Experiencing the Gospel of Mark

Mark 1.40-45 Exercise

Objective 1: Establish a translation of Mark 1.40-45 for a specific context

Time: Spend about 30 minutes on this part of the exercise

The class should divide into two groups of approximately the same number of students. The first person listed should be the ‘leader.’ The second person listed is the ‘recorder.’

GROUP A
Rick
Jenny
(Annabelle)
GROUP A will focus on translating Mark 1.40-45 for use in a worship service at a typical field education parish. Attention should be paid, therefore, to readability and euphony (does it sound good when it is read out loud) and have a reading level of 9.0 or less on the Flesch-Kincaid scale.* / GROUP 1
Donna
Chad
(Nancy)
GROUP 1 will focus on translating Mark 1.40-45 for use in a children’s Sunday School at a typical field education parish. Attention should be paid, therefore, to readability and euphony (does it sound good when it is read out loud). Also keep understandability for children in mind. It should have a reading level of 5.0 or less on the Flesch-Kincaid scale.*

For your translation, start with the NRS or NET (GROUP A) or the CEV or MSG (GROUP 1) or the translations you already composed on your own.

Pay close attention to the questions I raise on the translation note sheets.

You need to come up with an ‘official’ translation for your group with which a majority of the group can agree.

*Determining the Flesch Ease of Reading and Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level score:

·  Using Microsoft Word2003, compose the document and save it. Using the top menu, go to Tools > Options > Spelling & Grammar tab. Near the bottom click on the box, “Show readability statistics.” Click OK.

·  Using MS Word 2007: Files > Options > Proofing
Check “Show readability statistics.” Choose Grammar and Style. OK

·  Now do a spell check on your document. (Click on the icon or use Tools > Spelling & Grammar or hit F7.) When the spell check is complete, a usability report will include the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level.

·  FYI: For Mark 1.40-45: Version: FEase, FK >
KJV: 71.1, 8.6; NAU: 71.2, 7.6; NJB: 70.1, 8.2; NET: 76.2, 6.4; NRS: 79.8, 6.2; MSG: 82.8, 4.8; CEV: 88.8, 3.8


Objective 2: With your translation of Mark 1.40-45, consider how you might ‘perform’ it

Time: Spend about 20 minutes on this part of the exercise

In your group, discuss how you might ‘perform’ your translation. If you wish, you can specify a setting more precisely. Consider these possibilities:

1.  How would you most effectively read your translation in a congregational setting? (no props or any other media aids)

2.  How might you dramatize this passage:

o  Using just a single narrator

o  Using a narrator and characters for Jesus and the leper

3.  Given the time and resources, how else might you consider ‘performing’ this text?

Have someone (or two or three) in the group be prepared to ‘perform’ the text (using #1 or #2).

Objective 3: Perform your translation of Mark 1.40-45

Time: Spend about 20 minutes on this part of the exercise

The class should come back together as a whole. Each group will perform their text for the class. As time allows, discuss the following questions:

  1. What did you find interesting / puzzling / surprising about the translation?
  2. How did the performance enhance the communication of the text?
  3. What might be other ways you could improve the performance.
  4. Each group might share some of their ideas from #3 in the previous objective.