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This is a sample of the WebCT version of Great
Books: The Bible. |
WebCT
GREAT BOOKS: The Bible
Rel 204
There are two main goals related to this course of
study. The first is to serve as an introduction
to some of the major elements of the biblical traditions as placed in their
cultural and historical context. The
second is to increase awareness of the Bible’s influence on Western Culture. Concurrent with these two formal goals are
general educational goals of sharpening critical thinking, problem solving,
improving skills in written communication, and recognition of how the value
systems of a people continue to influence the present.
Instructor: Dr. Robert B. Smith.
The best way to contact me is
though the email tool in WebCT. My
faculty e-mail is: robert.b.smith(at)right.edu
Office hours can be set up online
through the chat-room feature of WebCT
Requirements:
1. Class schedule: Students must
complete the relevant readings and web assignments within the assigned
time. Quizzes, short answer questions,
and a final exam will account for 50% of the final grade. In this course, the New Oxford Annotated
Bible (third edition) is the major textbook.
Other editions and versions of the Bible do not contain the specific
notes which are a part of the assigned reading.
2. Reports: This is a Writing Intensive (WI) General Education
(GE) Course requiring a summary of a dictionary article of 1 or 2 pages, and a
short research paper of 3-4 pages.
(These page requirements are minimums.)
The specific requirements of these papers and how scores are assessed
are listed in this syllabus under the heading of “Writing Assignments”. In
general, the one page summary will be worth 15% of the class grade and the
research paper will account for 35% of your final grade. These assignments will also determine whether
you pass the “Writing Across the Curriculum” portion of the class. Plagiarism will not be tolerated and will
result in an “F” for the term. If you
are not certain as to what constitutes plagiarism, see the description at http://www.utoronto.ca/writing/plagsep.html. Your written answers on the short answer
quizzes may also be a factor in whether you receive credit for the writing
portion of your grade. For more detail
on how to submit the written papers, click here.
Objectives for General
Education Courses are to:
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sharpen critical thinking,
problem solving, and communication skills |
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cultivate an awareness of
the moral and ethical insight needed for participation in the human community
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increase knowledge and
understanding of the past, of the world in which we live, and of how both
past and present have an impact on the future |
These are major objectives which lie beneath a
cultural/historical approach to biblical literature.
Textbook: The New
General note: You will be graded on what you know, not on what you
believe (or whether you agree with the instructor). You are expected to master the biblical data and
to attain an analytical perspective on that data and its influence on Western
civilization. Sometimes this analytical
perspective will be disconcerting to your faith perspective (other times, it
may enhance it), but the course is not designed to challenge or support your
faith. You must, however, demonstrate an
awareness of historical and cultural differences which affect present
understandings of the ancient texts.