RELIGION 1301
OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY
COURSE SYLLABUS Summer 2011
TERM DATES: May 23, 2011 – August 7, 2011
Wayland Baptist University - Fairbanks Campus
Instructor: Rev. Bryan Myers
Contact Information: 479-5063 (work); myers.br@gmail.com
Please feel free to contact me any time.
CLASS LOCATION/MEETING TIME:
Class Meets Thursdays 6-10 pm at First Baptist Church, North Pole
First Class: May 26, 2011. Final Class: August 4, 2011 – SEE CLASS SCHEDULE
Holidays During The Term (neither of these affect this class):
Memorial Day, Monday, May 30: Classes to be held/WBU offices are closed
Independence Day, Monday, July 4: No Classes/WBU offices are closed
COURSE NUMBER AND TITLE: RLGN 1301 Old Testament History
TERM: Summer 2011
CATALOG DESCRIPTION: A study of the historical literature, with special attention given to the
institutions, religion, and the national life of the Hebrew people.
COURSE PRE-REQUISITE: None
TEXTBOOKS: (1) Old Testament Today - A Journey from Original Meaning to Contemporary
Significance, John H. Walton and Andrew E. Hill, Zondervan, 2004.
(2) NIV Study Bible, Zondervan, 2nd Edition.
.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES:
The student will:
1. Demonstrate knowledge of the historical, religious, and social context of the Old Testament world.
2. Demonstrate knowledge of some of the critical methods used in Old Testament studies.
3. Demonstrate an understanding of the basic content of the Old Testament and its main teachings (theological
content).
4. Demonstrate knowledge of the canonical process producing a more complete understanding of the Old
Testament.
Means for Assessing Student Learning Outcomes:
1. Embedded questions from the Religion Division Exit Exam will be used to assess each learning outcome.
2. A summative report from the instructor evaluating the effectiveness of achieving learning outcomes.
3. Student response paper evaluating learning gained in the course.
-2-
OUTCOME COMPETENCIES:
This course is designed to introduce to the student the meaning and significance of the Old Testament. By the
end of this course the student will have demonstrated through discussion, written examinations, and research,
the ability to recognize, define, and analyze the significance of the following:
1. The Creation of the world, and the Fall of man
2. The period of the Hebrew Patriarchs
3. Moses and the Exodus from Egypt
4. The Wilderness wanderings and the formation of the Law of Moses
5. The formation and dynasty of the United Hebrew Monarchy
6. The division of the United Hebrew Monarchy
7. The destruction of the Northern and Southern Kingdoms
8. The Babylonian Captivity and return to Palestine
9. The apocalyptic literature of the Old Testament
10. The books of Poetry (the Writings) of the Old Testament
11. The relationship between Old Testament and the historical narrative of the Old Testament
COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND EVALUATION:
1. Course Requirements
A. Read all required assignments
B. Take (5) tests. There will be no make-up for a missed test, unless it is given during an absence which
has been pre-approved by the instructor, or there are serious, mitigating, and verifiable circumstances (death,
sudden illness, accident, etc.). Tests given during a student’s excused absence and not made up by the end of
the term will still receive a grade of Zero.
C. Take the Final Exam.
D. Students will have the option to:
(1) Write (10) 1 page Journal Entries (in BlackBoard),
(2) Write (2) 5-page Reaction or Research Papers
(3) Write (1) 10-page Reaction or research Paper on selected topics, OR
(4) Make, create, or design a Project directly related to this Old Testament History course that
reflects at least 20 hours of work outside of class. Guidelines for Journals,
Research/Reaction Papers, and Projects will be given during the first class.
E. Attend Class, and actively participate in class discussion
2. Evaluation
A. Wayland Baptist University Grading System:
A
B
C
D
F
90-100
80-89
70-79
60-69
below 60
-3B. Computation of Final Course Grade:
Tests (5) @100 points ea.
