The Bible as Literature: The New Testament

103b (Spring 2015) Assignments

Occasionally you will be given an unannounced quiz at the beginning of class.

Quizzes will cover reading for that class and ideas from the previous week.
Quizzes, encourage you to do the reading and come to class on time. They also help you to learn and help me to evaluate your understanding.

Occasionally, you will need to write a short response to the question(s) related to the reading for that week.
The response should include your own ideas, thoughts, perspectives, &/or reactions.
These responses do not need to be carefully written; they are informal, but they must be typed and handed in at the beginning of class.
They will be returned the following week with very brief feedback.
They count as part of your participation grade.

Note-Taking forms for each lecture are available to download from the Moodle Website.
Print it out and bring it to class to fill in during the lecture.
These study sheets are intended to help with understanding the lectures and to prepare for quizzes and exams.

4-5 people per group
8-10 minutes
Work with your group to research your topic and present it to the class. Focus on how your topic relates to issues related to the Bible as literature and its development or application. Talk with me about ideas or questions related to specific presentations.
Group members can be involved in different parts of the process. Some can do more research or writing while others may focus on presenting. Still, each member should say something in front of the class and you should work together to make sure each person does her or his appropriate share of the work.
Use PPT to make your presentation and make sure to give me a copy of your PPT.
Your purpose is to inform and interest your classmates with meaningful information that helps them to better understand the New Testament and the literature we talk about in class.

Presentation Critiques

Each presentation will be critiqued by another group.
Each group or four or more should hand in two critiques by the end of class, so divide your group in half. Every two or three people will fill in one critique form.
Make sure you check the time carefully, and make a thoughtful evaluation of the presenting group.
Click here for the critique form.

The life of Jesus Christ and the early church has inspired and continues to inspire limitless works of creative interpretation, such as paintings, sculpture, songs, music, movies, literature, and messages in churches.
Choose one of these and describe it thoroughly, then explain how this work interprets Jesus Christ. What aspects of his character or teachings does this work focus on? What is left out?
Refer to specific passages from the Gospels to support your ideas.
Do not use Internet sources or outside references in your paper. You should cite Gospel passages and the creative work you describe, but nothing else. Do NOT copy from the Internet.
Consider some of the following questions to help you get started.

Which Gospel's version of Jesus does this work fit with best? Why?
What ideas about Jesus does this work represent and which ideas does this not communicate?
Does this work depict a specific Gospel passage? Which one and how?
Does the work emphasize Jesus' humanity more or his divinity? How and in which ways?
What do you think the creator of this work wants people to think or feel about Jesus? Or what questions about Jesus does this work bring up?
What does this work make you feel or think about Jesus?

This is a “creative writing” option.
Choose one parable and rewrite it in a way that it’s relevant for people in modern Taiwan (but write in English).
Tell which parable and its source in the Gospels.
Provide the context similar to how it’s presented in the Gospel. For example, if the parable comes in response to a question, you should provide the situation and tell who asks the question and who answers.
You can imagine Jesus sharing the parable as if he were here now, or it could come from another source.
If you want to reproduce a short series of small parables, you can do that.
Talk with me about any ideas you have or any questions (in class, office hours, or by e-mail)

Paper 2: (3-4 pages)
A. Question/Problem and Answer/Solution
- Choose one question or problem that is addressed in Acts and/or the letters. Describe the question or problem, and tell how it is dealt with.
- We have talked about the first big question (whether Gentile converts to Christianity must follow Jewish rules) so don’t choose this one. We have also talked about the question of death of believers before Jesus’ return from 1 Thessalonians.
- You absolutely, MUST not copy from the Internet. It is best to discover the ideas on your own. If you do use the Internet, you must cite your sources properly using MLA format.
- Be clear about the context and all passages (verses) you refer to directly or indirectly.
- Explain the question or problem, tell who is involved and how it is dealt with. Do not repeat what we have done in class.

OR

B. The New Testament in Literature
- Tell how the New Testament in whole or in part is referred to in a work of literature.
- This absolutely MUST be written in your own words, so don’t do this if you feel the need to depend on the Internet.
- Tell clearly what literature, or part of a literary work you refer to.
- Be sure to tell which verses and/or ideas are being referred to in the literature.

For both midterm and final, you will need to know important characters and events. You will also be given passages, and you must explain the context and significance.
The midterm will focus on the gospels, especially how each one is unique.
The final will focus on the early church, especially problems and questions related to its growth, and different ways the ideas of Jesus are reinterpreted.

Teaching Website for 2014-2015 School Year (Academic Year 102)