Old Testament Survey
Schedule of Assignments

This page presents information on the reading journals, explanations of the major writing projects, the schedule of sessions displaying when reading journals and papers are due, and acceptable extra credit projects.

Reading Journals for Old Testament Survey

For the Fall Semester, 2002, the textbook for the course is John H. Tullock, The Old Testament Story. Sixth Edition. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall, 2002.

Your Bible and textbook are well worth reading from cover to cover. For purposes of class discussion, you are only required to read sections from each as assigned in the class schedule (see below). You should bring to class typed (or handwritten) notes (of about a page or two) indicating your reactions to the assigned reading and the contribution you intend to make to the class discussion on that session's readings. Contributions include useful questions as well as opinions and applications. Do not outline the readings. I am looking for signs of human intelligence in the journals. After class discussion, you must turn in your notes which will be evaluated and returned to you at the beginning of the next class session. The collection of reading journals will contribute 18% of your final grade in the course.

Assignments to Explore the Old Testament

Your four projects for the course should each be about three to four pages in length. Focus on the assigned subject so that you can address the topic in a direct, clear, and accurate fashion. You should establish the routine of proofreading your papers and correcting unclear statements and errors in spelling and grammar. Remember that you are communicating your insights and knowledge to others in your writing, which should flow smoothly and lead the reader through the subject in an orderly and interesting manner.

We expect or at least have the fond wish that your ability to organize your thoughts and to communicate your ideas clearly, correctly, and persuasively will greatly improve during your course of studies at the college. To join the circle of educated professionals, you must use American English in a professional manner. If you need help, please ask!

Your projects will be graded on the basis of a range of factors including grammatical and syntactic accuracy, flow of thought, creativity, energy, integrity (no plagiarizing!), and informative content. Please include page numbers. Even a short paper can benefit from headings and a thoughtful introduction and conclusion. Each of your projects contributes 18% of your final grade for the course.

• Discover Places and Events: Write a geographical essay with accompanying map clearly illustrating the points that you want to make. The map may be poster-size if you wish. What role did the geographical or topographical setting have in the strategies and outcomes of political or military developments in ancient Israel? You might choose to focus on a topic such as the exodus from Egypt and the wilderness wandering, the conquest and settlement of the promised land, the struggles for survival during the pre-monarchial period, the stages of the exile, or restoration; the imperialism of an Israelite or Judean king such as David, Solomon, Jeroboam II, Uzziah, Hezekiah, or Josiah; foreign imperialist threats to Israel or Judah from the Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians, or Persians.
• Encounter Official Worship: Compare the character, legacy, and times of the high priest Eli during the late pre-monarchial period and the high priest Jehoiada during the turmoil of the divided monarchy. How have the material aspects of official worship changed? How has the appearance of the sacred shrine changed? How has the geographical setting changed? What differences do you see in their respective social, familial, and political contexts? Do you have more respect for one over the other? Why? Do you think the challenges they faced and the decisions they made are very different or basically similar? How would you compare their respective legacies in the biblical tradition?
• Analyze Prophetic Tensions: Compare the respective missions of the prophet Isaiah in the eighth century and the prophet Jeremiah in the late seventh and early sixth centuries. Both preached in Jerusalem. What differences do you see in their relations to the people or to the royal court? What do you think of Isaiah's encounters with various Judean kings? How was Jeremiah's treatment by the royal court similar to or different from that experienced by Isaiah? How has the political context changed? What has happened on the international scene? Explain the different counsel and guidance offered by Isaiah compared to that urged by Jeremiah. How did these two prophets view official worship in the temple?
• Empathize with the Common Life: Trace the struggles of Naomi through the book of Ruth. Do you agree or disagree with the decisions she made and feelings she expressed in the book? How did the other characters around Naomi assist or disappoint her? How do you imagine the appearance and personality of Ruth and Boaz? Does the story turn out the way you expect or hope? Why do you think this story was important enough to be included in the sacred canon of scripture?