500 points
Final Exam
200 points
Class Participation
100 points
Journal or Paper(s) or Project 200 points
Total Possible Points
1,000 points
C. The grading scale for this class, based on the point values shown above, is as follows:
A
B
C
D
F
900-1,000
800-899
700-799
600-699
below 600
ATTENDANCE POLICY
Students enrolled at one of Wayland Baptist University's external campuses should make every effort to
attend all class meetings. All absences must be explained to the instructor, who will determine whether the
omitted work may be made up. When the student reaches the number of absences considered excessive, the
instructor will so advise the student and file an unsatisfactory progress report with the chair of the division in
which the course is offered.
Any student who misses 25% or more of the regularly scheduled class meetings
will receive a grade of 'F' in the course. If you know you are going to miss three weeks or more of
instruction due to military or work related absences, see the instructor immediately.
Additional attendance policies for each course, as defined by the instructor in the course syllabus, are
considered part of the university's attendance policy. Each unexcused absence will count as a (10) point
deduction from your class participation grade. A student who arrives late or leaves early will receive a 1/3
absence for each and every one of those events. If you are late for class, it is your responsibility to have your
absence removed from the grade book.
NOTICE TO STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
It is Wayland Baptist University's policy that no otherwise qualified person experiencing disabilities be
excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any educational
program or activity in this university. If a student has an impairment that would require additional
accommodations by the instructor and/or the university, then please inform the instructor or the Fairbanks
Campus Dean, prior to class.
-4CLASS SCHEDULE
** = Test over previous material (test dates are flexible, depending on what,
and how much instructional material is covered)
Note: From your textbook, know ‘Key Plotline Terms’, ‘Key Review Terms’, ‘Reflections’, and read ‘Key
Verses’ as given in your textbook. See pages 23, 25, 26 for examples. You will also be given Study Guides
for each section. Knowing these terms, verses, and study guide definitions is essential to your making
good grades in this course.
May
26
Unit 1 - Fundamentals
2
Unit 2 – Pentateuch – Chapter 1
9
Unit 2 - Pentateuch – Chapter 2
16
Unit 2 – Pentateuch – Chapter 2
23
Unit 2 – Pentateuch –Chapter 3
30
Unit 3 - Historical Literature – Chapter 1-3
June
July
7
Unit 3 - Historical Literature – Chapters 1-3
14
Unit 4 – Prophetic Literature – Chapters 1-3
21
Unit 4- Prophetic Literature –Chapter 1- 3
28
Units 5 and 6 – All Chapters – Wisdom Literature and Psalms
> ALL REACTION PAPERS, RESEARCH PAPERS ARE DUE
> CLASS PROJECT PRESENTATIONS ARE DUE
4
FINAL EXAM – Final Journal Article Due
All Make-up Work is due
August
Note: If you would like your Final Exam or any other papers returned, leave the instructor a large SelfAddressed, WELL-Stamped Envelope on week 10. Otherwise all papers will be thrown away immediately
upon being graded.
-5-
REACTION PAPER - Guidelines
Reaction Papers – MUST BE APPROVED BY THE PROFESSOR
For those writing (5) and (10) page reaction papers, It is required that your topic be approved by the
instructor. I want to give you ideas to make your paper better. In a reaction paper you want to use the phrases
like the following phrases a lot:
‘ I feel…’
‘I am thinking…’
‘ I wonder what would have happened if…?’ Etc... Ask LOTS of questions, hypotheticals are really great, then
answer the questions.
Let something ‘get under your skin’, and react to it. For instance, for a reaction paper on Noah’s Ark, you might
describe what would have happened IF the people had listened to Noah. You might ask yourself the question,
“What was God mad about anyway?”. Interact with the story.
What you DO NOT want to do is tell me the story: i.e., the world was sinful, and God was sorry he made man,
but Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord, and God told Noah to build a boat, and make it so high and so
wide an put pitch on it…. IF you tell me the story all over again, you will fail your paper. If you spend large
sections of your paper quoting scripture, you will fail your paper. I know the story and I have a Bible.
