Syllabus for RLGN 1301-SA05 -- OLD TESTAMENT HISTORYWayland Baptist University - San Antonio Center Maurice Smith, Ph.D.-- InstructorSpring 2002 Main Campus,Room 107 Catalog Description:"Old Testament History--historical literature with special attention to theinstitutions, religion, and national life of the Hebrew people."General Objectives:This course intends to introduce the student to the text of the Old Testament,with particular emphasis on the history, institutions, religion, and national life of theHebrew people up to the first century A.D. Upon successful completion of the course,the student should be able:1. To have an appreciation for the Old Testament as a distinctive body of literaturethat has been very influential since its development and considered sacred scriptureby the Hebrew people and by Christians.2. To have an appreciation for the various types of literature contained in the OldTestament, to be able to identify and classify those various types of literature, and tobe familiar with general principles of interpreting those types of literature.3. To know the names of every book in the Old Testament (except the apocryphalbooks), to be able to list them in the order of their appearance in the Old Testament,and to have a general idea of their chronological order in the historical periods of theOld Testament.4. To have a grasp of the basic outline of Hebrew history, the major covenants,and the religious and political developments related to the Hebrew people throughoutthe Old Testament historical periods.5. To have a basic introduction to the major ideas of the Old Testament religiousleaders, prophets, and sages as expressed in the historical books, the propheticbooks, and the wisdom literature. 6. To have a foundational acquaintance with the major individuals and groupsincluded in the Old Testament material and to have at least a cursory knowledge oftheir roles and significance in relationship to the entire Old Testament.7. To have gained competence in recognizing and understanding selected OldTestament religious and social principles that the student can apply to contemporarylife.8. To have acquired an interest in reading the Old Testament as a profitabledevotional exercise as well as a scholastic discipline and to have gained a respect forthe Old Testament as an authentic and valuable message from God.Procedures:Course work will include lecture, discussion, assigned reading, weekly quizzes,scheduled examinations, and oral reading of selected Old Testament passages.Textbooks:Arnold, Bill T. and Beyer, Bryan E., Encountering the Old Testament, GrandRapids, MI: Baker Books, 1998. ISBN: 0-8010-2176-6 (Hardcover).The NIV Study Bible, 10th Anniversary Edition, Grand Rapids, MI: ZondervanPublishing House, 1995. (The Holy Bible, New International Version, Copyright © 1973,1978, 1984 by International Bible Society)Requirements:1. Attendance: Experience has shown that students cannot miss this class oftenand expect to comprehend the course material as readily or to perform as well onexaminations as students who attend all the class periods. According to universitypolicy, any student missing a total of more than 25 per cent of the regularlyscheduled class meetings (three complete class days) will receive a grade of F inthe course. A student's absence due to late arrival or early departure on any classday will be prorated as a partial absence. The instructor will check the roll at thebeginning and at the end of each class day.2. Required weekly reading: See the accompanying COURSE OUTLINE ANDSCHEDULE. After the first session, the instructor will expect each student to completethe week's assigned reading from the textbook and the Old Testament materialbefore coming to class. Keeping current with the assigned reading will enhance thestudent's comprehension of the lecture material, competence to participate in theclass discussion, and proficiency in taking the weekly quizzes and scheduledexaminations. Furthermore, keeping current with the assigned reading will make theclass periods and the entire course more enjoyable and more beneficial, as well asless stressful.3. Weekly quiz: Each week there will be one or two short quizzes covering theclass lecture and discussion of the previous week and the assigned reading(textbook and Old Testament) for the current week. The instructor will drop onequiz score for each student before averaging the student's grade. Each student canmake up a quiz score (either a low score or a missed quiz) by answering all thetextbook "Study Questions" (at the end of each chapter in Encountering the OldTestament) for every chapter in that week's assignment.The student should turn in this make-up work report on the first or second classday after the absence or low score. The instructor will distribute a special make-upform to attach to the make-up work. All make-up work reports are due on the finalclass day. Each student will be allowed only two make-up work reports--one foran absence and one for a low grade. If you miss a weekly quiz for any reason, therewill be no make-up quiz. The total of weekly quiz grades (with adjustments for onedrop and any make up work reports) will constitute fifty per cent of the student'sfinal course grade. If you miss a quiz, you should get a copy of the quiz (from theinstructor or from a fellow student) because it also serves as a partial review of theday's class material and as a study aid for the next examination.4. Examinations: There will be four objective unit examinations, given at thetimes indicated in the COURSE OUTLINE AND SCHEDULE. The total of these four unitexaminations will constitute fifty per cent of the student's final course grade. Whena student misses a scheduled examination, the instructor will leave a make-upexamination at Wayland's main office, and the student can take the make-upexamination at his or her earliest convenience, preferably before the next classsession.5. Participation in class discussion: The instructor will expect every student to beprepared to participate in the class discussion every week. The student's adequatepreparation will include having read the