Table of Contents, go to Styles, select a specific built-in heading style (for
example, Heading 1), right click, and go to Modify. From there, you can format the heading
based on the AIIAS heading styles.

The table below gives details about left indentation for different styles of headings. For an idea
of what the screen looks like for working with table of contents headings, see the following
page.

Table 11
Formatting the Heading Styles in MS Word (Template)
Name of
Heading/text Alignment Bold/italic Spacing Indent Before After
style
First line
Body text Normal Left Not bold Double 0pt 0pt
(0.5”)
CHAPTER Centered,
Title Bold Single None 72pt 0pt
NUMBER* CAPS
CHAPTER Centered,
Heading 1 Bold Single None 12pt 24pt
TITLE** CAPS
Subheading
Heading 2 Centered Bold Single None 12pt 12pt
Level 1
Subheading
Heading 3 Left Bold Single None 12pt 12pt
Level 2

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 Subheading First line
Heading 4 Left Bold Double 0pt 0pt
Level 3 (0.5”)
Subheading Bold, First line
Heading 5 Left Double 0pt 0pt
Level 4 italicized (0.5”)
Subheading Not bold, First line
Heading 6 Left Double 0pt 0pt
Level 5 italicized (0.5”)

* To avoid confusion with the style of Body Text (Normal), the style of Chapter 1 (2, 3, etc.) can be
either Title or No Spacing (optional). In any case, it will not appear to TOC.
** It should also be applied to other title headings such as Bibliography/References, Appendixes, List of
Tables, List of Figures, List of Symbols and/or Abbreviations, and Acknowledgments to appear in the
automatic TOC.

Formatting the Heading and Subheadings. Once the modification of the heading styles
is done, each heading style must be applied to the appropriate heading level during the process
of writing (see below the “Sample Headings”). In that sense, the writer is preparing for an
automatic TOC to be generated later at the blank page in the preliminary pages.
a. For example, once the chapter title is typed, highlight it (e.g., INTRODUCTION), go to
Styles menu, and click Heading 1 (Level 0).
b. Likewise, do it to the other sub-headings:
o Level 1 (Heading 2)
o Level 2 (Heading 3)
o Level 3 (Heading 4.—exclude the dot in applying the style)
o Level 4 (Heading 5.—same)
o Level 5 (Heading 6.—same)

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 Note 4: Make sure, the style does not apply to the main text (Normal style) or else the
whole section with the subheading will also appear in the TOC when it is generated. So,
apply the appropriate style only to the subheading (4-6) excluding the dot/period (.) after
the subheading. The period (e.g., Subheading 4. Text . . .) separates the two different
styles between the subheading (Heading 4 style) and the text (Normal style).
c. Level 0: Chapter Number (Title Style)
o CHAPTER 1—(2” from the top, Bold/Centered, Caps)
o Note: If the style (Title) is used for chapter number based on Table 1, the vertical
alignment and spacing are already set and applied. They are also applied to other
headings/subheadings. Just check the spacing and the vertical alignment.
d. Level 0: Chapter Heading (Heading 1 Style)
o E.g., INTRODUCTION (Caps/centered/bold)—1 blank line/space (double space)
from chapter number

Sample Headings
Below are samples and explanations for how to create each level of subheading in
an AIIAS research paper.

Table 12
Sample Headings in AIIAS research paper
CHAPTER 1 Level 0
Heading 1 (centered, all capitals,
INTRODUCTION bold)

Existing Cross-Cultural Mission Level 1

Heading 2 (centered, title case,
Approaches bold)

Level 2
Heading 3 Kinship in the Exilic Period (left margin, title case,
bold)
Level 3
God and disabilities. What role does God play in (indented, bold, sentence
Heading 4
disability? Does He purposely allow . . . case, ending with a
period)
Sons of prophets. The study also seeks to trace Level 4
(indented, bold, sentence
Heading 5
relationship, conduct, and kinship in . . . case, italics, ending with
a period)
Ministering to people’s needs. Jesus went about Level 5
(indented, italics,
Heading 6
ministering to people’s needs. He healed the . . . sentence case, ending
with a period)

e. Level 1: First Heading (Heading 2)—centered, title case, bold—2 blank lines (triple
space) from Chapter heading
f. Level 2: Subheading (Heading 3)
o Left margin, title case (see exceptions above), bold
o 2 blank lines (triple space) from level 1 heading
g. Level 3: Subheading—First line paragraph. (Heading 4)
o Indented (0.5”), bold, sentence case, ending with a period.
o 1 blank line (double space) from level 2
h. Level 4: Subheading—First line paragraph. (Heading 5)
o Indented (0.5”), bold, sentence case, italics, ending with a period.

96 | Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual

 o 1 blank line (double space) from level 3
i. Level 5: Subheading—First line paragraph. (Heading 6)
o Indented (0.5”), italics, sentence case, ending with a period.
o 1 blank line (double space) from level 4

2. Setting and Generating Automatic Table of Contents

Once the writing is done with the heading styles, the next step is to create an automatic TOC.
The automatic TOC makes an easy access to each section/page of the document. The exact
page number of each heading is already set in place. There is no need to do manually the page
numbers in the TOC. To make and generate automated TOC in a preliminary page/section
break of the same document, do at least three main things: (A) modify the setting of TOC with
spacing, indention, and tabs; (B) insert and generate the automatic TOC in the right page; and
(C) reformat and adjust the TOC headings manually.

(A) Modify the setting of TOC

Reference menu → Table of Contents → Custom Table of Contents → Adjust levels of
TOC to 4 levels (up to 4 levels only—may appear in the TOC) in Show levels (under
General)
1. In the same Style window, Modify TOC from TOC 1 to TOC 5 (depends) that you
want to appear in your TOC. Modify TOC one by one by highlighting TOC 1, 2, 3,
and on:
2. TOC 1—click Modify.
a) In the Modify Style window, under Formatting, click Paragraph—make it sure
that the font is Times New Roman, 12pt size, Automatic, left alignment, and
single space. Check Add to the Styles gallery (optional), Only in this
document, or New documents based on this template (optional).
Automatically update is also optional (but better not to check it).
b) Next, click Format icon (below left corner) to adjust indention and/or spacing →
Paragraph…
→ Indention—Left: 0.3”; Special: 0.25”
→ Spacing—Before: 72 pt; After: 0 pt; Line spacing: Single; Add
space
c) Next, click Format → Numbering → Define New Number Format (12pt, Left,
Times New Roman)
d) Next, click Tabs… (below left corner of the same window) → first, Clear All in
the Tab window, type 5.5” in the Tab stop position, check Left alignment, check
leader 2…, and click Set. Then, type 6.0” in the Tab stop position of the same
window → Right alignment → leader 1 None → Set → Ok and Ok until you
return to TOC to format the next TOC (until you are done).
3. TOC 2, 3, 4, 5—Follow #3, letters a, b, and d. However, for letter b—do the
following adjustments→ Paragraph:
• TOC 2—Indention (Left: 0.7” [0.8”]; Special: none); Spacing (Before: 0 pt;
After: 0 pt; Line spacing: Single; Don’t add space)
• TOC 3—Indention (Left: 0.9” [1”]; Special: none); Spacing (Before: 0 pt;
After: 0 pt; Line spacing: Single; Don’t add space)
• TOC 4—Indention (Left: 1.1” [1.2”]; Special: none); Spacing (Before: 0 pt;
After: 0 pt; Line spacing: Single; Don’t add space)
• TOC 5—Indention (Left: 1.3” [1.4”]; Special: none); Spacing (Before: 0 pt;
After: 0 pt; Line spacing: Single; Don’t add space)

Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual | 97

 (B) Insert a section break in the appropriate page for TOC. Bring the cursor [I] in front of the
first letter of the first sentence or heading (e.g., ICHAPTER 1) at the top of page and click
Page Layout → click Breaks → click Next Page (under Section Breaks). Then, you can
now insert an automated Table of Contents on that blank page.
(C) Click Automatic Table 2 (TOC) → adjust the format of the TOC based on AIIAS
Manual.
a. Adjust the spacing between the preliminary headings (one blank space), Chapter
headings and sub-headings (one blank space).
b. Create a number list (click Numbering icon) for the Chapter headings (1, 2, 3, and so
on) and adjust the Chapters’ indention/format (Go to Paragraph → Indention: Left
0.3”; Special: Hanging 0.2” → Ok).
c. All main and Chapter headings should be in UPPERCASE. All sub-headings should
be in Capitalize Each Word in the TOC (see the guidelines above—“Level 1
Heading,” under “Formatting Headings”).
d. Move the page number/s (one by one) to the right alignment by using Tab.

