2022/23 Undergraduate Module Catalogue
THEO1144 Introduction to Jewish and Christian Texts
20 creditsClass Size: 80
Module manager: Johanna Stiebert
Email: j.stiebert@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2022/23
Pre-requisite qualifications
NoneModule replaces
THEO1350 Introduction to the Bible THEO1030 Introduction to the Study of Judaism THEO1760 Studying ChristianityThis module is approved as a discovery module
Module summary
This module will give you an overview of the biblical writings - and some of the texts that didn’t quite make it into the Bible. You’ll learn about the content, form and genre of biblical writings and the connections between them; and you’ll learn about different approaches to studying the Bible, both in the academy and beyond it.Objectives
To provide students with an overview of the biblical writings and key relevant extrabiblical texts - their form, genre, subject matter, relationships to each other. To introduce key concepts for the study of the Bible, key approaches to biblical criticism, and key issues around the Bible's use and authority (within Judaism and Christianity, and more widely). To equip students to make critical use of various forms of biblical commentary.Learning outcomes
By the end of the module the students will be able to:
1. Understand and use key terminology for the study of the Bible and related texts
2. Give an overview of the Bible’s main contents, and of the range of genre and subject matter in the biblical writings
3. Recognise and use a range of critical approaches to the Bible and related texts, including analysing texts as historical and literary documents
4. Give an account of some of the controversies (historical or contemporary) around the use, authority and study of the Bible
5. Apply their knowledge and understanding to the in-depth study of a biblical theme, text, group of related texts, or figure
Syllabus
The following are examples of topics typically included in this module:
Hebrew Bible
Torah, Nevi'm and Ketuvim
Dead Sea Scrolls
Mishnah, Midrash and Talmud
Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha
New Testament
Context; “New Testament” and “Old Testament”
Gospels, Paul’s epistles
Other New Testament documents, apocryphal texts
Connecting Hebrew Bible and New Testament
Apocalypse
Teaching methods
Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
Lecture | 12 | 1.00 | 12.00 |
Seminar | 10 | 1.00 | 10.00 |
Private study hours | 178.00 | ||
Total Contact hours | 22.00 | ||
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200.00 |
Private study
Approx 50 hours seminar prep/lecture follow up (i.e. 5 hours per week);approx. 128 hours assessment prep (80 for the poster, 48 for the presentation).
Opportunities for Formative Feedback
There will be an opportunity to submit a plan for the “Hebrew Bible & extra-biblical literature” parts of the poster for feedback in week 6 or 7 – about 400 words.Formative feedback on students’ understanding of specific topics will also be given informally in the seminars.
Methods of assessment
Coursework
Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
Presentation | Submitted as a recording; maximum length 10 minutes | 40.00 |
Poster | Approx. 800 words plus images, diagrams, etc. | 60.00 |
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100.00 |
The main assessment is a poster on a specified biblical theme, including references to HB, NT and extra-biblical texts; briefly introducing at least 1 controversy or debate, and discussion of at least 1 specific text. Examples of themes would be: temple; prophecy; marriage; blood; Sabbath. Target audience for the poster is “students about to begin their degrees”. The presentation will go into more depth on one aspect of the material covered in the poster (for example: ‘attitudes to the temple in the New Testament’; ‘Amos as archetypal prophet’) – examples of possible foci will be supplied but students will be encouraged to identify their own. Presentations will be primarily assessed for content (materials and factual information) rather than delivery (clarity of expression, fluency) – we will aim to minimise incentives for students to spend time editing or re-recording. The approximate break-down will be 80% for content and 20% for delivery. Full information and suggestions for topics and research sources to be provided in the module handbook.
Reading list
The reading list is available from the Library websiteLast updated: 29/04/2022 15:26:28
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