Basic guidelines to write a paper for the Hebrew III course
א. Methodology
α. Consider the following questions and answer them carefully:
α.1. What biblical passage/pericope is going to be studied? What are the criteria for the selection of the passage? Why is there a need to study the passage or pericope? What is the problematic situation that justifies the research?
α.2. How is the passage/pericope or section going to be studied? What is the methodology to be applied in the study? How will the results or conclusions be established? What procedures are to be done in doing the research? Generous details or information are needed.
ב. General Features of the Passage under Study
α. Offer a general description of the section where the passages are placed. It can be a chapter or a pericope. (Identify the limits or boundaries and the indicators of the unit). Explain what the (broad) section is about.
β. Identify the genre of the section.
ג. Literary Analysis of Each Sentence
α. Analyze the pericope or section’s sentences. Point out the Hebrew sentence and a working translation. Specifically, answer the following questions:
α.1. How do the etymology and the lexical analysis contribute to the understanding of the sentence?
α.2. Is there any resemblance between the sentence in general (or broader) context of the Hebrew Bible?
α.3. What is the meaning of the sentence under analysis?
ד. Textual Witnesses Analysis and Critical Apparatus of Each Sentence
α. Textual Witnesses:
Compare the Hebrew translation to the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Septuagint, and the Targums texts.
β. Critical Apparatus of BHS:
Highlight the main observation of the Critical Apparatus.
ה. Style of the Language of the Section under Study.
α. Take note of how the expressions are used in the passage. Point out the main literary features of the passage according to the genre of the section under study.
β. Analyze the following elements of the section under study:
β.1. Scenes, characterization, scenario, plot OR
β.2. Figures of speech, symbolism, parallelism OR
β.3. Symbols and types. Are they classical or eschatological?
ו. Summary and Conclusions
α. Describe the differences between the MT and the textual witnesses. Answer the following questions: How have the textual witnesses contributed to the understanding of the passage? What is the meaning of the passage in the light of the analysis above? What are the main conclusions of your study?
Bibliography. Prioritize primary resources.
Appendix. Use the working translation charts.
Note: Follow the format and style of AIIAS Research Manual Standards <https://www.aiias.edu/aiias-research-standards-and-writing-manual/> and Writing Manual and the SBL handbook (Ask Library services). Criteria for Evaluating Research Papers <https://www.academia.edu/28924091/Criteria_for_Evaluating_Research_Papers>
