Seminar in
Religious Studies
Teacher: Pastor
Robert Skoretz, M.A.
Phone: 909-796-0161
x3409
E-mail: rskoretz@lla.org
Website: http://skoretzseminars.blogspot.com
Turnitin: https://turnitin.com (ID: 13028204)
(PW: Skoretz)
COURSE INTRODUCTION
The purpose
of this class is to provide an environment where you ask the questions . . .
and you answer them. Along the way you
will pick up skills in asking good questions, finding good answers, and sharing
your knowledge clearly with others.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Self Study Projects:
Each quarter you will choose one topic in Religion to study; you will
decide on how to study the subject; you will design a presentation on the
results of your study. These projects
are meant to be highly flexible in nature at a reasonable level of quality.
Skills and techniques for this project will be learned in class.
Discussion Leadership:
Each quarter you, or you and a partner, will choose one topic in
Religion over which to lead the class in a discussion. You will decide what the class needs to read
or view beforehand and you will design and facilitate the discussion. Skills and
techniques for this project will be learned in class.
Homily:
You will choose one text/passage in scripture to study and present in an
inspirational or informational format.
Skills and techniques for this project will be learned in class.
Book Report:
You will choose one classic in Religious Literature and submit a written
and oral report on what you learn from the book.
GRADING
Why give
grades in bible class? No grade can
measure your faith and no grade should ever be seen as a judgment of your
personal worth to God! However, a grade
is very useful in helping you determine what you are learning and how well you
can accomplish basic skills that are related to the religious life. The following grading scale will be
used:
100-92% = A,
91-90% = A-, 89-88% = B+, 87-82% = B, 81-80% = B-,
79-78% = C+,
77-72% = C, 71-70% = C-, 69-68% = D+, 67-62% = D and 61-60% = D-.
Self Study
Projects (2) 40%
Discussion
Leadership (2) 20%
Discussion
Participation 20%
Homily 10%
Book Report 10%
EXPECTED SCHOOL-WIDE LEARNING RESULTS
The goals and
content of this class include and reflect the overall goals of our school. Our desire is that when you graduate from
Loma Linda Academy you will have grown:
Spiritually
¨
Accepting
Jesus Christ personally and growing through His word
¨
Showing
commitment to the Church
ü
Some
of the ways this can happen in this class begin with our worship and prayer
time. You will never be forced to
participate; only invited and encouraged to worship God in a supportive
atmosphere.
ü
This
class will help you pursue topics of interest and wrestle with questions of
doubt in your religious world view.
Learning with integrity is a powerful way to strengthen faith.
Intellectually
¨
Demonstrating
thinking skills, study skills, communication skills, and life skills necessary
to succeed in college and a career
¨
Appreciating
beauty wherever it may be found
ü
This
class challenges you to ask good questions and find good answers or appreciate
the mystery behind good questions you can’t answer! You will also gain experience in presenting
your knowledge and helping others learn.
Educational leadership skills can help you throughout your academic and
work careers.
ü
The
religious life has much to say about appreciating beauty, creating beauty, and
living a beautiful life. Topics of
research and discussion may directly or indirectly touch on this important part
of our lives.
Physically
¨
Living
a healthy, balanced lifestyle
¨
Developing
a program of life-long fitness
ü
The
religious life usually includes the health of the body and mind. We may wish to discuss this directly. One way or the other we will seek to approach
learning and living in a healthy and balanced way as we do our work together in
class.
ü
As
a reflection of a belief in health we will try to break up the class period to
include some action to keep your bodies from freezing up and your brains from
melting.
Socially
¨
Maintaining
healthy, interpersonal relationships
¨
Displaying
responsible citizenship with a desire to serve others
ü
In
a class with up-front presentations and lots of discussion the atmosphere in
class is crucial. We will seek to
demonstrate good friendships and problem solving techniques and tolerant
respectful debate in class with each other.
CLASS PROCEEDURES
ATTENDANCE: If you come after the
bell rings it is your responsibility to come to me and remind me to change your
absence to a tardy.
DISCUSSION: Sharing opinions can
be fun but sharing “informed” opinions is much better. When given material to read or view before a
discussion, you will be expected to prepare and participate in a supportive
way. As you prepare to lead discussion,
you will be expected to utilize the discussion skills learned in class and lead
a good discussion. If we all work
together we can really enjoy deep and productive discussions.
ASSIGNMENTS: This class has
minimal paper work, however, all assignments that are given are due at the
beginning of class. All e-work must be
time/date stamped before class. Late
work is deducted 10% per day.
Discussions and presentations are deducted 20% per unexcused absence or
lack of readiness.
STUDENT FILE: All graded and
recorded work should be kept a personal file that you keep at home or in your
locker. All work should be stored in the
file until the class concludes, except if needed for study. This will help you if there are any
discrepancies in the grade. E-work
should be stored in a designated file in your computer and backed up.
EXPECTATIONS: Respect for others
– their personal belongings and academic work – is expected at all times. Also, each of you is given full respect by
your teacher as you enter the class – he asks for the same respect back as we
work together this year. This classroom
is to be a safe place to worship God and talk about our beliefs – no one should
be put down for sincerely voiced beliefs.
DISCIPLINE: You will find that I
enjoy a fun classroom with time to joke and play around. However, when it is time to get down to
business, I expect all students to follow my lead and cooperate in
learning. If your behavior creates a
problem that a gentle warning in class cannot solve, then I will meet with you
after class to resolve the problem. If
we work together, almost all situations can be easily taken care of this
way. If you choose not to cooperate then
I will call your parents to enlist their help in correcting your behavior. I sincerely hope there is no need for
involving parents. Choose now to help
make this classroom a fun and safe place to learn.
On the other side of the coin, I would love to have genuine reasons to
call home to your parents and tell them how well you are doing in class, how
much fun you are to have in class, how helpful you are in class. Give me that chance and I will make those
calls!
PARTICIPATION: This class rises
or falls based on your intelligent, informed, and positive participation. For this reason, a full 20% of your grade
depends on your “action”. Speak up, be
informed on our topics, and demonstrate tact and good citizenship and this will
be a great class.
CHEATING: Don’t do it! We will talk in class about specific things
that are academically dishonest. Not only is it a moral issue but there will be
real consequences in your grade and standing at this school.
BOOK REPORT: You have all
semester to choose a book to read and report on that is a classic in Religious
Literature. I will provide you with a
limited annotated bibliography but you may also submit to me titles not on the
list. You have all semester, however,
the sooner the better!
WORSHIP: Each day we begin class
with worship. Please enjoy this
opportunity to relax, focus on God, and transition into class.
DIALOGUE: My office is open to
you all for you to come and talk about anything. Also, please feel free to talk to me through
e-mail any time – I check my mail daily.
SCHEDULE: As we choose topics we
will also set up presentation and discussion schedules for each quarter.
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