Note: Automated TOC can be done during writing (always update—page only/entire
Table) to see the headings of the paper. But its format should be finalized after writing
and editing a term paper, thesis, or dissertation in a preliminary page break section of
the same document prior to the printing and/or submission.

Updating the Table of Contents. After inserting the table of contents, the page numbers
or the entire table can be updated automatically if you make changes to your headings or if
page numbers shift. To update the table, click References then choose Update Table from the
Table of Contents group. From the dialog box, you may choose the option you want to update.

Footnoting and Making Bibliography

Table 13
Name of
Heading/text Alignment Bold/italic Spacing Indent Before After
style
Block
Block Quotation Left (0.5”) Not Bold Single Depends 0pt 12pt
Quotation
Footnote First Line
Footnote* Left Not Bold Single 0pt 12pt
Text (0.5”)
BIBLIOGRAPHY, Centered, Hanging
APPENDIXES
Heading 1 Bold Single 0pt 12pt
CAPS (0.5”)

To make a blank space, highlight all footnotes and then click Add Space After Paragraph under
Line and Paragraph Spacing menu. However, there is no space between paragraphs in a footnote.
• To arrange References/Bibliography in alphabetical order: Highlight all references except
the title, go to/stay in HOME window, click the sorting icon A-Z.
Note: Title/s of an article/s with quotation marks (“. . .”) cannot be sorted out properly; an
opening quote should be removed first before sorting alphabetically; retype it afterwards.
Also, do not sort a title that begins with an article “an” or “the,” only next main word).

98 | Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual

 Chapter 10
Forms

A variety of forms are required for research papers at AIIAS. If you have any doubt as to
what is required, consult your research committee chair or your program director for further
information.

Table 13
Types of Forms
Get form Inter- Human Completed form Approved form goes
Project
from pretive subjects goes to to

Department
Department
Topic Request √ √ √ Department cc Research
secretary
Committee Chair
AdCom Approval N/A see Research Committee President’s secretary
(any study p. 27 for √ √ √ Chair→ VP Academic cc Research
at/about AIIAS) instructions Adm Committee Chair
Research Committee Department
Department
Proposal Approval √ √ Chair→ Prog cc Research
secretary
Committee Committee Chair

(if data is
Ethics Review Research Committee Research Committee
ERB secretary √ to be
Board (ERB) Chair→ ERB Chair Chair
collected)

Plagiarism Dean’s
√ √ Editor Editor
Statement secretary

Dean’s Research Committee Research Committee

Editing Checklist √ √ √
secretary Chair→ Editor Chair

Application for
Change of Status Admissions & Department/ Admissions &
√ √
(doctoral Records Program Committee Records
students)*

Defense Report Dean’s Research Committee

√ √ Dean’s secretary
Form secretary Chair→ Editor → Dean

Dean’s Student
Signature/ Research Committee
secretary √ √ √ cc Admissions &
Approval Page ** Chair→ Dean
Records

Library
Repository Form* √ √ Library Library
Counter

Admissions &
Clearance Form* √ √ √ Admissions & Records N/A
Records

*These forms are not illustrated in this chapter, as they are general forms for all students, and not specific to research.
** This form is not illustrated in this chapter, as each one is unique. For a sample, see p.68. Work with the Dean’s
secretary to create your form when you are nearing the end of your research.

Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual | 99

 Theological Seminary
TOPIC REQUEST

Name: Degree Sought: Date:

Suggested Title:

Process: Briefly describe your study in a page or two, and share it with professors. As you
negotiate your topic, method, and committee, this document should grow to 5-10 pages in length,
and should include the sections listed below (instruments and references may also be attached).
Directions: When the topic request is sufficiently developed for the committee to accept, it should
be submitted to the Department Committee. This constitutes preliminary approval for a thesis/
project/dissertation, and final approval for a project.
1. Briefly state the topic and give reasons for your interest in it. (Intro)
2. State the relationship between the proposed topic and a biblical worldview.
3. Briefly share from the literature why this topic is timely, important, and not yet addressed.
(Gap in literature—not the whole literature review)
4. Purpose/problem you plan to address.
5. Describe the methodology and analysis to be applied in this research. Include a description or a
copy of any instruments already selected for the study.
6. Briefly indicate the ethical issues involved in the research and how you will address them.
7. What resources/skills are needed to study this topic, and how will you find or develop them?
Proposed Committee
Signature on the line below indicates the following:
1. You are satisfied with the study design, methodology, and writing of the topic request.
2. The study proposes research worthy of the degree sought.
3. You are willing to serve on this committee in the capacity specified below.
4. Authorship of any publication or presentation resulting from this collaboration must be
determined by consensus and must secure the written permission of all involved.

Proposed Research Committee Research Committee Chair’s Date

Chair Signature

Proposed Methodologist Methodologist’s Signature Date

Proposed Member Member’s Signature Date

Department Committee Action
☐ Approved with no modifications ☐ Revise and resubmit
☐ Approved with modifications ☐ Denied; present alternative topic
Department Approval: Date:
Comments/Recommendations:

________________________________ __________________________
Dept. Chair’s Signature Date
Please return this document to the Research Committee Chair for their records.

100 | Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual

 Theological Seminary
PROPOSAL APPROVAL

Name: Degree sought: Date:

Suggested title:

Proposal-ready agreement: Date:

Research Committee Chair Methodologist Member

Date received by the Dean: Approval date/time

PROPOSAL APPROVAL: □ Granted □ Denied Date:

Approved title:

Recommendations (attach additional sheet if needed):

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

Research Committee Chair Methodologist

Member Presider

Please return this document to the Research Committee Chair for their records.

Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual | 101

 AIIAS CODE OF RESEARCH

Background
The Adventist International Institute of Advanced Studies (AIIAS) recognizes its place as one
of the foremost Adventist institutions of higher education with the mandate and responsibility to
engage in and promote research. Thus, AIIAS is committed to pushing the boundaries of research
in its academic areas of strength in order to advance knowledge for the benefit of the world. Aware
of this responsibility, AIIAS aims to nurture an attitude of inquiry among its students and faculty,
and to support the practice of research and sharing of ideas. Moreover, it is the intention of AIIAS
to ensure that these values are carried to and practiced in the institutions and work places where its
graduates will serve.
To accomplish this, AIIAS is committed to fostering a culture of quality research on its
campus as a way of achieving academic and professional excellence, and to cultivate an
environment conducive to the development of visionary and innovative leadership, openness, and
accountability. It is expected that the resulting culture of honesty in inquiry will strengthen the
internal sharing of ideas, methods, and research results and will support effective partnerships
among scholars and research groups, as well as collaboration between academic disciplines and
research institutions. It is hoped that this will result in an environment in which researchers will
cultivate and maintain mutual respect for one another, including duly acknowledging the
contribution of each participant in collaborative research efforts.
To this end, this code of research is developed to guide and support research that meets
internationally accepted ethical standards. In addition, the code will enable AIIAS faculty and
students to carry out academic inquiry in ways that will advance its goals and that are consistent
with and supportive of its mission. Specifically, this code of research takes into consideration the
responsibility of AIIAS as an institution to help the global Adventist Church develop leaders for
the Church and society.

