dj*a# hwhy Wnyh@Oa hwhy la@r`c=y] um^v= Shaw University Divinity School OTS 501 Online Survey of the Old Testament Summer 2009 Online

Instructor Office Hours James P. Ashmore by appointment only 105 Leonard Hall (919) 546-8572 [email protected]

Welcome! Shaw Divinity School students are committed, mature, engaged learners. You have chosen to serve Christ and the Church by preparing yourself spiritually and intellectually for ministry. This class will invite you to consider how God speaks to us through the Old Testament.

Participation Courses at the graduate level always require considerable self-motivation and student initiative. Because this course will be taught online, with no regular face-to-face meetings, it is essential to the success of the course that students discipline themselves to stay up to date on readings and assignments and communicate regularly with the instructor regarding any possible difficulties. Communicating regularly with the instructor and setting aside regular, adequate time to work on the reading and assignments is absolutely essential to successful completion of the class.

OTS 501 Online Summer 2009 page 1 of 16 Divinity School Program Learning Outcomes

Mission Statements MRE Program Mission MDiv Program Mission The mission of the Master of Religious The mission of the Master of Divinity Education degree is to equip persons for degree is to prepare persons for ordained competent leadership in Christian ministry, for chaplaincy, general pastoral Education to serve congregational and religious leadership responsibilities in ministries and other religious institutions. congregations and other settings, and to This purpose is consistent with the mission prepare some students for admission to of Shaw University Divinity School; the advanced programs oriented to theological Master of Religious Education program research and teaching. The purpose is focuses on leadership in the “practice of consistent with the mission of Shaw ministry,” particularly in the African University Divinity School; the Master of American Church Divinity program focuses on leadership in the “practice of ministry,” particularly in the African American church

Program Goals MRE Program Goals MDiv Program Goals 1. to equip students with the capacity for 1. to provide students with an intellectual critical and constructive theological atmosphere and a comprehensive, reflection regarding the content and discriminating understanding of our processes of educational ministry; religious heritage; 2. to help students understand the 2. to enhance student training for educational, social, and behavioral Christian ministry, mindful of global, sciences that undergird educational and diverse cross cultural, and non- practice, as well as the cultural contexts American Christianities, and interaction in which educational ministry occurs; with other faith traditions; 3. to assist students with personal growth 3. to support students' development in the and spiritual maturity; and personal and spiritual capacities 4. to provides skills in teaching and in necessary for pastoral and religious design, administration, and assessment leadership, advancing growth in of educational programming. personal faith, emotional maturity, moral integrity, and public witness; 4. to expand programmatic activities, services, and academic programming to enhance student capacity for ministerial and public leadership.

OTS 501-601 Fall 2008 page 2 of 16 Program Learning Outcomes MRE Program Learning Outcomes MDiv Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs) (PLOs) 1. Graduates will demonstrate a capacity 1. Graduates will demonstrate a capacity to articulate an understanding of the to articulate an understanding of the scriptural, historical, and theological scriptural, historical, and theological traditions of particular Christian traditions of particular Christian traditions and of the broader traditions and of the broader community of faith community of faith 2. Graduates will evaluate teaching and 2. Graduates will develop a consciousness learning theories for the purpose of about and a capacity to reflect critically developing a distinctly Christian on issues of diversity, globalization, philosophy of educating God’s people; and cross cultural concerns; 3. Graduates will demonstrate a capacity 3. Graduates will demonstrate a capacity for critical reflection on how their for critical reflection on how their unique personalities, backgrounds, and unique personalities, backgrounds, and gifts and abilities relate to the ministry gifts and abilities relate to the role of of Christian education; the minister as leader, guide, and 4. Graduates will demonstrate a capacity servant of the faith community; to design and to carry out a lesson plan 4. Graduates will demonstrate a capacity necessary for effective educational to create programs and have a critical ministries voice in ministerial and public leadership

Course Description The focus of this course is learning the content of all the books of the Old Testament. Students will take regular quizzes on the content of the books. Students will also be introduced to the history of ancient Israel and some of the critical methods employed in studying the text. Student Learning Outcomes Student Learning Assessment of Linkage to MDiv Linkage to MRE Outcomes (SLO) Student Learning Program Learning Program Learning Outcomes Outcomes Outcomes At the completion of (Assessment Tools) this course, students will be able to: 1. list and spell Final Exam 1 1 correctly the books of the Old Testament in canonical order 2. identify the Quizzes and 1 1 major structural Reading Journal elements, themes, and major critical issues in at least one

