Fall, 2005
DuSable 464
Mondays, 6:30-9:10 pm
Instructor: Larry Arnhart
Office: Zulauf 404
Office hours: Wed, Thurs, Fri 12:30-2:00 pm, other times by appointment
Telephone: 815-753-7049
E-mail: larnhart@niu.edu
TEXTS
The New Jerusalem
Bible (Doubleday); John Riches, The
Bible: A Very Short Introduction (
GRADING
The final grade will be based on the grades for the journal writing (30% for journal entries #1-6 and journal responses #1-5, 30% for journal entries #7-13 and journal responses #6-12), class participation (15% for the first half of the semester and 15% for the second half), and a final paper (10%). Grades for the first half of the semester will be handed out in class on October 17.
For the journal writing, you will be put into a journal group with two other students. You should bring to class three copies of your journal entries and journal responses—one for the professor and two for the other two members of your group.
The journal entry should be at least two double-spaced typed pages on the reading for the week. The point of the journal entry is for you to set down your thoughts about anything in the reading. This will be your attempt to struggle with any issue that comes up in the reading. Usually it is best to take up one issue that you can develop a little in two pages.
You will write journal responses for each of the two journal entries you have received. Each journal response should be at least one double-spaced typed page. The point of the journal response is for you to respond in some fruitful way to the thoughts of your journal group members.
The final paper should be at least ten double-spaced typed pages. The point of the final paper is for you to elaborate your thinking about some topic related to the readings and discussions in the course. You might build upon something that has come up in your journal writing. The final paper will be due no later than 12 noon, December 5th in the professor’s office. (You may slip the paper under the office door.)
SCHEDULE OF
Aug 22: Introduction
The Beginning of History
Aug 29: Genesis 1-11; Riches, The Bible
Journal #1
Sep 5: No class
Abraham
Sep 12: Genesis 12-25:18
Response #1
Journal #2
Moses
Sep 19: Exodus 1-24 (Compare Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5.)
Response #2
Journal #3
Sep 26: Exodus 25-40; Leviticus 18-20
Response #3
Journal #4
Oct 3: Numbers 31; Deuteronomy 1-34
Response #4
Journal #5
Joshua and the Judges
Oct 10: Joshua 1-24; Judges 1-5
Response #5
Journal #6
David
Oct 17: 1 Samuel 1-31
Response #6
Journal #7
Oct 24: 2 Samuel 1-24
Response #7
Journal #8
Solomon
Oct 31: 1 Kings 1-11; Ecclesiastes 1-12
Response #8
Journal #9
Nov 7: Song of Songs 1-8; Wisdom 1-19
Response #9
Journal #10
Isaiah
Nov 14: Isaiah 1-39
Response #10
Journal #11
Nov 21: Isaiah 40-66
Response #11
Journal #12
Daniel
Nov 28: Daniel 1-14
Response #12
Journal #13