COURSE OBJECTIVE:

The student demonstrates understanding of the historical and literary meaning of the English text of selected parables of Jesus.

          New Testament 401 is an exegetical study of selected parables of Jesus, based on the English text.  The student will be expected to master the texts of these parables through intensive study of two or more recent translations such as the New International Version, the Revised Standard Version, the New American Standard Version, the C.B. Williams Translation and the Good News for Modern Man (TEV).
         Additionally, extensive work with the REQUIRED TEXT will be presupposed in advance of and following the class assignment for each class period.  The demonstration of this understanding will be evidenced by two major exams and a notebook.  An additional emphasis beyond exegesis of the text of selected parables will be on the development of a solid exegetical procedure; this is implicit in the Course Objective.

Required Texts:

Peter Rhea Jones, Studying the Parables of Jesus.

Parallel Texts:

Robert H. Stein, Introduction to the Parables of Jesus.
Warren S. Kissinger, The Parables of Jesus: History of Interpretation and Bibliography.
Joachim Jeremias, The Parables of Jesus.

Supplementary Texts:

William Barclay, And Jesus Said.
John D. Crossan, In Parables: The Challenge of the Historical Jesus.
Mary Ann Tolbert, Sowing the Gospel.
Helmut Thielicke, The Waiting Father: Sermons of the Parables of Jesus.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

Attendance:
Students are expected to attend all class periods.  University policy will allow no more than 25% absences from this course. This means a maximum of 8 absences for this class of 30 sessions. Note also: absences due to officially sponsored activities, such as athletic contest will count toward the maximum allowable number of absences but will not be factored into the grade adjustment. Each student is responsible to notify the professor of the reason for each absence to determine whether it is an excused absence. Attendance and tardies counts as 5% of the final semester grade determination.


Exams:

Two major exams shall be given in the duration of the semester, each sectional in nature. See the Class Schedule for exact dates.


Make-up Tests:

No make-up quizzes or exams are possible for unexcused absences! Make-up tests for the exams which are missed will be taken within one week of the regular scheduled test date.  One time for makeups will be scheduled, and a different, more difficult test will be administered.  Permission to take make-ups shall be given ONLY to those with justifiable reason for missing the regular exam (by university policy, only: athletic contests, emergencies, illness or bereavement). Each student needing a make-up test must secure permission from the professor in advance of the scheduled make-up exam by completing the Request for Make-up Test form. The form must be approved by the professor before the make-up can be scheduled; approval will be sent to the student via his/her e-mail address.


Notebook:

On the date indicated on the Class Schedule the student will turn in his/her copy of a notebook with all the completed assignments. In addition, it should contain class notes and outside study notes.  This notebook will constitute one third of the semester grade.

Grading of Workbook:  The criteria for the grading of the workbook includes completeness of assignments, accuracy of completion of assignments according to specified guidelines, correctness of interpretation of text assignments, clear indication of outside study in commentaries and translations.  Only those lessons specified by the professor will be required to be completed, if the class does not complete the material as indicated in the Assignment Sheet.  Neatness is not a consideration; rather completeness!


Semester Grade:

The numerical grade for the semester will be the average of the following sources: Mid-Term Exam; Final Exam; Notebook equalling 95% of the semester grade.  Class attendance and participation then counts as the remaining 5%. Note an exception to this: when the student has enrolled in the course for three hours of credit, rather than two, then an additional research assignment counts the same as the exams and notebook.

The adjusted average of the above numerical grade will then be converted into a letter grade according to the following curve: A = 90-100; B= 80-89; C = 70-79; D = 60-69; F = below 60. The numerical grades are not rounded off.

Note the following illustration of the above:

Grade Sources: DSNT401P (2 hour structure) Example: Mid-Term Exam 31.6% 80.65 Final Exam 31.6% 85.89 Notebook 31.7% 94 Participation 5.1% 75 Semester Avg: 100% 85.92 Semester Grade: . B

Grade Sources: DSNT401P (3 hour structure) Example: Mid-Term Exam 23.75% 80.65 Final Exam 23.75% 85.89 Notebook 23.75% 94 Research Paper 23.75% 81.5 Participation 5.0% 75 Semester Avg: 100% 89.01 Semester Grade: . B

After each major exam, at mid-term, and before the final exam, each student will receive an individualized Grade Report listing his/her grades and the semester average to that point in the course, as well as the class averages. Information about the semester grade or final exam will be available from the professor’s office soon after the final exam in the form of Grade Report Five.

Special Needs. If you require accommodations for a special need, please contact the professor. Your request will then be processed through the NOEL Program for the Disabled.

Career Opportunities. The Career Services Office has marvelous services available to GWU students and alumni for job placement assistance. You need to get your resume posted with them and take advantage of the services Holly Sweat and her assistants provide. Contact the office at 704 406-4562, their web site at http://www.careers.gardner-webb.edu, or go by their office at Suite 204 in the Dover Campus Center.

Class Cancelation Notices. When classes are canceled due to bad weather, you can find this information posted on GWU's web site or call 1- 877-GWU-SNOW. Additionally, area radio -- especially the university's radio station WGWG at 88.3 FM -- and TV stations will be notified of the closing. Very rarely will classes on the Boiling Springs campus be closed for bad weather.

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