OTS 501-601 Fall 2008 page 3 of 16 Student Learning Assessment of Linkage to MDiv Linkage to MRE Outcomes (SLO) Student Learning Program Learning Program Learning Outcomes Outcomes Outcomes At the completion of (Assessment Tools) this course, students will be able to: book from each division of the canon 3. identify the Geography and 1 1 major geographical History Library areas and features in Project ancient Afro-Asia and ancient Israel 4. describe at least Geography and 1 1 two points of History Library controversy in the Project history of ancient Israel, identify the scholarly perspectives on these issues 5. describe the Quizzes and Final 1 1 differences between Exam the Alexandrian and Palestinian canons 6. identify at least Quizzes and Final 1 1 five dates in the Exam history of ancient Israel 7. recall details of Reading Journal 1 1 reading from each part of the assigned reading

Texts and Blackboard Required Texts Achtemeier, Paul, Ed. HarperCollins Dictionary. Rev. Ed. San Francisco: HarperCollins, 1996.

LaSor, William, David Hubbard, and Frederick Bush. Old Testament Survey. 2nd Ed. Minneapolis: Eerdmans, 1996.

Pritchard, James B. HarperCollins Atlas of Bible History. San Francisco: HarperCollins, 2008.

OTS 501-601 Fall 2008 page 4 of 16 Society of Biblical Literature. HarperCollins . Rev. Ed. San Francisco: HarperCollins, 2006.

If this is your first course in , then you should add the following book, and read it during the course of the semester: Brown, Michael Joseph. What They Don’t Tell You: A Survivor’s Guide to Biblical Studies. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2000.

Please use a good study Bible in a modern translation for this class. In addition to the HarperCollins Study Bible, there are other good study available. In the NRSV, the New Interpreter’s Study Bible and the New are both good choices. In the NIV ’s NIV Study Bible is the best choice. Do not use the Authorized Version (King James), New King James, , Contemporary English Version, Amplified Bible, or paraphrased Bible in this class.

Blackboard This class will use Blackboard as the main online platform. You can connect to the Blackboard site through the University’s website www.shawuniversity.edu.

Course Requirements Please Note! All assignments are due no later than 12 midnight Eastern time on the date(s) indicated below. Any assignment submitted after the deadline for any reason will have two points deducted from the final numerical grade for each day it is late. Even if, for some reason, you cannot submit the assignment by the deadline, please submit the assignment so that you will at least receive partial credit.

M.Div./M.R.E. Assignments This course focuses on basic content, structure, and themes of the books of the Old Testament. Because this knowledge is foundational for both degrees, this course will not distinguish between the two degrees in assignments.

Blackboard Assignment A Blackboard assignment will be due each segment, by 12:00 midnight (Eastern time), beginning May 16. On the following dates, a specific assignment will be posted: May 16 Biography and community building May 19 Genesis June 3 Images of God June 15 Prophecy On these dates, a specific assignment with detailed instructions will be posted in the Assignments area on Blackboard. Unless otherwise noted, the assignment will be due on the date above at midnight. Every segment other than those noted above, students will post a reading journal on the Discussion Board area of Blackboard. Each entry should consist of at least one page of text (typed, single-spaced) and will be available to the instructor and all the other students to read. At least one of these entries must be reactions to the assigned reading in the

OTS 501-601 Fall 2008 page 5 of 16 textbook (Old Testament Survey), and at least one entry must be on reading from one biblical book in each of the following groups: Pentateuch (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy) Former Prophets (Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings) Latter Prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, 12 Minor Prophets) Writings (Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Ecclesiastes, Lamentations, Ruth, Esther, Song of Solomon, Ezra, Nehemiah, Chronicles, Daniel) Students may structure the journal in a variety of ways. You can keep a record of the things you learn as you read, a record of your reaction to the material, a list of questions that arise in your mind as you read, or a record of what surprises you as you work through the reading. Students are discouraged from sermonizing or focusing exclusively on a single point, chapter, or verse. The grading rubric for Short Papers (at the end of the syllabus) will be used for grading the assignment. Students will be encouraged to read and to react to their colleagues postings. Due: May 22, 25, 28, 31, June 6, 12, 18, 21 Weight: 25%

