BIBL 375 Introduction to Expositional Tools

This course introduces students to the expositional tools needed for an in-depth study of Scripture for effective Bible exposition. Special attention is given to expositional tools in the Logos Bible Software program.

Bible exposition requires the student to have access to the necessary tools as well as the knowledge to expertly apply those tools to the relevant resources in Bible study. Through the customized package of Logos Bible Software provided in this course, the student will be given access to a cutting-edge toolset as well as a library of electronic resources. The student may then retain access to this software, even after graduation, making these materials available in perpetuity for use in Christian ministry.

Textbook readings and lecture presentations

No details available.

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Discussions (5)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, there will be five of these held in this course. The student will create a thread in response to the provided prompt for each discussion. The thread must be at least 400 words and demonstrate a comprehension of the corresponding course material. In addition to the initial thread, the student will reply to the threads of at least 2 classmates. Each reply must be at least 200 words. For each thread, the student should engage with the course materials, namely the tutorial videos, support documentation, and resources within the Logos program itself. For each initial thread, students must cite at least one of these materials using appropriate Turabian formatting. (CLO: A, D)

Logos Tools and Skills Assignments (4)

Understanding Logos and appreciating the value it offers the Bible student requires one to explore the program to put the skills discussed in the course materials into practice. To this end, there will be four exercises designed to help the student get “hands on” in using the program. These exercises will correspond with the tools and skills discussed in the course materials associated with the week they are assigned. The student will be expected to follow the instructions for these exercises with accuracy and precision, and he/she will be asked to take screenshots of his/her work to demonstrate the completion of exercise tasks. (CLO: A, B, C)

Logos Tools and Skills: Layouts, Library, & Creating a Collection Assignment

This first exercise will be focused on the following three features/tools: layouts, the library, and collections. All three of these are essential when using the program. Layouts allow the Bible student to customize his or her digital workspace within the program according to different needs. The library will allow the user to gain access to the content that has populated the program, and it serves an entry point to finding particular resources. Collections are groupings of resources created by the user for the purpose of guiding searches into smaller sections of the library so as to make the search more productive and direct. The student should download the provided template to complete four parts that correspond with the features/tools from the Logos software (complete with screenshots as requested). The student will submit the template to Canvas.

Logos Tools and Skills: Notes & Clippings Assignment

This second exercise will be focused on the following two features/tools: notes and clippings. These are both excellent resources that will help the student organize his/her study materials in one centralized location within the digital workspace. The notes tool will allow the student to keep track of his/her study notes and access them in the Bible (or other book) in which he/she leaves them. The student might think of these as digital marginalia with more expansive capabilities. The clippings tool is also very helpful. Essentially, the clippings tool provides a way of creating digital notecards with quotes the student wants to include (or cite) in his/her academic papers or other research projects. The student should download the provided template to complete three parts that correspond with the features/tools from the Logos software (complete with screenshots as requested). The student will submit the template to Canvas.

Logos Tools and Skills: Factbook, Atlas, & Bible Book Explorer Assignment

This third exercise will be focused on the following three features/tools: Factbook, Atlas, and Bible Book Explorer. The Factbook is one of the staple tools in Logos that really makes Bible study more streamlined. It functions as an integrated reference tool that provides background information for events, things, people, and places in Scripture. The Atlas is another unique background tool. It provides interactive maps of biblical geography, including map legends that pinpoint details from the biblical narrative. The Bible Book Explorer is a less integrated resource, but it is especially helpful when it comes to some of the concerns of biblical exposition. The student should download the provided template to complete four parts that correspond with the features/tools from the Logos software (complete with screenshots as requested). The student will submit the template to Canvas. The student should refer to the instructions for information on citing items used in Turabian format.

Logos Tools and Skills: Searches Assignment

This fourth exercise will be focused on searching in Logos. There are many different ways to perform searches in Logos, depending on the kind of information the student needs. For instance, the student might use the search bar in the Library to find a book title, but he/she would not be searching within the content of the books. The student could use the search bar within an open book (i.e., inline search), and that would allow him/her find material in that resource alone. However, there are other search tools in Logos that allow the student to search in more extensive ways across many resources. This exercise will help him/her explore some of those features. The student should download the provided template to complete five parts that correspond with the features/tools from the Logos software (complete with screenshots as requested). The student will submit the template to Canvas.

Logos Reference Guide Project Assignment

The student is learning the Logos software in preparation for using it throughout his/her life in ministry. As such, it would be beneficial to create a personal reference resource that can not only be used during the student’s program but can be referenced at any point in the student’s future ministry. The student will create a Logos Reference Guide to meet this need. The Reference Guide should begin with a brief 1-paragraph introduction explaining what it is, the components of the project, and how it can be used. The guide will also include an outline of the features and tools in the software, orienting the student in where to find key features. Finally, it will include the completion of an index of frequently asked questions (and answers) about using Logos that can be referenced when completing future assignments. The student should be sure to download the project template from Canvas to use to for formatting his/her guide. The final paper should include proper grammar and syntax, be polished and professionally written, include a Turabian-formatted bibliography and citations as needed for any sources consulted (texts, ideas, images), and include a Turabian title page. The student should ensure that he/she follows the formatting of the provided template to complete the assignment. (CLO: A, D)

Quizzes (3)

There will be three quizzes throughout the course. For each quiz, the student will be tested on his/her ability to use the resources reviewed in the course material for the assigned module: week, though a working knowledge of material covered in previous modules is required for each quiz. The student is allowed to use notes and course materials to take each quiz. Each quiz will contain 23 multiple-choice, true/false, and short answer questions, and each will have a time limit of 50 minutes. The student will be allowed 2 attempts, and the highest score will count toward his or her grade. (CLO: A, C)