Room: Online
Time: Online

GTM 222
(318) 805-2326
11:30-2:00 M-R

or by Zoom appointment



Course Description

ENGL 452: The Bible as Literature.

0-3-3. A survey of literary genres of the Old and New Testaments, focusing on the poetic and/or narrative art of each. Preq. English 210, 211, or 212. (Eligible for graduate credit). (G)

Textbooks


Objectives

  • English 452 is designed to introduce the students to the different types of literature in the Bible.
  • We will also study the various theories of reading and interpreting literature that have been applied to the Bible.



How to use the syllabus.

This syllabus is also a web page. It has links to notes, lectures, and assignments.
  • Click the links.
  • Read the notes.
  • Listen to the lectures.
  • Watch the videos.
  • Work the assignments.
Most of the material for the course is located through these links. 








GRADES
1.
Daily Quizzes 50%
2.
In-class Essay Exam 15%
3.
Research Paper
25%
4.
Participation
10%
5.
Total
100%
6.
Presentation (Graduate Students Only)
15%

The grading scale is A: 90-100%, B: 80-89%, C: 70-79%, D: 60-69%, F:0-59%.





Nota bene.
  1. People in this class will interpret the Bible in a variety of ways. Our study can only be successful if we treat one another's views with courtesy, tolerance, and respect.
  2. English 452 is a demanding course. Be sure to arrange your schedule so you can spend adequate time for class preparation, researching, and writing.

Turning in Your Work
I want an electronic copy submitted to the TurnItIn link on Moodle.  In online classes, submit your paper through Moodle to TurnItIn.  If you have trouble uploading it Moodle, you may email it to me at bmagee@latech.edu.  You may also bring a paper copy by my office.  You are still responsible for turning in the assignment by the due date, so plan ahead.

Late Work
Your paper is due ON or BEFORE the due date. You can turn it in any time until the due date.  After that, the grade drops 5 points per period.

Attendance
In a face-to-face class, I'll take role every period.  Your attendance grade is a straight percentage of how much you attended class.  For example, if you attend 17 times out of 20 periods, your grade will be 17÷20=85%.  An absence may be excused with proper documentation.

Graded Material
In the event of a question regarding an exam grade or final grade, it will be the responsibility of the student to retain and present graded materials which have been returned for student possession during the quarter. 

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
Students needing testing or classroom accommodations based on a disability are encouraged to discuss those needs with me as soon as possible. 

Honor Code
"In accordance with the Academic Honor Code, students pledge the following: Being a student of a higher standard, I pledge to embody the principles of academic integrity."  If I determine that you have violated the Honor Code or the English Department plagiarism policy, you'll receive a '0' on the assignment, and I may refer you to the Honor Council if I think it appropriate.

The Emergency Notification System
All Louisiana Tech students are strongly encouraged to enroll and update their contact information in the Emergency Notification System. It takes just a few seconds to ensure you're able to receive important text and voice alerts in the event of a campus emergency.  For more information on the Emergency Notification System, please visit: http://www.latech.edu/administration/ ens.shtml.

Graduate Requirements
In addition to meeting the above requirements, graduate students enrolled in the course for graduate credit:
  • must write a substantially longer research paper than undergraduates. (12-15 pages for graduate students, 8-9 pages for undergraduates.)
  • may be asked to give presentations to the class.
  • should show leadership in class discussion.




