Religion 122 – Book of Mormon
Gregory B. Wightman, Instructor
Office: Taylor 218
Phone: 496-1941
E-mail: [email protected]
Office Hours: 12:45 – 1:45 MWF
or by appointment
Course Objective:
1. TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR OWN LEARNING by:
* abiding the attendance and punctuality requirements established
* completing assignments, exercises, and tests as required ON TIME .
* intensively studying from the Book of Mormon in and out of class
* being a positive influence on the learning environment which includes:
- actively participating in classroom discussions
- living life so as to not offend the presence of the spirit (honor code and dress standards)
2. Study in depth Alma 31 through Moroni 10 - including origin, content, and message
Required Materials:
All four standard works of LDS footnoted scriptures.
(You will not need the Book of Mormon Student Manual)
Grading:
As this is an academic course for 2 credits, you must be graded on your efforts and your mastery of the content. An "A" will not be
given simply because someone is "nice" or has a testimony of the gospel. These two things are of most importance for you but they do
not meet the academic standard to receive college credit. Therefore, the "A" grade will be reserved for those who excel far above the
average level to make this class more meaningful not only for themselves, but for others. Married students or roommates taking
this class together are to do their own individual work. Working together gives you an unfair advantage over the other students in
the class. The following standards will apply:
Scripture Extractions --- 30% of overall grade
You will be required to submit a typewritten extraction at the beginning of each scripture block studied. Each extraction is
worth 10 pts and is due at the beginning of class. Students who come late after I have collected the assignments will lose five
points. No extractions will be accepted after class is over. No extractions will be accepted via email without prior approval.
Go read the guidelines to and an example of the extractions on my web page under "Class Information."
Attendance/Participation --- 20% of overall grade
Department policy has established a minimum attendance standard of 80% to receive credit for any course. For a two-credit
course, that translates into five (5) allowable absences before failing this course (you lose credit on the sixth (6th) absence).
For this class, the only excused absence is an official school excused absence verified by the required form. All other
absences, no matter the reason, will cause you to lose an increasing percentage of your attendance/participation score (not
your overall grade). The standard is as follows:
Absence #1
0%
Absence #2
10%
Absence #3
20%
Absence #4
30%
Absence #5
40%
Not only are you expected to attend, you are expected to be on time. The same 80% standard applies to daily attendance. If
you are more than 10 minutes late (generally once the roll has been passed), you will still be counted absent. Also, you are
the only one allowed to mark yourself on the roll. Having someone else mark you goes against the honor code and could
ultimately result in both you and the person who marked you failing the course.
Those who choose to attend but not participate (sleeping, doing other homework, reading, texting, etc.) will also be counted
as absent. Those who foolishly come, turn in their assignments, mark the roll, and then leave without having talked with me
first will suffer even greater penalties.
It is also anticipated that you will be a positive influence on the learning environment through your participation in classroom
discussions and the attitude you bring to class. My definition of participation is remaining alert and attentive by taking notes,
and asking a question or making a comment now and then. If you are shy, it is time to become comfortable being an active
participant in society. If you have a tendency to be overly active in your participation, it is time to learn how to play nice with
the other children. I reserve the right to remove a significant amount of points for semester-long silence, dominance, or ill
displays of attitude that either affect me as a teacher or other students in the class.
Content Mastery --- 20% of overall grade
You are expected to try and master the material you will learn this semester. I feel this is best accomplished through note
taking. Take good notes while in class, and then learn how to transcribe those notes into your scriptures. To encourage you to
take good notes, we will have random note checks during the first five (5) minutes of class. They will consist of using your
notes or scriptures to answer two questions that deal with material we have covered in class that you should have written in
your notes. We could have one, or we could have 10. But each check is worth 10 points and they are pass/fail. Therefore, you
are responsible to get notes from someone if you miss class. If you miss class the day of a note check or come late, you fail
that check with no possibility of making it up.
Personal Assessment Portfolio --- 30% of overall grade
You will have a number of opportunities to assess yourself throughout the course. Keep a copy of each assessment in a binder
of sorts to be used at a later date. It is too easy to loose what you have saved on your computer. Guidelines for these
assessments are found on the same page you found this syllabus and the extraction guidelines. Each assessment is worth 10
points, but the final assessment is weighted heavier than the others. They are also due at the beginning of class on the date
specified below. Again, no late assessments will be accepted.
Thus, the grading standard will be:
A
95 - 100%
A- 90 - 94
B+ 87 - 89
B
83 - 86
BC+
C
C-
80 - 82%
77 - 79
73 - 76
70 - 72
D+
D
DF
67 - 69%
63 - 66
60 - 62
59 and below
End Notes
1. I reserve the right to alter the syllabus at any time according to my discretion.
2. Cheating in any form or degree will not be tolerated. Those caught cheating will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis and could
ultimately flunk the class and be turned over to Student Life for Honor Code violation. I know I am only speaking to a few of you, but
those few I have caught in the past would surely tell you it is not worth it.
3. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits sex discrimination against any participant in an education program or
activity that receives federal funds, including Federal loans and grants. Title IX also covers student-to-student sexual harassment. If
you encounter unlawful sexual harassment or gender-based discrimination, please contact the Personnel Office at 496-1130.
4. Brigham Young University-Idaho is committed to providing a working and learning atmosphere that reasonably accommodates
qualified persons with disabilities. If you have any disability that may impair your ability to complete this course successfully, please
contact the Services for Students with Disabilities Office, 496-1158. Reasonable academic accommodations are reviewed for all
students who have qualified documented disabilities. Services are coordinated with the student and instructor by this office. If you
need assistance or if you feel you have been unlawfully discriminated against on the basis of disability, you may seek resolution
through established grievance policy and procedures. You should contact the Personnel Office at 496-1130.
Course Schedule:
(Numbers in parentheses indicate the actual chapters that will be discussed on that day)
April
21 Intro
23 No Class (read Syllabus and Guidelines)
28 Moroni 7
30 Moroni 10 (Assess #1)
May
5 Alma 1-30 Overview
7 #1 Alma 32-34 (31-35)
12 #2 Alma 36-38
14 #3 Alma 39-41
19 #4 Alma 42 (Assess #2)
21 #5 Helaman 2-3, 6, 12 (1-12)
26 Memorial Holiday (no class)
28 #6 Helaman 13-16
June
2 No Class
4 No Class
June cont . . .
9 #7
3 Nephi 8-10
11 #8
3 Nephi 11
16 #9
3 Nephi 12-14 (Assess #3)
18 #10 3 Nephi 15-18
23 #11 3 Nephi 19-22
25 #12 3 Nephi 23-26
30 #13 3 Nephi 27-30
July
2 Independence Holiday (no class)
7 #14 4 Nephi (Assess #4)
9 #15 Mormon 3-5 (1-2)
14 #16 Mormon 6-9 (3-9)
16 #17 Ether 1-4 (1-6)
21 #18 Ether 7, 11, 12 (7-12)
23 #19 Ether 13 (Assess #5)