Here is critically important information about the CWV study guides and quizzes.

Study Guides

All the answers in your study guides must come from your own reading of the textbook, Topic Overviews, and Bible. 

The purpose of the study guide is to help you read and engage with the course materials for yourself and to help you prepare for the quizzes by adequately reading the course materials. If you get stuck on a study guide question, reach out to me for help; I will be happy to help you.

Quizzes

Be sure to complete the study guide before taking the quiz as you can use them during the timed quiz!

Before you begin a quiz, follow these steps to avoid technical problems:

·       Make sure you are using Google Chrome (preferred) or Mozilla Firefox. Do not use Internet Explorer or Safari.

·       Clear your cache and cookies from your internet history (call Tech Support for assistance if you do not know how to do this).

·       Close all other internet windows and browsers.

·       Avoid using public Wi-Fi. A wired connection is preferable.

·       If you are using a laptop, make sure your battery is fully charged or plugged in.

As you take the quiz, please keep these in mind.

·       The quiz is open note so make sure your topic study guides are complete. I would recommend printing them out so that you have a hard copy in front of you and do not have to go back and forth on your computer screen.

·       Once you begin, you must complete it within the allotted time (30 minutes). You cannot stop and start again later. You cannot open up another internet window or go to another website while you take the quiz. If your battery dies or goes to sleep, the quiz will close. Make sure you plug in your laptop so your battery does not run down. All of these will cause the quiz to close, and your final score will be a zero.

·       You must complete the quiz before midnight on Sunday (AZ time). Therefore, you should leave yourself enough time. It will close at midnight, and if you have not finished, your final score will be a zero.

·       Do not overthink. Each question will have some key words that will connect to your readings and topic reviews. The questions are not trying to trick you, but they are trying to test your understanding beyond just rote memorization. Do not try to outthink the quiz. Read the questions carefully but do not overanalyze. Relax and trust your preparation!

Thanks,

Instructor Brian Fulthorp

For the complete video tutorial please scroll down to end!!

Part 1

Please be detailed. Explain what you believe and why. Write two to three full sentences for each question on this part. Answer the questions according to what you believe or think you believe.

The question about ultimate reality is asking you what you think is the ultimate reality of the universe (the foundation for everything in the universe). Is it God? Is it the universe itself (and nothing more)? Is it yourself? If your answer is God, then explain what you believe about God. If it is the universe, then tell how the universe causes everything. If you think it is yourself, explain how you are the foundation for everything else in the universe.

The question about the universe is asking you what you think about the nature of reality. Is the universe mere physical reality, or are there spiritual or supernatural elements to the universe?

The question about human nature is asking you to explain what a human being is. Also, is there life after death?

The question about knowledge is asking you to explain how you gain knowledge and why knowledge is important to you.

The question about ethics is asking you to explain your values or commitments, and how did you arrive at these values.

The question about purpose is asking you to explain the reasons for your existence, what are your short and long-term goals, and what is the ultimate or fundamental purpose for your life.

Part 2

Pay attention to the word count requirement for each question on Part 2. It is 200-300 words for each question.

Question 1: The question about the practical test is asking you to evaluate your worldview according to this worldview test. Is your worldview livable? What kind of life does it lead to? What kind of society would it lead to if everyone lived it out? Please read chapter 2 of the textbook, section “Worldview Analysis and Evaluation,” for a description of the practical test.

Question 2: This question is asking you to explain two things: 1) what the essence or the fundamental belief(s) of Christianity is, and 2) how a person becomes a Christian. If you are unfamiliar with how a person becomes a Christian, see the following article https://www.blueletterbible.org/faq/don_stewart/don_stewart_509.cfm

Before you do this assignment:

Read the Grading Rubric! 

It will show you how your assignment will be graded. It is found at Tasks >> Assignments >> Basic Components of Worldview >> Grading Rubric (Upper right Corner)

Read the Topic 1 readings:

To understand the meaning of the questions, please read your textbook chapters (especially Ch. 2). This assignment will be much easier if you do the topic reading first. This is one of those assignments that if you do not do the reading, it will quickly show in your work.

*I am also attaching a Help-Aid Template for you and will have one for each week’s assignments.

I look forward to reviewing your work.

Everyone,

This topic, you will be completing the “Who Do you Say Jesus Is?” assignment. In this assignment, you will write what Christians believe about who Jesus is and also provide your own viewpoint as well. Here are some pointers:

1) See the Grading Rubric so that you will know how the assignment will be evaluated. You can find the grading rubric within the assignment directions.

2) Use the template: Just add your answers.

3) Your answers to all questions have minimum word counts on each. Please take note of how many words are required,

4) Use  academic commentary as a source for both question #1 and question #2! A commentary is a specific type of source. The textbook and topic overviews are not commentaries. Do not use random internet sources, only sources on the resource list!

Short version: Here are two great commentaries that you need to use: the IVP New Testament Commentary and the Wm. B. Eerdmann's Commentaries (Matthew), (Luke) & (John).

Please make sure you are using in-text citations for these 2 commentaries in all each paragraph, along with the Bible verses you are using.

5) How to cite the Commentaries: the GCU library has done a great service by providing the academic commentaries for your use. Unfortunately, the entries they give are not terribly helpful with the reference list information. The Keener example in the worksheet is in the correct format. You may use that one, or with the commentary you use, or go to the announcements that has the correct reference and citation. You will find the author, title, publisher, date, etc. Then, use the Keener example as a template. (Don't forget to use in-text citations!) Please also check out the article before this one about how to cite Bible commentaries.

6) Choose one of the New Testament passages listed in question 1 and answer the sub-questions (a-c) listed under 1 with that passage in mind. For 1b, focus on how someone from a Pantheist and someone from an Atheist worldview would look at the concepts of the passage. Yes, these groups do not accept the Bible or the Christian concept of God. From there, how would they see the other concepts of the passage you chose? (Don't forget to use in-text citations!)

7) Your answer to Question #2 ought to be focused on the nature of Christ, what Jesus is like, more than what he did. (Don't forget to use in-text citations from the Commentary!)

8) Question 3 ought to be written from your personal point of view. (You don't need in-text citations here unless you are taking an idea or a quote from another source...)

I look forward to reviewing your work.

