| Term: | Fall, 2012 (August - December) | |
| Revision: | 03 Jn 12 | |
| Credits: | 3 | |
| Class Time: | Two online lectures weekly. | |
| You should set aside two definite times each week to work. | ||
| Instructor: | Frank Daniels | |
| Instructor e-mail address: | gretinski@gmail.com | |
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Textbooks: Bible, any English translation containing the Apocrypha
(Deuterocanonical books) Myths from Mesopotamia, by Stephanie Dalley; ISBN 0-19-283589-0 On the Book of Psalms, by Nahum M. Sarna; ISBN 0-8052-1023-7 Arius: Heresy and Tradition, Revised Edition, by Rowan Williams; ISBN 0-8028-4969-5 | 
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These books may be ordered through your outlet of choice. To compare textbook prices
click here.
This course is NOT "self-paced". You must participate in a weekly discussion and read certain readings. Remember that you have a "live" instructor who will answer your questions -- this is not a correspondence course.
In order to accurately measure competency in these outcomes, various instructional and
diagnostic elements are employed. These are described below.
In the above list of outcomes,
* means that the outcome is measured by the final paper;
** means that the outcome is measured by the response paper;
*** means that both papers measure the outcome;
and @ means that the outcome is measured by the weekly discussion.
There will be two class assignments. The first of these will consist of a short response paper. The response paper must be a two to five page summary, typed and double spaced, describing what new information you have learned so far. Explain the material for the response paper in your own words. What has come out in the course discussion that was new/different/interesting? What did you find on the websites that the course links to? You may mail the discussion paper by hand or attach it as an MS Word file to an e-mail. The paper must reach me at the College (address above) by 5 PM Pacific Time, on the Friday of week 6. I will accept the paper any time after the Friday of week 3. For the format of the paper, see "More About the Papers," below.
The second assignment will be a comprehensive look at one of the weekly topics.
Any time issues in translation, transmission of information, or interpretation
exist, you must present both (all) sides of the issues fairly --
presenting them in language that that opinion's supporters would use. Feel free
to draw conclusions about the issue! You will not lose points for drawing a particular conclusion,
but points will be deducted if all sides are not presented fairly -- as that group or
side would present their views.
This research paper must cite (and list) three
to five sources (excluding the Bible) and must be ten to twenty pages in length,
typed, double spaced. TITLE PAGES, BIBLIOGRAPHY,
and pages consisting mostly of PICTURES and/or QUOTES do not count toward
the page total. See "More About the Papers," below, for a description of the paper format.
You must submit a final topic via e-mail by the Friday that ends week 7.
I must approve the choice of final topics. You may submit a final topic any time on or after
the Friday that ends week 4. One reason that a topic might be rejected is that others
in the class have chosen the same topic. Therefore, it is best to submit a choice of final topics soon.
This final paper must be received by me (mailed, faxed, or attached) no later than 5 PM Pacific Time on
the Monday of Week 15. I will accept the final paper any time on or after November 20th.
NOTE about Due Dates: Each week of the semester starts on Saturday and ends on Friday. The semester consists of sixteen consecutive weeks. Without exception, two lessons are posted on each of the first 15 weeks. Therefore, if you are unable to determine what week we are on, divide the number of the second weekly lesson by two in order to find the week number. The weekly listing in the course Calendar (in WebCampus) may also show the week number.
All of the items are due on the day of the week (Monday, Friday) specified in the above paragraphs. If the numeral dates do not match the day of the week given, it is the day of the week that is correct.
Each week's discussion of course material given in the lessons is due at 5PM on the day before the following lesson appears. In order to achieve the full complement of points for the discussion, you must post at least one substantive discussion per weekly topic. Often, these comments will come in response to questions posed at the bottom of the weekly lectures. Answer one or more of those questions in as much detail as you are able. Support your opinions with facts and inferences; avoid giving unfounded opinions or value judgments (e.g., "I like what they're doing.") or "amen" responses (e.g., "I agree with Terry.").
| Paper | Date of Earliest Acceptance | Due Date |
| Response/Reaction Paper | Friday of Week 3 | Friday of Week 6 |
| Topic for In-Depth Paper | Friday of Week 4 | Friday of Week 7 |
| In-Depth Report | November 20th | Monday of Week 15 |
Both papers must have 1” side, top, and bottom margins and be typed in a 12 point ("normal-looking")
font. The first thing I am going to do is check the length. Short papers will have a letter grade or more deducted.
Your reports should make sure to deal with the issues involved, not
merely repeating historical materials. You are expected to draw your own conclusion, rather than parroting
what others have said. Both papers must treat all groups, opinions, and issues fairly. Not treating
a group or side fairly will result in a letter-grade deduction.
Your papers will not be graded on style or grammar.
They should be written as well as you are able, however. The
papers will be mailed back to you only if you request them and provide mailing
information.
Use footnotes rather than end notes, should any be necessary.
Use any of the recognized styles (e.g., APA, MLA) for quotations.
Grades will be based on the successful and timely completion of the assignments and on participation in the weekly discussion.
| Class participation | 30 points total |
| Response Paper | 20 points |
| Final Topic Submitted and Approved on time | 10 points (this is all-or-nothing!!) |
| Final Report | 40 points |
Therefore, the total number of points available for the semester is 100 points. The number of points required to obtain each grade is as follows:
| A | 90 |
| B+ | 85 |
| B | 80 |
| C+ | 75 |
| C | 70 |
| D+ | 65 |
| D | 60 |
| F | 0 |
If you determine that you wish to drop the course prior to its conclusion, it is necessary for you to officially drop, either online through the college's website, or by visiting one of our college campuses and submitting a drop form. Any student who does not officially drop will receive a grade at the conclusion of the course. These grades will be based on the number of points that you have accumulated (see above).
If you do not officially drop the course as described above, by taking this class you agree that your "last date of attendance" for official purposes will be the last day of this course. Since this may affect your financial aid, it behooves you to drop officially or to complete the entire course.
The Nevada System of Higher Education expressly forbids all forms of academic dishonesty, including (but not limited to) all forms of cheating, copying, and plagiarism. Students who are discovered cheating will be assigned zero points for the current assignment. If the cheating is believed to be widespread -- to involve other students and/or to cover more than one assignment or test -- then all students involved will receive "F" grades for the course and will be brought to the GBC Academic Officers for prosecution. I will normally recommend that students found guilty in that instance be placed on one year disciplinary probation.
Here is the course schedule. If you get behind it may prove difficult to catch up.
| Week | Topics Covered | |
| August 25 - 31 | Intro to the Hebrew Bible | Creation |
| September 1 - 7 | The Great Flood | Abram to Moses |
| September 8 - 14 | Character of the Torah | Sample Readings |
| September 15 - 21 | Judges-Kings | The Early Prophets |
| September 22 - 28 | Fall of Jerusalem, Minor Prophets | Psalms |
| September 29 - October 5 | The Exile, Daniel, more Psalms | Deuterocanonical OT |
| October 6 - 12 | Apocryphal OT, more Psalms | Schools of Thought |
| October 13 - 19 | Dating the Gospels and Acts | the Life of Jesus; John |
| October 20 - 26 | the Synoptics | Parables of Jesus |
| October 27 - November 2 | the Acts and Paul | Letters of Paul |
| November 3 - 9 | More Letters of Paul | Hebrews |
| November 11 - 16 | Other Letters | Views of Revelation |
| November 17 - 23 | the Qumran Community | Jamnia and the Canon |
| November 24 - 30 | the Fall of the Temple | Second Century Christians |
| December 1 - 7 | Second and Third Century Christians; Arius | Arius and Nicaea |
The course ends on December 9th, 2012.