|
|
- There
are four assignments for this course that require work outside
of class: reading summaries, application of method, Response to
another group's application of method, and the exegetical or theoretical
paper. Directions for these follow; identical directions for the
application of method are also available from the Presentations
tab to the left.
-
- If
you are interested in writing an extra credit report, use the
link to the left for directions and a list of eligible events.
Reading Summaries
The reading
summary is a 3-page paper that re-presents the information in each
of our texts on critical method. We are using five texts,
but you will write only four papers, because you will be exempt from
writing a summary of the method your group presents in class (see
Application of Method). Each
of your reading summaries should describe the following aspects of
the critical method: its goals, its method or steps, an example of
the steps applied to a biblical text, the advantages of the method,
and some criticisms of the method. Guidelines for the format
of these papers is provided at the Style
Sheet. Each paper is worth 5% of your grade for
a total of 20%, or 20 points.
Application
of Method
The Application
of Method is an opportunity for a small group of three students to
apply a critical method to a biblical text and to lead a discussion
on questions that arise from the application.
-
- Preparation for the Presentation
-
- Group Meeting
- Each
group shall meet at least two weeks before their presentation
to divide responsibilities for and to plan their presentation.
Responsibilities include 1) reading both the assigned material
and a small amount of additional background material which the
professor will assign and make available, 2) dividing responsibilities
for the presentation itself (preparation of the handout, posting
of questions for discussion, delegating roles for oral presentation).
After dividing responsibilities, the group should plan to meet
once more after all members have completed the reading to discuss
the topic and to generate the content of their handout and presentation.
-
- Handout
- The Handout should be an outline of the method, a guiding outline
of your application of that method to a specific New Testament
text, and 2-4 provocative questions based on your group's close
work with the method. The questions can be about the issues the
method surfaces about the biblical text, or about the method itself
(how to do it, shortcomings you notice, obstacles you encountered).
Your group should discuss the questions yourselves, trying to
anticipate comments others might make. Always integrate
phrases and quotations from the primary texts to illustrate any
claims you make. The handout should be typed, with your group's
name and the date in an upper corner of the paper and the title
of your presentation centered underneath. The handout should be
one full page-to-three pages, no longer. If you can deliver this
handout to the professor at least two hours before your presentation,
she will duplicate it for the class.
-
- Post your Questions Online
- Your group is required to post a simple form of your questions
at the Course ERes site one full day before your presentation.
In this way, other students will have an opportunity to think
about your questions before class and therefore participate in
the discussion more easily.
-
- In order to post your questions on the Course ERes Site:
- go to the ERes page
- click on Discussion Board in the upper right corner
- select your Dialogue Group Presentation
- select "Post a New Message"
- and then type your 2-4 brief questions in the pop-up window
-
- The Format for the Presentation
-
- Your
group will decide the format of your presentation. It is recommended
that you spend at least 10 minutes introducing your method, 15
minutes applying it to the selected biblical text, and at least
10 minutes facilitating a discussion about the questions your
group raised. Presentations will not exceed 45 minutes.
-
- Evaluation of Participants
-
- Grades will be assigned to the entire group regardless of the
relative efforts contributed by individual members. Thus is it
the group members' responsibility to distribute the work fairly
and to encourage each other's progress. The grade will be based
on the quality of the written handout and questions, the promptness
of posting questions online, and the clarity with which group
members guided discussion of the questions and responded to the
comments made by other students. The assignment is 20 points,
or 20% of your grade.
-
- There are a lot of skills that go into good group preparation
and oral discussion. Some people will be more or less able to
do this. The important thing is not to be good, but to become
better.
Response
to Application of Method
Each group that applies a method will also be responsible to serve
as respondents to another group. You will serve as the official note-takers of the other group's application, and from this you will present a written summary and evaluation of their application at the beginning of the following class. You will submit the written summary to the professor, but will not need to prepare a handout for the class. The response should be 5-10 minutes, and will be worth 5 points, or 5% of your grade.
Exegetical
or Theoretical Paper
-
- The exegetical or theoretical paper is a 10-page study that
will explore either a biblical passage with a particular method
(the exegetical paper) or the merits and shortcomings of a given
critical method (the theoretical paper). You are free to choose
any passage and method, with the exception of the method your
group presented and any passages we explored in detail in class.
It might be helpful to browse the Exegesis
tab to the left and at the top of each research page to see which
method might interest you most. If you are doing an exegetical
paper, your choice of method will suggest certain scriptural passages
(for example, rhetorical criticism is most easily applied to letters
and speeches, narrative criticism to stories); the same is true
if you begin with a biblical text and are searching for an appropriate
method. Whatever topic you choose, it is intended to provide you
with your own line of inquiry into the material we are covering
in class, and in this way to function as a capstone for the course.
-
- In addition to these general topics, the Research
link to the left also has research tips, advice on writing with
integrity, a style sheet for all formatting questions, Scripture
Tools, the Exegesis tools you will need, and a link to TurnItIn.com,
where you will submit an electronic copy of your final paper.
All students will be expected to read these materials and use
them in their research and writing.
-
- You will be required to submit your topic statement and intended
sources in the 3rd week. The topic statement should have the usual
personal information in an upper corner (see the Style
Sheet), and 2 other parts:
- a 1-3 sentence statement of the topic you intend to examine
and, if you have one, your working hypothesis or questions,
and
- a list of the sources you intend to use. These sources should
be typed up as bibliographic entries; see Style
Sheet for directions on the proper format.
-
- In addition to the topic statement, you will be required to
submit an outline in the 6th week and to meet with the professor
in the 7th week to discuss your topic and your progress on it
(click here for the Schedule
of Conversations). The outline should be 1-2 pages and
should indicate clearly how you will develop the various sections
of your paper. Be sure to include a section for your introduction
and conclusion. Whatever type of main points you introduce, you
should include in your outline subpoints that indicate how you
will develop the main point. What proofs (citations from sources,
logical arguments) will you adduce to demonstrate your ideas,
and what order will you follow to develop the section? The outline
is a map laying out the logic of your paper.
-
- During the ninth week of the quarter, you will be required
to submit two copies of the final paper: a paper copy in class,
and an electronic copy to TurnItIn.com. The paper copy must be
submitted in a folder with all of the final stages included (only
originals with professor's comments please). This assignment counts
for 15% of your grade, or 15 points. Your grade will be based
on several factors:
- scope and comprehension of your sources and topic
- control of your paper (too many of other peoples' quotes
strung together does not constitute research; you need to
think about your topic and present it in an argument and manner
that advances your thinking on the subject)
- appropriate integration of sources with complete citation
(see Style Sheet)
The use of others' work without citation constitutes
plagiarism and will result in an F on the assignment and
for the course and further action by the Office of Student
Life and Leadership.
- presentation in a manner consistent with the Style Sheet
(correct citation format for footnotes and bibliography, proper
margins and typeface, accurate grammar and spelling)
-
- Further instructions about the presentation of written work
for long projects like this and for short projects are posted
at the Style
Sheet, available from the Research link to the left.
|