Fall 2020
FIRST SEMESTER SYLLABUS
COURSE: Knowing God
TEACHER: Ms. Mullikin
CONTACT INFORMATION:
GOOGLE MEET:
meet.google.com/cca-wsna-ndy
TELEPHONE:
301.942.2100
EMAIL:
emullikin@academyoftheholycross.or
g
OFFICE LOCATION:
Office Room 121 (Theology
Office)
OFFICE HOURS:
Office hours: Monday and
Tuesday 2:45 – 3:15
Google meeting link for office
hours only
meet.google.com/kxj-jbat-hyd
Please let me know if you will be
coming to office hours.
I am also available by
appointment. Please email me to
set up a time.
CLASS PERIOD: Period 2
CLASSROOM: GOOGLE MEET
REQUIRED TEXTS AND
MATERIALS:
iBook Jesus Christ
God’s Revelation to the World
Ava Maria Press
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The purpose of this introductory course is to explore two
fundamental questions of theology: who is God and how do
we know Him? To answer these questions, we first seek to
understand ourselves, our own identity, and our search for
God through Natural Revelation. Students will then
encounter God's revelation of Himself in Sacred Scripture,
with a focus on God's covenant history with His people as a
preparation for the coming of Christ.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES AND OUTCOMES :
In the course of the semester, each student will:
o Reflect on who she is,
where she comes from
and what contributes
to her identity.
o Consider critically
how and why God
reveals himself in the
world.
o Acquire a basic
understanding of the
Christian past: who
the Jewish people are,
our shared history in
the Old Testament,
and how God prepared
his people through
covenants.
o Increase in familiarity
with Holy Cross as a
part of her identity:
 our tradition founded by Bl. Basil Moreau, the AHC
community, and the Mass as source and sign of Christian
unity.
o Acquire a basic understanding of who Jesus was and what
He did.
o Develop critical reading and writing skills through class
work, homework and various assessments.

QUARTERLY TOPICAL OUTLINE

Quarter 1

Understanding Identity: who we are, why we’re here. What does it mean to be happy?

The search for God. Knowing God Through Natural Revelation, Reason, and Faith. How and Why does God reveal
Himself?

Our identity as Christians: What is our history? Why is the Bible important? How do we relate to the Jewish People?

Quarter 2

What is the Mass? An appreciation and guide for full and active participation in the Mass.

Who is Jesus Christ? How does he relate to the Old Testament? Why does God become human?

The Miracles and Parables of Jesus.

INSTRUCTIONAL AND EVALUATION METHODS: MAJOR ASSIGNMENTS

 Various instructional methods will be used in this course: short lectures, small and large group
discussions, small format activities and exercises, kinesthetic learning (and games for memorization),
reflection opportunities, practice reading primary sources, debates. All activities will be either single,
pair or group work.
 Students will be expected to do long and short independent research projects, oral presentations and
compose original prayers.
o Students will be given time in class to work either single, pair, or group work for these
assignments. In these cases, students are expected to do thoughtful, high-quality work for the
benefit of the whole class.
o At least once a week, students will be given time for spiritual reflection, prayer and journaling.
Although prayer is not forced, all students are asked to use this time for quiet reflection.
  In-class Assignments and Homework will be assigned regularly but are typically brief. Full credit will
depend on following instructions, meeting deadlines, making your best effort, and doing good work.

o All assignments must be written in your own words. Copying and pasting from any source is
prohibited. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, all in-class work and homework should to be
completed on your own. Sharing your work or copying from someone else is a violation of the
AHC Honor Code and will be submitted to Honor Board.
o Longer written assignments will be submitted via Turnitin. Instructions for these submissions are
on the portal.
 Tests and Quizzes will be announced in advance and study information (or a Study Guide) will be
provided.
o Quizzes most often assess understanding of vocabulary and basic terms in preparation for a test.
o Tests will vary in format, but often include review of basic terms and concepts (through
matching sections and true/false), short and long answer questions, essay questions.
 Instructions and Rubrics for Projects, Essays, and Performance-Based Assessments will be given in
advance.
A final PBA or seated exam is worth 10% of your Semester Grade. More information will be given later in the
semester. You will be given time in class to prepare.

EVALUATION FOR THE QUARTER: Department based

VALUE TYPE

75-100 Points Tests/Projects

30-50 Points Quizzes

5-20 Points In-Class Work

10-15 Points Homework

COURSE POLICIES AND EXPECTATIONS:

● Attendance and preparation are essential for success in this class.

● All students are expected to follow the policies as stated in the Holy Cross Student Handbook, including
the Honor Code and the Make-up Policy. (The Make-up Policy states that: students who are absent for
any reason are required to email their teachers about missed work the day before their return or speak
directly to the teachers on the day of their return, regardless if class meets that day or not.) For the
complete Make-up Policy, see the Student Handbook.
● Unexcused late assignments (where the student was present but did not submit the work when
collected).
● Late Work: (Department Policy)
 o Assignments, papers, and projects will be accepted up 5 school calendar days late, but will incur
a grade deduction of 10% per school calendar day late. Late daily homework will not be
accepted and the student will earn a zero. Barring extenuating circumstances, unexcused late
work will not be accepted after the conclusion of a given quarter. If the student has a valid reason
for late work, they should email or speak with me as soon as possible!
● Assignments are due by the commencement of the period or as stipulated by DropBox instructions. (e.g.,
if 2nd period begins at 9:30 am students are expected to have the assignment ready to be turned in at
9:30 am). Students may make arrangements with the instructor if a late arrival is expected (doctor’s
appointment, etc.). Only excused tardiness or lateness as defined by the Student Handbook will be
honored.
● Barring extenuating circumstances, technological difficulty and/or equipment failure (inadequate email
delivery, faulty printers, computers or internet access, etc.) is not an honored excuse for late or missing
work.
● I highly encourage all students to write notes by hand in a physical notebook for this course, so that your
technology may be completely dedicated to the Google Meet classroom environment.
● Students are expected to be respectful and proper in any liturgical setting, including but not limited to
prayer in class and school-wide Masses.
● Teachers at the Academy of the Holy Cross do not give extra credit assignments, projects, posters, etc.
in place of failing grades.

● Assistance: If you have any needs or find yourself struggling in any way, please come talk to me or
contact me. I am committed to your success in this class, and in every class.

● Detentions are given and reported for (1) infractions of AHC policies as described in the Handbook, (2)
any violations of the policies listed in this syllabus, and (3) disobedience of instructions given in class. I
do not interrupt class in order to give detentions. Instead, I make a note for myself, and your notification
of the detention is received electronically.
o Detentions obviously do not exist in an all-virtual environment; but discipline issues that emerge
will still be reported to administration, and detention policy will resume as normal in in-person
learning in a hybrid environment.
o Doing work for other classes is not permitted unless it should be a class day in which time is
given to work on assignments, and you have finished your in-class assignment or homework for
this course for that day with time to spare, and you show me your work, ask for my permission,
and I explicitly authorize you to do so.
o I do not discuss grades, detentions, or other disciplinary issues during class. Such discussions
must always be held outside of class and preferably after school or during office hours or by
appointment.