Assignment Structure:

Attendance & participation (in class and electronically): 10%
Three Primary Source "Reflection Papers": 25%
Two longer papers, ca. 8-10 pages: 45%
Video Documentary Final project: 20%

• The two longer papers will be based upon a primary and a secondary source analysis, respectively.
• The three primary source reflection papers should be short essays that delve into specific aspects or elements of a primary source. Each should be about 2-3 pages in length. You may relate the text or problem to other sources with which you¹re familiar, research the text for additional background, or comment on anything which particularly struck you. I am asking here for your best, thoughtful, academic analyses of problem passages or texts. Each paper requires a thesis or argument, supported by examples drawn from the text. My requirements are that you bring to a primary text a series of critical questions: what are the main points, messages, etc. of the text? Who might have been the audience? What can we read between the lines. i.e., what are the biases/assumptions of the authors? Finally, what do you find fascinating and why? It is important to stress that these papers are not intended to be general analyses of a particular historical period, but an opportunity for you to focus on one particular primary document.
• For the Documentary final project, the entire class will work together to create a video documentary on either Jesus' mother, Mary, or Mary Magdalene (we will decide as a class). Each member of the class will have a specific task in the creation of the project, whether it be script-writing, art direction, or final editing. Everyone in the class together will have a part in conceptualizing, researching and story-boarding the video. We will have technical assistance and training from media services, including the expert help of Steve Dinyer.