I am attaching the Help-Aid template within this Padlet and in the Resources Tab of Halo for you to look over and use as you are working through the assignment!

Class,

For Part 2, you are going to need to select a Christian organization. I've had multiple questions on how to cite the website in 7th edition APA. 

Because the organizations are different types of pages, and organizations, it is difficult for me to give you one response and an example. Instead, I have provided a link above to a library guide from another institution. 

Check it out, and let me know if you have further questions in Messages, but please let me know that you checked the padlet and still need help so I can know how to direct you best and won't be sending you back to the padlet or the same source.

These resources should also be included on a reference page at the end of this document which the link above also has examples of. **ONLY USE THE ONES IN THE TOPIC RESOURCES**

You have a benchmark assignment due this week. Here are some tools and reminders to help you with it.

**Please note it is not intended as a forum to explain what others believe about Christianity or about your own specific worldview, but to demonstrate that you are learning the course material. That is the reason why we call it a benchmark assignment, it is a benchmark to demonstrate what you have learned so far. If this is not articulated in your content, points will be deducted.**

1)There is an template in the assignment drop box as well as a Help-Aid Template here. It is a requirement to use either template. Leave all the questions and answer boxes in place and type your content for each section right into the template.

2) Here is a link to the APA 7^th edition Style guide from GCU - https://libguides.gcu.edu/APA Be sure to use this website to help you format the in-text citations, and the references.

3) You need to use the specific sources that are listed for each part. You can only use the topic resources. I will not accept any outside sources from the Internet - they will not count toward your sources. Please do not use the Mystery of Original Sin article or the Bible Commentaries as those automatically have me question if you copied and pasted your other assignment(s) into your work. Only use the ones listed.

4)Please remember it is against GCU’s policy to use previous assignments for the content of the current assignment. You will need to do a fresh assignment from scratch. If you use previous assignments such as the Consequences of the Fall or Who Do you say Jesus is for topic 4, this will result in an automatic 0.

5) Be sure to document all content from sources with in-text citations and a reference page. Make sure you note the changes in citation rules regarding the Bible from APA 6^th edition to 7^th – You will need to do both in-text citations and a reference for the Bible.

6) Cite content from sources whether that content is directly quoted, paraphrased, summarized or you used their ideas. 

7) Avoid using too many direct quotes. Only use direct quotes if the original content is very poetic or very technical. Otherwise, paraphrase it in your own words. If you do quote something, be sure it is placed within quotation marks.

8) Be sure to check the LopesWrite report and then fix any issues before submitting the assignment to me! The similarity score will show something because it is a templated assignment. Any content that is underlined in blue in the report should be cited or it should be something that is part of the template (like the questions). See the padlet map article "LopesWrite & Plagiarism" for more information on a checklist for LopesWrite. The score for quoted material should be no more than 35% (and the lower the better) and all quoted material must also be cited with an in-text citation. Also, fix any writing problems identified by the report. If you see any issues with matching content or too many quotes, fix these problems, and resubmit to LopesWrite as many times as needed to check your work. Only click final submit once you have fixed all the issues (including similarity, too many quotes or writing mechanics. You have the full opportunity to fix them before ever sending the assignment to me.

10) Look at the rubric before working on your assignment. This will help you know what is expected.

I am looking forward to reading your great insights in your benchmarks!

Please reply to let me in the "Important Course Information DQ" know you will follow these instructions and that you will download and type into the template located in the drop box.

Class,

This week you will be filling out a worksheet for your assignment about the topic of Origins. Here are keys to creating a successful assignment.

1. Read the Bible passage Genesis 1 & 2, or you can listen to this audio version - https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/niv/Gen.1 and after reflecting/listening on it read instructions in the assignment drop box. Review the rubric in the assignment drop box very carefully. Follow the instructions and the rubric to the letter. Fill out the worksheet. Do not leave out any of the required content.

2. Follow the word count. Go a little above so you can make sure you hit the word count. (Please note it is not an essay, but a worksheet.) Each section you should be writing at least 250-350 words without including the questions. For example, part 1 should be a minimum of 250 to 350 words, then part 2 should be a minimum of 250 to 350 words, then part 3 should be 250-350 words.

3. Use scholarly sources. The only websites I will accept as sources are websites that are included in the syllabus for topic 2.  Otherwise, all content needs to be supported with scholarly sources. The more scholarly the sources, the higher the assignment can score on the rubric.

4. Use the GCU Library for sources outside of the reading material – but the 2 to 4 sources can also be a Chapter or the Topic Overview from your reading.

5. Cite all content from sources in your answers and in your reference list (i.e., your last page).

6. Use the template posted in the assignment grade box assignment or task box (which correspond to the rubric).

7. DO NOT quote content from your sources (even the Bible) unless it is absolutely necessary - even then, stick with shorter amounts of direct quotations. Summarize the content from sources. 

8. Here is a Visual Commentary from the Bible Project on this passage:

https://youtu.be/afVN-7vY0KA 

Let me know if you have any questions. Please respond to this post letting me know that you have read it.

I also attached the Help-Aid template here, feel free to use it, but please delete the extra comments that I placed under the instructions that elaborate on the assignment. 

Class,

This week our main assignment is the Truth & Ethics worksheet. Here are some pointers:

1) Remember that the overall goal is to understand what ethical foundation the Christian worldview is supported with. How does ethics affect how you see self, others, life, the world, and God?

2) Pay attention to word count. Your answers each have a minimum word count.

3) Be sure to use the Case studies document and choose one of those case studies in questions 2.

4) Hint For 2d. When it says, What are Bible passages (cite at most three); "Cite" only means to make sure you are using the in-text citation and not place it word for word in the section. You can summarize the Bible verses and make sure you are citing them with an in-text citation.  (Please note how to cite Bible verses in APA formatting 7th edition - https://libguides.gcu.edu/APA/In-textCitations Go to - "Citing the Bible"

5) Also see chapter 7 under Moral Absolutes. It will help you to be more in-depth in your answer.

https://bibliu.com/app/#/view/books/1000000000607/epub/Chapter7.html#page_178

6) See the grading rubric within the assignment directions to view how this assignment will be graded.

I look forward to what you will write. Feel free to ask questions along the way.

