BASIC MODEL:
“I Just Want to Know What It Says”
Individual & partner work: two persons/team
last update: 15 April 2008

Learning Objectives:

  1. Show how to do a synoptic analysis of a NT passage.
  2. Explain what this analysis tells us about the historical record of Jesus' words/deeds.
  3. Create a Storyboard for a "Life of Jesus" game illustrating what other alternatives scenarios Jesus might have experienced or what other life choices he might have made, given his historico-cultural context.

Assignments

  1. "Bible Bio" Essay
  2. "Images of Jesus" essay
  3. Learning Contract
  4. Blackboard Pretests
  5. "Mark on War" or "Apocalypse" or "Slavery" or "Women Apostles" CHP (may be done with partner)
  6. "JC Movie Star" Film Critique or Infancy Narrative Review (may be done with partner)
  7. Gospel Synopsis (done with partner)
  8. Vocation Essay
  9. Storyboard (done with partner)

Synopsis/Storyboard Project:

  1. Stage 1 (Weeks 1–2): Organizing Your Project
    a. Identify a partner for the two major assignments.
    b. Identify the text that will be the basis of your synoptic analysis.
    c. Complete the preliminary CAT.
    d. Write a progress report for the Instructor listing the team members and the topic/text you have chosen.
    e. Submit the CAT and the progress report to the Instructor.
  2. Stage 2 (Weeks 3–4): Synoptic Analysis & Preliminary Exegetical Research
    1. Do the color-coded synoptic analysis of your text and discuss with your partner (cc: Instructor).
    2. Complete the synoptic analysis worksheet and begin drafting your essay.
    3. Write a progress report for the Instructor summarizing what you have accomplished thus far.
    4. Evaluate your team work thus far using the provided CAT.
    5. Submit the CAT and the progress report to the Instructor.
  3. Stage 3 (Weeks 5–6): Synoptic Research
    1. As a team, go to Grasselli Library and work with one of the reference librarians (e.g., Melody McMahon) to find necessary resources to complete your synoptic analysis.
    2. Draft your analytical essay and both partners make editorial corrections/changes.
    3. Take the draft to the JCU Writing Center for help with developing your argument and with editing the text (including checking that you have the correct CMS format for extra-Biblical citations & bibliography).
    4. Make necessary and appropriate revisions to your essay.
    5. Write a progress report for the Instructor summarizing what you have accomplished in Stage 3 and outlining your proposed strategy for Stage 4
    6. Submit the progress report and corrected draft of your essay to Instructor with evidence of each person’s changes.
    7. As a team, meet with the Instructor to discuss your progress report and tentative strategy for Stage 4
  4. Stage 4 (Weeks 7–8): Planning the Storyboard
    1. Begin planning your Storyboard by discussing the following:
      1. Which of the differences raised by your synoptic analysis are the most interesting (on theological and historical grounds)?
      2. How do these differences change one’s perspective of Jesus as a person, and of his teaching and ministry?
      3. How can these divergent views be illustrated and illuminated by the pictorial representation in your Storyboard?
    2. Outline your proposed Storyboard and agree who will craft each segment of it.
    3. Evaluate your team work thus far using the provided CAT. Is one team member doing more/less work than the other? If so, re-distribute the load.
    4. Draft a progress report for the Instructor summarizing what you have accomplished in Stage 4 and outlining your proposed strategy for Stage 5.
    5. As a team, meet with the Instructor to discuss your progress report and tentative strategy for Stage 5, and to evaluate your team work thus far.
  5. Stage 5 (Weeks 9–11): Refining the Synoptic Analysis
    1. Continue working on the Storyboard.
    2. Review Instructor’s comments on the draft of your synoptic analysis and investigate whatever lines of argument need development or whatever further evidence needs to be found.
    3. Make necessary expansions/revisions and submit second draft of your synoptic essay to the Instructor.
    4. Draft a progress report for the Instructor summarizing what you have accomplished in Stage 5 and outlining your proposed strategy for Stage 6.
    5. As a team, meet with the Instructor to discuss your progress report and tentative strategy for Stage 6.
  6. Stage 6 (Weeks 12–13): Completing the Storyboard
    1. Using a poster, PPT, or web site, complete the Storyboard you will present to the class.
    2. Draft your Storyboard “commentary” with the theological analysis of the various scenarios you present. Make sure the commentary presents the significant results of your synoptic analysis and highlights the key concepts you learned about NT interpretation by doing this project.
    3. If you have any further revisions to your synopsis essay, make those changes and submit the final draft to the Instructor. If you wish to make no further emendations, notify the Instructor that you will “stand pat” with the grade you earned on the second draft.
    4. Evaluate your team work again. Is one team member doing more/less work than the other? If so, re-distribute the load.
    5. Write a progress report for the Instructor summarizing what you have accomplished in Stage 6 and outlining your proposed strategy for Stage 7.
    6. As a team, meet with the Instructor to discuss your progress report and tentative strategy for Stage 7
  7. Stage 7 (Weeks 14–15): Storyboard Presentation
    1. Plan advance reading or other homework for the class to prepare for your team’s Storyboard presentation.
    2. Finalize your Storyboard and the commentary.
    3. Rehearse your presentation with your partner, especially the theological analysis portion.
    4. Present your Storyboard and commentary to the class.
    5. Create a portfolio of all the components of this project and write a team portfolio assessment highlighting key concepts you learned about NT interpretation by doing this project.
    6. Complete the final evaluation of your team work using the provided CAT.
    7. Delegate proportional grades to each of the team members.
    8. As a team, write a final review of the project summarizing what you have accomplished in Stage 7, evaluating the success of your research and class presentation.
    9. As a team, meet with the Instructor to discuss your final report, evaluate your team work, and review what you have learned over the course of this project.