Program: traditional
Time: Wednesday - 3:30 PM - 6:00 PM
Location: AB203
Instructor: Dr. R. M. Keelan Downton - kdownton[at]somerset.edu - 732-356-1595 x1103
Office Hours: Tues: 2:30-4:00pm - Wed: 12:00-3:00pm
Syllabus URL: http://www.editgrid.com/user/keelan.downton/TH340.html
Course Site: http://www.sccstudent.com
Description: An exploration of narrative as a means of expressing the gospel in personal and social ways with particular emphasis on strategies of evangelism, activism, and conflict transformation. Addresses the various capacities of such narratives to bring about transformation as well as the interaction between them.
Vision: Somerset Christian College educates, inspires and equips students for excellent scholarship, service and leadership. Rooted in and committed to Christian faith and love, SCC fosters intellectual, spiritual and social development among its diverse student population at various instructional sites.
Prerequisites: TH-101, TH-201 , EN 101: English Composition, EN 102: (or permission from the instructor).
Each student will be able to:
In 250-300 words, summarize the main points of your assigned chapter then pose three unique discussion questions. At the beginning of class, lead a 15-30 minute discussion based on your summary. Bring hard-copies of your summary and questions for everyone in the class with the following heading at the top of the page: Summary of [TitleItalicized] - pages [#]-[#] by [Name] ([Year-Month-Day]). For example, Summary of Preaching as Testimony pages 59-80 by R. M. Keelan Downton (2008-02-07). This assignment will be peer-graded according to the following criteria: (1) correct heading and preparation of handout (2) accurate presentation of the material, (3) helpfulness in clarifying/understanding the reading, (4) quality of questions asked, (5) effectiveness in leading a fruitful discussion. (see "resources" for the form we will use) [ADDRESSES OUTCOMES: 1,2,3,6]
You will be assigned a day to open the class by sharing your personal testimony in 15 minutes or less. It should include (1) experiences of God that stand out as most significant (this may or may not include a dramatic conversion), (2) the role your community played in encouraging and/or making sense of those experiences, and (3) an articulation of the convictions you most want listeners to be convinced about (i.e. the 'take-home' message). Turn in an outline of your presentation. This will be graded on a pass/fail basis (i.e. full credit or no credit) [ADDRESSES OUTCOMES: 1,3,4,5]
2000 word paper on a topic related to the intersection of testimony, witness, and reconciliation. Must use at least three sources in addition to the Bible and required texts. Two sources must come from the course bibliography or authors mentioned in textbook footnotes. The remaining source(s) must be published in a scholarly book or journal. Citations must be in Chicago or MLA style. [ADDRESSES OUTCOMES: 1,2,5,6]
In 250-300 words, summarize the main points of your assigned chapter then pose three unique discussion questions. At the beginning of class, lead a 15-30 minute discussion based on your summary. Bring hard-copies of your summary and questions for everyone in the class with the following heading at the top of the page: Summary of [TitleItalicized] - pages [#]-[#] by [Name] ([Year-Month-Day]). For example, Summary of Preaching as Testimony pages 59-80 by R. M. Keelan Downton (2008-02-07). This assignment will be peer-graded according to the following criteria: (1) correct heading and preparation of handout (2) accurate presentation of the material, (3) helpfulness in clarifying/understanding the reading, (4) quality of questions asked, (5) effectiveness in leading a fruitful discussion. (see "resources" for the form we will use) [ADDRESSES OUTCOMES: 1,2,3,6]
On the last day of class you will present and turn in the final version of your paper. Grading will be entirely based on the content of your paper (not the presentation) but come prepared to articulate your main points and discuss them with classmates. [ADDRESSES OUTCOMES: 1,2,5,6]
| Date | Topic | Reading | Assignment Due | I earned | out of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan-14 | set date for summary #1 | 200 | |||
| set date for personal testimony | 100 | ||||
| set date for summary #2 | 200 | ||||
| Jan-21 | In Search of Testimony | Preaching as Testimony, pp. xiii-4 | |||
| Reconciliation as Spirituality | Ministry of Reconciliation, pp. 3-22 | ||||
