The Old Testament Syllabus for 2021-2022
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Course

RELG-1301-001 The Old Testament

Prerequisites

Course Description

A survey of the Old Testament. An outline of Hebrew history including the books of poetry and prophecy in their proper historical settings.

Student ResourcesStudent Resources Website

Department Expectations

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Notice to Students enrolled in an educational program for preparation of issuance of certain occupational licenses:

Students enrolled in an educational program in preparation for obtaining certain occupational licenses are potentially ineligible for such license if the student has been convicted of an offense. For further information, please contact:

Melodie Graves
Justice Involved Advocate
Student Service Center 117
mgraves24@actx.edu
806-371-5995
Make appointment at https://melodiegraves.youcanbook.me

You can also contact the Legal Clinic, or the faculty member in charge of the educational program that you seek to enroll in. The further information you will receive will include notification to you of your right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the licensing authority in order to clarify your particular situation.

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Your Personal Bible (A major translation produced by multiple scholars is recommended), The Old Testament Speaks, fifth edition, 2000, by Samuel J. Schultz (ISBN: 978-0-06-251674-9).

Supplies

Your textbooks, syllabus, a dictionary, pens or pencils, notebook paper or a notebook, and access to a computer to complete assignments and review class materials.  Access to library materials is necessary for the successful completion of this course.  

Student Performance

ACCESSING AC CONNECT:

Online communication will be achieved between students and the professor by using AC Connect.  It is the student's responsibility to check for email messages and announcements regarding this class by clicking on AC Connect at the top of the Amarillo College home page, and then clicking on the icon identifying this class.  You will be able to communicate with both your classmates and professor, check your syllabus, find required supplemental materials, review for the examinations, and find your grades posted there.

OBJECTIVES AND GOALS: The Old Testament can be considered a book, a part of a book, and a collection of books.  To Jews, it is the Tanakh. Thus, the very title of this course expresses a preference for Christianity.  It is however, the same book, part of a book, and collection of books to both Jews and Christians, and will be introduced and surveyed in as objective a manner as possible.  It is true that Catholics include additional documents in their Old Testament that are not in either the Tanakh or the Protestant Old Testament.  Those documents will be considered in as objective a manner as possible, too.  We will introduce the world that is described in the Hebrew Scriptures (a term acceptable to both Jews and Christians), introduce and survey the historical and literary contexts of each “book” of the Hebrew Scriptures, and compare them to both each other and other documents preserved from the same historical periods.  The successful student will demonstrate his/her knowledge of the contents and background of these books by obtaining a minimum of at least 70% competency in the stated student learning outcomes.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (EXEMPLARY EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES):

1. To understand the appropriate methods, technologies, and data that Biblical scholars and comparative religionists use to investigate and understand the Hebrew Scriptures.
2. To effectively summarize the contents of each book of the Old Testament, including the Apocrypha.
3. To identify and effectively analyze the origins, and the historical, social, and cultural emphasis of each book of the Hebrew Scriptures.
4. To identify and effectively analyze the various literary genres and styles found in the Hebrew Scriptures.
5. To recognize and apply reasonable criteria for the understanding and explanation of the historical evidence for, and principle teachings of, the Hebrew Scriptures.
6. To develop an awareness of the history of the Jews during the periods the Hebrew Scriptures covers, while at the same time considering their developing relationship with their God.
7. To meet, understand and know the God of the Hebrew Scriptures.

SPECIFIC COURSE REQUIREMENTS FOR RELIGION 1301:

1. Regular attendance and classroom participation.
   • All absences may be excused if they are the result of illness, official Amarillo College business, or personal emergencies. As an adult, it is your responsibility to talk with the instructor about this. He will never bring it up to you. Unexcused absences may be made up by doing extra work as approved by your instructor.
2. Always bring your Bible to class.
   • We will read significant portions of the Old Testament together in class, so you need a Bible in class.
3. A careful reading of all the assigned sections of the textbook (see the class outline on this syllabus to find your specific reading assignments), and all class handouts. 
   • Reading the assigned portions of the textbook and all handouts before taking the corresponding examination is absolutely necessary for the successful completion of this course.
4. The successful completion of weekly quizzes and a final exam.

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

ACADEMIC HONESTY:

All matters of academic dishonesty including plagiarism, collusion, and fabrication and cheating will result in a failing grade for the assignment in question.  All violations will be reported to the proper college authorities for review. 

CELL PHONES/PERSONAL COMPUTERS:

In order to not interrupt the class, students are asked to turn off or silence all cell phones prior to the beginning of each class session.  Personal computers are allowed for taking notes and/or looking up materials that will contribute to our class discussion.  However, the improper use of cell phones and/or computers will not be tolerated.

CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR:

Your instructor wants this class to be both interesting and fun, but any form of disruptive classroom behavior will not be tolerated.

STUDENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

All students are required to follow the AC Student Rights/Responsibilities Statement (On the internet, go to www.actx.edu  and look under the “campus bookmarks”).

Grading Criteria

COURSE GRADE BREAKDOWN:               COURSE GRADING SCALE:                 

Weekly Quizzes             60%                            90-100                A

           Participation                   20%                             80-89                 B

           Final Examination          20%                             70-79                 C      

                                                                                      60-69                 D

                                        100%                             0-59                   F

Attendance

Regular attendance and classroom participation. Two unexcused absences will result in the loss of one letter grade for the semester unless at least one of those absences is made up.  Four unexcused absences will then result in the loss of two letter grades unless at least two of those absences are made up.  Absences may be excused if they are the result of illness, official Amarillo College business, or personal emergencies.   It is your responsibility to talk with the instructor about this, though.  He will never bring it up to you. Unexcused absences may be made up by doing extra work as approved by your instructor.

Calendar

Additional Information

TUTORING POLICY:

If a student scores below 70% on an exam or writing assignment, he or she will be required to attend tutoring per the instructor’s directions before being allowed to complete the next assigned work. Free tutoring is available at Ware Tutoring Center, located at Ware Student Commons 1st Floor, 806-371-5458.