SYLLABUS
RLGN 1301-SA04 – OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY
Summer Term – May 25, 2009 – August 5, 2009
Mondays and Wednesdays – WBU 102 – 10:10 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Instructor: Dr. Lewis E. Lee
CATALOG DESCRIPTION: Old Testament History – An introductory survey of the historical literature with special attention to the institutions, religion, and national life of the Hebrew people.
TEXTBOOKS: The Old Testament from The Learning Bible, New International Version,
American Bible Society, 2003.
PURPOSE: to introduce the student to the text of the Old Testament, with particular emphasis on the history, institutions, religion, and national life of the Hebrew people up to the time of the New Testament, i.e., the first century A.D. At the end of this course, the student should have a greater appreciation for the Old Testament as a distinctive body of literature that is considered sacred scripture by both the Hebrew people and Christians and that has been very influential in the life of both groups. The student also should understand that the story of the Old Testament is the first part of the metanarrative found in the Bible (The New Testament is the second part) and should be able:
1. to list in order and spell correctly the names of the books in the Old Testament.
2. to demonstrate a knowledge of the historical, religious, political, and social context of the Old Testament world.
3. to demonstrate knowledge of some of the critical methods used in Old Testament studies.
4. to demonstrate an understanding of the basic content of the Old Testament and its main teachings (theological content).
5. to demonstrate knowledge of the canonical process producing a more complete understanding of the compilation of the Old Testament.
6. to recognize the Old Testament as profitable for devotional reading as well as for academic study and to respect it as an authentic and valuable message from God.
COURSE OUTLINE: The course outline is indicated in the Calendar.
REQUIREMENTS:
1. Attend class according to WBU policies (see Appendix).
2. Participate
in class discussion and take appropriate notes.
3. Complete assigned reading as indicated in the Calendar from the Old Testament, including the Introduction to each book and all notes and complete the evaluation form on the internet provided by the University at the end of the term. The first question on the final exam will be “Have you read the reading assignments as assigned in the calendar?” This will be an honor question to be answered “yes” or “no.” No credit will be given for a partial reading and the highest possible grade for the course will be a “B”. Completion of the evaluation form will be confirmed when the student brings the printout (with his/her name written on it) that he/she receives when he/she completes the form. The completion of the assigned reading and of the evaluation form will constitute 10% of the final course grade.
4. Take
the weekly tests on the assigned reading as indicated in the Calendar.
These seven weekly tests will be given on the days indicated in the Calendar beginning
on Monday, June 1, and will be taken from the assigned reading for
the class period in which they are given. They will be given
promptly at the beginning of the class period so being on time for class will
be very important. Students will have 10 minutes (until 10:20 a.m.) to complete
each test. There will be no make-up opportunity for these tests because the
lowest score on these weekly tests will be dropped. The average of the
remaining grades will constitute 15% of
the final course grade.
5. Take the three exams as scheduled in the Calendar. Each one will constitute twenty-five percent of the student’s final course grade and will be final over the material covered. Students are expected to be present for all exams unless providentially hindered. It is especially important for all students to be present for the final exam at the scheduled time. IF YOU MUST MISS an exam, a makeup exam must be taken at your earliest opportunity, but no more than one week after it is scheduled. If you know you are going to miss an exam, consult with the Instructor in advance. Otherwise, consult with the Instructor as soon as possible so appropriate makeup exam plans can be made.
6. SPECIAL NOTE: At the end of the final exam there will be this optional question, “List in order and spell correctly the names of the books of the Old Testament.” Answering this question correctly will add 10 points to the final exam grade.
7. EXTRA CREDIT POSSIBILITIES:
(a.) Perfect attendance will add 2 points to your final grade.
(b.) An extra credit research paper of 6-8 pages excluding title/cover page and the bibliography page may be written on a topic related to Old Testament studies. Papers are to be typed, double-spaced, with one inch margins at top and bottom and on both sides. and include appropriate footnotes to document your sources of information. You will be expected to follow the format found in A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, 7th edition, by Kate L. Turabian. A bibliography with at least five (5) sources other than the Bible also is required. The grade on a paper without a bibliography will be reduced automatically by 15%. A grade of “A” received on this paper will add three points to your final grade; a grade of “B” will add two points to your final grade; a grade of “C” will add one point to your final grade. No credit will be given for any grade below “C.” This paper is due at the July 22nd class period and will not be accepted after this date. The student must secure the approval of the instructor before writing the paper. A list of possible topics follows:
The Hebrew Understanding of God Based on the Creation Stories of Genesis 1-2
The Meaning
of Covenant in
The Design and Meaning of the Tabernacle
The
Structure and Functions of Solomon’s
The Role and Meaning of the Exodus Experience in the Old Testament Story
A Summary of the Life and Work of One of the Old Testament Prophets (the
student chooses the prophet)
An Outline of and Lessons from the Life of Moses (or another Old Testament
character, such as David, Jeremiah, Hosea, Ruth, Ezra, etc.)
