Transparency: PSALMS

7th & 8th Bible: Old Testament Studies

EXAMINING A PSALM OF CHOICE(30 points)

TASK 1:Choosing a Psalm (5 minutes)

Think of about five Psalms that you would be interested in presenting to the class.A very short Psalm will not necessarily be easier than a more lengthy one,because a shorter Psalm mayrequire you to dig deeper into the Psalm in order to come up with sufficient content for your presentation. When your name is randomly called, write the number of the Psalm that you have chosen on the whiteboard and at the top of this sheet. Each Psalm may be selected only once so you may need to change your choice ifsomeone else selects the Psalm that you wanted. Preparing your presentation will be an individual effort.

TASK 2:Preparing the Transparency (15 to 25 minutes)

  1. Write the number of the Psalm at the top of your transparency.
  2. Be sure to state the main theme of the Psalm. What is the one main thing that the Psalm is about?
  3. Decide if the Psalm fits into a specific category. Very briefly defend your choice of category. (Messianic, Songs of Zion, Penitential, Wisdom, Kingship, Creation, Confidence, Historical, Imprecatory, Torah, etc.)
  4. Look for any good examples of parallelism in the Psalm and be ready to point this out to the class. (Synonymous=2nd line repeats; Antithetical=2nd line contrasts; Synthetic=2nd line completes by giving a reason, giving a result, or making a comparison.)
  5. Give a brief overview of the main thoughts and/or content expressed in the Psalm.
  6. Comment on any important doctrines and/or lessons from the Psalm.
  7. Express what this Psalm means to you personally.

TASK 3: Presenting (3 to 5 minutes)

Present the Psalm using the transparency that you prepared. You may have a friend help you with presenting if you so choose.

TASK 4: Listening (about 60 minutes)

Open your Bible to the appropriate Psalm that any student presents. Listen attentively to other students’ presentations.Inattentive listeners may be required to take notes on lined paper. Please feel welcome to ask questions after each presentation.Remember that all Psalms presented will be valid test material.

GRADING REQUIREMENTS:

REQUIREMENTS / DESCRIPTION / POINTS
Transparency /
  • Themajority of the items in TASK 2above were covered by the student.
  • The transparency is neatly arranged.
  • The student displayed effort and diligence.
  • The preparation of the transparency was primarily an individual effort.
/ (transparency = 20 points)
Points earned: ______
Presentation /
  • Student effectively presented his/her material.
  • Student listened attentively while others were presenting.
/ (presentation = 10 points)
Points earned: ______

TOTAL POINTS AVAILABLE: 30 points
YOUR TOTAL POINTS: ______points
LETTER GRADE: ______

STUDENT: ______