Also, I am attaching the APA formatting 7th edition GCU Style Guide in the Class Resources tab along with the help-aid template. Please look it over for more information on how to cite and reference your sources.

During CWV you will need to use the GCU library to find scholarly sources for some assignments. You will need to do library research beginning in topic 2. I do not accept websites for sources; you will need to use only scholarly sources.

The GCU librarians have developed a special library webinar for CWV students. This webinar will help you conduct effective research. I suggest that you take the webinar during topic 1 or topic 2.

You will need to register for the CWV Webinar. After you register you will receive a link via email that will let you log in to the actual webinar. Here is a link that will take you to the library webinar page

 http://libguides.gcu.edu/webinars 

Or, from Halo you can go to Class Resources > Library > Webinars and Workshops > CWV Webinar.

If you cannot make the GCU library CWV Webinar, then I suggest you take the GCU Library Introduction webinar during topic 1 or topic 2.

To earn participation credit for registering for a library webinar during topic 1, click on “Discussion Forums” along the left side of the Halo screen, then click on “CWV Library Webinar.”  

At the start of this class, I want to make sure that my policies regarding Google and AI use and other AI assistant help is very clear.

For some of you, you have no idea about what AI is. It is something our world has been thrust into where AI's are being used and transforming the way we do our work, and even education. I wanted to give you some guidelines on this for now until there are more firm policies across the board at GCU. For now, we are treating it much like Google. We ask that you not Google anything in the class. All you need is within the Course materials and the GCU library.

Here are some basic guidelines

Please Do Not:

1) Copy/paste anything written by ChatGPT into your assignment as that would be plagiarism. 

A core value of writing is that it forces us to organize our thoughts and is a key element in critical thinking. This is better developed when you are using your own mind, and heart into thinking.

2) Use an AI Assistant to proofread your work or reword something for you. Currently you have this option via LopesWrite. Once you click submit, you can look at the assignment, and Grammarly will go through your assignment. At that point, you have the option to submit a new assignment without any recourse.

Please only stay within the boundaries we have given you. You might be using AI as a help in other courses, but every course is different. For these assignments, we want you to develop critical thinking skills.

Thanks!!

Instructor Brian Fulthorp

* Prepare by reviewing all your study guides throughout the week.

* The exam is 30 questions long. Half the questions will be about the topic 8 readings and have the questions will be review from topics 1-7. 

Remember, there is a hard deadline at the end of the course. If you do not successfully complete the exam by Sunday at 11:59pm there is no way to make it up; the course is closed. Here are the things you need to keep in mind for the final exam.

Before you begin, please follow these steps to avoid technical problems:

*Make sure you are using Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, or Mozilla Firefox. Do not use Internet Explorer or Safari.

*Clear your cache and cookies from your internet history (call Tech Support for help if you do not know how to do this).

*Close all other internet windows and browsers.

*Avoid using public Wi-Fi. A wired connection is preferable. 

*If you are using a laptop, make sure your battery is fully charged or plugged in.

As you take the exam, please keep these in mind. 

* The exam is open note and comprehensive so make sure your study guides are complete. Print out your study guides and have them in front of you. Do not switch tabs on your computer once you begin the exam.

*Once you begin, you must complete it within the allotted time. You cannot stop and start back up later. You cannot open up another internet window or go to another website while you take the exam. If your battery dies or goes to sleep, the exam will close. Make sure you plug in your laptop so your battery does not run down. All of these will cause the exam to close, and your final score will be a zero.

*You must complete the exam before 11:59pm on Sunday. Therefore, you should leave yourself enough time. It will close at midnight, and if you have not finished, your final score will be a zero.

*Do not overthink. Each question will have some key words that will connect to your readings and study guides. The questions are not trying to trick you, but they are trying to test your understanding not just rote memorization. Do not try to outthink the exam. Read the questions carefully but do not overanalyze. Relax and trust your preparation!

 
Important information about timing.
* I very much suggest that you take it by Friday. I do not work on weekends, so if you wait until the weekend and have a problem with the exam, I will not be able to help you, and you will receive a zero for the exam. 

*Also, remember that I am not in the office on weekends, so you cannot reach me in the private forum, by phone, or by email on the weekend. 

I have every confidence you can do really well on the exam. Just take a deep breath and trust your preparation :)

I want to encourage you to finish strong as we have two weeks left! 

https://media.giphy.com/media/3o6wNIb62o2aPuawQU/giphy.gif 

This is the padlet for your assignment pointers for Topic 7!  

I have had students struggle with this week’s DQ. So I thought I would share a bit of how I would respond to this discussion question.

Atheists and Christians agree that the universe exists and had a beginning. There are many points of potential disagreement, but the essential point of disagreement from which the rest flow has to do with the agency or author of creation. God as creator is a non-negotiable belief for a Christian. The details of how long God took or the mechanism he used may vary from person to person, but the fact that God is the sovereign creator does not vary. For the Atheist, God is unnecessary so the starting point is impersonal and material. Either chance or determinism completely govern the process, rather than the personal and intentional decision of God.

For the Atheist matter and impersonal forces dictate reality. So meaning and purpose are generated by people rather than a transcendent source. The options for meaning and purpose, and even for morality are left in the hands and up to the creativity and desires of people, according to the context in which they find themselves. So the rules for decision making can vary widely in Atheism and generalizations can be problematic. An Atheist may have the same morals as the Christian, but life will not be dedicated to the same purposes or have the same meaning.

Christians will consult God, church leadership, and other Christians on life decisions. They will follow guidance from the Bible and from God’s Spirit. They seek life direction, engage in daily activities, and make both short and long term decisions based on the reality of a personal, creator God who is the source and center of all that exists. God is the focus of their universe and their devotion, their purpose and their meaning.

Many behaviors may be the same if the Atheist and Christian were raised in the same general cultural context, but the motivations, purposes, and meanings should be significantly different.

1) Discussion Question answers (With SUBSTANTIVE POSTS)

2) Substantive Replies for participation credit.

Here is how to earn 100% for each:

Discussion Question Answers:

Your Discussion Question answers should consist of the following components:

1. IF you do not know where to start for your Discussion Question, then in your answer you can use the wording of the question in your answer. So if your forum question was something like, “How do you think the creation account in Genesis would affect a Christian’s worldview?” Your answer could be worded something like, “I believe that a Christian’s worldview would be affected by the creation account in Genesis in the following ways ____________.” Then you would fill in the blank. (Please note this is only for the Discussion Question, and not elsewhere because if you do this in the Topic Assignment, your LopesWrite score will be too high). 