If you spend time interacting with the questions the events and people, follow APA guidelines, especially with
font type and margins, use good grammar, DO NOT USE CONTRACTIONS, spell well, and DO NOT
plagiarize your paper from anywhere or anyone else, you stand a very good chance of making a good grade. I
will use a grading rubric for grading your paper. We are working toward standardizing that grading rubric for
all papers required on the WBU –Fairbanks Campus. You will receive a copy of that rubric.
RESEARCH PAPER - Guidelines
Research Papers – This is a more traditional approach to a paper. It is research, without editorial comment.
This needs to follow the grading rubric very strictly. You will need at least (7) reliable sources for this paper,
and it is required that the topic for this paper be pre-approved by the instructor.
RESEARCH HELP
Wayland Baptist University is part of a library consortium over 4,000 universities, including the
University of Alaska, Fairbanks, and the Noel Wien Public Library. You also have access to databases for
journal articles and periodicals that have been thoroughly screened for your academic use.
All you need to do is show a public library card to UAF's library desk. You may also access Wayland's main
campus library resources and other research links through Wayland's web site at: www.wbu.edu You have
FREE access to any library materials you need. Books, videos, etc., will be sent directly to you at no cost to
you, with instructions for returning those resources, at no cost to you, back to the library from which they came.
Other research materials may be found through the public libraries, military education centers, base or
post libraries, through information handed out the first day of class, or through the generosity of a local pastor.
A GRADING RUBRIC FOR RESEARCH PAPERS AND JOURNALS IS ATTACHED.
FOR HELP WITH TURABIAN STYLE GUIDE SEE: purdueowl.com
-6Your Reaction Paper or Research Paper topics may include, but are by no means limited to:
Creationism Vs Evolution
Asheroth
Molech
King Saul
King David
King Solomon
The Temple of Solomon
The fall of Israel
The fall of Judah
The Captivity
The Return of the Captives
Zerubbabel’s Temple
Aaron
Any of the prophets’ messages
Messiah
The High Priest
The Garden of Eden
The Tree of Life
The Tower of Babel
Noah’s Ark
The Canaanites
The significance of Egypt
The Passover
Moses
The Tabernacle
The priesthood
The rebuilding of Jerusalem
Sacrifices
Aaron
ONCE AGAIN, YOUR TOPIC MUST BE APROVED BY YOUR INSTRUCTOR!!!
Each Reaction paper OR Research Paper should be sent to me electronically in Blackboard through
‘Safe Assignments’. From there it will automatically be sent electronically to a plagiarism screen and will come
back to me (and to you) automatically showing if anything was copied from another source, including other
student’s papers previously submitted through ‘Digital Drop Box/Safe Assignments’ from any other class.
If you plagiarize, you will fail the course.
-7-
JOURNAL OPTION - Guidelines
Description:
Record your personal interaction with selected material/books of the New Testament.
Requirements:
Due date - a) 1 journal entry will be due every week beginning the second week; (10 ) entries total;
these are due Wednesday at midnight the Wednesday before class on Thursday. EACH
24 hours or part of thereof, the grade drops 2 points (out of a possible 20 for each
journal entry).
b) Arrangements can be made to deal with forced absences (acts of God, supervisor, or
sickness and injury or death) by contacting Dr. Copeland prior to the due date of an
assignment.
Method of Presentation:
a) Typed, font size 12, double spaced; 1“ margins all around
b) Assignment title, class info, and student’s name on document (top right corner)
c) Length - 1 full page per assignment (that is a FULL page of type. BB compresses
your papers so you may need to dribble over to the top page 2 just to be safe.
d) Submitted via BlackBoard (Safe Assignments)
e) Windows 2003 is preferable. You may have struggles with Windows 2007 or
VISTA. If so, we will work that out.
Content:
a) Do not simply re-state the Biblical material. Each Journal entry is like a small Reaction
Paper without the APA or research requirements.
b) Therefore, write about your interaction with the Scripture. This might include your
interpretation of and/or your application of selected passages, questions about the
passage or what the reading material leads you to think about. I will give you suggestions
each week. You are not bound to have to use these. These are suggestions only, but stay on
the topic for the week.
c) Right or wrong conclusions about the material are not the issue.
