Guidelines for Group Projects - 07.01.

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Guidelines for Your Group Project

A. Output
As mentioned in class your group will need to come up with (a) a 4-6 page group essay and (b) a
creative presentation in class.
B. Deadlines
Your group will do the presentation on the date tentatively set in the online schedule, following
our course outline. Please note that there may be changes with the schedule from time to time. It
is understood, though, that your group has already planned to be ready on the tentative date for
your presentation. The essay will need to be submitted one day before your performance date.
This will give me ample time to go through your material.
C. Group Activities
1. Read the section in the Bible that covers your chosen topic. It will be very helpful to read the
story again to increase familiarity with the passage. Can you now briefly narrate the story in your
own words?
2. Take note of some words, phrases or ideas, even names of places or persons that you think
important in understanding the story.
3. Refer to a Bible Dictionary, Bible Atlas, or commentary should you need more information
about the items you have noted in #2.
4. How is God characterized in the story? You might want to list down some characteristics of
God as portrayed in the story. Explore why God is presented in such a way.
5. How are human beings challenged to respond to such a character of God? What are some
virtues that can manifest such a response? Can you also identify some human characteristics that
express rebellion to God?
6. In what way can we now appropriate such a response to God in our own context? Try to
identify some concrete examples. Here, you might want to identify some issues (family,
economic, political, social, cultural) where your responses are situated.
7. You may now begin writing your essay. But your group will need to decide which items (in
your output above) to include in your essay.
Please observe the standard format: 8.5 x 11 inch bond paper, computer encoded, double-spaced,
using Times New Roman (12 font size) or equivalent, 1.25 margins. A 4-6 page essay that
follows the standard format will contain around 1000-1500 words.

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Checklist for your essay:

1. Title Page (Course Section, Title of the Essay, Biblical Reference, Group Members, Date
Submitted, Date of Presentation)
2. Introduction (this may include giving reasons why you decided to choose the topic; half a
page max.)
3. Body (summary of the story, discussion of the passagestudy of names, concepts, and
issues, characterization of God in the story; two pages)
4. Reflection/Application (your own appropriation of the text in our own contextconcrete
examples, issues, other concerns; 1.5-3 pages)
5. List of specific resources used
9. Begin preparing for your group presentation. Be sure to include two things: (1) Your
understanding about the text (roughly part 2 and 3 of your essay) and (2) your appropriation of
the text (roughly part 4 of your essay). Plan to make the second part of your presentation as
creative as possible.
10. Just a note. You might want to brainstorm as a group what would be some possible questions
that will be raised in class and how you would respond to them.
God bless and enjoy!!!
Rating Criteria
A. Essay
1. Familiarity with the passage 25%
2. Engagement with the text (issues and problems addressed) 25%
3. Hermeneutical directions/Application
(how the essay moves from the Biblical context to the present context)
4. Organization (how ideas are put together) 25%
B. Presentation/Report
1.
2.
3.
4.

Creativity
Group Effort
Content
Sensitivity to contemporary issues

30%
20%
30%
20%

25%