2. Your answers need to give reasons why you believe what you believe. What I mean by this is give support for why you think that this is true. Do not only state, “I believe that a Christian’s worldview would be affected by the creation account in Genesis because it is in the Bible.” While this is a fine start, you need some more development.

3. I am looking for at least 125 words in these answers, and please answer each question in a separate paragraph. A one-sentence answer is not sufficient. Interacting with and citing the topic reading is especially encouraged.

4. It is not required but is recommended to end your post with a question. That invites discussion.

5. If the question has more than one question, be sure to answer all the questions with a separate paragraph.

6. You need to answer the first question by day 3 and the second question by day 5. Your fellow students are depending on you to post so they can reply

Eight Substantive Replies Earns 100% Participation Credit:

First, I would like to describe what a substantive reply is not. A substantive reply is not, “I agree with your post, great thoughts” or “Thank you for your post I really like what you had to say.” It is good to communicate briefly like this with fellow students, but posts like this will not count toward your substantive post requirement.

A substantive reply is at least 75 words (at least 3 entirely full lines in the default font and size) and contributes to the conversation in a meaningful way. One way to do this is to pick up on an aspect of your classmates post and expand upon it. So you could say, “I really liked what you said about _______. I would like to add to that by sharing a personal experience with you. (Then share the experience).” Or you could write something like, “What you wrote reminded me of this quote that I am fond of (then give the quote and explain it).” This is a CWV course and I am sure that many of you will find that this is a good place to share brief passages from the Bible or a brief quote from the topic reading.

For this class, CWV101, you will need to have at least 8 substantive replies to fellow classmates or my posts. These replies should be spread out over at least 4 days. You can have more than this, but to receive full participation credit you need to have at least 8 substantive replies to fellow classmates spread out over multiple days. So if you have 8 substantive replies, but they were all on Sunday night then you would not receive full credit for the discussion in that week.

I am looking forward to our discussions!

Grace & Peace,

Instructor Brian Fulthorp

Class,

Here are some pointers for this topic's Consequences of the Fall and Contemporary Response:

(1) I strongly encourage you to do the topic reading before attempting the assignment. Chapter 4, Topic 3 Overview and “The Mystery of Sin.” The reading will add depth and complexity to your answers that will be noticeable.

(2) See the Grading Rubric to see how I will be grading the assignment. To find the Grading Rubric click on the assignment within the calendar and then click on the rubric.

The first part of the assignment involves examining the immediate implications of the fall. The second and third parts of the assignment address how the effects of the fall are still evident in the world today.

(3) In Part 1, write a paragraph for each of the 5 questions listed. Your total word count for each question should be 100-150 words.  Pay attention to word count! Being under word count will result in fewer points earned. Part 1 requires the use of 2 sources from the topic reading.

(4) In Part 2, Select a Christian organization from the "Christian Organizations That Address a Consequence of the Fall" list provided in the Resources tab for topic 3. (Please see following post on Padlet for citation information)

Based upon your selection, research the issue that organization addresses. Use and cite at least two academic resources from the GCU Library. Cite all of the resources used with in-text citations.

These resources should also be included on a reference page at the end of this document

(5) Don’t use a lot of direct quotations – this also includes quoting scripture verses. Instead summarize the material that you are reading, and then add an in-text citation at the end.  Each of the two parts requires sources for a total of 4 sources. The Textbook, topic overview, and required articles in the topic reading are great sources!

1)Topic Overview In-text Citation Example - - (Grand Canyon University [GCU], 2025). (Organization of Publication, Year of Publication). After the first citation you can simply use (GCU, 2025) for further citations of the same Topic Overview.

The main way to know the location of the citation is when you are referencing it. Here's an example - 

Grand Canyon University. (2025). CWV-101 topic 1 overview [Class document]. Halo. https://halo.gcu.edu/learning

Platform/user/login.lc 

 2)Bible In-text Citation Example - (The Holy Bible, New International Version, 1973/2011, Genesis 1:1) or after this, (Genesis 1:2) (Bible Version, date of original publication/date of most current publication, Book Chapter: Verse). The next time you cite a Bible verse you don't need to keep including the version of the Bible, unless you change versions that you are using. (Genesis 1:2)

 3) CWV Chapter In-text Citation Example - (Diffey, 2022). (Author's last name, Year of Publication).

Please feel free to ask questions along the way. I am also attaching the Help Aid Template here for you to access and use. Please delete all the black and red help-aid template instructions that are in there to give you guidance on specifics. 

Here is the Help Aid Template for your final assignment called “Finding Your Purpose”!

Buechner is found in Chapter 10's Reading material. 

**Reminder**Please don't use Google or any outside sources other than the GCU library and your topic resources.

Don't forget word count!!! Don't forget in-text citations per each answer!!! https://libguides.gcu.edu/APA/In-textCitations 

Don't forget formatting your reference page correctly!!! https://libguides.gcu.edu/APA/ReferenceExamples 

I’m rooting for you! 

If you have any questions, please feel free to message me. 

In the assignment for Topic 4, you are asked to use and cite a commentary. Some may not even know what a commentary is! Please read the following.

What is a commentary? A commentary is a monograph (very similar to a book) that goes verse by verse with the Bible and investigates what the Bible says and then provides explanations and meanings.

Citing Commentaries. Commentaries are often found in series, which can get confusing. It gets even more confusing when they are then placed on a website and it's difficult to find the information. So, below are the proper methods for citing the commentaries you might use for this assignment. Please cut and paste the appropriate entry into your Reference page. (But make sure the font, size, and background of the text is the same as the rest of the paper. Also, these must be hanging indents in your reference page).

References:

IVP Bible Background Commentary - New Testament
Keener, Craig S. (2014). The IVP Bible Background 

Commentary: New Testament (2nd ed). IVP Academic. https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.lopes.idm.oclc.org/lib/gcu/detail.action?docID=3316816.

