A Study of the Book of Mormon 

At the end of the course, I will give you a letter grade that I feel reflects the learning you accomplished during the course.  I will use three criteria to determine your grade:  (1) attitude, (2) class attendance, and (3) academic work.

Attitude

Attitude is displayed through preparation for class, class participation, and adherence to honor code.  Participation in class includes coming to class having read the assignments, offering insights, asking inspired questions, utilizing your scriptures during class discussion, volunteering to read outloud, and taking notes on class discussions, particularly impressions received. 

Things that will significantly hurt your grade are:

• The use of cell phones during class time, particularly text messaging.
• Sleeping in class.
  

Class Attendance

Class attendance is a crucial part of the course.  It is the policy of the Department of Religious Education that a student who misses more than three classes of a 2 credit course will not receive credit for the course.  You may miss one class without effecting your grade.  Each class missed after that will effect your overall grade by a half-grade drop per-day missed until three absences.  The only exception to this policy is school excused absences.  School excused absences are treated as if the student was not absent.  However, the student is still responsible for homework due as well as class discussion missed.

Academic

1.  Research Paper.  (200 pts.)
President Ezra Taft Benson taught: "The Book of Mormon brings men to Christ through two basic means. First, it tells in a plain manner of Christ and His gospel. It testifies of His divinity and of the necessity for a Redeemer and the need of our putting trust in Him. It bears witness of the Fall and the Atonement and the first principles of the gospel, including our need of a broken heart and a contrite spirit and a spiritual rebirth. It proclaims we must endure to the end in righteousness and live the moral life of a Saint.

"Second, the Book of Mormon exposes the enemies of Christ. It confounds false doctrines and lays down contention. (See 2 Ne. 3:12.) It fortifies the humble followers of Christ against the evil designs, strategies, and doctrines of the devil in our day. The type of apostates in the Book of Mormon are similar to the type we have today. God, with his infinite foreknowledge, so molded the Book of Mormon that we might see the error and know how to combat false educational, political, religious, and philosophical concepts of our time."  ("The Book of Mormon is the Word of God" Ensign , Jan, 1988, p. 3)

Towards the end of the course, you will be required to produce a research paper that will:

• Prove Pres. Benson's statement to be true;
  
• And details Book of Mormon teachings regarding the various subjects associated with Pres. Benson's thesis (CLICK HERE TO SEE THE VARIOUS SUBJECTS). 
  

The following criteria will be used in grading the paper:

• Paper should be at least 5 pages single spaced.
• Audience:  A Member of the Church who is unfamiliar with how the Book of Mormon brings one to Christ (that is, someone whose study of the Book of Mormon consists only reading it from beginning to end).
• Write an introduction that includes:  (1) a thesis statement; (2) utilizes Pres. Benson's statement; (3) identifies the topics that will be discuss in paper; and (3) briefly describes Lehi's dream (identifies the pattern and connections).
  
• Thoroughly document your findings from the Book of Mormon with in-text citation (meaning, place any scriptural citation within the body of the paper).
• Comprehensivness of each subject will effect the final grading of the paper.
  
• Use sub-headings to divide your findings into appropriate subjects (such as, Tells in a Plain Manner of Christ, the Fall, the Atonement, Faith, etc.).  Click here to view the suggested outline and headings of the paper.
  
• Use Times New Roman 11 or 12 or Arial 11 or 12 font.
  
• You may supplement your findings with teachings from the General Authorities.  These teachings should clarify Book of Mormon passages and are not a substitute for what the Book of Mormon teachers.  Include full bibliographic citation in footnote (notation at bottom of paper).  No works cited necessary.
  
• Paper due at BEGINNING of class as scheduled on the Daily Reading Schedule.  Will lose 20 points for each day late (the first day considered late is after class begins on the date due).

THE PAPER WILL BE DUE LAST DAY OF CLASS.  IF YOU WANT IT RETURNED TO YOU, HAND IT IN WITH A LARGE SELF-ADDRESSED ENVELOPE WITH APPROPRIATE AMOUNT OF STAMPS!!

 2.  Research notes.  (170 total pts.)

3.   Articles Summaries. (20 pts. each for 100 pts)
Read and summarize the 5 article summaries located in the the Daily Reading Assignments section.  Each article will be graded using the following criteria:

Summary must only be one page (single spacing and small font are acceptable) 

Summary done in three sections: (1)  A comprehensive summary of talk; (2) List at least 5 insights you gained from the article;  (3) questions regarding the talk you have or areas you would like to discuss further in class.

Place the following headings at the beginning of each section: (1)  Summary; (2) Insights Gained; (3) Questions/Items to discuss in class

Make sure title, author, and source reference is at top of page! 

Use GOOD WRITING SKILLS!!   CLICK HERE to see an example of an appropriate paper.

Summaries must be typewritten. 

A    470-445        B+   424-410           C+   374-365          D+   324-310 
A-   444-425        B     409-390           C     364-345          D     309-290
                          B-    389-375           C-    344-325          D-    289-260