Code of Research
The code incorporates AIIAS aspirations to contribute to learning and the development of
higher education and to be effective in the role it intends to play in solving problems and making a
difference in the world.
To assist in supporting and guiding research activities of AIIAS faculty and students, and the
institutions associated with it, these research guidelines set out the requirements for research
planning and ethical considerations for the collection, storage, management and dissemination of
information that is generated in the course of the research process.

General Principles
Scholarship at AIIAS is guided by the principle that the overriding goal of research should be
an active process of supporting improvements in people’s lives. For this reason, the well-being of
the human participant in research should take precedence over the interests of science. Other
principles of this code are non-maleficence and beneficence, which refer to the systematic regard
for the rights and interests of others. Non-maleficence is the principle of doing no harm, or
permitting no foreseeable harm to participants in research. This includes respecting the rights of
others both in the research process and in the consequences of research. Beneficence refers to the
requirement to serve and uphold the interests and well-being of others, and the requirement to do
good, not harm, to other people.

102 | Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual

 The steps outlined below are an expression of the principles of ethical research at AIIAS.
1. AIIAS Faculty and students intending to engage in research must secure ERB (Ethics Review
Board) approval for all research involving human subjects before commencing data collection.
2. Faculty and students engaged in research must not compromise the principles of non-
maleficence and beneficence at any time.
3. Faculty and students engaged in research are required to ensure that the interests of all
participants, whether directly or indirectly involved in the research, are taken into account
when evaluating the research against the principles of non-maleficence and beneficence.
4. The ethical implications of research should be considered at all stages of the research process,
not simply at the initial stage of obtaining approval.
5. All research involving human participants must conform to generally accepted scientific
principles, and must be based on sufficient knowledge of the literature and other relevant
sources of information. Research that unnecessarily duplicates other work, or which is not of
sufficient quality to make a useful contribution to existing knowledge, is itself unethical.
6. Research involving human participants should only be conducted if the importance of the
objective outweighs the inherent risks and burdens to the subject. Faculty and students
planning research must consider the ethical implications of the research in relation to the
physiological, psychological, social, political, religious, cultural and economic consequences of
the research for the participants. The pursuit of knowledge, of itself, is not sufficient
justification for disregarding social and cultural values that give meaning and add value to
people’s lives.
7. Faculty and students planning research must consider the implications of their work with
respect to the reputation of AIIAS and its capacity to continue fulfilling its mission.
8. If the faculty members or students planning research are unable to make a competent judgment
regarding the ethical acceptability of any aspect of their research they must seek expert advice
before submitting their proposal for approval or embarking on the research.
9. Research must show due respect for the religious and cultural values of the participants.
Procedures or methods that undermine the self-respect and dignity of any of the participants
must be avoided.

Informed Consent
The following principles of informed consent should be taken into consideration when
designing and conducting research.
1. Ethical conduct in research demands respect for the rights of others who are directly or
indirectly affected by the research. The physical and personal autonomy of human participants
in the research must be respected. Participants’ right to privacy must be guaranteed, with
adequate safeguards concerning confidentiality.
2. The responsibility for the well-being of participants must always rest with the researcher, and
never on the participant, even though the participant has given consent.
3. Participation in research must be based on participants’ fully informed consent obtained
without any kind of coercion. The participant must be informed of the right to abstain from
participation in the study or to withdraw consent to participate at any time without penalty.
Written consent should be obtained.
4. The means by which participants are recruited must be carefully assessed in relation to possible
or perceived rewards for participation. Should any rewards be offered to participate in research,

Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual | 103

 they should not be such that they might induce participants to accept risks or engage in
behavior that they would normally avoid.
5. Prior to seeking informed consent the researcher must ensure that participants are fully
informed as to the nature and the purpose of the research, how it will be conducted, the
anticipated outcomes, who is undertaking it and how the outcomes will be disseminated. The
information should be given well in advance of the research in a language that the potential
informants can easily understand. A clear record of who, when and how consent was given
should be maintained.
6. Some research populations are vulnerable and need special protection. Special attention is
required for those participants who are incapable of giving or refusing to consent for
themselves, as in the case of children or mentally incapacitated adults. In this case the
researcher must seek expert advice on the appropriate measures to take.
7. Observational or covert studies involving human subjects require formal approval from AIIAS
and the concerned organization. Research involving sensitive documents–the dissemination of
which results may occasion unnecessary harm to individuals or institutions–requires AIIAS
approval.
8. Where the nature of the research is such that informing participants before the work is carried
out might render the results invalid, participants must be given appropriate explanations
following the study and they must be allowed to exercise the option to withdraw their
participation. In any case, researchers must provide convincing reasons why such research
should proceed without informants’ prior consent, and evidence that the likely benefits will
outweigh this concern. Researchers must not deliberately deceive or passively mislead
participants because of an expectation that their permission will not otherwise be obtained.

Confidentiality and Data Protection

The following principles of confidentiality and data protection should be observed at all times
during the research process, as well as after the research has been completed.
1. Participants’ confidentiality and anonymity must be maintained and their personal privacy
protected. The identity of participants should not be revealed unless their written permission is
obtained in advance of the study commencing.
2. Personal information of any sort must be regarded as confidential. All personal information
must be coded or rendered anonymous as far as is possible and consistent with the needs of the
study, and as early as possible in the data processing.
3. Researchers must observe appropriate procedures governing the collection, storage, disclosure
and use of research data to guard against unauthorized disclosure of participants’ identity and
breaches of privacy and confidentiality posed by various kinds of information storage and
processing. These types of storage and processing include computer and paper files, e-mail
records, photographic material, audio and video tapes and any other information in which an
individual is named, or from which an individual could be identified. Researchers must put in
place methods of data disposal that conform to the principle of confidentiality.

Academic Integrity
Academic integrity at AIIAS is guided by the following principles:
1. The general principle of integrity must underpin all research activities, while honesty should
characterize the relationship between the researcher, participants and other interested parties.
2. Research outputs must contain appropriate acknowledgment of the work of others, particularly
the contribution of research students and research assistants. Issues related to joint ownership

104 | Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual

 of work by students and research committee chair, including joint authorship of publications,
should ideally be discussed and agreed upon early in the planning of research.
3. Where appropriate, participants and other relevant stakeholders should be given access to a
summary of the research findings and the conclusions that have been drawn from them.
4. Research reports should be truthful, accurate and demonstrably the work of the author/s
concerned. Readers should be offered sufficient information to assess the justification of the
author’s inferences and interpretations of information.

Caveat
The requirements of this code must be considered binding for all AIIAS faculty, students, and
staff at all times. The exception to this requirement is when AIIAS faculty or students are engaged
in research in partnership with or under the auspices of another institution whose code of research
provides for higher ethical standards and more protection for participants. In this case, the ethical
requirements of this institution should be used in place of the AIIAS code.