| Jan-28 | Bibliographies of Testimony | Preaching as Testimony, pp. 5-58 | |||
| Feb-4 | Testimony Theory I | Preaching as Testimony, pp. 59-80 | |||
| What the Women Saw (Mark 16:1-8, John 20:1-18) | Ministry of Reconciliation, pp. 23-39 | ||||
| Feb-11 | Testimony Theory II | Preaching as Testimony, pp. 81-108 | |||
| The Road to Emmaeus (Luke 24:13-35) | Ministry of Reconciliation, pp. 40-51 | ||||
| Feb-18 | Evangelism as a "Practice" | Evangelism After Christendom, pp. 9-54 | |||
| Feb-25 | Draft Paper | 250 | |||
| Mar-4 | The Story of the People of God I | Evangelism After Christendom, pp. 55-74 | |||
| Peace, Forgiveness, and Food (Luke 24:36-49, John 20:19-23) | Ministry of Reconciliation, pp. 52-69 | ||||
| Mar-18 | The Story of the People of God II | Evangelism After Christendom, pp. 75-110 | |||
| Healing Wounds (John 20:24-29) | Ministry of Reconciliation, pp. 70-82 | ||||
| Mar-25 | Competing Stories (Constantine and Modernity) | Evangelism After Christendom, pp. 111-170 | |||
| Apr-1 | The Evangelizing Community I | Evangelism After Christendom, pp. 171-222 | |||
| Apr-8 | The Evangelizing Community II | Evangelism After Christendom, pp. 223-276 | |||
| Apr-15 | Evangelism as Virtuous Practice | Evangelism After Christendom, pp. 277-312 | |||
| Breakfast on the Seashore (John 21:1-17) | Ministry of Reconciliation, pp. 83-96 | ||||
| Apr-22 | Conclusions | Evangelism After Christendom, pp. 313-318 | |||
| A Resurrection People (Acts 1:6-11) | Ministry of Reconciliation, pp. 97-104 | ||||
| Apr-29 | Revised Paper | 250 | |||
| TOTAL | 1000 |
The Instructional Resource Center (http://www.somerset.edu/students/academics/irc2.htm) at Somerset Christian College offers tutorial support services designed to help all students achieve their full academic potential and goals. The IRC, as a venue of both remediation and enhancement to the coursework requirements, offers materials and tutorials in study skills such as time management, organization, and learning or test strategies; in MLA format and style; in writing assistance such as outlining, drafting, researching, and editing; and in computer skills and information access. Conveniently located in the AK White library on campus, the IRC works to provide students with materials and skill sets necessary to carry out information access, evaluation, and application effectively. It also offers assistance in resume building and in reference letter requests. As a supplement to the regular classroom experience, the IRC promotes quality and excellence of all student endeavors to the glory of God. For current hours of operation, you may email the director, Dr. Beverly Busch at (bbusch@somerset.edu) or call 732-356-1595, ext. 1126; you may also call the library direct at 732-356-1595, ext. 1120; or check the SCC web page as these hours are subject to change throughout the academic year.
In an effort to ensure that students experience the greatest return from their studies at SCC and to maintain a sense of community between and among students and faculty, the following policy about student attendance has been established: SCC recognizes that extenuating circumstances will necessitate students missing class on occasion. Therefore, students are allowed to miss one block session (unexcused) per three credit-hour course without question and without academic penalty. A block session constitutes one class meeting (2 ½ or 3 ½ hour session) per week. Students missing 2-4 classes will have their letter grade lowered one full letter for every block class missed (e.g. students missing 2 block classes would have his/her grade lowered from A to B; 3 absences would reduce the letter grade from A to C, etc.). Students who accrue more than 4 absences will be assigned a grade of F for that course. In all cases, students have the right to appeal. Appeals must be made in writing to the instructor and the Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of the College. In all cases, including unexcused absences, students must make up all assignments and tests missed during any absence through arrangement with their instructor(s) in order to receive academic credit.
Students coming in to class late, can be a big disruption to your professor and fellow students. If you are more than 10 minutes late to class, don't be surprised to find the door locked. If you do, don't knock or otherwise attempt to get in. Instead, catch your breath and relax - you can come to back to class during the break.
