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02OT602 Reading Hebrew Poetry

Mark D. Futato, Ph.D.

Summer 2018

HYBRID COURSE SYLLABUS

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PROFESSOR’S CONTACT INFORMATION

NAME: Mark D. Futato, Ph.D.

EMAIL: mfutato@rts.edu

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COURSE DATES

COURSE DATES: June 4 – July 26

ONLINE DATES: June 4 – July 13

IN CLASS DATES: July 16 – July 20

COURSE COMPLETION DATE: July 26

SUMMARY OF DUE DATES:

A summary of due dates can be found at Syllabus on the left-

hand navigation bar in Canvas.

COURSE OVERVIEW

DESCRIPTION:

This course introduces students to the theory of Hebrew poetry, by

reading selected writings on the subject, and gives them experience in

reading and interpreting poetry, by reading and analyzing texts

selected portions from the book of Psalms. During the online portion

of the course, students will read selected writings on Hebrew poetry

and analyze selected texts in the book of Psalms. These texts will

then be read carefully in class.

PURPOSE:

To increase the students’ love for and ability to interpret Hebrew

poetry.

GOALS:

Comprehension

To increase your knowledge of poetic theory.

Competence

To sharpen your skills in reading and analyzing Hebrew poetry.

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Character

To grow in your honesty in your relation with God, others, and

self.

To grow in your wisdom as you live before God, others, and self.

To grow in your love for God, others, and self.

——

COURSE OVERVIEW

DESCRIPTION:

This course introduces students to the theory of Hebrew poetry, by

reading selected writings on the subject, and gives them experience in

reading and interpreting poetry, by reading and analyzing texts

selected portions from the book of Psalms. During the online portion

of the course, students will read selected writings on Hebrew poetry

and analyze selected texts in the book of Psalms. These texts will

then be read carefully in class.

PURPOSE:

To increase the students’ love for and ability to interpret Hebrew

poetry.

GOALS:

Comprehension

To increase your knowledge of poetic theory.

Competence

To sharpen your skills in reading and analyzing Hebrew poetry.

Character

To grow in your honesty in your relation with God, others, and

self.

To grow in your wisdom as you live before God, others, and self.

To grow in your love for God, others, and self.

SUPPORT:

Canvas offers several ways of interacting with Dr. Futato. One is

Ask the Professor. Ask the Professor is the place for posting

general questions. Two is Grammar. Grammar is the place for

posting specific questions about the Hebrew text. Both of these

have the benefit of allowing classmates to profit from the

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dialog. Three is Inbox. Inbox functions like email and can be

used if you have a personal question, for example, a question

about a grade.

Canvas also allows for interaction with classmates. You can

interact with classmates via the Student to Student forum or

Inbox.

See FAQ on the Home Page or at Modules > Course Resources for

instructions on various Canvas features.

——

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

READING IN TEXTBOOKS:

Alter, Robert. The Art of Biblical Poetry. 2nd ed. New York, NY:

Basic Books, 2011. You will read the whole of this book.

Fitzgerald, Aloysius. “Hebrew Poetry.” Pages 201–8 in The New Jerome

Biblical Commentary. Englewood Cliffs, N.J: Prentice Hall,

1990.

Futato, Mark D. Interpreting the Psalms: An Exegetical Handbook.

Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel, 2007. You will read only chapter 1 in

this book.

Lucas, Ernest C. “Poetics, Terminology of.” Pages 520–25 in

Dictionary of the Old Testament Wisdom, Poetry & Writings.

Downer’s Grove, IL: IVP, 2008.

READING IN THE HEBREW BIBLE:

Psalm 148

Psalm 104

Psalm 8

QUIZZES:

There are six online quizzes, one quiz for each of the six weeks of

the online portion of the course. These are Reading Report Quizzes,

which will give you 1 point for each 10% of the weekly assignment done

according to the guidelines (See Canvas > Modules > Course Resources >

Guidelines.)

Quiz #1: Assigned reading in Fitzgerald, Futato, Lucas.