Matthew - New American Commentary

Blomberg, C. L. (1992). Matthew: An exegetical and theological exposition of holy scripture. B&H Publishing Group. https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.lopes.idm.oclc.org/lib/gcu/detail.action?docID=680791#

Luke - The Pillar New Testament Commentary

Edwards, J. R. (2015). The gospel according to Luke. William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.lopes.idm.oclc.org/lib/gcu/detail.action?docID=4859875#

John - New International Commentary

Michaels, J. R. (2010). The Gospel of John. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.lopes.idm.oclc.org/lib/gcu/detail.action?docID=4860123#

In-text citations:
IVP Bible Background Commentary - New Testament

(Keener, 2014)

Matthew - New American Commentary

(Blomberg, 1992)

Luke - The Pillar New Testament Commentary

(Edwards, 2015)

John - New International Commentary

(Michaels, 2010)

Links to the Commentaries:
IVP Bible Background Commentary New Testament -

https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.lopes.idm.oclc.org/lib/gcu/detail.action?docID=3316816

Matthew - New American Commentary

https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.lopes.idm.oclc.org/lib/gcu/detail.action?docID=680791#

Luke - The Pillar New Testament Commentary

https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.lopes.idm.oclc.org/lib/gcu/detail.action?docID=4859875#

John - New International Commentary

https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.lopes.idm.oclc.org/lib/gcu/detail.action?docID=4860123#

I wanted to reach out to you collectively and make sure you all understood thoroughly what happens with LopesWrite and what is plagiarism.

LopesWrite scores do not always tell me if a student has plagiarized. It tells me when there is something similar in your work to either another student's work, another website, or another book or our course material. Here are a few reasons why a student might have a higher than normal LopesWrite score.

1) Sometimes when you have a worksheet template, the score will go up higher because it is similar to the template.

2) A student did not meet the minimum word count requirement. When there are blank spaces, or incomplete parts, the score is higher because of the ratio of similarity within the assignment in conjunction to word count.

3)There are too many direct quotes. Please try to stay away from a lot of direct quotes. For the amount of work you do on the assignments, it weighs down the assignment with other peoples thoughts and words instead of yours. I want to hear how YOU are processing the material. Try to stay away from too many direct quotes in your writing. Instead, summarize the material and then use an in-text citation at the end.

4) A student has used Google, and the information Googled is actually another student's work and not the "Study Sheet" it claimed to be. Unfortunately students have given out their work freely over the internet. This is why you do not have access to your quiz answers - because too many students were posting it across the internet. What students often do not know is that if anyone uses this material, it will show up as another students' work. Even if you have no idea who that student is. Instructors see the names of the students from those parallel assignments. Everything done in secret always comes to light. PLEASE DO NOT USE GOOGLE FOR YOUR ASSIGNMENTS IN THIS CLASS.

5) Students have not used in-text citations or quotation marks.

6) You have begun the first part of your answer with using part of the question to your answer. For example, In the Basic Components of Worldview, #2 asks, "What is your belief about the nature of the universe? Why?" If you were to answer like this -

"My belief about the nature of the universe is..." LopesWrite would count that as similar. Your instructors know how to look over this as well. But it is better to just write the answer instead of repeating the question from the assignment.

7) There was a glitch in the system.

https://media.giphy.com/media/xTiQyohZdXceENvkcM/giphy.gif

All of that to say - while there is a particular rule of thumb as to your LopesWrite scores, Instructors ALWAYS look over the LopesWrite Scores even if they say 0%. I have caught a few acts of plagiarism even though it said 0%. Someone thought they knew how to get around the system.

Now that I have shared with you all my secrets...you know! If you have a high LopesWrite score, I do not generally accuse you of intentional plagiarism. I just want to know what happened, and I want to help you not make that mistake again. In other words, I want to stop the hemorrhaging.

If you need help, you can contact your counselor, and they will help you find someone who can help tutor you. 

After a whirlwind of discussions posted last week, I want to remind you that the Assignment pointers will be posted first at the beginning of the topic here.

You are welcome to check them out, let me know if you have any questions.

This is from the Class Resources and Instructions. Please note what is says:

To prepare for the topic discussion questions, review one of the following movies rich in worldview material from your local library or streaming service. Further prepare for this activity by carefully reading the instructions in the discussion question.

1. Amazing Grace (2006)

2. Arrival (2016)

3. Bonhoeffer (2024)

4. Contact (1997)

5. The Chronicles of Narnia (2005)

6. Dr. Strange (2016)

7. The Fountain (2006)

8. It's a Wonderful Life (1946) [Note: this movie has free access on YouTube.]

9. Moana (2016)

One exception to this - I will also allow you to use A Christmas Carol as an alternate. Here is the Charles Dickens classic, 1984 version (a must-see) on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZI5UWo7NCdY (skip ahead to 3:30):

Here are some suggestions for accessing these:

1) Amazon Prime has the classic It’s a Wonderful Life (B&W or Color),YouTube has A Christmas Carol, movie for free. All the others are available for rent.

2) Dr. Strange, Moana and all of The Chronicles of Narnia movies are on Disney+

3) Visit your local public library.

Be prepared to discuss your findings based on your viewing and reflections.

Please don't discuss a movie that is not on this list for your DQ 2 response. It will receive a zero.

You made it!!

Congratulations - Please see the Final Weeks Information Post in our Discussion Forum for this week for more information.

It has been an honor having you as students!

PS - Please don't forget to check out the Help-Aid Template! And do not use Google or AI (Grammarly, ChatGPT, OpenAI, etc.) for your work. It would be easy to end with this, but please don't cheat yourself out of an education.

Here are the Assignment Pointers for Topic 4. 

Please take note of what a Biblical Commentary is - as you will need to use one or 2. If you are not 100% sure, please ask! I am here to help you! 

How to Use the Commentaries for this Assignment

This week is the Week we start discussing Genesis 2-3 and the Fall of Humanity! 

This padlet will be here if you have any questions about the assignments.

Let me know if you have any questions. 

Download the attachment and save it to your computer for easy access. Follow these instructions for citing the CWV textbook, the topic overviews, and the Bible.  Because I am providing this document I expect that you will always use it and that you will correctly cite these sources in your assignments.

