Writing Homework Help

Read the passages that will be listed in News.

Develop a structure/outline for your paper as follows:

Introduction:

One or two paragraphs, in which you briefly summarize your passage and state what you will attempt to do in your essay (the final form of this is probably best written last);

A three-part main section, covering the “3 levels of meaning”:

the LITERARY level (approx. 1 page): Here you will point out some indicators of the passage’s structure and arrangement, e.g., repetition, opening/closing statements, dialogue, movement of characters, comments made by the narrator/author to the reader. Note that “literary” does not mean simply “literal.”

the IDEOLOGICAL level (approx. 1 page): Here you will collect and comment on some of the leading ideas of the passage. Don’t try to cover them all, and at this stage hold back from suggesting the meaning or meanings of the passage.

the COMMUNAL level (approx. 1 page): Here you will suggest the purpose of the passage, e.g., to encourage, correct, remind, comfort, exhort. Remember: it is unlikely that your author simply intended to convey raw data. If possible, conjecture an actual problem or other situation that your author intended to address in writing to a specific Israelite community. (NOTE: There is no single “correct” identification of [1], [2], and [3], in any of the passages.)

Conclusion:

One or two paragraphs, in which you summarize your findings, and, if you wish, suggest the relevance of your chosen passage to life and faith

Important hints and tips — please read this slowly and carefully:

Sources. You are not expected to do any research, e.g., in the library or on the internet. I am looking for your opinions/judgments, not those of others; hence I am not expecting polished pieces of biblical scholarship — I recognize that most of you are writing your first essay on the interpretation of the Bible. Try to put on paper your imaginative application of the first principles of responsible Bible study. Of course, use the notes in your Bible, but do not limit what you write to what you read in the notes. As for the major sources of the Pentateuch (= J, E, D, and P), I expect no reference to them.

Referring to your passage. When summarizing or otherwise referring to your passage, use the general present tense, e.g., “In this passage Abraham asks Sarah. . . .” And note that the question “Did this happen?” is virtually irrelevant to your essay. Likewise, do not ask yourself the ambiguous question, “Is this true?” but “What was this author trying to convey to his or her community?” and “Why did he or she write about this?”

Comparisons, analogies. To help bring your essay to life, feel free to compare what you find in your passage with material in passages we have studied in class, or with other texts you know of. Similarly, if you wish point out analogies between the way you are analyzing your text and how a student in another discipline would study texts, e.g., in English, history, philosophy. Engage your reader — write interesting prose. If you wish, give your essay an imaginative title.

Coherence. Try your best to write an essay that “hangs together” — that has a sense of direction. Your reader should get the sense that the “three levels” together constitute “one method.” Use no section headings; there isn’t space for them. Instead, let your prose indicate your

Your voice. Above all, remember that we are hoping to see your insights and wish to hear your Avoid the passive voice (e.g., “It is said that . . .”). Refer to yourself as “I,” not “we.” And please write in your own words — in a relaxed, friendly, low-key (but still grammatical!) style. Be direct and to the point. Ask yourself this: “Could my best friend understand my essay?”