• Biographical Essay. All students are required to complete a biographical essay. These are intended to be an overview study of a particular person who played a prominent role in the history of the Christian church beginning with the Patristic era up to 1500 AD. Students do NOT need the professor’s approval when selecting a historic person for this essay. Simply make certain that the following required aspects of this exercise can be completed when considering choosing a historic figure.
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary seeks to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ by equipping students to serve the church and fulfill the Great Commission. Copyright @ 2022 Stephen Brett Eccher
This essay should be derived from no less than ten (10) secondary sources (to pass, not excel), excluding the Bible and any required reading for this class. Textbooks from this class may be used in the essay, but do NOT count toward the required sourcing total. Also, all students must interact with primary source penned by the historic figure (though more is preferable); no exceptions to this primary source requirement. For any primary sources compiled in a source book, reader, etc., each individual historic work qualifies as a primary source. For example, if a student utilizes two Augustine treatises that are found in one compiled The Works of Saint Augustine book, each treatise qualifies as a primary source. Although not an exhaustive list, all essays should consider at least the following:
1. Childhood and education
2. External influences
3. Writings
4. Theology
5. Major contributions / legacy to the church
The biographical essay should be presented in a paper of seven (7) pages at a minimum (to pass, not excel) and no more than twelve (12) pages at a maximum, typed in 12-point Times New Roman font and double-spaced. The title page and bibliography do not count toward this number. A title page and an accompanying bibliography must be attached.
The rubric used to grade this essay may be found at the end of the syllabus. Students are strongly encouraged to consult this rubric when writing and revising your paper.
The biographical essay must be written using the seminary’s house choice of formatting, which may be found in the 8th edition of Kate L. Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations.