Quizzes There will be a total of four quizzes given, covering the material in the handouts, the reading in Old Testament Survey, and in the biblical books. For each quiz two chances will be given to take the quiz, and the highest grade will be accepted. The quizzes may be taken at any point during the session, but must be completed prior to June 22 Due: no later than June 22 Weight: 25%

Geography and History Library Project Details of the assignment are given at the end of the syllabus. Students will answer questions about the geography of ancient Israel, and about the history of ancient Israel and ancient Afro-Asia. The assignment must be emailed to the instructor by 12 midnight on June 6. The grading rubric for Short Papers (at the end of the syllabus) will be used for grading the assignment. Due: June 6 Weight: 20%

Final Exam A comprehensive final exam will be given. The exam will be posted on Blackboard no later than June 16, and may be taken any time between when it is posted and June 23. There will be 2 ½ hours allowed to take the exam. Final Date: June 23 Weight: 30%

Plagiarism/Honor Pledge All assignments are submitted with the following honor pledge implied. I affirm that the content of this assignment is my own work. Nothing in this work is copied from a textbook, other book or online source, or another student except where

OTS 501-601 Fall 2008 page 6 of 16 permitted and properly documented. I understand that if I violate this affirmation I will receive a failing grade on this assignment and possibly in the class. The University Handbook states that repeated instances of plagiarism will result in suspension and/or expulsion from school.

Class Schedule Student Learning Assigned Mode of Related Assessment Date Topics Outcome Reading Instruction Assignment Resources Tool Seg. 1 Introduction, 2, 5 Reading, Log onto Practice Quiz Quiz 1, May 14 How We Got online Blackboard, 1 and Blackboard the Hebrew interaction complete Handouts on assignment Bible, The pre- How We Got Pentateuch instruction the Hebrew assessment, Bible, and Biography The and Pentateuch community building exercise Seg. 2 Genesis, 2 Genesis, Reading, Complete Handouts on Quiz 1, May 17 Exodus Exodus online Genesis Genesis, Blackboard Old interaction assignment Exodus assignment Testament Survey (OTS), chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 HarperCollins Bible Dictionary (HCBD) articles on Genesis, Exodus, Texts- Versions- Manuscripts- Editions, canon Seg. 3 Leviticus, 2 Leviticus, Reading, Handouts on Quiz 1 May 20 Numbers, Numbers, online Leviticus, Deuteronomy Deuteronomy interaction Numbers, OTS chapters Deuteronomy 6, 7, 8 HCBD articles on Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy Seg. 4 History of 2, 4, 5 Joshua, Reading, Handouts on Quiz 2 May 23 Israel, Part 1, Judges online History of The OTS chapters interaction Israel, Part 1, Prophetic 9, 10, 11 The Prophetic

OTS 501-601 Fall 2008 page 7 of 16 Student Learning Assigned Mode of Related Assessment Date Topics Outcome Reading Instruction Assignment Resources Tool Books, HCBD on Books, Joshua, Joshua, Joshua, Judges Judges, Israel, Judges prophet Seg. 5 History of 2, 4 Samuel, Reading, Handouts on Quiz 2 May 26 Israel, Part 2, Kings online History of Samuel, OTS chapters interaction Israel, Part 2, Kings 12, 13, 14, 15 Samuel, HCBD Kings articles on Samuel, Kings, David, Solomon, Judah (Kingdom of), Seg. 6 Amos, 2 Amos, Hosea, Reading, Handouts on Quiz 3 May 29 Hosea, Micah online Amos, Hosea, Micah OTS chapters interaction Micah 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 HCBC articles on Amos, Hosea, Micah Seg. 7 Isaiah, 2 Isaiah, Reading, Complete Handouts on Quiz 3 June 1 Zephaniah, Zephaniah, online Images of Isaiah, Nahum, Nahum, interaction God Zephaniah, Habakkuk Habakkuk assignment Nahum, OTS chapters Habakkuk 21, 22, 23 HCBD articles on Isaiah, Zephaniah, Nahum, Habakkuk Seg. 8 Jeremiah, 2 Jeremiah, Reading, Geography Handouts on Quiz 3 June 4 Ezekiel Ezekiel online and History Jeremiah, OTS chapters interaction Library Ezekiel 24, 25 Project Due HCBD June 6 articles on Jeremiah, Ezekiel Seg. 9 Obadiah, 2 Obadiah, Joel, Reading, Handouts on Quiz 3 June 7 Joel, Jonah Jonah online Obadiah, OTS chapters interaction Joel, Jonah 26, 27 HCBD articles on Obadiah, Joel, Jonah

