Paul’s Background and Your Background

Reflective Essay: Final Draft

Sample Essay: Reflective Essay Sample.  downloadThis is an exemplary essay. This essay was from a live SQ19 class, and Part VI of the assignment was a bit different. However, everything else is the same. So overall, if you are a visual learner, use this as a sample, especially concerning the format. 

 Preliminary Notes:

• This is your final essay and exam. You will revise and add to your first essay, creating a refined and memorable piece of writing. You have already done many steps in this process. Much of what you are doing at this point is revising, refining, updating your introduction, and composing your conclusion. The revision here is based on my comments from the midterm and comments from your peer this week.
• You will be graded using the same rubric of the first essay draft (below).

Prompt:

• After learning about Paul’s own spiritual journey—and how he developed his own world view (theology)—reflect on your own journey. In this essay, you will be demonstrating your own understanding of the material in class (Paul’s journey) and your own journey. Be concrete about both!

Structure/Revision:

• For your paper, you will have an introduction, six parts, and a conclusion. Count on at least sixteen full paragraphs . You may go above and beyond the requirements. I am simply trying to give you concrete expectations. 
• Be sure you make thorough revisions of your first paper. Pay attention to the one to three improvements I listed on your first draft. If you want to make sure I see what you worked on, feel free to write a note on the submission page on Canvas about the improvements you made. Use peer comments as well to revise.
• Be concrete in sharing about your own experience.
• Here are the parts. Make sure your paragraphs link together; that is, that you transition between them and that they refer to each other. Also, feel free to use subheadings. You have written drafts of most of these parts already (except the introduction and conclusion).

• • Introduction (one paragraph): Here you will write an overall summation of your journey in light of Paul’s. You will also preview each part of your paper, and what you conclude from each part. You will need to revise your introduction based on the larger paper.
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  • Part I (two paragraphs): Here you will write about the influences on Paul’s own thinking (see Powell and Fitzmyer [five influences]), arguing what you think had the most influence on Paul’s thought. In light of this, you will write about what has had the most impact on the way you view the world (compare/contrast with Paul).
  • Part II (two paragraphs): Here you write about Paul’s ideas about evil in the world (see Gaventa reading). In light of this, you will discuss your own view (compare/contrast).
  • Part III (two paragraphs). Here you write about Jesus (Paul’s hero) and yours. First, discuss the heroic names Paul gives to Jesus (see Fitzmyer Christology reading and recall the quiz). Choose one name that you think captures his heroism and explain its meaning and why it is heroic. Second, describe your hero and what you think is heroic
  • Part IV (two paragraphs): Here you write about Paul’s ideas about how evil is ended (realized and future eschatology). In light of this, you will discuss your own view (compare/contrast).

Your midterm was a draft of Parts I-IV.

• • Part V (two paragraphs): Here you write about Paul’s ideas about how community helps to realize the end of evil (realized eschatology and ecclesiology). In light of this, you will discuss your own view (compare/contrast) and your own community, whether ideal or real. You wrote and added a draft of this part this to your paper at the end of week six.
  • Part VI (four paragraphs):
    • First, write about the chief “weapon” that Paul’s communities use to overcome evil now: faith. This is two paragraphs, Paul’s idea of faith and your own application. You wrote and added a draft of this part this to your paper at the end of week six.
    • Second, Write a paragraph about Paul’s metaphors of the Christ Event. Choose three that you think still have the most impact of "rearranging the furniture in our minds." These metaphor, when realized by faith, sharpen the Pauline mind-weaponry. Write a paragraph about a your own (or borrowed) philosophical/theological metaphor that rearranges furniture in your mind. Argue how having faith in this way of thinking affects your view of the world. You wrote and added a draft of this part this to your paper at the end of week seven.
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  • Conclusion (one paragraph): Summarize your six parts. Make sure your introduction is just as concrete as your summary here. End by using modern pieces from the class to sum up your paper. I suggest quoting MLK’s letter, the Matrix, Powell, etc. What matters here is leaving your readers with thoughts and applications of what you have learned about Paul’s theology. As your professor, this is what is most important to me: What thoughts have you developed by thinking about your own journey alongside Paul’s? I suggest ending in this way. This is the new addition to your paper for the final week. 

• Be sure to transition between each part: “In Part I, I discussed . . . , here I . . .”
• Be sure to make connections between the six parts! This is an indicator of one of the rubric categories: depth of reflection.

Format

• No title page is required. But your title should be centered in bold at the top of page one. A title should sum up your reflection. Be creative.
• 12 pt. font. Times Roman preferred.
• Page numbers at bottom, centered.
• Double spaced.
• I prefer paragraph minimum instead of page minimum. See above.
• The style guide for biblical studies is “SBL.” It is summarized well in the following link. You should footnote any references to texts in class (Fitzmyer, Gaventa, Powell). The link below explains how to cite bible passages. Click on “Bible” link/bullet.
  • http://spu.libguides.com/citations/cite_sbl (Links to an external site.)

Originality

• Your paper will be submitted online, on Canvas. The website checks for plagiarism (including prior papers submitted).