Goals, Expectations & Evaluation

I have designed the course readings and assignments with the goal that students:

• develop their abilities to read texts closely and critically, and to share their interpretations with others in spoken and written forms,
• become familiar with major works and themes in ancient Greek literature and material culture, and
• practice posing the questions characteristsic of the field of Cultural Studies.

To these ends, the course will emphasize writing and discussion. We will use writing in part as a method to think and learn about the course material. For example, to help you read more carefully and prepare to participate in class discussion, 8 informal response papers are required over the course of the semester. These1-2 page musings on the reading -- including comments, concerns, answers to the discussion questions, or proposals for new questions -- must be submitted before discussion for credit. For all reading assignments, questions are provided on the syllabus to help direct your reading and responses, as well as our discussion.

Three short, formal essays are also required. These are your opportunity to present a fully developed and well-evidenced argument on a particular issue. I encourage you to develop your own questions to pursue, although I will also make suggestions, and many papers will derive from our conversations in class. For one of these three papers you may submit creative writing instead of a formal essay, such as composing a new section of the Iliad, writing part of a Platonic dialogue, or trying your hand at tragedy. Class time will be devoted to evaluating essays submitted by students -- discussing the skills and techniques of persuasive writing, areas and methods for improvement, peer review, and the like. Late paper policy: for every day (24 hrs.) a paper is late, one grade will be deducted from the one otherwise earned.

Since we will be working extensively with drama and other performed work, as well, a portion of the course will also be devoted to student performances. Each student needs to complete one small project of their own choosing. I encourage creativity -- past projects have included reciting Sappho, singing the first ten lines of the Iliad as a blues song, and writing Old Comedy about life at Macalester or in the U.S. A few students may sign up to deliver a report on one of a short list of philosophers, but most will need to develop their own projects. After we study Athenian drama, in turn, all students will divide into small groups to re-write a Greek myth as a tragedy and perform it for the class.

Class participation includes reading assigned material and preparing to discuss it in class, as well as actually participating in the group discussion. I will not take attendance as such, but keep in mind that you cannot receive credit for class participation if you are not in class. A map quiz will be given on Tuesday, September 17, and pop quizzes on reading and lecture material may also occur. Late and make-up classwork will not be accepted.

Finally, a final exam (Monday, December 16, 1:30 - 3:30 PM) will allow you to have the final word on the issues we have explored over the semester. If you have difficulties with the date of any scheduled quiz or exam, consult with me in advance. Likewise, if you have any disabilities which necessitate special exam conditions or other considerations, please discuss these with me as soon as possible.

Ancient World I Homepage ~ Classics Department ~ Macalester College