OTS 501-601 Fall 2008 page 8 of 16 Student Learning Assigned Mode of Related Assessment Date Topics Outcome Reading Instruction Assignment Resources Tool Seg. 10 Haggai, 2 Haggai, Reading, Handouts on Quiz 3 June 10 Zechariah, Zechariah, online Haggai, Malachi Malachi interaction Zechariah, OTS chapters Malachi 28, 29, 30 HCBD articles on Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi Seg. 11 History of 2, 4, 5, 6 Psalms Reading, Complete Handouts on Quiz 4 June 13 Israel, Part 3, OTS chapters online Prophecy History of The 31, 32 interaction assignment Israel, Part 3, Writings, HCBD History of Psalms articles on Israel – Dates Psalms, You Should Temple Know, The Writings, Psalms Seg. 12 Wisdom 2, 5 Proverbs, Job Reading, Handouts on Quiz 4 June 16 Literature, OTS chapters online Wisdom Proverbs, Job 33, 34, 35 interaction Literature, HCBD Proverbs, Job articles on Proverbs, Job, wisdom Seg. 13 Five Little 2 Ecclesiastes, Reading, Handouts Quiz 4 June 19 Scrolls Song of online Ecclesiastes, Songs, Ruth, interaction Song of Lamentations, Songs, Ruth, Esther Lamentations, OTS chapters Esther 36, 37, 38, 39, 40 HCBD articles on Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations, Esther Seg. 14 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Reading, Handouts on Quiz 4 June 22 Ezra- Ezra, online Chronicles, Nehemiah, Nehemiah, interaction Ezra- Daniel Daniel Nehemiah, OTS chapters Daniel 41, 42, 43 HCBD Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah,

OTS 501-601 Fall 2008 page 9 of 16 Student Learning Assigned Mode of Related Assessment Date Topics Outcome Reading Instruction Assignment Resources Tool Daniel, apocalyptic June 23 Final Exam Due

Evaluation This course will employ a 10 point scale: 90-100 A 80-89 B 70-79 C 60-69 D Below 60 F Please note: because this is a required course, students must make a C or better, or the course will have to be repeated. Incompletes An incomplete can only be given in extraordinary situations when there is a compelling reason why a student cannot complete the required work before the end of the semester. A student must request an incomplete, state a reason why she/he cannot complete the work, and sign an I-Grade Form before an incomplete can be granted. This must be done before the end of the session (June 23).

Selected Bibliography Introductions Anderson, Bernhard W. Steven Bishop, and Judith Newman. Understanding the Old Testament. Fifth Edition. New York: Prentice Hall, 2006. The standard undergraduate textbook for Old Testament introduction. Excellent bibliographies, pictures, maps, resources, and index. A valuable addition to students’ libraries. Birch, Bruce, Walter Brueggemann, Terence Fretheim, and David Petersen. A Theological Introduction to the Old Testament. Second Edition. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2005. A very good introduction to the theological themes and issues in the Old Testament. The material is arranged chronologically. Brueggemann, Walter. Introduction to the Old Testament: The Canon and Christian Imagination. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2003. An excellent introduction that focuses on the theology of each book of the Old Testament, arranged according to the Palestinian Canon. Highly recommended. Gottwald, The : A Socio-Literary Introduction. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1985. Thorough, with special attention to the cultural history and sociology of Israel. Knight, Douglas, and Gene M. Tucker, Eds. The Hebrew Bible and Its Modern Interpreters. Chico, California: Scholars Press, 1985. A very good, comprehensive examination of the history of scholarship on the Hebrew Bible. Even though it is over twenty years old now, it is one of the best summaries of critical scholarship available.

OTS 501-601 Fall 2008 page 10 of 16 History and Archaeology of Israel and Judah Bright, John. A History of Israel. Fourth Edition. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2000. Reflects the views of the American School of OT history. Mazar, Amihai. Archaeology of the Land of the Bible: 10,000-586 BCE. Anchor Bible Reference Library. New York: Doubleday, 1990. A very good, comprehensive examination of archaeological data. It looks at all aspects of material culture, and avoids the older tendency to look only at monuments and large-scale building. Miller, J. Maxwell, and John H. Hayes. A History of Ancient Israel and Judah. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1986. From the perspective of the “German School,” painstaking historical analysis of OT in light of ancient Near Eastern and archaeological research.

