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Assignment: https://sites.google.com/view/bible-as-literature/assignments/mini-essays-and-responses
Click the plus sign button at the end of the relevant week's column. To reply to a classmate, click the "Add Comment" button at the end of the Mini-Essay to which you want to respond.
REMINDER: be sure to include your name with all posts to receive credit and allow others to respond.
OPTION: IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO RECORD A VIDEO OR AUDIO Mini-Essay instead of writing them, go to the end of the column to which you are responding. Click the plus sign to create a new post.  Click the ellipsis  (...) next to the camera icon, and it will give you a list of options. You can, for instance, film a video, record your voice, or capture your screen. See the brief instruction video below. Reminder that your audio or video should meet the requirements of the assignment.

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Citation Style: in-text MLA citations (see Purdue Owl for information on in-text citations )

Five times in the semester, a question will be posed that you will address in a mini-essay format. What is a mini-essay?

Then you will develop your argument, using evidence from readings and discussions.

Due to the short format, you will need to get to your point quickly and concisely.

For each assigned essay, there will be guiding questions to consider on the Mini-Essays Board . You do not need to address all of these questions and indeed may take your essay in a different direction if you so choose.

Be sure to use proper MLA in-text citations for any quotations.

When you are ready, c lick the plus sign button at the end of the relevant week's column. REMINDER: be sure to include your name with all posts to receive credit and allow others to respond.

OPTION: IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO RECORD A VIDEO OR AUDIO Mini-Essay instead of writing them, go to the end of the column to which you are responding. Click the plus sign to create a new post. Click the ellipsis (...) next to the camera icon, and it will give you a list of options. You can, for instance, film a video, record your voice, or capture your screen. See the brief instruction video below.

Once you have completed your own essay, you will be required to respond to a mini-essay by a classmate.

To reply to a classmate, click the "Add Comment" button at the end of the Mini-Essay to which you want to respond.

200 words is a MINIMUM for these responses as well.

Being respectful does not prevent you from expressing your disagreement or alternative point of view/reading.

Responses such as "I loved what you said " or "I agree" do not speak to analysis. Feel free to express you reactions to mini-essays , but be sure that your response does not stop there.

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Bible as Literature - Mini-Essays and Responses

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Assignment Outcome
Students will be able to demonstrate the ability to develop clear and carefully thought-out ideas based upon close readings of the texts and respond to the ideas of others.
Students will be able to demonstrate respect for the ideas of others, even when expressing a different

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Note: You should not answer ALL of the questions to consider. They are given to guide you in your thoughts.

What social contexts that surround the composition of the Bible contribute to how it was written?

Can a piece of literature be studied without its social context?

Does a piece of literature change meaning when its social context changes?

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Of all the literary forms included in the Bible, which one stands out the most?

What literary forms influenced the composition of the Bible?

How does an author choose a literary form?

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What are the characteristics that make a creation myth?

What does the style of creation myth reveal to us about those who tell it?

What specifically does Genesis tell us about the Hebrews?

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What can we learn from studying different translations of a text, particularly the Bible?

By what are translations affected?

What is a good/bad translation?

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Here is my first mini essay.

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Aliviah's Mini Essay!

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Essay #2 - Stephanie M.

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Marcos Godoy- Bible As Literature Mini Essay #2

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Mini-Essay #1_ How Is Literature Influenced by Its Social Context

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Mini-Essay #2_ What Is One Literary Form of the Bible and What Can It Accomplish_

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Marcos Godoy-Mini Essay #3

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Knowing and understanding the social context of the world a book was written in can be vital in understanding text, especially when regarding such an old book as the Bible. The social world at the time of the Bible is so different from what we know nowadays, meaning some things in the text may stand out to us as odd but are actually just products of their time. While it may not be necessary to know the context to understand the text, it helps frame the text and allows you to analyze not just the text itself but its intent and implications.

As said in The Social World of the Old Testament “Whether one focuses on the social world depicted in the Old Testament or existing behind the Old Testament, it is clear that there are numerous subsidiary worlds: the world of genders, the world of the household, the world of the extended family, the world of the local community, and the world of the state” (Petersen, 68), there are so many social dynamics of the world that come into play in the text that affects the stories, what the characters do, and how the stories are presented and told.

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There are many different literary forms in the Bible. The Bible means “little books” and the meaning of that name really shows when you consider the make up of the Bible. “...a collection of literature, containing narratives, poetry, prophetic books, letters, and apocalypses. It is not organized according to type of literature: rather, different kinds of literature (called “books”) stand side by side” (Keck and Tucker, 12).

The most notable one of these forms to me are the letters. The New Testament is composed of mostly letters, really cementing the role of letters as an important part of the spread of Christianity. When you think of letters you think of letters that are usually a communication between 2 or maybe a couple of people but you don’t usually see them escaping that small circle of people. Instead in this case, you have them not only being used in such a public way but as their own genre of writing and their own art form. It is really interesting, especially in 2025 when so much of our communication is informal and over technology, to really see and grasp the impact of letters and how these allowed Christianity to be spread and shared through the words of Paul and the other letter writers.

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I think early creation myths not only allow us insight on civilizations and their belief systems but also allow us a peek into the human psyche and the natural want for answers. By looking at creation myths and the religions and beliefs that surround them, it helps us be able to understand the culture of whatever group is being examined. We can study how the Chrisitan creation myth as told in Genesis involves God creating everything within 7 days while in Greek mythology, Chaos is one being that creates other beings and then those beings expand and create others until there is a full pantheon and populated universe; it allows us to see how these ideas of monotheistic vs polytheistic religions explain their deities.

It also allows us to see that the human nature of curiosity and wonder is nothing new. As far back as there have been people, there have been people wondering and wanting to make stories to explain how things came to be. They see something that they don’t know the answer behind and instead of letting that stop them, they use it as inspiration to come up with an answer. I think creation myths and tales believed in ancient civilizations are so fascinating to study because it lets us see what life was like for them a bit but it also reminds us that they really aren’t that different from us today.

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Mini-Essay #4_ What Are the Issues with Translation_