Note. Some of the principles and ideas used in these guidelines have been borrowed and adapted
from the following documents:

Kahnawake Schools Diabetes Prevention Project Code of Research Ethics, 2007. Retrieved
from http://www.ksdpp.org/media/ksdpp_code_of_research_ethics2007.pdf
Thames Valley University Research Ethics Code of Practice, 2009/10. Retrieved from
http://www.uwl.ac.uk/files/Research/Ethics%20of%20Research%20CoP%20updated
%20June%2009%20-%20final.pdf
Brunel University Code of Research Ethics, 2003. Retrieved from http://www.brunel.ac.uk
/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/36045/CoEv7.pdf

Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual | 105

 AIIAS ETHICS REVIEW APPLICATION

It is the policy of the Adventist International Institute of Advanced Studies (AIIAS) that all
necessary precautions must be taken when conducting research to ensure that no harm is done to
participants in the study and that the interests of research participants are protected. The purpose of
the Ethics Review Board (ERB) is to provide an independent check to ensure that these principles
are observed by AIIAS faculty and students engaged in research. AIIAS requires its faculty and
students to obtain ERB approval before embarking on data collection from human subjects.
It is not the purpose, nor is it the responsibility, of the ERB to provide guidance on ethical
research procedures outside of those provided in this application form and the AIIAS Research
Ethics Guidelines. The ERB will only approve studies that meet the required ethical standards;
approval for research that does not meet these standards will be denied. Neither is it the purpose
nor responsibility of the ERB to address issues of feasibility, methodology, or empirical soundness
of research studies. That is the purview of the student’s research committee and/or the departmental
committee in the case of faculty researchers. The ERB will concern itself solely with the ethicality
of proposed research studies, and ERB decisions should not be construed as an evaluation of the
academic quality of the research design. Application guidelines and the required accompanying
documentation to be submitted with the application are indicated on the following pages.

Applicant/Principal Researcher:

Title of Research:

Research Committee Chair: Methodologist:

Application for (Check as appropriate):

Approval: ___________ Exemption*: ___________
(*Study does not involve data collection from human subjects.)

Approval to submit application for ERB Approval/Exemption:

Research committee chair (signature) _________________________ Date
___________________

Checklist for Submission

Summary of research Full proposal/project document

Research instruments Consent forms

Other materials (specify):

FOR ERB USE ONLY

Research Approval/Exemption Granted ____________ Denied _____________
_______________________ _______________________ ___________________
ERB Chair ERB Action Number Date

106 | Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual

 ERB Application Guidelines:

I. The completed ethics review application form must reach the Chair of the ERB as early as
possible AFTER proposal or project approval by the research committee. The ERB will meet
biweekly, and only those applications received at least 7 days prior to the date of the meeting will
be assured of processing. Applications submitted less than 7 days prior to the date of the meeting
may be addressed at the discretion of the ERB committee members. However, the ERB is under
no obligation to make exceptions to the 7-day rule.

II. ERB approval is only valid for the documentation that has been submitted and considered at the
time a decision is reached. If changes are made to research methodology or research instruments
– no matter how minor – ERB approval must be requested again. Prior ERB approval for earlier
versions of documentation must not be construed to apply to the newer unreviewed version. For
this reason, ERB approval should be sought as one of the final steps in preparing to undertake a
research study.

III. If the researcher is a student, the application must be submitted through the research committee
chair. The research committee chair will provide assurance that the student has followed relevant
ethical procedures before submission and that ethical concerns raised by the ERB will be
addressed.

IV. Chairs of dissertation/thesis committees will be responsible for ensuring that proposals and data
collection instruments are forwarded at the appropriate time to the ERB for processing and
approval.

V. The completed application form (in hard copy or electronic copy) must be accompanied by
electronic copies of all the supporting documentation, including:
1. A one-page summary of the research describing the basic premise of the study (an
abstract will suffice), and how this research study specifically addresses the five
criteria listed at the end of this application form upon which the ERB will base its
decision.
2. The full proposal or project document. This is requested only for the sake of cross-
referencing in case something in the one-page summary is unclear, or if the applicant
responded to the five criteria by referencing page numbers in the full document where
each criterion is addressed.
3. All research instruments to be used in the study, such as survey questionnaires or
sample questions.
4. Consent forms (if used), and any applicable translations.

VI. The ERB will only process ethics review applications related to theses, dissertations, projects,
and papers for publication or presentation in academic or professional forums.

VII. ERB applications with incomplete or unclear information will be returned unprocessed and
assigned a status of “Pending,” rather than “Granted” or “Denied.” The ERB committee will
provide feedback as to which criteria were insufficiently addressed. Applications that are
severely deficient in reference to the evaluation criteria will simply be assigned a “Denied” status
with no further feedback from the ERB committee. Applications assigned a “Pending” status may
be resubmitted for the next ERB meeting; additional meetings beyond the regular schedule will
not be convened simply for the sake of reviewing a “Pending” application that has been updated.

Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual | 107

VIII. If data collection is being done for the exclusive purpose of fulfilling class requirements, the
professor/class instructor will be responsible for overseeing and enforcing adherence to ethical
practices. However, the same principles and standards of acceptable practice will apply.
IX. ERB approval is required for all activities that include primary data collection involving human
subjects. In addition, the following will also be subject to assessment and approval by the ERB:
1. Studies involving sensitive documentary sources (church, state, statutory bodies, etc.)
2. Studies involving personal information related to individuals, living or deceased, whose
disclosure may adversely impact the safety/welfare of individuals or groups

The ERB will base its approval on evidence in the proposal, data collection instruments and
other supporting documents that:
1. Informed consent has been/will be secured before launching the study
2. Possible risk of physical or mental harm is minimal or completely avoided
3. Appropriate measures have been taken to ensure confidentiality
4. Data collected is related to the research questions and no data is collected that has no
bearing on the research
5. Research participants are assured that they may withdraw at any time without prejudice or
penalty
6. Results from the study will be reported in aggregate whenever possible; if not possible,
measures will be taken to ensure that the anonymity of the source(s) is guaranteed.
.

108 | Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual

 THESIS/PROJECT/DISSERTATION PLAGIARISM STATEMENT

STUDENT NAME:
First name Family name
STUDENT ID #:

DEPARTMENT:

THESIS/PROJECT/
DISSERTATION TITLE:

RESEARCH
COMMITTEE CHAIR:

DATE SUBMITTED:

Because AIIAS upholds the values of excellence, honor, honesty, and academic integrity

1. I declare that this thesis/project/dissertation is my own work unless other authors are
properly referenced, cited, or acknowledged, and consequently it avoids any issue related
to the AIIAS plagiarism policy. I declare that I am aware of the meaning of plagiarism
and that this thesis/project/dissertation is free from plagiarism attempts.
2. No part of this thesis/project/dissertation was written by a third person in my name.
3. I declare that neither this work nor any significant portion of it has been submitted
previously for academic credit at AIIAS or another institution, or has been published in
this form.
4. I have submitted an electronic copy of the thesis/project/dissertation by email or USB
drive.
5. I acknowledge that this thesis/project/dissertation will be submitted to a plagiarism
checking service (which may then retain a copy of the item on its database for the
purpose of future plagiarism checking) or to other forms of plagiarism checking.

Student’s Signature: Date:

Signed form must accompany all work sent to the AIIAS editor for the first time.

Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual | 109

 EDITING CHECKLIST

This form must be signed by student and research committee chair, and attached to ANY copy of
the thesis/project/dissertation submitted to the AIIAS editor. Note that this checklist is a summary,
and must not be used as a “Style Manual” for formatting purposes.
ORGANIZATION OF THESIS/PROJECT/DISSERTATION
Pagination
_____ Every page after the abstract is counted (though on some pages the number does not show).
_____ All page numbers are in the same position, centered .9” from the bottom of the page.
Preliminary Pages (lower case roman numeral page numbers)
_____ 0. A blank page begins and ends the research (for binding)
_____ 1. Abstract, approximately 350 words and 2 pages only
_____ 2. Title page (page i, but no number shows)
_____ 3. Copyright page
_____ 4. Approval page (with original signatures in black ink)
_____ 5. Dedication page (optional—if you use it, keep it short)
_____ 6. Table of Contents (page numbering shows beginning here)
_____ 7. List of Tables (only used if you have 5 or more tables)
_____ 8. List of Figures (only used if you have 5 or more figures)
_____ 9. List of Abbreviations (only if 5 or more, and if they are used at least 3 times)
_____ 10. Acknowledgements (optional)
Body of Thesis/Dissertation (begins on page 1)
_____ 11. Body of thesis/project/dissertation (divided into chapters)
References
_____ 12. Appendix(es) with titles for each appendix
_____ 13. References (APA)/Bibliography (SBL)
_____ 14. Curriculum Vita (fits on one page; page number not shown)
SPACING
_____ Titles of preliminary pages, major sections, and first pages of chapters begin at 2.0 inches.
_____ Appendix cover page, title page, and dedication are centered vertically on the page.
_____ Text is double spaced, beginning of paragraphs indented 0.5 inch, no extra space between
paragraphs.
_____ Single spacing is appropriately used for tables, long quotes (SBL), and bibliography/reference
list.
_____ Double space after chapter number, triple space between chapter title and text.
_____ Triple space before and double space after subheadings within the text.
_____ Two double spaces before and after tables/figures inserted within the text.
TABLES/FIGURES
_____ Tables do not contain vertical lines and have few horizontal lines.
_____ Tables/figures follow the initial reference in text.
_____ Tables/figures are identified in the text by a number (e.g., Table 1; not Table 2.1, etc.).
_____ Tables/figures are numbered consecutively throughout the document.
_____ Table numbers and titles are typed above the table, figure numbers and captions, below.
_____ Decimal points are vertically aligned.
_____ Table number, title, and column headings are repeated if table is continued onto another page.
_____ If a table/figure is taken from another source, the complete source is cited below the table.
_____ Tables are consistently formatted, easy to read, and look nice on the page.

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 HEADINGS and SUBHEADINGS
_____ Headings and subheadings are properly chosen and formatted.
_____ No heading has only a single subheading under it.
_____ Capitalization of headings follows AIIAS style.
_____ Spaces above and below headings are correct.
_____ No heading appears without at least two lines of text below it at the bottom of a page.
FOOTNOTES
(Mainly for SBL, but occasional explanatory notes may appear in APA).
_____ If footnotes are used, they begin on the page where the citation is made.
_____ Footnote is indented the same as the paragraph; the next line reaches the left margin.
_____ Individual footnotes are single spaced with double space between footnotes.
_____ Footnotes are continuously numbered throughout each chapter.
REFERENCES/BIBLIOGRAPHY
_____ All entries are alphabetized and in correct format (either SBL or APA).
_____ Web references have been tested to assure that the links work.
_____ All reference entries for multiple authors are correct in the subsequent (reduced) form.
_____ All footnote/in-text entries are in the bibliography/reference list, and (APA) all reference list
entries are cited in text.
SPECIFIC APA RULES
_____ When citing two or more authors, within the text the word and is spelled out, but in
parenthetical in-text citations and in the reference list, an ampersand (&) is used.
_____ For in-text citations, multiple works in the same parentheses are in alphabetical order, not
chronological order (Alexander, 1999; Messman-Moore & Resnick, 2007; Veazey, 2003).
_____ Numbers below 10 are written in words unless in a table or in the abstract (check exceptions).
SPECIFIC TURABIAN RULES
_____ Round numbers or numbers below 20 are written out if not part of a descriptive report.
_____ The symbol % appears only in tables.
MISCELLANEOUS FORMAT ITEMS
_____ Thesis/project/dissertation body text is left aligned.
_____ There is no numbering on any subheadings (e.g., Data Analysis, not 1.2.1 Data Analysis).
_____ Dots in ellipsis marks are spaced (. . .).
_____ Use abbreviations for books of the Bible.
_____ In a numbered list, the numbers are indented one tab position; succeeding lines align under the
first letter of the text.
_____ There are no widows or orphans—a paragraph has two lines at the bottom or top of a page.
_____ Page numbers in the Table of Contents, List of Tables and Figures correspond with actual text.
_____ Dashes are formed by two hyphens—they have no space before or after them.
_____ All statistical expressions in text and tables are italicized (e.g., F, N, SD, M, n, p., etc.).
_____ There is one space before and after mathematical signs ( = , < , > ).

I have personally checked the manuscript for all of the above items.
Student’s Printed Name & Signature___________________________________ Date:____________
Research Committee Chair’s Signature:________________________________________
Date:____________
Signed form must accompany all work sent to the AIIAS editor.

Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual | 111

 Theological Seminary
DEFENSE REPORT

Name: Degree Sought: Date:

PRE-DEFENSE APPROVALS
Defense-ready agreement: Date:
Chair Methodologist Member
Editor’s approval for defense Date:

Dean’s Space
External examiner Contact info:
Date received by the Dean: Defense date

THE DEFENSE REPORT

Topic: __________________________________________________________________________
Result: Pass with no Revisions Fail
Pass subject to Revisions
Recommendations of the Defense Committee (Attach additional sheet if needed):
1.
2.
3.
4.
When the modifications listed are completed, the document will be accepted. The committee
chairman is empowered to verify compliance of these requirements.

____________________________________ ____________________________________
Name, Advisor Name, Methodologist

____________________________________ ____________________________________
Name, Member Name, Internal Examiner

____________________________________
Name, External Examiner

POST-DEFENSE REVISIONS

Revisions Completed Research Committee Chair Signature Date

Editor’s Approval Editor’s Signature Date

Advisor’s Release Advisor’s Signature ____________________ Date

Dean’s Release Dean’s Signature Date

This document should accompany all theses/projects/dissertations submitted for the final time.

112 | Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual

Appendixes
 Appendix A
Outline of the Exegesis Paper

1. Introduction: State the problem and purpose of the study by asking significant questions of
what to expect and what should be accomplished in this study. Note and discuss the history of
major interpretations to this study. Delimit the study.
2. Text: Establish the text in its original language and provide the best possible translation.
3. Historical Context: Discuss the historical background of the text or allusions to history
(authorship, main persons, events, dates, places, archaeological evidence).
4. Linguistic Study: Identify textual problems/irregularities, key words, grammatical and
syntactical issues, Masoretic signs, etc.
5. Literary Genre: Identify the genre of the text (narrative, poetry, prophecy, law, genealogy,
parable, prayer, dream, hymn, song, dialogue, speech, etc.).
6. Literary Context: Define and discuss the immediate literary context and larger context of the
text under study.
7. Literary Structure: Note literary features (sentences, patterns, repetitions, parallelisms,
chiasms, inclusion) and outline of the structure.
8. Intertextuality: Show how the text or segment of the text is used in the rest of the OT and
NT.
9. Theological Implications: Identify the main theological concepts and issues raised and
solved by the text and locate the relevancy and application of the text.
10. Summary and Conclusions: Needs to match with the introduction. Provide a brief summary
of the study and give clear answers to the introductory questions (unique contribution may be
mentioned).
11. Bibliography: Provide full data of books and articles.

An excellent exegesis is always supplied with appropriate footnotes, which are like windows to
support what was stated in the text and provide additional material for further study.

For detailed information on how to exegete a biblical text, see

Broyles, Craig C. Ed. Interpreting the Old Testament: A Guide for Exegesis. Grand Rapids, MI:
Baker Academic, 2001._

Fee, Gordon D. New Testament Exegesis: A Handbook for Students and Pastors. Westminster
John Knox, 2002.

Osborne, Grant. Hermeneutical Spiral: A Comprehensive Introduction to Biblical

Interpretation. Downer’s Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2006.