Bible Dictionaries Freedman, D.N., Ed. The Anchor Bible Dictionary. New York: Doubleday, 1992. The most up-to-date and thorough dictionary available, although it is heavily weighted toward historical and archaeological issues. Buttrick, G.A. Ed. The Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1962; Supplementary Volume, 1976. Although now somewhat dated, it is full of useful information on almost any topic of biblical study. The Supplementary Volume provides updated articles on key issues. A new version will come out starting in 2008. Freedman, D.N. Ed. Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2000. A recent and thorough one-volume Bible dictionary.

Ancient Near Eastern Texts Pritchard, James B. Ed. Ancient Near Eastern Texts Relating to the Old Testament. Third Edition. Princeton, Princeton University Press, 1969. The standard collection of the writings of Israel’s neighbors. It is used so often that it is frequently simply abbreviated, ANET. Valuable in spite of the “King James” language of the translations. Pritchard, James B. Ed. The Ancient Near East in Pictures Relating to the Old Testament, Second Ed. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1969. This is a paperback, shorter version of ANET. It contains a wealth of objects and images from the ANE. Matthews, Victor H. and Don C. Benjamin, Jr. Eds. Old Testament Parallels: Laws and Stories from the Ancient Near East. New York: Paulist Press, 1991. More readable translations than Pritchard and the most affordable and useful collection for your personal library.

Pentateuch Blenkinsopp, Joseph. The Pentateuch: An Introduction to the First Five Books of the Bible. Anchor Bible Reference Library. New York: Doubleday, 1992. An excellent introduction to the critical issues that have dominated scholarly debate for two hundred years.

OTS 501 Fall 2007 Page 11 of 16 Fretheim, Terence. The Pentateuch. Interpreting Biblical Texts. Nashville: Abingdon, 1996. An excellent, readable introduction to the books of the Pentateuch that focuses on literary and theological issues.

Former and Latter Prophets and Prophecy Blenkinsopp, Joseph. A History of Prophecy in Israel. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1996. A comprehensive survey of critical issues on prophecy and the prophetic books. Blenkinsopp focuses on the historical context of the prophets. Emmerson, Grace. Prophets and Poets. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1997. A brief text oriented to a general audience that focuses on the theological issues in the prophetic books. Heschel, Abraham J. The Prophets. San Francisco: HarperCollins, 1975. An old resource, written by a Jewish scholar. However, Heschel’s insights into the psychology of prophecy continues to be very influential. Nelson, Richard D. The Historical Books. Interpreting Biblical Texts. Nashville: Abingdon, 1998. A very good, brief, readable examination of the literary and theological issues raised by the Former Prophets along with Chronicles and Ezra- Nehemiah. Nelson also offers a helpful examination of the differences between these books and what we commonly refer to as “history.” Weems, Renita. Battered Love: Marriage, Sex, and Violence in the Hebrew Prophets. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1995. Although this is not a comprehensive examination of prophecy, it is an excellent examination of a specific theological issue in three prophetic books: Hosea, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel. Wilson, Robert R. Prophecy and Society in Ancient Israel. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1980. An attempt to distinguish Israel’s prophets by their social settings, Wilson’s study is very interesting, but only partly successful.

The Writings and Wisdom Literature Clifford, Richard J. The Wisdom Literature. Interpreting Biblical Texts. Nashville: Abingdon, 1998. An excellent, brief introduction to the Wisdom books that focuses on theological issues. Cook, Stephen L. The Apocalyptic Literature. Interpreting Biblical Texts. Nashville: Abingdon, 2003. Although this contains a lot of material on inter-Testamental and literature, Cook also offers a very helpful approach to reading Apocalyptic, including Daniel. Crenshaw, James L. Old Testament Wisdom. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1998. One of the best, most comprehensive studies of the Wisdom Literature, focusing on its relationship to Israel’s faith and its ancient context. Rad, Gerhard von. Wisdom In Israel. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1972. An older resource, but still very useful.

Resources for non-Eurocentric Interpretation Brown, Michael Joseph. Blackening of the Bible. Harrisburg, PA.: Trinity Press International, 2004. An excellent, comprehensive survey of the major scholars and issues in African American interpretation. Felder, Cain Hope. Troubling Biblical Waters. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1989.