Course Schedule

• Session One: August 27. Lecture: Introduction to the course.
• Session Two: August 29. Convocation, no class.
• Session Three: September 3. Discussion of Tullock, pp. 1-21 and of Genesis 1-11.
• Session Four: September 5. Lecture on Context of Old Testament events and writings.
• Session Five: September 10. Discussion of Tullock, pp. 22-36 and of I Kings 17-22; II Kings 1-7.
• Session Six: September 12. Lecture on Foundational Instruction in the Torah.
• Session Seven: September 17. Discussion of Tullock, pp. 37-59 and of Genesis 37-45.
• Session Eight: September 19. Lecture on Torah continued. Geographical Essay due.
• Session Nine: September 24. Discussion of Tullock, pp. 60-98 and of Exodus 14-20.
• Session Ten: September 26. Lecture on Former and Latter Prophets.
• Session Eleven: October 1. Discussion of Tullock, pp. 99-122 and of Judges 4-12.
• Session Twelve: October 3. Lecture on Former and Latter Prophets continued.
• Session Thirteen: October 8. Discussion of Tullock, pp. 123-144 and of I Samuel 1-7.
• Session Fourteen: October 10. Lecture on Former and Latter Prophets continued.
• Session Fifteen: October 15. Discussion of Tullock, pp. 145-168 and of I Kings 5-11.
• Session Sixteen: October 17. Lecture on Miscellaneous Writings. Official Worship paper due.
• Session Seventeen: October 22. Discussion of Tullock, pp. 169-206 and of Amos 4-9.
• Session Eighteen: October 24. Lecture on Worship in Song.
• Session Nineteen: October 29. Discussion of Tullock, pp. 207-230 and of Isaiah 5-11.
• Session Twenty: October 31. Lecture on Worship in Song continued.
• Session Twenty-one: November 5. Discussion of Tullock, pp. 231-262 and of Jeremiah 34-43.
• Session Twenty-two: November 7. Lecture on Wisdom to Cope.
• Session Twenty-three: November 12. Discussion of Tullock, pp. 263-306 and of Ezekiel 1-10.
• Session Twenty-four: November 14. Lecture on Wisdom continued. Prophetic Tension paper due.
• Session Twenty-five: November 19. Discussion of Tullock, pp. 307-320 and of Nehemiah 1-8.
• Session Twenty-six: November 21. Lecture on Challenges of Restoration.
• Session Twenty-seven: November 26. Discussion of Tullock, pp. 321-359 and of Psalms 18-24.
• College closed for Thanksgiving celebration.
• Session Twenty-eight: December 3. Discussion of Tullock, pp. 360-381 and of Daniel 1-6.
• Session Twenty-nine: December 5. Lecture on Restoration continued.
• Session Thirty: December 10 (early). Lecture on Heroic Women and Romance. Common Life paper due.

Extra Credit Projects

Here are several acceptable extra credit projects that you may prepare to improve your final grade. These projects may each be used to improve your final grade by a maximum of 3%.

• Prepare a reading journal on Leviticus 16-21, Job 1-7, or II Kings 18-23.
• Design and post a functional web page that would be helpful for someone interested in the subject matter of this course. You may include brief comments on relevant books (such as our textbooks), annotated links to reputable, useful information on the internet, and your own contributions to the subject. Respect copyright in the use of text and images.
• From the viewpoint of an ancient Israelite, describe how you would explain to an outsider your restricted choice of meat on the basis of Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14.

You can find a few hints about writing style and a list of common writing errors to avoid at my help page on Good Composition. Also take a look at the Old Testament Annotated Bibliography page.

Return to the Old Testament Survey main page or to the Lecture Hall. Thanks for the visit! This page was edited on 23 August 2002. Email is welcomed by John R. Mitchell, Part-time Instructor in Religion. © 2002 Erasmus Compositor, P.O. Box 25958, Baltimore, MD 21224. For an introduction to life at the center of the world forty centuries ago, visit an old Sumerian scribe at the Nippur Quay. You can also visit Villa Julie College.