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- There
are three assignments for this course that require work outside of class:
the Archaeology Project, the Focus Group Presentation, and the Research Paper.
Directions for these follow; identical directions for the Focus Group Presentation are also available from the Presentations tab to the left.
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- If
you are interested in writing an extra credit report, use the
link to the left for directions and a list of eligible events.
Archaeology Project
- A natural starting point for studying the Dead Sea Scrolls is to study
the archaeology of the caves and the nearby ruins at Wadi Qumran. This
web project will introduce you to the archaeological evidence and will
ask you to work with your partner to make several deductions from the
evidence.
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- During the second week of class, you will be asked to choose a partner
with whom to work. Three classes will be devoted to the initial stages
of the project, so that you can ask questions of the professor while
becoming familiar with the nature of the project. The project is divided
into an Introduction
and seven project pages. The project pages guide you through the evidence
and ask you to draw conclusions based on them. Each project page has
specific questions you and your partner will need to answer and write
up. Whichever of the questions you do not complete in the three class
periods will need to be completed outside of class.
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- It is strongly recommended that you work through the topics in their
natural sequence. The pages are designed to take ½-hour each, so
you should be able to work through roughly 2-3 during each class day.
We will meet for class in the Varsi Media Lab on the first project day.
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- To prepare your written results, use the Style
Sheet for formatting directions, and identify each "page"
or section of the project by using the page numbers and titles as your
headers. The paper is worth 10% of your grade, or 10 points.
Focus Group Presentation
The Focus Group
Presentation is an opportunity for a small group of two students to examine
an aspect of the impact of the Dead Sea Scrolls and to lead a discussion
on questions that arise from your research.
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- Preparation for the Presentation
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- Group Meeting
- You and your partner
shall meet at least two weeks before your 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, you and your partner should plan to
meet once more after you have both completed the reading to discuss
the topic and to generate the content of your handout and presentation.
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- Handout
- The Handout should be an outline that introduces the issue you have
chosen, presents various perspectives on it, indicates clearly what
makes the issue provocative for contemporary Jews and/or Christians,
lists two discussion questions, and provides a bibliography of the sources
you used. Always integrate phrases and quotations from the primary
texts, or at least citations that others can look up, 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-two
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.
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- 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.
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- 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
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- The Format for the Presentation
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- Your
group will decide the format of your presentation. It is recommended
that you spend at least 15 minutes introducing your issue and its impact,
and at least 15 minutes facilitating a discussion about the questions
your group raised. Presentations will not exceed 40 minutes.
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- Evaluation of Participants
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- 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 10 points,
or 10% of your grade.
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- 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.
Research Paper
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- The research paper is a 10-12 page study that will explore some aspect
of the impact of the Dead Sea Scrolls. You are free to choose any topic,
as long as it is not the topic your focus group presented. The Research
tab to the left provides some sample topics, but you are free to develop
any topic you like in consultation with the professor. 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.
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- In addition to the topics, the Research link also has research tips,
advice on writing with integrity, a style sheet for all formatting questions,
Scripture Tools, Exegesis tools for close study of texts, 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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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 25% of your grade, or 25 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)
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- 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.
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