Reading Guide: Genesis 12‑50 Board Assignment: Expert Insight & Tips

Part 1

This discussion board will help us sort through some of the major elements involved with our reading of selections from Genesis 12-50. We will have the chance to make important connections and begin to explore the beginning history of God's work with His Covenant People. 

The materials for this module begin with selections from the Reading Guide which correspond to our reading of Genesis 12-17, 22, and 37-50. This discussion board will give the class the chance to make connections and analyze this important material. 

Question 1 

Initial posts: Select an element from this module's Reading Guide assignment which you found important to one major topic or narrative in this module's selections from Genesis. Describe the context of the topic or story from Genesis and explain how the Reading Guide material helped clarify the topic. 

·        Response posts: Build on the work of the initial post by connecting its content to a related element found in Genesis 1-11. Be sure to carefully explain how comparing and contrasting this element with that in the initial post helps to bring further clarity to the whole of the book of Genesis.  

Question 2 

Initial posts: Identify and briefly describe a narrative section in this module's readings from Genesis. This selection must include an important element to understanding the historical dimension of God's unique covenant with Abraham and his descendants. Explain the importance of this historical element.  

·        Response posts: Build on the work of the initial post by comparing or contrasting the selected narrative with another narrative from this module's selections from Genesis. Be sure to explain how the two stories add depth to the overarching story of Abraham's family.  

Question 3 

Initial posts: Identify a major theological topic in our selections from Genesis 12-50. A theological topic would be any that is related to how the stories give insights about God's nature and actions. Explain how a few events seen in this module's set of scripture readings might be understood through reference to this topic.  

·        Response posts: Build on the work of the initial post by connecting information from the Reading Guide material or from other course resources to the selected theological topic. Explain how this information enhances a reading of the biblical texts under discussion.  

Part 2

In this module, you will provide feedback to TWO of your peers’ writings by composing written answers to the questions about those writing. Choose peers whose work has not been reviewed by someone else already. 

The format for your feedback is as follows:

THE ANALYSIS OF THE RHETORICAL SITUATION AND RHETORICAL APPEALS

Is the writer accurate in identifying the rhetor, text, audience, exigence, context, constraints, and logos, pathos, and ethos within the article?

1.     How clear and effective is the thesis statement/purpose for the writing? Are all the points in the analysis supporting the thesis?

2.     Which elements are incorrectly defined or explained? How should the writer correct them?

3.      Which elements are incomplete or inadequately illustrated? What additional information is necessary to complete the required description of the element?

4.     Which of the required elements are all together missing from the analysis? 

5.      Which elements lack the illustrations in the form of paraphrases and summaries from the essay? Which passages, if any, lack in-text citations and are therefore plagiarized? 

6.      How convinced were you to accept the peer's overall claims about the article’s rhetorical situation?

THE FORMAT/ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

1.     How clear/readable is the formatting? Comment on the paragraphs and on their order.

2.     Where should the analysis be strengthened?

3.     What needs the author's attention most urgently?

4.     What impressed you the most about this analysis?

THE MINI-REFLECTION (200 words)

1.     What are the discoveries about the article pointed out by the peer?

2.     What is the new understanding of the article as pointed out by the writer? 

3.     What value does the writer recognize in completing this analysis?

Compose your review as a conversation you have with a classmate to assist him or her to the best of your abilities.

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