Website: http://www.exegesispaper.com

114 | Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual

 Appendix B
A Student’s Chronological Guide
to Empirical Research
The three stages for producing a thesis or dissertation are the preliminary stage, the committee
stage, and the completion stage. The responsibilities of the student at each stage are delineated
below.
A. Preliminary Stage
Much or all of this stage may be completed while a student is enrolled in classes full time:
there is no need to wait until after completion of coursework to begin the research phase.
Usually, the earlier you start the better the chances are that you will finish on time.
1. Complete the AIIAS research courses specified for the degree.
2. Search for topics.
3. Read widely in areas of interest.
4. Discuss possible topics with the academic program advisor and other professors.
5. Choose a viable topic in consultation with the academic program advisor and the
proposed research committee chair.
6. Select a research committee chair in consultation with the department chair. Work with
the research committee chair to select a balanced committee, which normally consists
of three members.
7. Work with the research committee chair first, then with the whole committee to design
the study, then to develop and refine the Topic Request (get a Topic Request form
from the Dean’s secretary).
8. When the proposed thesis/project/dissertation committee feels the document is ready,
the research committee chair should submit one printed copy as well as an electronic
copy of the completed Topic Request form to the Department/Program Committee for
committee/department approval.

B. Thesis/Project/Dissertation Committee Stage

Proposal Stage:
1. No data involving human subjects can be collected before the completion of this stage,
which is marked by the acceptance of the research proposal.
2. Locate materials needed for the development of the first three chapters of the
thesis/dissertation. Read and take notes, being careful to fully document all sources and
direct quotations including the page number.
3. Develop and secure the research committee chair’s approval for a timetable for the
major stages of the research process. Take into account committee members’ travel
schedules, teaching loads, vacations, or other appointments requiring long absence
from the campus. If the absence will be detrimental to timely progress, ask the research
committee chair to arrange for someone to fill in during the absence of the committee
member.
4. Write the thesis/project/dissertation proposal one chapter at a time, presenting each
chapter first to the research chair and then when the chair indicates that it is ready, to
the committee members.
5. Rewrite and edit as indicated by the research committee chair, after reviewing
committee members’ suggestions.

Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual | 115

 6. When the research study has developed to a stage where the research questions and the
methods to be used are defined (including population (if appropriate), instrument and
data collection procedures), the chair will indicate that it is appropriate to initiate
informal approaches to potential data collection sites to determine whether participation
in the research would be acceptable.
7. Check all writing, including quotations, references, tables, and figures, as well as the
reference list for accuracy and for conformity with APA form and style.
8. Submit the complete proposal to the research committee chair, then to the committee for
approval. The chair will request an electronic copy at some point, to submit for
plagiarism analysis. This is a normal step and is meant to help you to see how much
wording you have borrowed from others so you can self-correct and does not mean you
are suspected of any wrongdoing. Make any corrections indicated. This should be done
before you send the Turnitin results to your research committee chair.
9. Make any corrections indicated and resubmit. Resubmit until the committee is satisfied.
10. When thesis/project/dissertation committee indicates readiness, the chair will call a
formal meeting of the thesis/project/dissertation committee to discuss any concerns and
to set a date for the proposal approval.
11. Once the proposal is ready for approval, it is time to seek Ethics Review Board (ERB)
clearance.
12. The proposal approval is a closed meeting with the student, the thesis/project/
dissertation committee, and the Dean or someone designated by the Dean. The approval
consists of a short (usually 10-minute) formal presentation which synthesizes the
motivation for the study, the methods to be used and the reasons why the study is
important, followed by questions from the committee.
13. After the proposal approval, revise the proposal as indicated by the thesis/project/
dissertation committee. The committee will sign the Proposal Approval form
immediately following the meeting, but there are additional signatures which will only
be added once everything is revised according to the recommendations. When the
proposal is approved, ERB clearance is secured, and the instruments are ready the chair
and committee will sign to permit data collection.
14. Editorial approval may begin at any time, but should not wait much beyond the
proposal. Correct your mistakes before they become habits, and before you have made
them in other chapters.
Data Collection, Analysis, and Writing Stage:
15. This is now the time to secure formal permission to conduct the study. Permission needs
to be requested from appropriate authorities as soon as the thesis/project/dissertation
committee has accepted the proposal and given approval to both the final form of the
instrument(s) to be used in the study and the permission letter(s).
16. Proceed with the data collection and writing stage after receiving written approval from
the thesis/project/dissertation committee.
17. Review the timetable, with the chair, adjusting it, if necessary, to take into account
variation in progress vis-à-vis the original plan, committee travel schedules, teaching
loads, vacations, etc.
18. Collect data. Consult the methodologist for advice and approval, if appropriate, of the
form of data coding and computer entry of the data set for analysis. During analysis and
writing of the Results/Data Analysis and Conclusions chapters, consult with the
methodologist and other committee members to avoid extensive rewriting.
19. Proceed with writing as in the proposal stage, working closely with the research
committee chair, then the committee for revisions and suggestions. Recheck references,

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 etc., for accuracy and APA style. Resubmit until the committee is satisfied. As with the
proposal approval, the committee will meet formally and agree that the document is
ready to proceed to the editor, then on to the defense.
20. Through the research committee chair, submit the entire work to the editor for double-
checking. Use the Checklist provided to check for common errors before submitting
your work. If there are many errors, the editor may ask the student to edit the paper
before accepting the work.
C. Completion Stage
1. Work with the research committee chair to adjust the timeline for completion of the
thesis/project/dissertation, allowing sufficient editing time and meeting time
specifications set by AIIAS for events preceding the proposed graduation date.
2. When the research is complete, the committee should again meet to agree on readiness
for defense. Once the editor’s approval has been secured, defense-ready copies should
be made for every member of the committee, including a copy for the Dean and the
external examiner, where appropriate. Be sure to check to see which members would
like to have an electronic or printed copy.
3. At this point, a defense date can be scheduled, which must be at least 3 weeks (2 weeks
for a thesis) after the documents have been handed in. The defense must take place at
least 4 weeks before the student’s graduation.
4. Once the thesis/dissertation is with the committee, prepare an abstract of the thesis/
project/dissertation of approximately 350 words (120 for a thesis). Work closely with
the research committee chair to prepare and polish the presentation which will be made
to the defense committee.
5. The thesis/project/dissertation defense usually follows the format below:
a. A 20 minute presentation of the major points of the research.
b. Questions from the research committee to which the candidate must respond.
c. The executive session, during which the candidate and visitors leave the room.
d. The announcement of the committee’s decision, to the candidate.
6. After the successful oral defense, final corrections are made and handed in to the
research committee chair or other designee and any other committee members who
would like to see changes made to the document.
7. Once the chair is completely satisfied with the corrections, the thesis/project/dissertation
is submitted to the AIIAS editor for final checking. This submission must take place at
least 3 weeks before graduation, to allow time for editing. The editor will return the
thesis/project/dissertation to the chair, who works closely with the student to make
changes at this stage. The student makes the corrections indicated by the editor and
receives the final release from the editor.
8. When the editor has signed the approval form, the thesis/project/dissertation returns to
the chair, who signs the signature page of the dissertation and takes it, together with the
approval form, to the Dean’s office for the final approval signature for copying/ binding.
9. Make a copy of the completed signature page and submit it to the Registrar. This must
be submitted at least one week before graduation.
10. The original signature page form becomes part of the student’s copy of the thesis. Make
the required number of copies of the document, and have them bound. Three copies of
the thesis/dissertation go to the library (one is for the National Library), one to the Dean,
and one to the research committee chair. The original is for the student. Be sure the cover

Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual | 117

 and spine conform to the Theological Seminary standards (check with the Dean’s
secretary).
11. Copying and binding is done in consultation with the Dean’s secretary and submission
of the electronic copy is done in consultation with the editor and the Systems Librarian.
Final Clearance signatures may be secured from the Dean and the Library once all
dissertation copies have been submitted.

