Textbook: Al-Qur’an al-Karim (students may bring their own copy; photocopies of the surah will be provided upon request).
Dictionary (recommended but not required): Dictionary and Glossary of the Kor-an, by John Penrice. This dictionary is available in the Seminary Bookstore.
(The Hans Wehr Dictionary of Modern Standard Arabic, J M. Cowan, editor, is not as targeted in its coverage, but provides a reasonable substitute for Penrice. It is available in the Seminary Bookstore).
Student work will be weighted as follows for the final semester grade:
Class Participation - 25%
In-Class Presentation - 25%
Term Paper - 25%
Final Exam - 25%
For the In-Class Presentation students will teach the class for one session, with input and comment from the professor. This will not occur until after Reading Week (March 29 – April 4).
The paper is on any topic approved by the professor. Possible themes would be the relation of the Qur’anic and Biblical stories of this prophet, a discussion of classical and / or modern mufassiriin on the surah, a linguistic aspect of the surah, etc. The paper is due April 28.
The final exam (May 3) will emphasize Classical Arabic as found in the surah.
