Instead of doing the Unit 3 online exam, you may choose to do the following paper. It will appeal to some of you more than others, which
is why it is good to have options, so here are possible guidelines for choosing.
• Students who are naturally good in literature and the humanities (and maybe not as good at science or memorizing) might find it a
good fit. Those students seem to instantly understand the instructions for a paper like this and quickly form a picture in their minds
about how they want to write it.
• But of course that’s not everyone, and maybe it’s not you. My suggestion is that if you don’t understand the description or can’t
quite picture how to do it, you would be better doing the exam.
LOGISTICS
• Worth 20 points = 20% of final grade. Length of 1200-2000 words. 1200 words is the basic level, and 2000 is the maximum. For
the very best grade, compress as much knowledge and thought as possible into 2000 words.
• At the top put your name, course and section number, a title, and the word count.
• Use Microsoft Word format (.doc or .docx filename extension).
• To submit it: click on “Assignments” (left side), then on “Unit 3 Optional Paper.”
• Due date: Sat Dec 12.
• If you qualify for extra time, your date is different; see “Accommodation” at the bottom.
THE ASSIGNMENT
Topic: Choice A.Describe connections between the subject matter of Unit 3 and relevant parts of Pope Francis’ address to Congress on Sept
24 2015. To do this, much of your paper will explain biblical knowledge from Unit 3.
Topic: Choice B.Describe connections between the subject matter of Unit 3 and relevant parts of Pope Francis’ address to the UN on Sept 25
2015. To do this, much of your paper will explain biblical knowledge from Unit 3.
Topic: Choice C.Same as above, only for a different major statement by an important leader past or present. This is your choice; if you
are unsure, check with the instructor first. One example would be Ban Ki-Moon. If you already did the optional paper for Unit 1 or 2,
choose a statement by a different leader, e.g., Nelson Mandela or Bishop Tutu.
Topic: Choice D.Same as above, only for a major statement by an important organization or group of leaders past or present. This is your
choice; if you are unsure, check with the instructor first. They need not be Christian, or even faith based, although you might find the
clearest connections in statements by faith-based leaders. A possible example would be Seven Themes of Catholic Social Teaching, by the
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Biblical knowledge. Because this is a course in biblical studies, use good method as you have been learning in class. For example,
explain biblical content and meaning according to its background, and in its various relevant original contexts, such as historical,
geographical, social, economic, political, cultural, literary, and religious. (Not all of these will apply, but be sure to place biblical
knowledge in the Old Testament storyline or meta-narrative as a whole.)
Modern relevance and application. Include thoughtful reflection on how any of this might apply to one or more specific issues of force,
violence, and social justice today.
Your own views.
Feel free to express your own views in addition to (but not instead of) foundational knowledge for the course.
Summary. This is a thinking person’s assignment which moves beyond foundational knowledge for the course. However, it must be built on
foundational knowledge in order to give it substance and credibility.
Your target readers.Write this for someone who has not taken this class (not for me). Explain things clearly in plain English.
• Your reader has an open Bible and has read the section of Bible covered by Unit 3, so you don’t need to give a systematic survey
of the biblical story or content. For example, if you are referring to the Exodus story, you can explain the meaning of that story, or
something in it, without actually repeating the story itself, because your audience has already read it in the Bible, or can look it up.
• A good way is to picture someone you know, and write it for that person.
• One useful format (this is optional) is to write it as a letter to that person. True, it would be a slightly unusual letter to
have citations and a bibliography, but a letter just the same.
Sources. Use the following required sources:
• The relevant textbooks.
• The textbook Bible or an equally good modern translation. (Check with me if in doubt.)
• The relevant online readings as given in the Daily Schedule.
• Knowledge taught by the instructor in class.
• Credible analyses of your chosen address; you will find these yourself.
Grading.Because much of this paper will function as an exam for biblical knowledge and understanding, grading will be based more on that
knowledge and understanding than on original research or creative thinking. The following criteria will apply to grading, in approximate
order of importance:
• Biblical content. Amount and quality of knowledge, thinking, understanding, and using good methodology.
• Class knowledge. Input from relevant readings and classroom teaching. Your paper should look like you are actually taking this
class and making contact with the subject matter, however fleetingly.
• Accurate knowledge and use of Pope Francis’ address.
• Modern relevance and application.
• Citation. A range of 1-10% can be deducted for shortcomings in citation.
• Bible references and quotes. Inclusion as needed for integrity. Accurate use. Follow the section on “Using the Bible” below. A
range of 1-10% can be deducted for shortcomings in Bible references and quotes.
• Using a modern Bible translation. Grade penalty of 6% if not.
• Good writing, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS
Citation.
The purpose of accurate citation is not rules or red tape but knowledge integrity. Knowledge is not credible if we do not know or cannot
show exactly where it came from. This is especially important because biblical misinterpretation has often been carried into action
harmfully. One way to limit this problem is to carefully maintain knowledge integrity through accurate citation of our sources, including
the Bible itself.
• System: choose MLA, Turabian, or Chicago (Humanities), whichever one you are familiar with already.