118 | Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual

 Appendix C
A Research Committee Chair’s Chronological Guide
to Empirical Research

1. Upon accepting to chair a thesis/project/dissertation committee, the research committee chair

helps the student put together a committee of individuals who are interested in the proposed
research and able to contribute to it. At least one member should be experienced in the content
area, and at least one should have experience in the proposed methodology. One member of
the committee could be a faculty member outside the department. It is good practice to discuss
the topic and the proposed research committee members with the department chair as soon as
possible. The department chair, at the Topic Request phase of the study, will need to approve
the proposed committee members..
2. Guided by the research committee chair, the student designs his/her study. The chair should be
proactive, as many students are hesitant to approach their research committee chair when they
are unsure of what to do. At this stage the committee should be active, meeting with the
student, methodologist, and research committee chair, as well as consulting with individuals
not on the committee. The writing of the Topic Request is secondary to the design. To make a
good design, the student needs to read enough to know what research has been done, and what
“gap” in the literature needs further study. A good step-by-step process to guide further
literature review is presented in the book to be used by all students writing a research study,
Writing the Winning Thesis or Dissertation (Joyner, Rouse, & Glatthorn, 2015). As this
becomes clear, the student writes the Topic Request, which is revised by the research
committee chair, then by the proposed committee.
3. The Topic Request needs to contain enough detail to show that the study constitutes original
research, has a reasonable design, and addresses basic ethical concerns. If the research
instruments have been chosen, they should be included. Once the committee is satisfied, they
sign the topic request, indicating their acceptance of the document AND their willingness to
serve on the committee. The presentation (format, grammar, organization) of the topic request
should be indicative of the quality of work that can be expected in the completed
thesis/project/dissertation. At least one printed copy and an electronic copy in Word of the
Topic Request must be submitted to the Department Chair for departmental committee
approval and forwarding to the Programs Committee. The committee composition is approved
by the Programs Committee with recommendations from the departmental committee.
AdCom approval is also necessary if the study involves AIIAS participants; this is indicated
by the Department. The Research Committee that approves the Topic Request is made up of
the three committee members, the Dean, and the APRC director, or an alternate, if either of
these are members of the committee.
4. Once the topic is approved, the research committee chair works with the student and the
committee to put together the proposal, which is usually the first three chapters of the
thesis/project/dissertation. This is also the time to finalize details about the instrument to be
used, and to secure any formal permissions needed from organizations or institutions.
5. If the research committee chair is unavailable for a period of time, he/she should arrange for
someone to lead out during the absence and this should be documented in writing. Any
committee changes should be addressed through the Department chair.
6. As part of the process of editing a student’s work, the chair will ask the student to submit an
electronic copy of the document, at some point, to the software program TurnItIn for
plagiarism analysis. This is a normal step, and is meant to help the student to see how much
wording they have borrowed from others so they can self-correct and does not mean they are

Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual | 119

 suspected of any wrongdoing. This step may be repeated at any time during the research
process. Assistance may be sought from the APRC office.
7. A student’s work may be submitted to the editor at any point the research committee chair
recommends. It may be wise to submit a document near the beginning of the process, so that a
student can learn the types of errors that must be corrected. It is easier to prepare a clean
document than to make corrections after the fact, so early advising is wise. The Writing
Center, in the Library, is a good place to obtain help with writing and formatting issues.
8. When the research committee chair is satisfied with Chapters 1-3, they may be given to the
entire committee. Some committee members prefer to receive research one chapter at a time.
Expectations of this nature should be discussed and agreed on by the committee as they work
together. When the committee agrees by consensus that the student’s document is acceptable,
the proposal approval defense may be scheduled.
9. The proposal approval defense is a closed meeting with the student, the thesis/project/
dissertation committee, and the Dean or his/her designee. The student briefly presents (10
minutes) a summary of the purpose, research questions, goals, and methodology of the study.
Committee members then ask questions to clarify doubts relating to any of these issues, or
note organization, format, clarity, or language problems. If the proposal is accepted, the
members of the committee sign, usually with a list of recommended corrections, which the
research committee chair supervises. Once the research committee chair is satisfied that the
revisions are completed, he/she signs permission for the document to be sent to the editor. If
the changes suggested are substantial the committee members are to review the changes to
determine whether the changes to the document are acceptable. In addition, any member may
request to review the document changes even if the changes may be viewed as minor.
10. Once the proposal is considered ready for approval, the student should complete the form for
the Ethics Review Board (ERB) when the research involves humans. This approval is needed
before the proposal approval is finalized. After ERB approval, when the research committee
chair and methodologist are satisfied with the instruments and the method, they sign their
approval for the student to collect data.
11. As the student works with the data, the methodologist will become more involved, particularly
in helping the student enter and format the data, and do the preliminary analyses. However,
the research committee chair should still be the first point of contact, and should at least do a
preliminary check of documents for logic, grammar, format, etc., before they go to the
methodologist.
12. As the thesis/project/dissertation process draws to an end, the student will spend more time
waiting for editing, which can be frustrating. Try to see that the student has something to
write/do while waiting for revisions (the defense presentation, curriculum vitae, abstract, final
check of references, etc.). Be sure to discuss deadlines with the student and make sure they
can be met reasonably.
13. For a dissertation, the research committee chair needs to discuss possible candidates for an
external examiner with the student, the Department Chair, and the Dean. The final decision
and the responsibility for contacting the external examiner rests with the Dean. An external
examiner is not required for a thesis.
14. Preparation for the defense requires committee consensus and the AIIAS editor’s approval.
Wise direction will mean less delay at this point. There are peak times for the editor; try to
utilize off-peak moments whenever possible. Once all permissions are secured, copies
(members of the committee should request either a printed or electronic version) of the
defense-ready document must be turned in to the Dean’s office together with the Defense
Report form. The student should check with the research committee chair on how many
copies need to be a printed, based upon committee members’ preferences, and how many
members prefer electronic copies. At this point, the defense can be scheduled. The committee

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 and the internal and external examiner have at least 3 weeks before the scheduled date of
defense of a dissertation to review the document. The dissertation may not be submitted to
an internal or external examiner before the editor’s approval, unless specifically asked
for by the two examiners. A thesis committee is given 2 weeks to review it before the date of
the defense.
15. Students must access the editor through the thesis/project/dissertation chair. The document
should be as clean as the student can make it before it goes to the editor. The checklist must be
attached with signatures showing that the student and the editor have checked the document
for common errors before presenting it to the editor. If multiple errors are found in the
document, the editor will return it to the chair with explanations of what must be done before
resubmission. Faculty are reminded that the editor’s job description includes serving as a
resource person if faculty have questions about proper format, and final editing of the thesis/
project/dissertation.
16. The thesis/project/dissertation oral defense is an open meeting, to which the public may be
invited. The Dean’s office arranges the venue, schedule, date, and prepares public
announcements of the defense. The student presents a formal 15-20 minute summary of the
research, including the motivation, research questions, major findings, and recommendations.
The research committee chair should work closely with the student to polish the presentation
and plan for smooth delivery; giving counsel about how to select and emphasize the most
important aspects of the study, kinds of questions to expect, and the nature of the proceedings
in general.
17. In preparation for the oral defense, the chair is strongly encouraged to hold a pre-defense
(mock defense) with the candidate within the last three weeks before the public event
18. The student will often prepare power point slides to assist in the defense presentation, which
should be summative, rather than exhaustive. The slides should support, rather than replace,
the student’s presentation, which should focus on findings and conclusions. The student is
responsible for this presentation but the chair should support the process. Electronic
equipment used for the defense needs to be in place and tested at least 15 minutes before the
defense.
19. After the defense, the committee usually signs the Defense Report form, and the chair
supervises revisions and does not sign the research approval page until the document is ready
for binding. If the changes suggested by the committee are substantial, the committee
members are to review the changes to determine whether the changes to the document are
acceptable, before they sign the report. When the chair considers that all corrections are made,
he/she signs the bottom of the Defense Report form and sends the document to the editor for
one last check. The final document must be given to the editor no less than 3 weeks before
graduation. After the editor signs, the chair signs the approval page of the dissertation,
followed by the Dean, after which the copies are made and the document is sent for binding.
The chair holds both the Defense Report and the approval page until the final signatures are in
place. A copy of the approval page with all signatures on it must be in the Registrar’s office
no later than one week before graduation. Students who have handed in the signature page to
the Registrar’s office before registration do not need to register for the next term.

