Module THEO3291: ISSUES IN OLD TESTAMENT STUDY

Department: Theology and Religion

THEO3291: ISSUES IN OLD TESTAMENT STUDY

Prerequisites

• None.

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• To introduce students to the development and state of current scholarly discussions concerning the history of ancient Israel and Judah, the creation and formation of biblical texts, and ancient Israelite and Judean religion.
• To evaluate critically these scholarly discussions, and to estimate their wider significance for Old Testament study.
• (For students taking the Hebrew option:) To develop skills in the reading of advanced Hebrew texts.
• (For students taking the English option): To develop skills in the critical reading of biblical texts.

Content

• Specific issues, chosen each year for their topicality, will be discussed. The issues will usually be in the areas of archaeology and epigraphy, history and historicity, ritual and worship, the composition of biblical literature, and literature and literacy. Within each topic, students will be introduced to the particular questions currently under discussion, and guided through the evidence and arguments which have been presented. Students will be encouraged to understand the different intellectual and religious influences which continue to shape the discipline.
• For students with a knowledge of Hebrew, additional, optional classes will be available, during which a challenging and controversial text, chosen after discussion with the students, will be studied in the original.

Learning Outcomes

• A systematic understanding of key aspects, and a coherent and detailed knowledge of issues currently under discussion in the field, with a specific focus upon the most recent research and methodologies.

• An ability to assess critically the new evidence and approaches presented, and to confront and engage with current scholarly debate.
• (For students taking the Hebrew option:) An ability to read and understand the issues surrounding a difficult set text.

• Skills in the acquisition of information through reading and research, and in the structured presentation of information in written form.
• (For students taking the Hebrew option:) Generic linguistic skills.
• (For students taking the English option:) Development of area-specific critical reading skills.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Lectures convey information and exemplify an approach to the subject-matter, enabling students to develop a clear understanding of the subject and to improve their skills in listening and in evaluating information.
• Seminars enhance subject-specific knowledge and understanding both through preparation and through interaction with students and staff, promoting awareness of different viewpoints and approaches.
• Formative essays develop subject-specific knowledge and understanding, along with student skills in the acquisition of information through reading and research, and in the structured presentation of information in written form.
• Examinations assess subject-specific knowledge and understanding, along with student skills in the structured presentation of information in written form under time constraints. The examination in this module will contain an optional question assessing work undertaken for the Hebrew option.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

One essay of 3000 words.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University