Biblical Short Story

Assignment Overview

• Grade Value: 20%
• General Information:
  • For this project you will be selecting a story from the New Testament to retell and analyze at three levels.
• Format: Word or (if you want to get creative) PowerPoint
  • Whichever format you select you must include proper citations and a separate works cited page/slide.
• Sources to Include:
  • Invitation to the New Testament (your textbook)
  • Oxford Annotated Bible, with Apocrypha, 5^th ed.
  • At least one commentary or scholarly article (you may find it helpful to use more, but only one is absolutely necessary)
    • There is a link in the project folder to the Wake Tech Library online resources. When using the site it helps to include the filter “full text only” so that you can read more than the article abstract.
• Citation Style: MLA
  • There is a link in the project folder to an MLA format guide. Assistance with MLA style citations can also be had through the ILC Tutoring center – they do virtual and in-person appointments. There is also a link to their page in the folder.

Assignment Details

In your project you will be doing the following:

• Select a story from the New Testament – you must include the scripture reference
  • You can choose a parable, an event in the life of Jesus, an episode in the Book of Acts, a vision from the Book of Revelation, or, if you’re feeling adventurous, a dramatization of a situation being discussed in an epistle
  • This should be included in the title of your paper/PowerPoint
    • If you select a story which appears in multiple books (such as the feeding of the five thousand), you should include the scriptural reference for each of the incidents and take them into account in your interpretation.
  • Ex: The Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37)
• Retell the story in your own words
  • If you want to include some parts of the original, such as dialogue, you’re welcome to do so, but the majority of this retelling must be in your own words.
  • Be as creative as you like with the retelling – cast the characters, include pictures, tell it in the style of epic poetry, or like an episode of The Office, or fan fiction – this is why doing a PowerPoint is an option
• First level of analysis: the story
  • For this level you will be looking for the key takeaways from the story you have chosen
    • What is the main lesson/idea/point behind the story?
    • How does the historical context affect this takeaway or alter interpretation?
  • Ex: For the parable of the Good Samaritan you would be considering how the parable has responded both to the question of “who is my neighbor?” and the earlier moment of the Law (speaking of Torah) being summed up by loving the Lord with all your heart and loving your neighbor as yourself. You would also be considering how historical relationships between Jews and Samaritans, and expectations of behavior from priests/Levites/Samaritans would influence how the original audience
    • This is where a commentary or article will be particularly helpful
• Second level of analysis: the book
  • For this level you will be looking at how the story you chose fits into the broader setting/goal of the book it is located in.
    • What are the larger themes and goals of the book the story is located in?
    • How does the story you selected tie into or illustrate or maybe even complicate those themes and goals?
  • Ex: For the Good Samaritan you would be seeing how the question of loving your neighbor and who your neighbor is fits into the larger story the Gospel of Luke is telling about Jesus and his life and mission.
    • This is where your textbook will be helpful, as well as the introductions to the books found in your Oxford Annotated Bible. If you chose a commentary, most of them will also tie into the larger themes of the book as well.
• Third level of analysis: the genre
  • For this level you will be looking at how the story you chose fits into the way the genre works. You don’t need to spend a lot of time in this section, but you should approach this section as making a case.
    • How does the genre your story is found in make a difference to interpretation – or does it?
    • How would your story be different if it were found in a different genre? Or would it not be different at all?
  • Ex: For the Good Samaritan you would be looking at how it fits into the broader story of the Gospels and considering how parables function in the Gospels, and whether it would land differently if you found it in Revelation or in one of Paul’s letters instead.
    • Again, you will find your textbook and Bible intro section helpful.
• Conclusion
  • Wrap up your project with a summary of your points/restatement of your argument. Please don’t just stop writing with your third level of analysis and jump straight into your works cited.

Grading

Your grade for this project will be based upon the following:

• Story source and biblical reference
  • Points possible: 5
  • You will get full marks on this point so long as your story came from the canonical New Testament and you included the scripture reference in the title of your project.
    • If you select a story from the Old Testament, Apocrypha, or non-canonical New Testament you will only get half credit for the project
• Works Cited and MLA citations
  • Points possible: 10
  • Whether you format this as a traditional paper or as a creative slide show, you must include a separate Works Cited page/slide set in MLA format, and all of your in-text citations (and yes, that means there must be in-text citations) must also be in MLA format
• Sources
  • Points possible: 5
  • You must include your textbook, your course Bible, and at least one scholarly article or commentary as references in your project. If you need more, you are welcome to use more, but this is the bare minimum.
• Grammar/style
  • Points possible: 10
  • This may not be an English class, but you are still expected to use proper grammar, complete sentences, comprehensibly stated thoughts, etc.
• Retelling of the story
  • Points possible: 10
  • I’m not judging your creativity, but I’m hardcore judging whether you made it your own or just typed it up verbatim.
• First Analysis
  • Points possible: 20
  • I am looking to see that you answered the two questions that I asked for this section. This should take you at least two paragraphs to address.
• Second Analysis
  • Points possible: 20
  • I am looking to see that you answered the two questions that I asked for this section. This should take you at least two paragraphs to address.
• Third Analysis
  • Points possible: 15
  • I am looking to see that you answered the two questions that I asked for this section. You can do this in a single paragraph.
• Conclusion
  • Points possible: 5
  • This does not have to be drawn out and elaborate, but there should be a few sentences at the end of your project where you take a moment to wrap up what you’ve done.