Theological Seminary Research Standards and Writing Manual | 121

 Appendix D
Tips for Making Student Research Publishable

A publishable paper is different in several ways from the typical class paper. Usually it
contains primary data, or presents new ideas. Before preparing a publishable article, decide which
journal you will submit it to. Study the articles in that journal and the guidelines for authors which
the journal provides. These instructions regarding content, format, and submission, must be
followed exactly and in detail.
Publishers expect articles to be clear and succinct. An article will be shorter than the paper
on which it is based. The basic parts, however, must appear. For a theological paper, the parts are
as follows: 1. Introduction (containing statement of problem, purpose, and procedure followed
(where the research started, what kinds of sources were used, etc.). 2. A review of literature may or
may not be needed. Often that information appears in the footnotes. 3. Analysis of the topic (this
may be historical or topical). 4. Conclusion, where the author sets forth the "so-what" of the
information presented. The parts of an empirical study are included in the explanation below,
which has been prepared for empirical research; however, students preparing an article for a
theological or ministerial journal will also find it helpful.

Student paper Publishable paper How to get there

Can tend to be wordy, Tight, no wasted words, highly polished. Write it, then edit it repeatedly using other
unedited. readers if possible, until output is high quality.
Can appear as if the student is General feeling that the author has more to Start with a slightly longer paper and reduce
trying to stretch the paper to say than what will fit and is trying to reduce it. Often you need to begin with 30-35 pages
meet the minimum length the paper to meet the maximum length and reduce to 25.
requirement. allowed.
Often lengthy general Introduction and Literature Review are Keep introduction short. Write a paragraph or
introduction. usually combined and point to the need for two, and move directly into your study. The
the present study. introduction must convince readers of the
timely relevance of your study and show its
place in current research.
Literature Review is lengthy, Literature review is focused and relatively Read the general introductory studies for your
contains a lot of general brief. It contains mainly primary studies own information, if needed, but do not put
information, not many closely related to the research, not general, them in the introduction. A dissertation
primary sources. Often does introductory sources or tangentially related contains a general literature review occupying
not give reasons for inclusion past work. a whole chapter which an article leaves out.
of information.
Frequent use of poor quality Sources must be recent, and closely related Seek out high quality sources, especially
sources, such as general to the study. High quality sources, such as primary studies that are directly related to
internet articles on a topic, journals, recently published books, and your study. Ask more from your sources.
textbook explanations, primary studies are used. Review articles Mediocre sources make a mediocre paper.
Wikipedia definitions, etc. can be useful summaries or sources of There is plenty out there—make the effort to
expert opinion. Breadth is sought to include find the good stuff.
multiple perspectives.
Tends to use a lot of Few quotations, but many references; often Make sure you understand what is being said,
quotations, even lengthy ones. multiple ones in the same area reinforcing a and summarize/reduce bulky ideas into
point of view or line of research. smaller spaces using the support of multiple
sources.
Tends to rely heavily on a few Much more breadth of sources; not overly Find out who are the key authors in a field and
sources dependent on a chosen few. cite them, but seek breadth, as well as depth.
One article per area discussed is not sufficient
coverage.
Analysis is heavily tied to Independent thinking is clearly Read more. Think more. Do not write the first
ideas found in the literature. demonstrated; ideas come from the author as thing you see. When you have read more deeply
Little original thought is well as the literature; value added by the and widely, you will begin to have your own
evident. author is clearly demonstrated. expertise to write about. Be careful to link your
own ideas to sources contributing to or sharing
perspectives you develop.

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 Student paper Publishable paper How to get there
Plagiarism is not always Plagiarism has no place here. Quotations This is an area which must be carefully
carefully avoided. Sometimes and ideas of others are carefully referenced. guarded in all papers. Reference carefully at
this is due to poor technique, all times; take special care with internet sites
sometimes because the to acknowledge authorship correctly. For help
student does not believe it is with electronic sites, see http://owl.english
important. .purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/10/
Personally created Appropriate summaries, figures, tables, or Seek opportunities to summarize combine,
summaries, lists, tables or lists are generated when analysis requires create, construct, and share ideas in the form
figures are rare; any found in some creative form of synthesis to describe of personally created tables, figures, or
the text are usually quoted. what was learned. Figures from others are graphs. These are fine outputs for the analysis
almost never reproduced. you should be doing. Resist the temptation to
quote other people’s analyses in your paper—
just reference them.
The referencing style is often Evidence is given of clear understanding of Follow carefully the style manual indicated by
followed mechanically, but the referencing style, be it APA (see the journal in which you wish to publish.
not well understood. https://apastyle.apa.org/blog/basics-7e- Thoroughly learn the reference style required.
tutorial), or SBL (see Have others who know it well check your
https://sblhs2.com/index-of-posts/). paper.
Headings are frequent, but not Headings are carefully planned to divide a Edit your headings specifically. Don’t overuse
always meaningful. piece into sections and subsections. them. Consider the organization of your piece
so that the headings help structure your article.
Ask for expert opinions.
Quotations are often Quotations are rare; ideas from sources are Practice this. Make sure every word counts.
introduced in a wordy way analyzed and compared with ideas from Do not begin sentences with authors’ names
that does not show true other sources. The referencing style shows but rather with ideas. Compare/contrast and
analysis of what was said. source information, leaving the writer free synthesize relationship ideas adequately.
to make analytical comments.
Often repetitive, loosely Tightly organized by topic, with each topic Write an outline first; check the organization
organized. being addressed once—no repetition. before you finish. Print the article and check its
organization, making sure that all similar ideas
are in the same place or are clearly associated
by linking terms. Do not repeat yourself.
Method section tends to cover Method is almost like a formula—it is From the description of the methodology in
several pages. concise, dense, and short--usually only a your paper, create a more concise explanation,
page or so. Much of the ethical and data following the norms of the discipline. A
collection details are left out and presumed dissertation will have much more detail in the
to be cared for by the author. method than an article.
Analysis is often bulky and Analysis is as concise as possible. Tables You may need to write out a bulkier data
repetitive. and text overlap very little, but rather, section at first and then reduce it. Do not
complement each other. Comments and repeat yourself or describe uninteresting data.
references to relevant literature are made Tell the important parts and say that the rest
when appropriate. confirmed prior research was insignificant, or
contributed no new knowledge.
Analysis tends to be driven by Analysis is written in as simple a language Editing is needed here. Early drafts look more
numbers which are sometimes as possible, highlighting meaning, like plain SPSS output. Later drafts will read
not interpreted adequately and interpreting statistics to confirm trends or more like a reasoned explanation or
are often awkward to read. hypotheses and practical applications to the expository story, with numbers for support.
ideas of the research study.
Conclusion tends to repeat Conclusion puts together all the pieces This requires careful writing, personal critical
analysis, rather than bringing found in the analysis (without necessarily thinking, disciplined creativity in forming new
something new. restating them) and analyzes the whole, syntheses suggested by the data and
bringing in references to literature, discussion with your research committee
interested parties, etc. The conclusions are chair. Put your ideas in your writing; test them
tied to the data, but clearly represent the on your research committee chair. Write, and
author’s explanation of the meaning of the be prepared and willing to rewrite. Do not
data. repeat here. Conclusions should be short,
meaningful, and powerful.

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