Grading criteria: (see Rubric)
a) Grammar / spelling / writing skills ;
b) Fulfillment of the content requirements;
* Large sections of quoted or restated material will = 1 letter grade reduction.
c) Completion of the assignment:
* On time – Journals may be turned in late during the week they are due but
will lose 1 letter grade. Journals more than 1 week late (past the next class) will be given the
grade of 0. Late journals may be submitted via email.
* Journal entries not correctly submitted via Safe Assignments on Blackboard
will be reduced by 1 letter grade;
* Journal entries not a full page will be reduced by 1 letter grade;
Content Requirements: Suggestions will be made each week in BlackBoard. You are not bound to those
suggestions, BUT, and I emphasize BUT - -- - your Journal Topic MUST be related to that previous week’s
lecture. NO TANGENTS!!
A GRADING RUBRIC FOR RESEARCH PAPERS AND JOURNALS IS ATTACHED.
FOR HELP WITH TURABIAN STYLE GUIDE SEE: purdueowl.com
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PROJECT /PRESENTATION OPTION:
This option requires at least (20) hours of dedicated work on a project pre-approved by Dr. Copeland. It will result
in either a verbal presentation (i.e., Passover Celebration) with at least a (5) page paper OR a construction
project (i.e., Noah’s Ark) with at least a (2) page accompanying summary. Projects must be made from
original materials and not kits.
Projects might include:
1. Scale replica of the Tabernacle or Temple
2. Scale replica of a 12th Century BC Egyptian Chariot
3. Presentation of the Seder/Passover meal
4. Presentation of a High Holy Day Celebration such as the Festival of
Booths or Pentecost
5. Replica of the garments of the High Priest (in extra large)
6. 3-D topographical relief map of 1st Century Palestine - to scale (2-person
project)
7. 2-3 foot scale models of the goddess Asherah or the Canaanite god Baal
8. A scale model of Noah’s Ark
9. A scale model of the old city of Jerusalem
10. Any project or presentation pre-approved by the instructor
-9SCORING RUBRIC FOR:
RESEARCH PAPERS/JOURNAL ENTRIES/REACTION PAPERS
I. IDEAS AND CONTENT:
5
4
3
2
1
6552
5139
3826
2513
12-0
5
4
3
2
1
5
4
3
2
1
10-9
8-7
6-5
4-3
2-0
10-9
8-7
6-5
4-3
2-0
A. Thesis statement:
Clear, strong thesis stated
(5)
Positive statement
(4)
 Position taken
(3)
 Thesis statement unclear
(2)
 Thesis statement attempted
(1)
 No thesis statement
(0)
B. Development and Support of Thesis:
 All points thoroughly developed and supported
 Most points well developed and supported
 Points generally developed and supported
 Some points developed and supported
 Little or no development or support
C. Organization:



Logical organization and presentation of ideas
Introduction, Application, Conclusion
D. Voice of the writer:
 Voice of the writer is obvious and clear
 Does not use borrowed material excessively or exclusively









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II. STANDARD USE OF LANGUAGE:
Complete sentence structures: no sentence fragments
Complete sentence structures: no run-on sentences or
comma splices
Standard use of English: no slang or jargon, precise word
usage
Subject-verb agreement in person and number
Correct verb tense and form and noun number
Correct use of pronouns: agree with nouns in person,
number, gender
Correct use of adjectives and adverbs
Correct punctuation: commas, apostrophes, quotations,
periods, etc.
Correct capitalization
Correct spelling
NO CONTRACTIONS!
III. FORMAT OF DOCUMENTATION:





Seven to Ten scholarly sources cited (10 page paper)
Credit given for all borrowed information: thoughts, ideas, and words
Correct form for all borrowed information: signal phrase,
quotes/ block
Correct form for all footnotes, TURABIAN format
Correct form for Bibliography, TURABIAN format Correct
format for title page, content table, page numbering, etc.
Comments:
Student’s Name _____________________________________
Score _______