Writing an Academic Essay | Global Christian University

Subject Guide: Writing an Academic Essay

The paper should be written in the 3rd person (he, she, it, believers, Christians, humans). Unless a professor specifically asks for a paper in 1st person (I, me, we, us, our) or 2nd person (you, your) language, avoid these in a paper.
Please try to avoid things like contractions in any formal writing (e.g., don’t, let’s, we’ve, I’ve, it’s,…)
When referring to an author’s written work, use the present tense. The past tense is reserved for historical works.
Global Christian University allows for God related pronouns to be capitalized (e.g., He, His…). Example: Jesus lived on earth, and He did many miracles.
All academic essays and research papers should have a thesis statement to summarize your main point. The main point should be supported with research, quotes, and paraphrases by scholars in that field.

Quotes are never more than 25% of academic work.
Paraphrases are preferred. This shows a higher level of academic synthesis. Still use a footnote and proper attribution when you are paraphrasing someone.
Quotes should not be more than 2 lines long in most cases.
All quotes and paraphrases should be set up with the author’s full name and with the author’s last name for any subsequent quotes. For example, Jack Smith says,… or Smith comments,…followed by the quote. This gives credit to the author in the body text.
Quotes should be followed with a footnote at the end of a sentence.
If you cite specific information or data like a date or specific idea that is not general knowledge, cite it with a footnote. Example: Crete is approximately 500 miles from Cyprus; this fact needs a footnote.

Assume your reader knows the Bible well. It is not necessary to write out full quotes of verses from the Bible since your readers can find the references that you cite.
Footnote: when your paper cites from only one translation of the Bible, cite it with a footnote (not in the bibliography) at the first quotation of a verse. If you use multiple translations or versions of the Bible, then you would have to spell out the version used the first time you use each, and then use a series of abbreviations for subsequent citations in parentheses (NASB, ESV, KJV).
Citing a Bible verse can be done at the end of a sentence in parentheses in abbreviated form without the need of a footnote (Gen. 3:16). Or you can reference a verse in the sentence, for example, you may make a reference to Romans 1:16, and then you would not use the book’s abbreviation.
Abbreviating books of the Bible
Capitalization of Theology Terms. Examples: The Scripture is a noun; scriptural is an adjective. The Bible is a noun, biblical is an adjective. The four Gospels are capitalized; the gospel being preached is not.