The Discussion Question asks you to focus on someone with a different worldview and worldview has to do with “the big questions of life.” Keep in mind, a difference of opinion on an issue, be it politics or raising children or many other practical issues in life, may have nothing to do with holding a different worldview.

Read the following definition of worldview to understand what qualifies as a different worldview.

“Just what is a worldview? A worldview, or world-and-life view, is often defined as a belief system that a person uses to answer the big questions of life. These questions include the origin of the universe and of humanity, the purpose of human existence, the existence of God, and how one should relate to God. In this context, atheism is not the absence of religion. Rather it is a belief system that answers these questions differently than a God-centered belief system” (Haarsma & Haarsma, 2013, para 2).

When you answer this discussion question, strive to think of an example that includes someone from a different worldview family than yourself, someone who answers the big questions of life differently than you do.

Haarsma, D. & Haarsma, L. (2013), Are Scientists Biased by Their Worldviews?  http://biologos.org/blogs/deborah-haarsma-the-presidents-notebook/are-scientists-biased-by-their-worldviews#sthash.DhEkEQY4.dpuf

Your Benchmark Essay is due, so I will do what I can to help!! 

This is the padlet for your assignment pointers for this week! 

Please be sure to review the entire course syllabus during topic 1 so that you understand the requirements for successful completion of the course. You will find the syllabus along the left side of the screen in Halo.

Also, be sure to note the instructions in the syllabus regarding the Bible. The syllabus states,

• This course requires the use of a Bible. Students should use one of the following versions: the English Standard Version (ESV), the New International Version (NIV), or the New American Standard Bible (NASB). Each of these versions is available in print. These versions are also available for free at www.Biblegateway.com .

• Students might also find it helpful to choose a study Bible such as the Life Application Study Bible NIV or the ESV Study Bible in order to take advantage of additional information.

• You can look through this PowerPoint to find out more about Bible Basics!

I wanted to mention here in CWV-101, we love to cultivate discussion and dialogue as much as possible. 

 That means that ANY thread you reply to (as long as you answer in 75 words or more) is an opportunity for participation credit. 

The main responses to the DQ itself are not part of the “6 substantive posts.” These are your main responses, and I grade these more strictly to make sure you are answering the questions adequately and thoroughly. Those need to be 100 words with each answer separated into a paragraph for each question you are answering. 

I hope this helps to clarify a bit!

If you are retaking CWV, please send me a message in Halo right away to let me know this is a retake for you and so we can discuss a plan for proceeding with the class. 

I highly recommend that you do all new work this time around; in my experience, when students have re-used work they do not re-engage with the class, and they usually do not pass the retake. However, when they have done new work and fully re-engaged, they have passed the retake. I want you to do well, so please do new work. 

Here are my expectations for the Discussion Forum. (Total Weekly Participation - 6 times a week - 3 different days, Mon-Sun; Twice per day is a general rule of thumb)

Discussion Questions:  

Each week you will need to answer two Discussion Questions. 

·      The first DQ each week is due by 11:59pm (Arizona time) on Wednesday 

·      The second DQ each week is due by 11:59pm (Arizona time) on Friday 

DQ replies should be 100-150 words. If the DQ includes more than one question, each question should be answered in a separate paragraph in your post. When you respond to the DQs I am looking for your own responses, with original thought, in your own words. Using supporting sources in your posts is great, but be sure to use scholarly sources (no websites), and cite your sources with in-text citations and a reference.  Do not use only another source to answer the questions. My expectation is that you will write your own thoughts in the DQ answers, and use supplemental sources to support your thoughts, if applicable. 

Type your response in the box; do not attach it as a Word document. Be sure that you only reply once the actual DQ and that your response to the DQ is your DQ answer. If you do not thread correctly, or if you include an attachment, your DQ answer will not show on my grading screen and you will not receive credit for it. It is the student’s responsibility to thread correctly.

Please note that once the week is over, I do not generally accept DQ's late or participation late, unless there is a personal/family emergency or military leave.

Participation: 

In addition to answering the two DQs you will need to post replies to your classmates (or to my additional questions) 2 times a day on 3 different days each week (which is a minimum 6 substantive replies). To receive credit for a post it must be substantive  (75 words or more) and add something new to the discussion. When I grade participation each substantive reply (up to 6 posts) will receive 2.75 points. You will receive 1.5 points for each day you post (up to 3 days). (6 substantive replies = 15.5 pts; 3 days = 4.5 pts. 15.5+ 4.5 = 20 total points and it includes DQ responses.) 8 total weekly replies & DQ posts.

What is meant by substantive?

In addition to adding something new to the discussion, a substantive post will move the discussion deeper, and it will typically be at least 75 words or three full sentences of content. Repeated ideas from another student’s post, compliments, or off topic comments in a post do not count as substance.

Tone:  

I expect that you will address each other and me at all times with the utmost respect. Before you submit a post, please review it to ensure that your tone and vocabulary are respectful of everyone in the class. Sarcasm is not appropriate in an academic forum. Writing in capital letters for emphasis is not appropriate. Do your best to write in a way that is encouraging of your classmates. I expect you to foster an atmosphere of curiosity and interest.

Remember that within our class we do not all have the same worldview. It is important that we are each respectful of other worldviews. One way to demonstrate respect is to frame your opinions and beliefs as your own opinions and beliefs, not as facts, for example, "In my opinion, the creation account in Genesis shows …” Even within a Christian worldview there are differences of interpretation and opinion. People who have the same worldview may not share the same opinion of every belief within that worldview. Remember that the Discussion Forum is an avenue for us to explore what we are learning and ask each other questions to help us better understand what we are learning. Per the GCU policy handbook, any activity in the classroom that does not foster a healthy learning environment and/or intimidates those in the class is considered a Code of Conduct violation. Seek to understand each other and the worldviews we are studying. Your respect will help create an atmosphere that is conducive to learning.

Format: 

I am the only one who will start new topics the forums. All your posts will be replies to existing posts.  

**Please do not post any links to outside materials or videos without my permission.**

I am looking forward to some great discussions in the weeks ahead!

Welcome to Week One of Christian Worldview 301. Before we get started in the Discussion Forums, I want to clarify my expectations for the Discussion Forum.

Discussion Questions: Each week you will respond to two Discussion Questions in the forum. 

