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Two Models of Teaching and Learning: Didactic and Socratic
2. What is the Socratic Method of Teaching and Learning?
3. Techniques of Active and Close Reading: Lesson Plan 1
4. Three Kinds of Questions: Lesson Plan 2
5. Qualities of Good Discussion Questions: Lesson Plan 3
6. Basic Interpretive Questions: Lesson Plan 4
7. Spontaneous Follow Up Questions: Lesson Plan 5
8. What is a Socratic Seminar? Lesson Plan 6
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9. Introduction: Why do bad things happen to good people?
10. The Hebrew Book of JOB: Lesson Plan 7
Cast of Characters
Plot Summary of the Book of Job
Plot-check Quiz and Vocabulary
Socratic Seminar: Basic Interpretive Questions
o In the book of Job is evil beyond human understanding?
o Why does Job maintain faith in God who permits his agony?
o According to the author of Job, does God owe Job anything?
o Does the Epilogue contradict the overall meaning of Job?
Cover: William Blake’s Illustrations of the Book of Job.
o Top left: Job laughed to scorn, plate 10 (p. 53a)
o Top right: God answers Job (theophany) plate 13 (p. 53b)
o Bottom left: Job sees God (original ending) plate 17 (p. 53c)
o Bottom right: Epilogue (happy ending) plate 21 (p, 53d)
Essay Exam
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11. Robert Frost, A Masque of Reason & A Masque of Mercy: Lesson Plan 8
A Masque of Reason (Text and Allusions).
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Cast of Characters and Plot-check Quiz
Socratic Seminar: Basic Interpretive Questions 92
o Why does Frost contrast Job’s plea for reason with Thyatira’s cheek?
o Would the Job of Ch 42 approve the Job of the happy ending?
o Why does God thank Job for freeing Him from humanity’s slavery?
o Does Frost agree with Thyatiria’s concludion that God,
Job, and Satan may have settled nothing?

A Masque of Mercy (Text and Allusions).
Cast of Characters and Plot-check Quiz
o How do Paul, Keeper, and Jesse Bel convert Jonah?
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o Why is Jesse Bel uneasy about Jonah’s conversion?
o Why does Jonah admit he may have got God entirely wrong?
o Does a Masque of Mercy end with the death of Jonas Dove
because he was a false prophet?
Essay Exam: Persuasive essay on two of eight basic questions.
12. Archibald MacLeish, J. B. Lesson Plan 9
Cast of Characters and Plot-check Quiz
Socratic Seminar: Basic Interpretive Questions
o Is God to be forgiven for toying with Job’s life?
o In J.B., why does MacLeish have Job forgive God?!
o Why does MacLeish have Dr. Zuss and Nickles (Satan)
comment throughout J. B.?
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Additional Discussion Questions on J. B.
J. B. MacLeish Text vs. Acting Script of Samuel French
A Theological Debate on the Epilogue of the Book of Job
o G. K. Chesterton, Hans Kung, Harold Kushner, Wm Safire,
o Marvin Pope, Harold Bloom, and Raymond Scheindlin.
Essay Exam: Ten Quotations and Four Commentaries
Research Topics for Independent Study
13. Is A Serious Man (2009) Joel and Ethan Coen. Lesson Plan 10 176
Cast of Characters and Plot Summary
Movie Discussion Questions.
Socratic Seminar: Is Larry Gopnik a contemporary Job?
Guidelines: comparison-contrast-persuasive Essay
Movie Criticism and Reception of A Serious Man 2009
References