Plagiarism is the dishonest attribution of research and thought to oneself that really belongs to someone else. It strikes at the heart of the network of trust and truthfulness that constitutes the basic morality of the academic enterprise. Committing plagiarism is a breach of academic contract with the instructor and the college, and makes the student liable to failure of a given project, failure of the course, and possible expulsion. Faculty will record instances of sanctions related to plagiarism, and these reports will be included in students’ academic file. Students can appeal through the student grievance policy found in the Academic Catalog. The following principles can help ensure that students avoid committing plagiarism:(1) Plagiarism takes place when one reproduces any five sequential words from a text, or takes ideas from a source without proper citation.(2) Exact quotations should either be put in quotation marks or indented and an in-text citation should be used to indicate the source.(3) Put an in-text citation at the end of any idea or fact which you found in a book or article, whether or not you change the words. (4) When in doubt, document the source. Documenting sources helps your reader find more information as well as helping you avoid plagiarism.(5) Your instructor is your best resource if you have any questions regarding whether or not your information is documented accurately.
Assignments turned in late will automatically lose points (usually between 10%-33% per week late). Please plan ahead to avoid damaging your grade in this way.
Exams may NOT be made up unless the student contacts the professor before the exam is given. There will not be a penalty for students who are forced to miss exams with an adequate excuse (death in the family, medical emergency) IF the student contacts the professor as stated. If the student does not contact the professor, the exam grade given will be a zero.
Cell phones, pagers, and other electronic devices are to be turned off while class is in session, unless their use is specifically needed for academic purposes and approved by the instructor. Leaving the classroom to take phone calls may be regarded as an unexcused absence.
As a general rule, students who are not enrolled (and paid tuition!) are not permitted in class. If a friend or family member would like to visit class with you, send a request to the professor by email at least 24 hours in advance and be sure to arrive early so that you can introduce them to the professor. This will make your guest feel welcome and make it easier for your professor to adapt presentation and discussion style to include an unfamiliar presence.
All courses offered at SCC are supplemented with an online educational element at the Somerset Christian College Online Learning Site. This is accessible at www.sccstudent.com. Your professor will use this to make articles and media files available to you.
E-mail is an official means for communication within SCC. Therefore, SCC has the right to send communications to students via e-mail and the right to expect that those communications will be received and read in a timely fashion. Students are expected to check their official e-mail address on a frequent and consistent basis in order to stay current with SCC communications, in recognition that certain communications may be time-critical. The full SCC email policy can be found in the SCC Academic Catalog.
In case of inclement weather or other emergency conditions, students, staff and faculty should consult the Somerset Christian College website, voice mail, and/or STAR 99.1 for up to date information. Faculty may also organize a phone chain to communicate with students. Call 732-356-1595 or 1-800-234-9305 and press 9, the college information line, for up to date information on class cancellation.
All written assignments should conform to the guidelines in the Chicago Manual of Style or the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers and be printed on clean white paper held together by a staple with a header or cover page that includes your name, the course number, the name of the assignment, and the date that the assignment is due.
The grading scale is listed below with the respective grade point values. The unit of credit is defined as one 50 minute session per week for one semester of 15 weeks or the equivalent. Academic standing is defined as the ratio of total grade point values to the total semester hour credits. The 4.0 point system is used to compute the grade point standing. The grading system is as follows: A (95-100), A- (90-94), B+ (87-89), B (83-86), B- (80-82), C+ (77-79), C (73-76), C- (70-72), D+ (67-69), D (63-66), D- (60-62), F (0-59). These are calculated into your GPA using the following values: A (4.0) A- (3.7) B+ (3.3) B (3.0) B- (2.7) C+ (2.3) C (2.0) C- (1.7) D+ (1.3) D (1.0) D- (0.7) F (0.0). The following grades are not counted in the calculation of the GPA (grade point average): W Withdrawn WP Withdrawn Passing WF Withdrawn Failing NC No Credit To remain in good academic standing, a student must maintain a 2.0 cumulative grade point average. Transfer credit hours are not counted in calculating academic standing. To graduate a student must complete at least 60 hours of academic credit for the two-year Associates degree with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 on all credits attempted at Somerset Christian College.
This course syllabus is subject to change at the discretion of the instructor. If you are not present in class when changes are discussed, it is your responsibility to obtain the necessary information.