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THEO2011: LITERATURE & THEOLOGY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

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Type Open
Level 2
Credits 20
Availability Available in 2024/2025
Module Cap
Location Durham
Department Theology and Religion

Prerequisites

  • None.

Corequisites

  • None.

Excluded Combinations of Modules

  • None.

Aims

  • To examine a range of important Old Testament texts and genres and their relationship with the historical and cultural background.
  • To examine the theological and religious ideas of OT literature within their original context.
  • To discuss the main historical and literary approaches to OT literature.
  • To build on any knowledge of the subject area acquired at level 1, to equip students with skills and knowledge for further study of this subject area at level 3, and to prepare students for the skills and knowledge needed to undertake a dissertation in the final year.

Content

  • The module will examine issues related to key Old Testament texts.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:

  • A knowledge and critical understanding of the well-established principles of study and main methods of enquiry in Old Testament studies, along with an understanding of the way in which those principles have developed, and an ability to evaluate critically the appropriateness of different approaches.
  • A knowledge and critical understanding of the principle literary genres found in the Old Testament, and of the problems involved in relating the literature to the historical context.

Subject-specific Skills:

  • Skills in the close reading of biblical texts.

Key Skills:

  • Skills in the acquisition of information through reading and research, and in the structured presentation of information in written form.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • Lectures convey information and exemplify an approach to the subject-matter, enabling students to develop a clear understanding of the subject and to improve their skills in listening and in evaluating information.
  • Workshops allow students to develop skills elated to the close reading of biblical texts.
  • Summative essays develop subject-specific knowledge and understanding, along with student skills in the acquisition of information through reading and research, and in the structured presentation of information in written form.
  • Examinations assess subject-specific knowledge and understanding, along with student skills in the structured presentation of information in written form under time constraints.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

ActivityNumberFrequencyDurationTotalMonitored
Lectures201 per week in the first two terms1 hour20Yes
Workshops201 per week in the first two terms1 hour20Yes
Preparation and Reading160 
Total200 

Summative Assessment

Component: ExaminationComponent Weighting: 75%
ElementLength / DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
Unseen Written Examination2 hours100 
Component: EssayComponent Weighting: 25%
ElementLength / DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
Essay3000 words100 

Formative Assessment

One formative essay (2500 words).

More information

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