Writing Theory Papers The Key to Getting Your Papers Approved By Robin Booth, ACPE Supervisor Theory Papers Read the  Certification Manual Know what the  Readers are looking for Give the Readers  what they are looking for Answer the  questions Theory Papers Papers should be professionally  written – This means that grammar, syntax, spelling should all be graduate level work. – Use an editor if you do not write well – Have a number of people proof read your papers before submitting them. – DO NOT PLAGERIZE!!! Theory Papers Follow directions  Five pages  Standard 1 inch margins  Font size 12 points/ Times New Roman  Document with footnotes for materials cited  directly or paraphrased Use page numbers  Theory Papers One page preface stating main thesis  of each paper; state congruence of the three positions clearly and concisely One page personal introduction  Should include faith group  Gender  Social location  Other pertinent information that relates you  to your positions Theory Paper Readers are looking for:  Integration of theories with your history  Evidence of knowledge  Do you know the concepts of the theory?  Have you used significant primary resources?  Are you able to apply concepts to the practice  of supervision? Theory Papers Readers are looking for:  Who are the theorist/theologian the writer is  using Does the writer show evidence of familiarity  with relevant literature Are these current theorist? If not, why?  Can these theories be applied to CPE  Supervision? Are the theories compatible with one another?  Theory Papers Readers are looking for:  If you have answered the questions in the  certification manual and the grid Make use of both the manual and the grid  If you are articulating the “why” of  supervision rather than “how” Theory Papers Have a central theorist or two. Too  many theorist will present like a book report, avoid this. Know the theorist and the  school/group to which (s)he belongs. Know the major concepts of this  theory thoroughly and demonstrate your knowledge of this theory. Theory Papers Critical Purchase: One of the major  stumbling blocks: Ask yourself the following questions: – What do you/they foreground or focus on? What do you/they value? What is not focused on, maybe even overlooked? How could/does your heightened awareness of “X” impact your supervision? – What do you/they assume? – Where are your/their limits? – What happens or where do you go when you meet “the edges of your theory”: the limits in yourself, your students, your supervisory practice?* *From Barbara Brumleve’s research for Certification Commission, 2010