05.8.3 Presentation of Essays and Projects (MA and MTh)
- Susanna
Essays should be presented on A4 format doubled spaced with a 3 cm margin. The pages should be numbered consecutively throughout the essay. The candidate’s name should not appear on any item for MA (including Projects). Essays are submitted online through the LSS as a PDF file.
Title Page
A template title page is available on the LSS. This should be used.
Synopsis
A synopsis, containing a summary of the argument of the essay, should follow the title page of the essay. It should be a piece of continuous prose, not numbered points, and be around 300 words in length.
Essay
The essay should reveal clear thinking and careful organisation, with an introduction and conclusion. The introduction should indicate the scope of the subject matter to be discussed in the essay, and the conclusion should summarise the argumentation of the essay and draw any necessary conclusions. While the essay will be marked mainly on content, the format is important and careful attention should be given to spelling, grammar and punctuation.
Bibliography and Footnotes
The essay should include a bibliography of all works consulted in the preparation of the essay. Footnotes are preferable to endnotes.
Word Length
Where an essay (or project) has a specified maximum number of words, bibliographic material in footnotes, the synopsis, bibliography and bibliographic references are not counted in the word length. However, commentary and analysis in footnotes, and appendices, must be included in the word count. Bible references (eg. John 3:16) should be placed within the text of the essay and not relegated to a footnote, and will also be included in the word count. Word length limits are taken seriously by examiners as part of the educational objectives for the unit. This regulation does not apply to PhD/MTh theses (see 5.4.6.11 for PhD thesis length).