🧩 Finding Purpose in the Process: A Christian Student’s Guide to Research and Writing

 🧩 Finding Purpose in the Process: A Christian Student’s Guide to Research and Writing

By: Daniel Fitzgerald

“Aim at Heaven, and you will get Earth ‘thrown in’: aim at Earth, and you will get neither.”
— C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

We often approach research and writing with one question: What do I have to do to succeed? But what if academic excellence wasn’t the goal? It was the byproduct. Lewis’s reminder—that aiming for eternal purpose brings earthly fruit, but not the other way around—has reshaped the way I think about research.

For me, the goal isn’t just a polished paper or a strong grade. It’s about faithfulness. It’s about using writing to seek truth, love my reader, and honor God. This post is a testimony to that process.

📖 How Do I Know What I Need to Research?

Research doesn’t always start with a thesis—it starts with a hunch. As Francine Prose reminds us in Reading Like a Writer, sometimes a phrase or pattern keeps tugging at our imagination, inviting us to chase it down. That’s what happened to me in ENGL603. Reading became a way to trace echoes—of hope, exile, and redemption—through theory and theology.

Through WRIT501, I’ve learned that good research isn’t about defending what I already believe—it’s about discovering what I don’t yet know. That shift—from certainty to curiosity—is what reshaped everything. I now begin projects by asking:

• What aspect of this text am I struggling to understand?
• What conversation is this author entering?
• What part of this story intersects with my own?

That’s where research starts—not with answers, but with wonder.

🔎 Where Do I Find Sources?

Whether navigating Liberty’s databases or using Boolean logic in open web searches, I’ve learned that where I look shapes what I find. Good research requires intentional strategy, but it also calls for openness to voices I might not expect.

Some of my go-to research spaces include:

• Jerry Falwell Library database with filters for peer-reviewed sources
• WorldCat, for hard-to-find books and interlibrary loans
• Open-access journals, which make scholarship more equitable
• Thoughtful YouTube commentary, academic blogs, or digital archives for contemporary voice and context

The key is to cast a wide net early, then refine, prioritize, and follow the strongest sources.

🧠 How Do I Know If a Source Is Credible and Appropriate?

It’s one thing to find a source; it’s another to trust it. I evaluate credibility using:

• The author’s credentials (academic or professional expertise)
• Publisher or platform (peer-reviewed journal vs. anonymous blog)
• Tone and depth (does the source analyze, or just assert?)

Appropriateness depends on the assignment. A literary analysis might benefit from cultural commentary, while a theological reflection might require biblical exegesis or alignment with a worldview. In short, I ask, "Does this source help me answer the right question, the right way, for the right reader?"

🧾 How Do I Incorporate Sources into My Writing?

Incorporating sources isn’t about stacking quotes—it’s about curating a conversation. Here’s what I’ve learned:

• Use signal phrases to introduce sources clearly
• Quote sparingly, paraphrase thoughtfully
• Always cite using MLA style (standard in literature and humanities)
• Let your own voice remain dominant; sources should support, not overshadow, your analysis

As Dr. Stockslager emphasized, citing isn’t just formatting—it’s humility. It says, “I’ve listened before I speak.”

⚖️ Final Reflection: Integrity, Audience, and Calling

In Keys to Writing Effective Papers, my ENGL656 professor, Dr. Mark Ray Schmidt, said something I’ve carried with me since week one: “Love your reader.” That’s the heart of research for me—not just learning but sharing what I’ve learned with integrity and care.

His call to structure papers clearly, transition smoothly, and write with purpose sharpened not only my arguments but also my ethic. Whether I’m crafting an essay or preparing to teach one day, I want my words to carry grace and clarity.

Which brings me back to C.S. Lewis. If I aim to impress, I may or may not succeed. But if I aim to honor truth, love others, and glorify God through scholarship—everything else will find its place.

🧭 Sidebar: Writing Is Relationship

“If you have the relationship, the other things will follow.” – Jeffrey Fulgham
“Love your reader.” – Dr. Mark Ray Schmidt
“Write with clarity and purpose.” – Keys to Writing Effective Papers

• ✍️ Start with structure: Clear writing reflects clear thinking
• 💬 Serve your audience: Every reader deserves care and clarity
• 🧡 Be teachable: Feedback isn’t failure—it’s formation
• 📖 Let your faith guide your method: Grace and rigor walk together
• 🙌 Keep showing up: The process is long, but it’s also formative

Research isn’t just information; it’s transformation.

📚 Where Can I Find More Information?

These resources shaped my understanding of research in a Christian academic context:

1. Barbara McMillin, “Christian Worldview and Literature,” in Shaping a Christian Worldview
   McMillin shows how reading with discernment becomes a moral and theological act.
   Available on ProQuest
2. Daniel K. Muhlestein, “Teaching Contemporary Literary Theory at a Church-Sponsored University,” Christianity & Literature, 1998
   A balanced and thoughtful reflection on teaching secular theory through the lens of faith.
   Available via EBSCO
3. C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
   Especially the section on eternal perspective and purpose-driven living that inspired this post’s epigraph.

Additional influences include:

• Keys to Writing Effective Papers, Dr. Mark Ray Schmidt (ENGL656 Lecture Series)
• Interview with Jeffrey Fulgham, Professional Writing Insights (WRIT501)
• Presentation by Dr. Tess Stockslager on ethical research and professional engagement (WRIT501)