Covid-Related Announcements
  1. COVID-19 Information:
    1. Students can access COVID-19-related information, guidelines, FAQs, and policies at Louisiana Tech’s website:  latech.edu/coronavirus
    2. Louisiana Tech’s Return to Campus Plan is located at latech.edu/return-to-campus. Masks are required to be worn indoors on campus. Masks are required to be worn outdoors if six feet of physical distance cannot be maintained. Every member of the Tech Family will need to take personal responsibility for their behavior, which includes wearing masks, maintaining physical distancing, washing hands regularly, using proper sneeze and cough practices, helping maintain clean academic and office areas, and monitoring for symptoms of COVID-19
    3. The direct link to the reporting protocol for students is located at latech.edu/coronavirus/return-to-campus-plan/for-students/. Students can reach out to Stacy Gilbert, Dean of Student Services & Academic Support, at stacyc@latech.edu for help with accommodations and additional information and to report a positive test.
    4. Failure to comply with the Safety Protocols listed in the Back to Campus Fall 2020  booklet: latech.edu/documents/2020/07/covid-return-book.pdf/, specifically on pages 5-7 about masks and social distancing, could result in students being in violation of the Classroom Behavior Policy listed on page 125 of the Student Handbook: latech.edu/documents/2018/09/student-handbook.pdf/.
    5. Information and contact numbers and sites for Louisiana Tech Counseling Services are located at: https://www.latech.edu/current-students/student-advancement-affairs/counseling-services/
  2. Online Course Syllabus (additional information required):
    1. Accommodations for potential issues with technology that might arise (power outages, poor internet, internet outages, etc.).
      • If you can't attend our class periods via Zoom because of technology issues, I'll post materials from the period that you can access later.
      • I'll give extended times for you to take quizzes and/or turn in papers, so you will have time to resolve tech issues. Contact me if something goes wrong that you can't fix yourself. Sometimes people get locked out of quizzes halfway through, or Moodle won't accept a paper. Stuff like that.
    2. Clear communication on how and when exams and quizzes will be administered, and the importance of adhering to the University’s honor code policy.
      • Everything will be taken up via Moodle.
      • Except for group projects, do your own work.
    3. Methods for students to contact and interact with the professor, including posted office hours.
      • Look at the top of the syllabus for this quarter's contact information. My hours change every quarter.
    4. Policy for Zoom backgrounds for online students (prohibition of obscene or other inappropriate or offensive backgrounds on their Zoom)
      • Remember other people can see your Zoom backgrounds (if you have one), or the wall behind you if you don't.
  3. Face-to-face and hybrid/flex Syllabus (additional information required):
    1. Plan for course if faculty member becomes ill or needs to self-quarantine following potential exposure.
      • We'll continue to meet by Zoom if I'm in quarantine.
    2. Policy for class behavior including wearing of masks, social distancing, possible seating assignments, cleaning of desks, etc.
      • For in-person classes, be sure to weak a mask over both your mouth and your nose. We'll have cleaning wipes for you to use to clean your chair and desk when you arrive.
    3. Policy for communication with faculty member that encourages appointments over zoom that maintain social distancing protocols.
      • If you want a conference with me, contact me through my email or text me at (318) 805-2326 to set up a time.
    4. Clear communication on how and when exams and quizzes will be administered, and the importance of adhering to the University’s honor code policy.
      • The dates for major assignments are in the syllabus. For smaller quizzes, I'll let you know when they are and what they cover via Moodle.
    5. Statement that students who are feeling ill with COVID-19 symptoms, have been exposed to or testing positive for COVID-19, should not come to class and should contact Tech Care at 318-257-4866.
    6. Statement that students who miss face-to-face class for COVID-19 related reasons will have access to course materials and grad opportunities while away from face-to-face class. Participation should be emphasized over attendance.
      • My understanding is that we're supposed to take attendance. I'll excuse Covid absences like other illnesses.






Hoc opus, hic labor est.


Registration Week (September 7-8)

Period 1


Week 1 (September 11-15)

Period 1

Period 2


Week 2 (September 18-22)

Period 1

Period 2

  • Lecture: Pslams lecture
  • Reading: Psalms 1-25, 45-50, 119, 120-134 
    • Packet 12 Metaphor Diagram
      • 14 Parallelism Diagram
      • 70-76 Hebrew Poetry
      • 94-96 OT Wordplay 
  • Presentation: Translating the Bible into English


Week 3 (September 25-29)

Period 1

  • Lecture: Proverbs lecture
  • Reading: Proverbs 1-14, 31
    • Ryken, chapters 4-6
    • Packet  108-111 Wisdom of Sol.
      • 112-113 Baruch
  • Presentation: Textual Criticism

Period 2

  • Reading: Ecclesiastes
    • Song of Songs
  • Presentation: Philology


Week 4 (October 2-6)

Period 1

  • Reading:  Job 1-14, 38-42
    • Jonah

Period 2

  • Reading: Isaiah 1-39 
    • Packet 13 Allegory diagram
  • Presentation: Allegory
    • Typology


Week 5 (October 9-13)

Period 1

Period 2

  • Reading: Ryken, chapters 10-11
    • Packet 19-21. The Canon of the New Testament
    • 1 Maccabees 1-5 (be sure to read all 5 chapters)
  • Writing: Research paper outline


Week 6 (October 16-20)

Period 1

  • Reading: Mark
    • Ryken, chapters 7-8, Appendix
  • Presentation: The Synoptic Problem

Period 2


Week 7 (October 23-27)

Period 1

  • Lecture: John lecture
  • Reading: John
    • Packet 51-63  Synopsis
  • Presentation: Source Criticism
    • Redaction Criticism

Period 2


Week 8 (October 30 — November 3)

Period 1

Period 2

  • Lecture:
  • Writing: Essay Exam


Week 9 (November 6-10)

Period 1

Period 2


Week 10 (November 13-17)

Period 1

Period 2

  •  



CSS design © Conor Muirhead