Waverley Christian College Logo

View Curriculum Guide Index

VCE Humanities: Texts and Traditions (Elective)

“A thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than a college education.” Theodore Roosevelt

Overview

This subject provides students with an outstanding opportunity to study the Bible as a part of their VCE. This subject is offered at Waverley Christian College with the purpose of empowering students to have a mature and confident grasp of the Bible and the study skills to be able to interpret and apply its message to life today. In Units 1 & 2 students learn about the importance of the Bible’s story for the Christian faith, its authority and the way the Bible relates to contemporary issues in our society. In Units 3 & 4 students study the Gospel of Luke for the entire year. This includes a strong focus on the background of the Gospel which many students find invaluable for their reading of the New Testament.

CONTENT

UNIT 1:  TEXTS AND TRADITIONS

AREAS OF STUDY

Learning To Read The Bible As It Was Intended

This area of study includes:

  • The need to interpret
  • The different types of literature found in the Bible
  • Revisiting famous narratives in the Bible’s storyline
  • Set apart to be a prophet - Jeremiah and the exile of Judah

The Story That Explains All Others. Mastering The Epic Story Of The Bible

This area of study includes:

  • 66 Books + approximately 1500 years + approximately 40 authors = one story
  • Contemporary methods of opening up the Bible’s story
  • The Law and the Gospel - Reconciling two pillars of the Biblical story

Later Uses And Interpretations Of The Bible

This area of study includes:

  • Artistic interpretations of the Exodus and Passover
  • Artistic interpretations of the Gospels
  • Artwork, architecture and the Bible

UNIT 2:  TEXTS IN SOCIETY

AREAS OF STUDY

How Trustworthy Is The Text Of The Bible Today?

This area of study includes:

  • How the Bible was put together and handed down to us
  • Evidence for the accuracy and reliability of the Bible
  • Books that didn’t make it

What Authority Does The Bible Have?

This area of study includes:

  • The God who speaks - Investigating the Doctrine of Revelation
  • The God who can be trusted - Investigating the Doctrine of Inspiration
  • The Reformation and issues of translation

The Other Books. Comparing The Bible To Texts From World Religions

This area of study includes:

  • Differences and similarities between the Bible and the Koran
  • Cults and extreme interpretations of the Bible’s story
  • Mormonism and the Book of Mormon

ASSESSMENT

UNITS 1 & 2

Assessment tasks are selected from:

  • Folio of work
  • Bible overview
  • Film analysis
  • Interview with Senior Pastor
  • Essay
  • Comparative investigation
  • End of semester Examination

UNIT 3: TEXTS AND EARLY TRADITION

AREAS OF STUDY

The Background of Luke’s Gospel

This area of study includes:

  • Students undertaking a social and historical study of the background to Jesus’ life in the first century
  • Students examining texts relating to the origin and early development of Christianity, focusing on events, people and places important to its development

The Historical and Literary Background to Luke’s Gospel

This area of study includes:

  • Students examining issues that relate to the writing of Luke’s Gospel for example, purpose, authorship and intended audience
  • Students developing a knowledge of Luke in terms of its literary structure and major themes.  These major themes will come from the passages for special study but be applicable to the entire set text

Interpreting Luke’s Gospel (Part 1)

This area of study includes:

  • Students applying exegetical methods to develop an interpretation of some of the passages for special study in Luke’s Gospel, and discussing the nature of, and the challenges to, exegetical method

Unit 4:  TEXTS AND THEIR TEACHING

AREAS OF STUDY

Interpreting Luke’s Gospel (Part 2)

This area of study includes:

  • Students continuing the development of the knowledge and skills required for writing competent exegeses of passages from the set texts
  • Students will engage in an exegetical study of texts in light of the above considerations

The Religious Ideas, Beliefs and Social Themes of Luke’s Gospel

This area of study includes:

  • Students investigating a significant religious idea, belief or social theme arising out of the passages for special study in Luke this idea, belief or theme is then investigated over the entire set text

BIBLICAL PERPECTIVES

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that all God's people may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” - 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (TNIV).

This subject will seek to further train students in their ability to read and apply the scriptures to their life and the world that they live in.

ASSESSMENT

UNIT 1

Assessment tasks for this unit are selected from:

  • Summaries
  • Textual Commentaries
  • Essays
  • Oral Presentations where appropriate, supported by multimedia presentations
  • Short Reports
  • Exegetical Exercises
  • Comparative Tables
  • Short-Answer Questions

UNIT 2

Assessment tasks for this unit are selected from:

  • Summaries
  • Textual commentaries
  • Essays
  • Oral presentations where appropriate, supported by multimedia presentations
  • Short reports
  • Comparative tables
  • Short-answer questions

UNIT 3

Outcomes

Assessment Tasks

Marks Allocated*

Outcome 1

Identify and explain social and cultural contexts that influenced early development of the religious tradition.

For each outcome, one or more of the following:

  • Textual commentary
  • Essay
  • Oral presentation, supported, where appropriate, by multimedia presentation
  • Exegetical task
  • Short report
  • Test
  • Short-answer questions

30

Outcome 2

Discuss major themes of the set text, and analyse its literary structure and issues related to the writing of the set text.

30

Outcome 3

Apply exegetical methods to develop an interpretation of some of the passages for special study, and discuss the nature of, and challenges to, exegetical method.

40

TOTAL MARKS

100

*School-assessed coursework for Unit 3 contributes 25% to the study score

 

UNIT 4

Outcomes

Assessment Tasks

Marks Allocated*

Outcome 1

Apply exegetical methods to develop an interpretation of all the passages for special study.

For each outcome, one or more of the following:

  • Textual commentary
  • Essay
  • Oral presentation, supported, where appropriate, by multimedia presentation
  • Exegetical task
  • Short report
  • Test
  • Short-answer questions

50

Outcome 2

Discuss a significant religious idea, belief or social theme in the set text, and analyse and evaluate how related passages from the set text have been interpreted within the tradition at a later stage in the light of the particular idea, belief or theme.

50

TOTAL MARKS

100

*School-assessed coursework for Unit 3 contributes 25% to the study score

"Listen to this, Job; stop and consider God's wonders. Job 37:14