Th.M. Hero

Writing Resources

Throughout the writing process there are a number of resources that we’ve designed to help students along the way:

PDS Writing Handbook

James P. Boyce Centennial Library (SBTS Library Website)

Library Resources for Distance Students

Canvas Submission Instructions

Ministry Research Project:

Outline for Ministry Research Project Proposal (Requirements apply to ALL proposal submissions.)
Goal Development Worksheet
Goal Analysis – T-Test for Dependent Samples
T-Test for Dependent Sample EXAMPLE
Example of Instruments
Evaluation Rubric Template
Project Proposal Sample A
Project Proposal Sample B
Task List to Write a Single Chapter (Chapter 2 Example)

Research Thesis:

Style Reading

Style related resources

Southern Seminary Style Manual

Style Guides and Templates

Style Reading Checklist

Common Grammatical and Stylistic Errors

Initial style reading

The first style reading is usually administered during the student’s fourth semester. When the student submits their third chapter to their supervisor via Canvas, they should also submit a hard copy of chapters 1-3 and all front and back matter to the PDS office.

With this hard copy, a completed and signed copy of the Style Reading Checklist should be included.

Please note that all of these items should be reflective of the work included to date (ie. page numbers on the table of contents should be included to date, the bibliography should be complete to date, etc.)

Failure to comply with the Southern Seminary Manual of Style may result in the charge of resubmission fees.

In addition to these items, students should also take time to revise their chapter one (previously the project proposal) to reflect a proper chapter one. This includes:

Removal of the chapter designations in the bibliography (Ministry Project)
Replace the proposed bibliography with the actual bibliography (Research Thesis and Ministry Project)
Language throughout the chapter should be updated to reflect past tense rather than future (Ministry Project)
Removal of the proposed calendar (Ministry Project)
Removal of chapter outlines (Research Thesis)

This initial reading is meant to advise the student as to how successful they have been in interpreting and implementing Southern’s manual of style. The style reader’s comments will be returned by email with a copy kept on file in the PDS office.

Defense draft style reading

The second style reading takes place as the student is preparing for oral defense. The student who intends to graduate must submit three hard copies of their completed and approved project or thesis to the DMin office (see Graduation Guidelines for more info).

One of these submissions is sent over to the seminary’s style reader. Again, a completed and signed copy of the Style Reading Checklist should be included. The style reader’s comments will be returned to the student on the day of their defense hearing. Revisions are to be completed by the following final submission deadlines:

Spring graduation – May 1^st
Fall graduation – December 1^st

Failure to comply with the Southern Seminary Manual of Style may result in the charge of resubmission fees.

Ethics Committee Forms

All students doing a Ministry Research Project must submit a Research Profile for approval by their supervisor and the Research Ethics Committee prior to conducting the research project and/or any work with human subjects. Use all documents below in creating the Research Profile.

Submit the Research Profile through the Professional Doctoral Studies office at any point following final proposal approval and prior to beginning the project. Contact our office with any questions regarding these forms.