The Arguments of Job’s Friends and An Assessment of Those Arguments
The Old Testament Emphasis on Telling the Gentiles About God
Principles
for
Three Women in the Old Testament and Their Significance
A
Comparison of the Divided Kingdoms –
The Nature and Messages of Hebrew Wisdom Literature
The Major Concepts in the Servant Passages of Isaiah
An Outline and the Major Teachings of the Book of (student chooses the book)
(c) No other credit possibilities are available.
GRADING: The grading system of the University as outlined in the catalog will be used.
The value of the different requirements is as follows:
Three exams - 75% (25% each)
Weekly tests - 15%
Completion of assigned reading/evaluation form - 10%
100%
CALENDAR:
Note: The reading assignments in The Learning Bible include the “Introduction” to each Old Testament book and the notes.
May 25 - Introduction and Overview of the Course
27 – Introduction and Overview of the Course, continued
June 1 - The Beginnings and the Patriarchs
Weekly Test # 1
3 – The Beginnings and the Patriarchs, continued
8 - The Formation and Foundations of the Israelites
Weekly Test # 2
10 - The Formation and Foundations of the Israelites, con’t.
15 - The Conquest, the Judges, and the Beginning of the Kingdom
Samuel Weekly Test #3
17 -
Nehemiah, and Esther
22 – First Exam – Class Notes, The Learning Bible, Preface –
Deuteronomy
29 -
100, 103, 121, 145 Weekly Test # 4
July 1 –
6 - Second Exam – Class Notes, The Learning Bible, Joshua –
Psalms
8 -
The Major Prophets – Part I
Isaiah
13 - The Major Prophets, Part II
Ezekiel Weekly Test # 5
15 – The Major Prophets, Part II, con’t.
20 - The Major Prophets, Part III
Minor Prophets, Part I
Weekly
Test # 6
22 – The Major Prophets, Part III, and Minor Prophets, Part I, con’t.
27 - The Minor Prophets, Part II
Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi
Weekly Test # 7
29 – The Minor Prophets, Part II, con’t.
August 3 – The Minor Prophets, con’t.
5 - FINAL EXAM - Class Notes, The Learning Bible, Proverbs –
Malachi
Academic Honesty (Plagiarism): University students are expected to conduct themselves according to the highest standards of academic honesty. Academic misconduct for which a student is subject to penalty includes all forms of cheating, such as illicit possession of examinations or examination materials, forgery, or plagiarism. Plagiarism is the presentation of the work of another as one’s own. Students are responsible for being informed about the penalties related to plagiarism stated in the catalog.
Attendance: Students are expected to make every effort to attend all class meetings. All absences must be explained to the instructor, who will then determine whether the omitted work may be made up (remember, there is no makeup possibility for the weekly tests). When a student reaches the number of absences considered by the instructor to be excessive, the instructor will so advise the student and file an unsatisfactory progress report with the campus dean. Any student who misses 25 percent or more of the regularly scheduled class meetings will receive a grade of F in the course.
Please do not assume that you can miss almost 25% of the class meetings with no penalty. Students who miss class almost always perform more poorly than they expect and have lower grades. Furthermore, students absent from a class period are responsible for getting missed information/notes from another student.
Remember, the way this class is structured, i.e., meeting for two hours twice a week, means that 5.5 class meetings is 25% of a course. In other words, if you miss 5.5 scheduled class periods, you will receive an automatic grade of “F” for the course. Also, attendance in a class means being present from the time the class begins until it is dismissed. If you arrive after the class has started or leave before the class is dismissed, it will be counted as one-half absence, i.e., one-half of one of the regularly scheduled class periods referenced above. NOTE: A student who misses the equivalent of 5 unexcused class periods automatically will have his/her term grade lowered by one letter. An excused absence is an absence due to illness or some other kind of circumstance beyond the control of the student and approved by the instructor. A student will be considered absent for any class period he/she misses because of late enrollment. There will be no break during class.
General Conduct: Please keep in mind, also, this is a Christian institution and we endeavor to hold high standards of character, conduct, and appearance. Therefore, please dress appropriately for class and remove hats and caps when entering the room. This will show your respect for the other students in the class as well. Cell phones, including text messaging, are to be turned off. Thank you.
Contact Information: If you need to contact me, you may do so by calling the WBU campus at (210) 826-7595 x 241 or by calling my direct office line at (210) 590-5641. If I am unable to take your call, please leave a message on my voice mail or with one of the secretaries. If you will leave your name and telephone number (speak slowly and clearly), I will return your call as soon as I can. You may also contact me by email at lewis.lee@wbusa.wbu.edu or leel@wbu.edu. If you use email, I suggest you send the original to the first with a copy to the second since one of the servers might be down. I would rather receive two emails from you than none. Again, I will respond as quickly as I can. Please note, however, I do not respond to telephone calls or email requests for grades. Grades now are being posted online so you will be able to know your final grade within a few days after the final exam. If there is some question about the grade, you certainly may let me know. Or, if you wish to bring a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the final exam, with a card included, I will be glad to record your final course grade on that card and mail it to you as soon as final grades are calculated.
I do maintain certain office hours. They are posted outside my office (room 154). It is preferable, however, for you to make an appointment if you want to meet with me since my being in the office does not necessarily indicate that I am free.
NOTES: