REL 102

 Requirements

Attendance and Academic Citizenship

Attendance is important for your performance in this class. Since class meetings consist of lectures and discussion, students find it very difficult to do well on my tests without attending faithfully, taking good notes, and reviewing them throughout the semester.  Attendance is worth 20 points of your total grade.  Each unexcused absence results in a 2 point deduction from your attendance grade.  However, each student begins with 6 points of extra credit for perfect attendance.  This means you can have three unexcused absences before losing any of your 20 pts.  Moreover, if at the end of the semester your attendance and participation have been excellent and you are within half a percent of the next highest grade increment, I will bump your grade up (e.g., from a B- to a B, or a B+ to an A-).  For obvious reasons, I don't want you to come to class if you're feeling ill.  Just let GA know that you didn't come to class because you felt sick and you'll be excused.

You will need to provide documentation for excused absences.  To paraphrase the Undergraduate Catalog, you may be excused from class without penalty:

1) for University sanctioned activities,
2) for severe illness as evidenced by a written doctor’s excuse (but see above), and
3) for a death in your immediate family.

Academic Citizenship consists of scholarly habits, i.e., characteristics and practices that will contribute immensely to your academic success such as:

1) Coming prepared for class;

2) Paying attention to the lecture;

3) Taking notes on the lecture;

4) Paying attention to fellow students' questions and comments during discussion;

5) Not arriving late or leaving early;

6) Not talking to your neighbor or doing anything else that is distracting and disrespectful while class is in session.  So no knitting and no fidget spinners! :-)

7) Taking part in discussions of the papers.

Also, please note that phones are not to be used during class.  See Additional Course Policies for more on cell phone policies.  I also recommend against using tablets and laptops in class.  There is a large and growing body of research that confirms that personal technology in the classroom is a distraction that is making us stupider, and that the physical act of writing things down helps increase comprehension and retention.  However, I am willing to consider making an exception for a tablet or laptop if you ask me about it.

Poor academic citizenship will affect your grade.  One point will be deducted from your Attendance and Academic Citizenship grade for each obvious infraction.

Reading

The reading assignments are important. Your textbook is up to date on current issues of New Testament interpretation and is written in an engaging, conversational, and even occasionally humorous style. We will also read substantial portions of the New Testament itself.  My experience has been that even most students who have attended Sunday School their entire lives have actually read very little of the New Testament. Some take this course, among other reasons, to remedy this fault. So whether you are Buddhist, a Baptist, an atheist or anything else, you should take this opportunity to read some of one of the foundation documents of Western culture.

Required Textbooks

Sumney, Jerry. The Bible: An Introduction (3d ed.)

SBL Study Bible

Evaluations

1) Ten short papers.  These are one to two page assignments that will provide more information about lecture topics or engage issues raised by them. Specific directions for each assignment will appear under Assignments at least five days before the due date.  One extra credit assignment will be included near the end of the semester.  Late papers will be subject to a letter grade point reduction and must be submitted within two weeks of the original due date.

2) Midterm Exam. This exam will consist of 80 objective (Multiple Choice and TF) questions covering the first half of the semester.  A detailed study guide will be provided a week for before the exam.

3) Final Exam. This exam will consist of 70 objective (Multiple Choice and TF) questions covering the second half of the semester, and a 30 pt. essay.  A list of essay questions will be provided a week in advance and students will pick, one to prepare and write during the exam period.  A detailed study guide will be provided a week for before the exam.  An incomplete (i.e., grade "I") will be given for the course if you miss the Final, have a legitimate excuse, and request one within 24 hours after the Final was given.

4) Optional Extra Credit Final Exam Reflective Essay.  This optional essay allows you earn up to 10 extra credit points by reflecting on all you've learned in light of the specific Gen. Ed. course goals.  Specific instructions for writing your essay will be given in advance and your essay will be submitted through Blackboard.

Grading

Your total Course Grade will utilize plus/minus grading.  As someone has said, "Earnestly desire the higher gifts."

• Grades will be kept on the course's Blackboard site so that you can check your performance in the class on your own at any time.
• Late work will be penalized a letter grade.  Missed papers must be made up by Study Day or you will receive no credit for those assignments.

Office Hours

My office is STRO 266, but will not be meeting with students there much this semester because of the pandemic.  Instead, I will be available during my scheduled office hours through Collaborate Ultra in Blackboard. Virtual office hours are posted on the Blackboard site. However, you will need to email me to set up a time for a meeting.  My email address is available on the campus web and on the Blackboard site. Please use ONLY your MSU email when sending email correspondence to me in this course. As I teach multiple courses each semester, it will help me assist you faster if you include the course name and section number in the subject line of your email. Not including this information could delay my response to you.  Emails sent during the week (Monday – Friday), will be responded to within 24 hours.  Emails received over the weekend or during breaks/holidays will be receive a response within 48 hours.

Classes During Campus Closures

When the university is closed due to an emergency or inclement weather situation, classes will move to remote learning.  What this means for our class is that we will meet via Blackboard during our regularly scheduled class time, which will be recorded and made available in for students unable to attend synchronously.  I will use Blackboard Announcements to communicate any changes to scheduled tests, quizzes, or other assessments that may be impacted. If you are not able to participate in the remote learning activities as described (for example, due to a power outage), you should contact me as soon as you can so alternative arrangements can be made. 

Academic Integrity

Missouri State University is a community of scholars committed to developing educated persons who accept the responsibility to practice personal and academic integrity.  You are responsible for knowing and following the university’s student honor code, Student Academic Integrity Policies and Procedures and also available at the Reserves Desk in Meyer Library.  Any student participating in any form of academic dishonesty will be subject to sanctions as described in this policy.  In this course, cheating on any assignment besides the final exam will result in an F for that assignment and usually cannot be made up. Cheating on the final exam will result in an XF.