Quiz #2: Assigned reading in Psalm 148.

Quiz #3: Assigned reading in Psalm 104:1-12.

Quiz #4: Assigned reading in Psalm 104:13-24.

Quiz #5: Assigned reading in Psalm 104:25-35.

Quiz #6: Assigned reading in Psalm 8.

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Assessment information:

Each quiz is worth 10 points, totaling 33% of your grade.

Quiz 01 is due on June 7 at 4p.

Quiz 02 is due on June 14 at 4p.

Quiz 03 is due on June 21 at 4p.

Quiz 04 is due on June 28 at 4p.

Quiz 05 is due on July 5 at 4p.

Quiz 06 is due on July 12 at 4p.

TOPICAL DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

There are five Topical Discussion Questions, which correspond to the

weekly reading assignments in Alter. Go to Canvas > Modules > Course

Resources > Guidelines for the prompts that correspond to each Topical

Discussion question.

Assessment information:

Each Topical Discussion Questions is worth 5 points, totaling 14% of

your grade.

Topical Discussion Question 01 is due on June 14 at 4p.

Topical Discussion Question 02 is due on June 21 at 4p.

Topical Discussion Question 03 is due on June 28 at 4p.

Topical Discussion Question 04 is due on July 5 at 4p.

Topical Discussion Question 05 is due on July 12 at 4p.

PAPER:

You will write a paper on the Hebrew text of Psalm 117. Your paper

will demonstrate a synthesis of everything learned in the online and

in class portions of the course. Go to Canvas > Modules > Course

Resources > Guidelines for guidelines on how to write this paper.

File protocols:

Upload the paper to Canvas as a PDF at Modules > Course

Completion > Paper.

Use the following naming protocol for your file:

LastName_FirstName_Psalm_117, e.g., Futato_Mark_Psalm_117.

Assessment information:

The Paper is worth 100 points, totaling 54% of your grade.

The paper is due on July 26 at 4p.

Step 2 is due on March 14 at 4p.

Step 3 is due on March 26 at 4p.

Step 4 is due on March 28 at 4p.

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GRADING POLICY:

Late work will be penalized 1 letter grade per day, unless prior

permission for late submission is granted. The published RTS grading

scale is used in this course.

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COURSE SCHEDULE

ONLINE SCHEDULE:

Week of June 4-8

To be read: Fitzgerald, Futato, Chapter 1, and Lucas

Quiz 01

Week of June 11-15

To be read: Psalm 148

Quiz 02

Topical Discussion Question 01

Week of June 18-22

To be read: Psalm 104:1-12

Quiz 03

Topical Discussion Question 02

Week of June 25-29

To be read: Psalm 104:13-24

Quiz 04

Topical Discussion Question 03

Week of July 2-6

To be read: Psalm 104:25-35

Quiz 05

Topical Discussion Question 04

Week of July 9-13

To be read: Psalm 8

Quiz 06

Topical Discussion Question 05

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IN CLASS SCHEDULE:

July 16

Psalm 148

July 17

Psalm 104:1-12

July 18

Psalm 104:13-24

July 19

Psalm 104:25-35

July 20

Psalm 8

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FURTHER READING

Alonso Schokel, Luis. A Manual of Hebrew Poetics. Subsidia Biblica

11. Rome: Pontifical Biblical Istitute, 1988.

Berlin, Adele. The Dynamics of Biblical Parallelism. 2nd ed. Grand

Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2009.

Fokkelman, J. P. Reading Biblical Poetry: An Introductory Guide.

Louisville, Ky: Westminster John Knox Press, 2001.

Kugel, James. The Idea of Biblical Poetry: Parallelism and Its

History. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1981.

Longman, Tremper. How to Read the Psalms. Downers Grove, IL:

InterVarsity Press, 1988.

Schökel, Luis Alonso. A Manual of Hebrew Poetics. Roma: Biblical

Institute Press, 1987.

Watson, Wilfred G. E. Classical Hebrew Poetry: A Guide to Its

Techniques. Reprint. London ; New York: T&T Clark, 2004.

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