LIT 3374 (Section 799)

The Bible as Literature (Old Testament)

Dr. Keith White

Catalog Description:

LIT 3374 The Bible As Literature -MW (3) AS ENG

Major emphasis on literary types, literary personalities of the Old and New Testaments, and Biblical archetypes of British and American literary classics. Fall Semester, Old Testament; Spring Semester, New Testament. Focuses on values/ethics, race, ethnicity and gender; thinking and writing skills. May be taken twice for credit with different topics. May be counted once toward the English major.

Course Objectives:

This course will acquaint students with basic literary techniques for analyzing biblical texts. Its purpose is to emphasize historical, psychological, and sociological contexts rather than ecumenical or evangelical views. In this manner the discussion should interest students with any or no religious perspectives.

Course Prerequisites:

None. This course is designed so you do not have to attend any me etings on or off campus. You must have a computer that allows you to open and to read Microsoft Word and Microsoft Power Point. The Microsoft web site offers free downloads of Word and Office that allow you to open and read, but not to create docu me nts.

If you experience a me chanical problem with your computer, you are obligated to find a working computer right away. It would be unfair to your classmates for me to allow you to wait until your computer co me s back from the shop to complete a scheduled exam. This is the trade off with technology. The computers on campus are available for your use. All docu me nts I post can be opened by both Macs and PCs.

Recommended Prerequisite Skills:

Students should have communication and reading skills commensurate with recent Composition II graduates.

Required Texts: (Available at our Campus Bookstore and at Bayboro Books)

The New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocryphal / Deuterocanonical Books 3 rd edition , New Revised Standard Version (Michael D. Coogan, editor)

The Old Testament: An Introduction to the Hebrew Bible , Stephen Harris and Robert L. Platnzner

Blackboard and myUSF:

Blackboard is a free, online program that allows USF instructors and students to interact through the Internet. Blackboard is available at https://my.usf.edu . I use Blackboard to post grades for you to verify with the grade written on your returned assign me nt, and to send every student an e-mail when necessary, such as changes to the schedule or syllabus. Likewise any course docu me nts that you will need and of course the three exams will be available on Blackboard. Check myUSF each day to see whether I or any of your other professors have posted an announce me nt you need to read.

You can access both sites from your home computer or the computers available at the school. You will find instructions at www.acomp.usf.edu/faqs.html to link your ho me e-mail with your USF e-mail account. Your home browser might also allow you to access your USF e-mail account. You must access your USF e-mail account regularly. I can send important bulk e-mail to all students registered in the course but only through USF e-mail accounts. I cannot access your personal account this way, and it would be unreasonable to ask me to do so.

Method of Evaluation:

All students must complete three self-administered examinations. You'll usually have a week to complete and return the exams.

The student's GPA for the course will be the average of these three grades.

Grading Scale:

"Incomplete" Policy: http://www.ugs.usf.edu/catalogs/0506/stpgsrrp.htm

S/U Grade System: http://www.ugs.usf.edu/catalogs/0506/stpgsrrp.htm

Academic Dishonesty:

http://www.ugs.usf.edu/catalogs/0506/stpgsrrp.htm

Student Rights and Responsibilities:

http://www.sa.usf.edu/handbook/rights/StudentRightsResponsibilities.htm

Resources for Students with Physical Disabilities:

http://www.stpt.usf.edu/saffairs/studentserv/index.htm

Personal Counseling and Career Center :

http://www.stpt.usf.edu/saffairs/CCC/index.htm

Academic Tutoring:

http://www.stpt.usf.edu/success/index.htm

Contact Information Spring 2007

Office Hours:

Tuesday 10:00 - 11:00 , Wednesday and Thursday 1:00 - 2:00

(Feel free to stop in any other time my door is open.)

Office: DAV 119

Mail Point: DAV 258

Phone: (727) USF (873) - 4559. E-mail is the most efficient way to communicate with me . If you must call, leave na me , number, course title, and reason you need me to call you. It is best if you give your phone number twice, once at the beginning and again at the end. Please say it slowly so I can write it down. Also, simply saying, "Call me " leaves me nothing to leave on your answering machine. I can return calls during office hours only and have ti me to return your call only once. Please inform your family or co-workers that you are expecting a call that is important to you.

E-mail: kwhite@stpt.usf.edu Please use your USF account so I know your me ssage is not spam. You can always access USF Web Mail or log on to Blackboard and send me an e-mail from within the shell for this course. If you must use your personal account, be sure to indicate you are in LIT 3374 799 The Bible as Literature. The section number, 799, is very important because it tells me you are a distance learning student, and I usually teach a live version of this course too.

www.stpt.usf.edu/computing/Policies/Computer_Network_Access_Agreement.htm

Academic Calendar:

To meet any special or unforeseen needs of this course, this syllabus is subject to change.