The purpose for this assignment is for students to do some guided research on a particular Old Testament issue/topic/nation/person/etc. that we have covered at this point during the course. Roughly, the first paper will be due after we conclude the Pentateuch, and the second paper will be due after the conclusion of the Historical Books section. These papers should be at least 1200 words, following the same guidelines for short papers. While we will expect more rigorous research on some of these topics in future classes (BI 205/215, Upper Division BI and TH), we would like for you to begin getting acquainted with these topics and where you can find good information to introduce you to some unfamiliar topics. For this assignment, you are to consult at least one article from the Anchor Bible Dictionary (or equivalent dictionary, IVP, Zondervan, Lexham Bible Dictionary, etc.) and one relevant Bible passage in a good Old Testament commentary (Anchor Bible Commentary, New International Commentary of the Old Testament, or Word Bible Commentary). You are more than welcome to visit more quality resources to add to your paper but stay with the resources that we have pointed you towards. Your goal in these papers is primarily fact finding. Answer the W’s; Who? What? Where? Why? When? The final quarter of the paper should answer the last question: How? How does the knowledge gathered here impact the way we read the New Testament or live our life today?