• Use the standard method for your chosen citation system
• Important: all 3 systems require in-text citation (not just a Works Cited list at the end)
• Cite the online documents which the instructor authored using the format for unpublished papers
• Give the page numbers for print sources for in-text citation
• Include a Works Cited at the end
Give a clickable link (URL) in the Works Cited if you use an online source outside Blueline
• You do not need to cite the instructor’s lectures within the body of the paper itself. (It is true that there is a formal way to
do this, but it would be a needless burden.) However, include an entry in the Works Cited like this:
Brubacher, Gordon. Class lectures for Theology 201: “Reading the Old Testament.” Creighton University, Omaha, NE. Fall 2015.
A citation is always in a certain, specific, widely-used form which readers instantly recognize as a citation, in the same way that they
instantly recognize a stop sign and know what it means because stop signs are pretty much the same everywhere.
• That form tells readers that a specific source for the info in question is listed in a specific, known, always-used form in a
works cited list at the end
• It is always in parentheses.
• The first word or words of the citation are always exactly the same as the first word or words of the listing for it in the works
cited.
Objective and result
• Readers can instantly recognize a citation when they see one.
• Readers can instantly find the source it refers to in the works cited list.
• Readers can easily go and find the real thing for themselves.
Using Works Cited Programs. I have no real problem with your using websites like EasyBib.com or CitationMachine.net, but be aware that
you can’t always trust them for details. For example, both programs spelled the publisher wrong in several papers for a course this past
summer, and this made it look like students were copying someone else’s Works Cited complete with spelling mistakes.
Therefore: I expect the results–i.e., the details–to be accurate in your papers. That’s what I will hold you accountable for, even if
those stupid websites do it wrong.
How not to do it.Imagine someone writes: “As reported by the Ignatian Solidarity Network, Jesuit leaders are actively engaged seeking
humane comprehensive immigration reform.”
This example never actually does a citation. Sure, readers can see the words “As reported by the Ignatian Solidarity Network….” but so
what? Maybe the writer made it up. Nothing clearly says to readers that they should look for a source in a Works Cited. They might
figure that out, and go looking, and connect the dots. But this is making it too hard for them. This is assuming they can read the mind
of the writer, or assuming that letting them figure it out is fine as long as enough clues are strewn somewhere in the paper. But this is
not fine. Do it right.
If you are unsure how to do your citations and works cited list, use MLA style as described by the Purdue U. Online Writing Lab.
• Start with this web page, which has the basics for citation: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/02/
• For the works cited list, start here: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/05/
• For anything else, click on the headings along the left side of the Purdue web pages above.
Good tip: to find how to do something in citation, just google a search string. For example, to find how to cite an unpublished
manuscript (such as the online readings authored by the instructor), google a search string like “How to cite an unpublished paper in
MLA.” Chances are that the exact place on the Purdue website will be on your first screen of hits, because the Purdue website is very
widely used as a standard.
Using the Bible.
• When you mention something in the Bible, give support or examples from the Bible to support what you write.
• Give the Bible “reference” (book, chapter and verse) every time you MENTION anything in the Bible. Not just when you quote from
it. Use the same style as in the textbooks and online readings.
• Sometimes it is good to quote a key passage from the Bible (rather than just giving a reference), as an example or basis for an
important point in your paper.
• When you quote word-for-word from the Bible, do it clearly, with quotation marks around it, or as a block quote, so the reader
knows for sure that it is a quote.
• Use a modern Bible translation for Scripture quotes. Grade penalty of 6% if not.
Over-length Papers. A subject that is sure to come up: what do I do about over-length papers?
• You might find it a challenge to keep your paper down to the maximum word length. But part of the assignment is the intellectual
discipline of selection and compression. If you can do this well, you will go farther in the world.
• If your paper is over-length it’s not doing the actual assignment as described, so naturally, and in fairness to the others, I
can’t accept it in that form. Here’s what I’ll do, and it’s sheer grace.
• I will give you some leeway. If it’s only a little over, I won’t say anything.
• If it is more than a little over, I will send you a note that your paper is too long to accept, and give you a chance to shorten
it and re-submit it. I’ll accept that one and grade it, but give it the same deduction as if it were late. [For how that works, see “Due
Dates” in the “Course Information” module.]
• Advice: make an outline, and draft the paper, without watching word count too closely. Go over-length. Then cut and compress.
Might hurt a little! But the result will be your best possible work within the parameters.
Clear writing.
How do you know if your paper is clear? Actually, you don’t. In fact, you are the only person in the world who does not know if it is
clear. Solution: do what the pros do. After you think you are finished:
• Step one: Read your paper out loud, slowly. Does it sound like clear English? If not, it will not read like clear English
either. Fix it.
• Step two: Now get someone else to do the same. This could hurt a little. It better be a pretty good friend, or else someone who
doesn’t matter. Fix it again.
• Beware of the electronic grinch stealing your grade points. Specifically, beware of your spell checker changing your words into
something that you don’t intend, or your computer making other changes. This is a frequent and careless mistake. Proof-read carefully!
Assume that every word is wrong, unless it is actually right.
• Write and proofread well! I look forward to reading your clean, flawless, perfect, intelligent writing.
Not Ready. What about papers that do not follow the instructions?
• If your paper is too rough, or does not follow major instructions (e.g., no citations or no Bible references), it will be my duty
to return it to you as “Not Ready,” that is, not ready yet for me to grade.
• Then you will improve the things required and submit it again. I’ll accept that one and grade it, but give it the same deduction
as if it were late. (For how that works, see “Due Dates” in the “Course Information” module.)