OTS 501 Fall 2007 Page 12 of 16 ------. Stony The Road We Trod. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1991. These two books present an excellent overview of the issues and concerns in African American biblical interpretation. Ukpong, Justin. Reading the Bible in the Global Village. Leiden: E. J. Brill, 2002. A collection of essays from non-Western biblical scholars given at a meeting in Cape Town, South Africa. The essays give a very good picture of issues in biblical interpretation from Asian and African perspectives. Bailey, Randall. Yet With a Steady Beat. Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature, 2003. A volume that continues the work begun in Stony the Road We Trod. Weems, Renita. Just A Sister Away. New York: Warner Books, 2005. An excellent example of Womanist biblical interpretation.

OTS 501 Fall 2007 Page 13 of 16 Geography and History Library Project Resources This is a project that requires you to do some work in the library. Books are available in the Divinity School Library, and also at many college libraries and even some public libraries, that will be of use to you in this assignment. The following resources will be of significant help in completing this assignment. You can find the full bibliographic reference for the books in the bibliography in the syllabus. Textbooks: Old Testament Survey, esp. chapters 12, 13, 14, 15, 48, 49, and 50 HarperCollins Atlas of Bible History HarperCollins Bible Dictionary Other Texts: Anchor Bible Dictionary, esp. articles on "Israel, History of," "King and Kingship," "Mesopotamia, History of," "Egypt, History of" John Bright, History of Israel, 4th Edition Amihai Mazar, Archaeology of the Land of the Bible Oxford Bible Atlas (If you can't find Mazar, look for one of the following: Yohanan Aharoni, The Archaeology of the Land of Israel; W. F. Albright, The Archaeology of Palestine; or Kathleen Kenyon, Archeology in the Holy Land.) Handouts: History of Israel, Parts 1, 2, 3 Joshua Judges Each question should be no more than two pages, typed, double-spaced. Each question will count 20 points.

Geography of ancient Israel and Afro Asia 1. What are the major geographical regions of ancient Israel (see OTS, ch. 48)? What are the characteristics of each of these regions? Who were the primary inhabitants of each region (i.e. Philistines, Israelites, Edomites, etc.)? Using the atlas and textbook, name at least three major cities in each of these regions. 2. What were the major powers in Afro-Asia during the period of Israel’s existence as a nation (that is, from about 1250 BC to about 587 BC)? Where were they located in relationship to Israel? Which major rivers were associated with each of these powers? During what periods were each of these powers active? History of Ancient Israel 3. Why was the land of Israel a battleground among the major powers of Afro-Asia? What strategies did Israel, Judah, and the smaller states in the region employ to deal with the major powers? 4. Why is the settlement of Israel in the Land of Canaan a complicated matter as far as historians are concerned? What theories have been advanced to explain Israel’s settlement in Canaan? 5. What factors led to the establishment of the monarchy under Saul? As the monarchy grew in power after David and Solomon under later kings, how did it affect Israel’s social structure, economy, and faith?

OTS 501 Fall 2007 Page 14 of 16 Grading Rubric Short Paper

Criterion Excellent (5) Good (4) Acceptable (3) Marginal (2) Poor (1) Completeness all parts of all parts of no more than no more than more than one question or question or one part of one part of part of assignment are assignment question or question or question or addressed are addressed assignment is assignment is assignment is all parts are no more than omitted omitted omitted complete one part is no more than no more than two or more content is incomplete one part is two parts are parts are appropriate content is incomplete incomplete incomplete appropriate content is some content is more than 25% mostly inappropriate of material is appropriate inappropriate Accuracy all information no more than no more than no more than more than 25% is correct and 5% of 10% of 25% of of material is accurate material is material is material is incorrect or incorrect or incorrect or incorrect or inaccurate inaccurate inaccurate inaccurate Quality of paper paper engages paper engages paper engages paper rarely Writing consistently sources, sources, some sources engages engages critiquing critiquing at and critiques sources sources, most of the least 50% of some material more than critiquing material cited material cited cited three errors in material cited no more than no more than no more than spelling, no errors in one error in two errors in three errors in grammar, or spelling, spelling, spelling, spelling, word choice grammar, or grammar or grammar, or grammar, or format is word choice word choice word choice word choice inappropriate format and format and format is format is OR length are length are appropriate appropriate and length deviates appropriate appropriate and length length does not by more than does not deviate by 33% deviate by more than 33% more than 25%

Items that will result in having a paper returned as unacceptable:

 indications that material has been paraphrased, quoted, or copied from a source without proper attribution  grammar, word choice, and spelling errors that are so pervasive the paper is difficult to read

OTS 501 Fall 2007 Page 15 of 16