LIBERTY UNIVERSITY BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
A Sample Paper for the Purpose of Correct Formatting
Submitted to Dr. <Insert Name>, in partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the completion of the course
<Insert Course Prefix and Number – Section Number>
Introduction to Seminary Studies
by
<Insert Student Name>
<Month Day, Year Submitted>
Table of Contents
Introduction ....................................................................................................................................1
First Major Section ........................................................................................................................2
First Subhead
Second Subhead
Second Major Section ....................................................................................................................3
First Subhead
First Sub Section Subhead
Second Sub Section Subhead
Second Subhead
Conclusion ......................................................................................................................................4
Bibliography ...................................................................................................................................5
1
2
Introduction
Because most beginning students will have difficulty learning how to write papers and
also format correctly papers using the latest edition of Kate L. Turabian’s, A Manual for
Writers,1 this sample paper can be used as a template for inserting the correct parts. You will
notice that the first time Turabian’s name is written in the paper, her full name was given, but the
second and later uses of her name will only be her last name. The footnote can be inserted in the
middle of a sentence, but preferably after some punctuation. The footnote reference number in
the text is superscript, but the superscript is removed below and the number is followed by a
period. The footnote below is the proper form for books. If you are going to write a footnote for
a journal article you would use a different format as you see below.2 The footnote below is a full
footnote from a journal article that has been found in Liberty’s online library using an American
Theological Library Association (ATLA) search. You can use abbreviations sparingly in the
body of your paper because it is permissible to use ATLA once it has been defined and because it
is a common abbreviation well known by those you do research.
You are asked in the course, “Introduction to Seminary Studies,” to learn the proper
formatting of your papers as well as learn how to do research, plan the details of a paper or
report, and write out your paper in a way that your professor and classmates will be able to
clearly understand the message you wish to convey in your paper. Usually you will finish your
introduction with a full thesis statement. The topic of this paper is correct formatting and it will
1
Wayne C. Booth, et al., A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations: Chicago
Style for Students and Researchers: Kate L. Turabian, 8th ed. (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2013).
2
Calvin Darlington Linton, "Literary Style in Religious Writing," Christianity Today 15, no. 20 (July 2,
1971): 8-12, accessed June 5, 2013, http://web.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.liberty.edu:2048/ehost/detail?vid=5&sid=
42ff6ab6-8455-4ac2-9f88-2efe2961afba%40sessionmgr115&hid=103&bdata= JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZ
zY29wZT1zaXRl#db =rfh&AN= ATLA0000731462.
3
answer a question about how to correctly write and format a paper. The thesis may be that
students that learn how to correctly write and format papers will have greater success in
seminary. However, that thesis does not correspond to the content of this sample paper. The
actual thesis is that students who use this paper as a sample or template are more likely to
correctly format their papers in the future.
First Major Section
You will notice that the title of the first major section is in the center and bold type. There
are two empty lines above the heading and one below.3 This was accomplished by highlighting
the title and changing the formatting for just those lines to single space in the “Paragraph” menu
above. The footnote below is the proper form for using a source that has been used previously.
The first footnote has complete information and later footnotes are abbreviated.
First Subhead
This section will be the first sub section of the first major section. Notice again that there
is an additional empty space above. This is done by writing the subhead and then beginning the
paragraph. Then return to the subhead and highlight the entire row it is in. Using “Paragraph”
above, it is possible to remove the indentation and make that row single space. Then you can
return and move the subhead down one additional space as well as add one space below.
Second Subhead
Remember that you must always have at least two subheads per level.4 You cannot have
just one at any particular level. If you do, then divide the information into at least two sections at
3
Booth, et al., Turabian, 393.
4
Ibid., 329.
4
that level or simply remove the subhead. The footnote, number four, below is the proper form for
using the same source in immediate sequence. Avoid too many uses of ibidem (Ibid.) by making
use of multiple sources. Also numbers that take up to two words to write, like four or forty-four,
are written out rather than using arabic numerals like 110, which would take three words to
write.
Second Major Section
First Subhead
In the example above there was not enough room on the previous page for both the titles
of the headings and to begin a paragraph. It was necessary to begin a new page so that no
subhead ends a page. You can have two headings in a row as above separated by one empty
space.
First Sub Section Subhead
Now the subhead is flush left but the same spacing above and below is maintained. It is
also in bold type. This is true of the second sub section subhead that follows.
Second Sub Section Subhead
This is the second subhead because is always necessary to have at least two items at
every level.
Second subhead
This is the second sub section of the second major section. Once again it is in the center,
but in regular type. When writing a paper organize first your outline so that you are able to plan
how you will make your argument and give your reasoning and evidence that will support your
5
thesis statement. Your first paragraph of each section should explain how this will fit into your
reasoning and then each section will end with a summary of how the evidence has shown your
reasoning to be correct. Also, transitions are very helpful at the end of each major section so the
reader anticipates how the next section is connected to the logical progression of the reasoning
you use to support your thesis.
Conclusion
The conclusion to your paper should repeat the major question of your paper as well as
your thesis statement. You should be able to give the main points of your reasoning that you used
in order to prove your thesis statement.
The bibliography that follows starts on a new page even though there is a great deal of
room left on a final page. If you hold down the “Ctrl” key and then “Enter,” you will go to an
entirely new page in order to start the bibliography. You will note that the bibliography begins
with the title in bold type and centered followed by one empty space.
A bibliography is single spaced but there is a space between each entry. You will need to
format the entries in the bibliography using “Paragraph” "Indentation Special Hanging By 0.5""
"Spacing After: 12 pt" "Line spacing: Single."
6
Bibliography
Booth, Wayne C., et al. A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations:
Chicago Style for Students and Researchers: Kate L. Turabian. 8th ed. Chicago:
University of Chicago Press, 2013.
Linton, Calvin Darlington. "Literary Style in Religious Writing." Christianity Today 15, no. 20
(July 2, 1971): 8-12. Accessed June 5, 2013. http://web.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.liberty.
edu:2048/ehost/detail?vid=5&sid=42ff6ab6-8455-4ac2-9f88-2efe2961afba %40
sessionmgr115&hid=103&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZ zY29wZT1zaXRl#db
=rfh&AN= ATLA0000731462.