The Bible as Literature: The Hebrew Bible
BEN52901
104a (Fall 2015) Assignments
Partner Presentation
Present one story from the Hebrew scripture to the class (use PowerPoint). And give at least two interpretations or reasons why this story is meaningful or significant.
Purpose: You want your classmates to understand the story, see how it fits in with other stories from the Hebrew Bible, and know different reasons why this story is important.
Details
- You have 5-10 minutes (absolutely no longer than 10 minutes).
- Both group members should speak equally and clearly
- You are responsible to bring a microphone if you need one.
What should you say?
- Give a very short summary of your story
- You can do this through drama, pictures, explanation, etc.
- Tell some reasons why you think this story is important (interpretations).
- This may include different ideas about the "meaning" of the story.
- This could include ways in which the story has been used o in literature, music, drama, education, etc.
- This could include your own ideas about the story.
- Be interesting. Be concise. Be clear.
About using PowerPoint
- Keep our attention on the story. Don't get too fancy with special effects.
- Make sure it is set up and ready to go before class (copy your file onto the hard drive).
- I don't recommend connecting to the Internet, but if you do, make sure the connection is working with no problems.
- Don't include every word you say.
- Charts, maps, pictures, family trees, and other visuals are all welcome.
- Make sure you give me a copy of your PowerPoint presentation so I can post it to the class website.
Evaluation
- I am most concerned for how clear and interesting you make this story for the class.
- I will give very brief feedback and a grade. This is part of your participation grade.
Presentation Critique
Critique one other presentation with your presentation partner. Use the PRESENTATION CRITIQUE FORM and give it to me at the end of class.
Use the PRESENTATION CRITIQUE FORM. I recommend bringing it to class on the day you are evaluating and then typing it out more clearly later on. Feel free to alter the form as you see fit.
The most important thing to consider in your critique is how well the students achieved the purposes stated above. Think about writing the kind of critique that you would like to receive. Be honest and polite.
Analytical Essay: “What does it mean?”
Around 4-5 pages, double-spaced, 12 point font, Times New Roman. (Click here for info about the paper format).
Purpose: to develop interpretive skills and consider different ways the same passage can be interpreted.
Choose a passage or event anywhere in the Hebrew Bible (This should be something we have not already talked about very much in class, and it should not repeat what has been presented by a student group). Summarize the passage or event and write about what makes it meaningful. Express two ways the significance of this passage or event can be understood. In other words, interpret the passage in two different ways. This is like what the presenters should be doing in their presentations each week. Some of these different ways could be,
- What could it have meant to the original audience?
- How has passage or event been interpreted in a work of literature or art or film?
- What could it mean to office workers nowadays?
- How could modern people facing hardship use this passage to better understand life?
Grading
- This paper is due on 12/14.
- This paper comprises 25% of your semester grade.
- I am looking for your own depth of thought and wise application the ideas we have learning about in class.
- I care about grammar, punctuation, and formatting. Proofread carefully!!
- Papers with plagiarism will be returned with a score of zero. You may get a chance to redo the paper, but it will need to be on a different topic, so be careful to cite your sources.
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