• The first DQ (100+ words) each week is due by 11:59pm (Arizona time) on Wednesday 

• The second DQ (100 + words) each week is due by 11:59pm (Arizona time) on Friday

• * It is the same for DQ3 and DQ4. *

When you respond to the DQ's I am looking for your own responses, with original thought, in your own words. The responses to the 2 weekly DQ's need to be answered in a separate paragraph with 125 words minimum (this would be total words per DQ (DQ1 - 100+ words; DQ2 - 100 + words.) This is so I can see what response goes to which question and grade easier.  (4.75 points if you don’t separate the paragraphs when there is more than 1 prompt to answer.)  This is a professorial preference. It just makes it easier for me to grade. If you choose to use an additional source to support your thoughts, you must be sure to cite your source. Do not use only another source to answer the questions. My expectation is that you will write your own thoughts in the DQ answers. I do not expect you to supplement your answers with additional sources, but you may choose to do that; however, if you do, be sure to properly cite your source.

Please note I do not take late DQ's or participation after the week is done, unless there are special circumstances (Family or personal emergency or military leave).

Participation: Per GCU expectations, to receive full credit for participation, each week you must respond to the 2 required DQ's AND you must respond to other students’ posts or my responses/additional questions 2 times a day on 3 different days (6 substantive replies weekly). The DQ responses do not count toward the 2 times per day tally. When you respond to the 2 DQs, plus 2 other posts on 3 different days, you will have made a total of 8 posts in the Discussion Forum for the week. Please note that my expectations are responses of 75 words or more are generally considered substantive, anything under that (unless noted in the directions) will not be counted as substantive. (1 Substantive post = 2.75 pts, posting per day = 1.5 pt/day up to 3 days) 

Tone: I expect that you will address each other and me always with the utmost respect. Before you submit a post, please review it to ensure that your tone and vocabulary are respectful of everyone in the class. Remember that within our class we do not all have the same philosophical beliefs. It is important that we are each respectful of other beliefs. One way to demonstrate respect is to frame your opinions and beliefs as your own opinions and beliefs, not as facts. For example, "In my opinion, the creation account in Genesis would…" Even within a philosophical belief there are differences of interpretation and opinion. People who have the same philosophy may not share the same opinion of every belief within that philosophy. Remember that the Discussion Forum is an avenue for us to explore what we are learning, and to ask each other questions to help us better understand what we are learning. Your respect will help create an atmosphere that is conducive to learning. Also, please do not post any links or attachments unless expressly called for by one of my posts.

Format: When you reply to a post in the Discussion Forum, please click on the REPLY Tab. All your posts will be replies to existing posts.

I am looking forward to some great discussions in the weeks ahead! 

For example, for DQ1 this week, there are 2 questions. 

"After completing the topic readings, recall a time when you met someone with a different worldview than yours (e.g., pantheism, theism, atheism), and you had a difficult time relating. 

1. What challenges did you have relating to that person? 

2. How might an understanding of the other's worldview have helped you in that situation?  "

A. Please respond to each question separately.

1. Your responses to the challenges you had relating to the person and what is his/her worldview.

2. Your response to how an understanding of the other's worldview might have helped you in that situation.

B. Please respond with at least a total of 100 words minimum for both paragraphs.

Separate the paragraphs then with your word counter, you should have a minimum of 100 words total. This does not mean 100 words per paragraph.

If you have over the amount, that is perfectly fine and it will enhance your discussion and dialogue with others!!

If you still don't understand, then please feel free to message me. 

On the first Monday of each Topic, I will post "Assignment Pointers" for the end of the topic assignment. Sometimes if the DQ needs a little more clarification, I also post assignment pointers for the DQ in this announcement.

As for this week - Please do not get overwhelmed. I place all my expectations here in this Padlet, and assignment pointers for the topic's assignments such as topic quizzes and DQ's, so that you clearly understand the expectations. I will not post as many things in the coming weeks. But this week, I want to be clear on things and have a great start to the term! 

At any rate, check here for the assignment pointers! We are going to have a great term together!

If you'd like further information please head over to the final article on this padlet and scroll down:

Following are my policies for late and early assignments:

LATE ASSIGNMENTS

It is difficult to catch up if you get behind in this class, so do absolutely everything in your power to keep up with your work. However, if you end up needing to submit something late, keep the following in mind:

* I will accept late work for topics 1-5 up to 10 days after an assignment’s due date; after 10 days, an assignment may not be submitted at all.

*Please note that once the week is over, I do not generally accept DQ's late or participation late, unless there is a personal/family emergency or military leave.

* I will accept late work for topic 7 until noon on the final Friday of the class.

*Topic 8 work cannot be submitted late. Per GCU policy, once the class ends, no work may be submitted. All topic 7 work must be submitted by 11:59pm (AZ time) on the final day of class.

If you need a drop box opened, you will need to message me in Halo to ask. Please attach a copy of the assignment to the message to show me that it is completed and ready to submit to the drop box. Once I see that you have completed the assignment, then I will open the drop box. You must follow through and submit the assignment to the drop box because I can only grade work that is submitted through the drop box. Once a drop box is opened for a late submission, it will only remain open for 24-48 hours, so be sure to submit right away. 

Point Deductions

Class, You have probably looked at the Syllabus and Course Materials by now and realize there is a significant amount of work in this course. It will be easy for you to fall quickly behind to the point that you will not be able to catch up. So, I want to encourage you to stay current with the assignments.

As you know, the GCU Late Policy, (pg 38) as stated in the Online Classroom Policies, is a 10% per day penalty for late work. You can see that your grade suffers greatly for any late work. After just five days, this would give 100% work a failing grade. Here is my late policy for this course:

Main bi-weekly assignments (worksheets /essays):

• 1 to 5 days late: 10% deduction.

• Any time after five days: 25% deduction.

DQs cannot be late: No points for late submission of a DQ.

• DQ1 is due on Wednesday night (no credit for submission after Wednesday).

• DQ2 is due on Friday night (no credit for submission after Friday).

There is no credit for late Participation (after Sunday).

• Weekly participation ends on the Sunday night of each week.

• Every week starts a new topic of discussion.

• Do not go back to the previous week to respond. There is no credit for these responses.

