REL 321

Requirements

Attendance and Academic Citizenship

This class is mainly discussion based, so attendance and participation are crucial. Attendance sheets will be circulated.  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-).

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, 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) Taking part in discussions.

3) Paying attention to fellow students' questions and comments during discussion.

4) Not arriving late or leaving early.

5) 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! :-)

Also, please note that phones are not to be used during class.  See Additional Course Policies for more on cell phone policies.  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. 

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

Reading and Discussion Participation

The reading assignments are the life blood of a discussion based course. To be prepared for class you must read the assignments carefully and make notes.  During class I will expect to see a notebook in front of you with notes in it.  Some of your notes should be made while doing the reading with an eye toward what you can contribute to the discussion.  Part of your grade is based on discussion participation.  Your ability to earn a high mark for discussion participation depends heavily on your reading habits and thoughtful note taking.  All students are expected to participate in class discussions.  The course is designed to foster critical yet respectful discussion wherein everyone’s views get a hearing. 

Exegesis Paper

Any student who takes an upper level course in biblical studies should learn--or further cultivate--exegetical skills.  Each student will produce a 12-15 page exegesis paper on any text involving Paul in Acts or any other Pauline text in the NT.  Beginning the fourth week of the semester we will be reading and discussing chapters in the exegesis handbook by Gorman.  Several of these chapters are the exegesis "elements" or steps in order.  From this point on, you will draft sections of your exegesis paper At this point  and after midterm, if not before, you will begin working hard on your exegesis paper. 

Short Papers, Quizzes, and a Final Exam

1) Twelve Short Papers.  Most of these involve interacting with the assigned INET readings.  Three of them are drafts of the separate "elements" of the exegesis paper.  Specific directions for each assignment will appear under Assignments at least five days before the due date. Late papers will be accepted, but are subject to a letter grade deduction.

2) Pop Quizzes on Readings.  There will be about fourteen pop quizzes.  At least one quiz will be given each week at the beginning of class consisting of five to ten objective questions (T/F and multiple choice) to test your knowledge of the reading assignments. Students who keep up with the assignments, and who read them consistently and carefully can expect to do well. Quizzes on the reading may not be made up if the student fails to attend class on the days they are given. Three missed quiz scores will be dropped.

3) Final Exam. This is an essay and discussion exam.  The question will be provided a week before the exam period and your essay will be uploaded in Blackboard. During the final exam period, students will share from their papers as part of a class discussion. 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.

Required Textbooks

Gorman, Michael J. Elements of Biblical Exegesis: A Basic Guide for Students and Ministers. Third edition. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2021.

Taylor, Walter E. Paul: Apostle to the Nations. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2012.

The HarperCollins Study Bible (2d ed.)

Supplemental Reading: Elliott, Neil and Mark Reasoner, eds. Documents and Images for the Study of Paul. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2011; Given, Mark D. ed. Paul Unbound: Other Perspectives on the Apostle. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2010; Roetzel, Calvin J. The Letters of Paul: Conversations in Context. 5th ed., Westminster John Knox Press, 1998.  Sumney, Jerry. Paul: Apostle and Fellow Traveler. Nashville: Abingdon, 2014.

Grading

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

• 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.

Wiring

An MSU email account and some basic web use are required in this course. Be sure to check it daily since I will occasionally send out email announcements using the Blackboard distribution list which uses your MSU email address.