RELG Z111: BIBLICAL HISTORY AND LITERATURE
Professor: Jack Turner
tel: 777-9606(w)
email: relg110usc@yahoo.com
Office: Russell House 345D
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Fall 2008
MW 8:00-10:30
Fort Jackson
Office hours are by appointment
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1. Nature of the Course
This course will serve to introduce the student to Bible as a literary document. We will be concerned with the development of the literary development of the Bible as well as the process which lead to the acceptance of various parts of the Bible as a canonical text. We will also consider the various critical methods used to study the biblical texts and the effect the Bible has made on Judaism and Christianity.
The literary-historical study of the Bible differs from the doctrinal-confessional approach with which most students are no doubt familiar. Our objective will not be to indoctrinate or espouse particular confessional attitudes towards the biblical text, but to shed light on the literary and historical problems and questions that the text presents to us. On occasion, we will reference particularly intriguing or interesting interpretations of the text from a variety of confessional sources, but these will not be our primary tools for study.
This course is not designed to give easy answers to points of religious belief, nor is it designed to enhance or detract from personal conviction. However, it is hoped that the student, whatever their particular denominational or religious persuasion, will take from the course a greater appreciation for the Bible as a text and as the foundation of two great religious communities. Because of the size and nature of the course, there will be ample opportunity for classroom discussion, and students are encouraged and expected to participate with the group. Students are also expected to utilize the discussion forums on the blackboard course website.
2. Course Requirements
Student grades will be determined as follows:
Quizzes -- 20%
Exams -- 30%
Paper -- 20%
Attendance -- 10%
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A: 100-90
B+: 89-86
B: 85-80
C+: 79-76
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C: 75-70
D+: 69-66
D: 65-60
F: below 60
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There will be five short, multiple choice quizzes administered at the conclusion each section of the course listed on the syllabus. Quizzes will be completed in class, closed book. In addition to the quizzes, there will be one final examinations administered at the conclusion of the course. The examination will be a take-home exam and will consist of multiple choice elements as well as short answer and an essay question.
Students will also be expected to compose a scholarly research paper on one of the topics provided by the instructor. Students may use any bibliographical format (though the Chicago Manual of Style and MLA are preferred), provided that the student uses it correctly and consistently (that is, not mixing styles).
3. Required Texts
The following textbooks are required for this class:
Hauer, Christian and William Young, An Introduction to the Bible, 6th ed. (Prentice Hall, 2004)
The Harper Collins Study Bible, NRSV with Apocrypha (HarperSanFrancisco, 1997)
or any modern translation of the Bible (NIV, CEV, etc.) with the Apocrypha
Students are expected to complete all required reading (including readings from the Biblical texts) prior to coming to class (this includes the first class session).
4. Attendance
Because of the shortness of the course time available, and because the individual class meetings are rather extensive, the class will be broken up into two distinct sections per meeting, with a short break in between sections. This will allow students, who for whatever reason must arrive late or leave early to do so without forfeiting credit for the entire period. Students are expected to be on time and attentive for all class sessions. In addition to not being present, extreme tardiness, early departure, or sleeping in class will result in receiving a mark of "absent" for that class section.
According to the University attendance policy, absence from more than ten percent of classes, whether excused or unexcused, is excessive and may result in a grade penalty. Thus, a student who misses more than four individual sections (or two entire class meetings) will be assessed a grade penalty of one letter grade off the final score (that is, an "A" becomes a "B"). Subsequent absences will result in a penalty of one full letter grade per meeting ("B" becomes a "C") or half a letter grade per section missed ("B" becomes a C+"). Absence from more than eight meetings or sixteen sections will result in automatic failure of the course.
5. Course Schedule
Please see the Blackboard course website for a complete schedule
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