Canisius High School

Religious Studies Department

Sophomore Religion: Hebrew Scriptures & World Religion
Fall 2010 – Spring 2011
Mr. C. Pitek

Course Description:
Students will begin the school year with a comprehensive look at the Old Testament.
The Hebrew Scriptures course studies God’s loving relationship with the Israelites. Students
will continue to learn more about Jesus’ faith formation within the Jewish tradition. The stories
within Hebrew Scriptures give Jews and Christians a sense of shared history and identity.

World Religions is an academic course that helps students begin to understand other
faiths. The students will be encouraged, as they learn new information about how people
worship and what they believe in, to compare and contrast with what they have already
learned about the Catholic Christian faith. This World Religions course teaches students how
to knowledgably and caringly interact in our diverse world.

Required Textbooks
1st Semester:
The Bible. All students must have a copy of the Bible. The Bible will be used throughout their
Religion courses at Canisius High School.

Newland, Mary Reed. Written On Our Hearts: The Old Testament Story of God's Love.Winona: St. Mary’s Press,
1999. ISBN: 0884897761

2nd Semester:

Brodd, Jeffrey, and Michael Wilt. World Religions: A Voyage of Discovery. Winona: St. Mary’s Press, 1998.
ISBN: 0884897257

Wiesel, Elie. Night. New York: Faber & Faber, 2006. ISBN: 0374500010

*** OPTIONAL*** - The Catechism of the Catholic Church – A detailed resource for questions of the Catholic
Church and biblical rules and doctrine.

Course Outline:
Hebrew Scriptures: 1st Semester World Religion: 2nd Semester
(1st Quarter) (3rd Quarter)
Ch. 1 = Introduction Ch. 1 = Introduction
Ch. 2 = Genesis Accounts Ch. 2 = Primal Religions
Ch. 3 = Exodus and Sinai Ch. 3 = Hinduism
Ch. 4 = Law and Covenant Ch. 4&9 = Buddhism & Zen Buddhism
Ch. 5 = Promise Land
(2nd Quarter) (4th Quarter)
Ch. 6 = Kings Ch. 6 = Sikhism
Ch. 7 = Prophets Ch. 12 = Judaism / Holocaust & Night
Ch. 8 = Exile Ch. 14 = Islam
Ch. 9 = After the Exile Ch. 10 & 11 = Wisdom Texts & Psalms
Additional Materials:
1.) One ½ inch three ring binder for handouts and notes.
2.) Loose leaf paper for the entire year!

Grading: POINT SCALE SYSTEM

Quizzes = / 40 pts
Projects = / 200 pts
Homework = / 10 pts
Tests = / 100 pts
Participation (neat notebook) = / 10 pts

• FINAL GRADE: Your final grade will be determined by averaging the midterm and final exams with
each marking period grade.
• MIDTERM & FINAL EXAM: Both exams will be taken the last week of the semester. The exams are
NOT cumulative. The midterm will encompass the first semester material and the final will encompass
the second semester material.
• TESTS: You will have a minimum of two tests per marking period. Semester tests may be cumulative
due to overlapping material!
• PROJECTS: You will be given various projects during both semesters. Information about how much
each project is worth will be given with the project instructions.
• HOMEWORK: Homework is to be completed for the day after it is assigned unless notified otherwise.
2 points will be deducted each day homework is late. Some homework will be due on a consistent
schedule and some will be sporadic.
• QUIZZES: Quizzes may be given with notice or in a “pop quiz” manner. Most quizzes will average 20
points. There are NO dropped quizzes.
• PARTICIPATION: Class participation is graded on an individual’s positive interaction with the topics
being discussed. This includes sharing positive ideas with students, taking notes, turning adequate
homework and participating in class discussions.
• EXTRA CREDIT: Opportunities for extra credit must be requested by the student. It will be granted to
anyone who asks for it. Proper time to ask for extra credit is before school, before class and after
school. You may also email me for extra credit.
• MAKE UP WORK: The student is responsible for making up missed work. All assignments have the
opportunity to be made up but only in a five day grace period. If the student does not make an effort to
make up work, the points will be lost.

Canisius High School’s grading scale:

96-100% Excellent
90-95% Very Good
85-89% Good
80-84% Average
75-79% Below Average
70-74% Near Failing
00-69% Failing
Room Procedures / Rules:

1.) Be Prepared =

2.) Be Respectful =

3.) Be Helpful =

** NO, NO’s:
Cell phones**, profanity (even slang terms), electronic devices, food or drink, erroneous bathroom usage
and being late to class without a pass.

** CELL PHONES – NOT TO BE SEEN…See Student Handbook for punishment details.

Office Hours:
Consultation will be Campus Ministry. Meetings, make up work and other such things must be done before
or after school. They must be arranged by phone, email or contacting me before or after a class. During class is not
acceptable. My email address is pitek@canisiushigh.org .

All above mentioned rules and regulations may be changed at any time with the
discretion of the teacher. All changes will be notified to parents and students.
Please sign and return this last page.

I have read Mr. Pitek’s syllabus and I understand that by

signing this paper I will be held accountable for Mr. Pitek’s
rules, along with the guidelines put forth by Canisius High
School.

Student’s Name: _______________________________

Student’s Signature: _______________________________

Date: __________________________

Parent/Guardian’s Name: _____________________________________

Parent/Guardian’s Signature: _____________________________________

Date: __________________________