• For full points: enter two responses during three different days of the week for a total of six responses (not including the two answers to the DQs)

Quizzes:

• Each topic there is a quiz. Please do not wait for Sunday, do the quiz early during the week.

• I will open a quiz for the following reasons only: Technical issues and emergencies.

No assignments will be accepted after the last day of class. That means you cannot turn the final module assignments in late. If you know that you are going to have a legitimate obstacle to meeting a deadline, please do everything you can to contact me before the deadline and not after. I want you to succeed. I can work with you if I hear from you. I cannot if I don’t.

I am putting this policy in place so that you are not crushed by late work when life happens. However, I want to provide you with sufficient motivation to stay on top of your work and not fall too far behind too quickly.

EARLY ASSIGNMENTS

If you choose to submit an assignment earlier than 48 hours before the due date you will need to post a message in the private forum alerting me to your submission, otherwise, I will not know that there is an assignment in the drop box that is ready for grading. You do not need to let me know about early quizzes or DQs, but do let me know about other early assignments.

While submitting assignments early is your prerogative and you may choose to do that, in my experience, assignments I have received early do not tend to be as thoroughly or accurately completed, and the scores earned tend to be lower than assignments completed and submitted after students have read all the material for the topic and engaged in class discussion throughout the topic. Therefore, I encourage you to work on your assignments throughout the topic, adding to them and editing as you learn more through the readings and class discussions during the topic, and then submit it within 48 hours of the due date.

QUIZZES

Quizzes lock at 11:59pm on the due date so do everything you can to take the quizzes on time. If you need a quiz reset, the late policy will apply.

Thanks,

Instructor Brian Fulthorp

We made it to Topic 6! This is the padlet for your assignment pointers for Topic 6! 

This week you get a break from a major assignment!! Celebrate! Start working on the topic 7 assignment, and if you end up turning it in early, please message me. :)

Thanks!

At the start of this class, I want to make sure that my policies regarding Google and AI use (Wordtune, ChatGPT, Grammarly, etc.) and other AI assistant help is very clear.

For some of you, you have no idea about what AI is. It is something our world has been thrust into where AI's are being used and transforming the way we do our work, and even education. I wanted to give you some guidelines on this for now until there are more firm policies across the board at GCU. For now, we are treating it much like Google. We ask that you not Google anything in the class. All you need is within the Course materials and the GCU library.

Here are some basic guidelines

Please Do Not:

1) Copy/paste anything written by ChatGPT or any other AI editing/ AI generative programs/software into your assignment as that would be considered plagiarism. 

A core value of writing is that it forces us to organize our thoughts and is a key element in critical thinking. This is better developed when you are using your own mind, and heart into thinking.

2) Use an AI Assistant to proofread your work or reword something for you. Currently you have this option via LopesWrite. Once you click submit, you can look at the assignment, and LopesWrite will go through your assignment. At that point, you have the option to submit a new assignment without any recourse.

Please only stay within the boundaries we have given you. You might be using AI as a help in other courses, but every course is different. For these assignments, we want you to develop critical thinking skills.

Thanks!!

Instructor Brian Fulthorp

I am grateful for the opportunity to be here with you all as we engage this subject. 

Christian Worldview 301 is a class that is core to the mission and purpose of GCU, a private Christian University. It is vital to the overall curriculum of the school. You will likely engage this issue in all of your classes to some degree, as it is integrated throughout. This class will help you grow in your understanding of what the Christian Worldview is and what it entails. With that being said, here is how best to contact me when you need assistance.  

The PRIMARY way to contact me is through messages in HALO.  But here is alternative info as needed. 

Brian Fulthorp
brian.fulthorp@my.gcu.edu

Blessings.

1) Discussion Question answers (With SUBSTANTIVE POSTS)

2) Substantive Replies for participation credit.

Here is how to earn 100% for each:

Discussion Question Answers:

Your Discussion Question answers should consist of the following components:

1. IF you do not know where to start for your Discussion Question, then in your answer you can use the wording of the question in your answer. So if your forum question was something like, “How do you think the creation account in Genesis would affect a Christian’s worldview?” Your answer could be worded something like, “I believe that a Christian’s worldview would be affected by the creation account in Genesis in the following ways ____________.” Then you would fill in the blank. (Please note this is only for the Discussion Question, and not elsewhere because if you do this in the Topic Assignment, your LopesWrite score will be too high). 

2. Your answers need to give reasons why you believe what you believe. What I mean by this is give support for why you think that this is true. Do not only state, “I believe that a Christian’s worldview would be affected by the creation account in Genesis because it is in the Bible.” While this is a fine start, you need some more development.

3. I am looking for at least 100 words in these answers, and please answer each question in a separate paragraph. A one-sentence answer is not sufficient. Interacting with and citing the topic reading is especially encouraged.

4. It is not required but is recommended to end your post with a question. That invites discussion.

5. If the question has more than one question, be sure to answer all the questions with a separate paragraph.

6. You need to answer the first question by day 3 and the second question by day 5. Your fellow students are depending on you to post so they can reply

Eight Substantive Replies Earns 100% Participation Credit:

First, I would like to describe what a substantive reply is not. A substantive reply is not, “I agree with your post, great thoughts” or “Thank you for your post I really like what you had to say.” It is good to communicate briefly like this with fellow students, but posts like this will not count toward your substantive post requirement.

A substantive reply is at least 75 words (at least 3 entirely full lines in the default font and size) and contributes to the conversation in a meaningful way. One way to do this is to pick up on an aspect of your classmates post and expand upon it. So you could say, “I really liked what you said about _______. I would like to add to that by sharing a personal experience with you. (Then share the experience).” Or you could write something like, “What you wrote reminded me of this quote that I am fond of (then give the quote and explain it).” This is a CWV course and I am sure that many of you will find that this is a good place to share brief passages from the Bible or a brief quote from the topic reading.

For this class, CWV301, you will need to have at least 6 substantive replies to fellow classmates or my posts. These replies should be spread out over at least 3 days. You can have more than this, but to receive full participation credit you need to have at least 6 substantive replies to fellow classmates spread out over multiple days. So if you have 6 substantive replies, but they were all on Sunday night then you would not receive full credit for the discussion in that week.

I am looking forward to our discussions!

Grace & Peace,

Instructor Brian Fulthorp