CLAS230 Classical Mythology
Spring 2002
Department of Classics
Monmouth College
Goals and Requirements:
Your final grade will be determined in the following way:
Unit Quizzes
= 40%
Website Evaluations 10%
Business
of the Gods Presentation 10%
Individualized Project
30%
Project
Presentation
5%
Class Participation and Other Coursework 5%
Unit Quizzes
There will be THREE (3) unit quizzes (objective and essay questions)
based on Morford and Lenardon's Classical Mythology and class
activities.
Other quizzes, both announced and unannounced, may be given at the discretion of the instructor. No make-ups for these quizzes will be given, but at least one quiz grade will be dropped.
There will be no major exams in this course.
Website Evaluations
Each student is required to find, describe, and evaluate FIVE (5)
different websites which somehow illustrate the use of classical mythology in
the modern world. Since no two students can evaluate the same websites, it is in
everyone's best interest to do this assignment as early in the semester as
possible. As soon as you have identified a site you want to evaluate, you should
reserve it by sending an e-mail message to the instructor with the URL. The
information on each website should include a title, author, and URL along with a
300-word description/evaluation which contains the following: 1.) a description
of the overall website; 2.) a explanation of the specific mythological features
of the site; 3.) some observation about the way(s) that the myth is used and
changed in this modern context; 4.) reference to any significant mythological
images on the site; 5.) your overall evaluation of the website and the reasons
why you evaluated it in this manner. These evaluations will be posted on the
course website for the benefit of the entire class and can be used for work on individualized
projects. These evaluations count 10% of the final course grade. The
evaluations of these websites must be received before spring break. Here is the list
of websites.
Individualized Project
Each student will pursue a semester-long project which focuses in
some way on Classical Mythology and the specific theme of the course. Preparation for this project must
include library and web research, analysis of historical evidence, and original work.
Mid-way through the semester each student will submit a progress report on this project. This report can be a detailed outline, description, or rough draft of the project. It must include an annotated list of at least FIVE (5) print and electronic resources consulted. This progress report will provide you with some significant feedback from the instructor at an early stage in the process.
The central product of this project can take the form of a research paper, creative writing, artwork, website or any other work which deals with material covered in course readings or discussions.
All projects must be accompanied by an annotated bibliography of at least ten sources ("annotated" mean a brief explanation of how these works were used in the project) and a written statement (c.600 words) which contains the following information: 1.) a summary of the project; 2.) a description of its preparation; and 3.) an explanation of original aspects of this project. This individualized project will be 30% of your final grade.
For some suggestions on how to begin, please see Individualized Project Guidelines.
NOTE: Course books can be cited in the bibliography but only as complements to at least five additional works. The quality of the material consulted will significantly affect the grade. It is highly recommended that a variety of resources be consulted, including books, journals, and websites. Heavy reliance on a single kind of resource (especially websites and encyclopoedia articles) is not advised.
Project Presentations
Working in groups of three or four, students will present all the individualized projects
in their group in a 10-15 minute presentation to the entire class. The first step
in the preparation of this presentation is a written c.600-word statement in
which each
group member evaluates all the projects in the group and suggests ways that each
of the projects could be presented to the class. These statements should be
shared with other members of the group and with the instructor. Focus in this statement not on the quality of the
project, but its appropriateness for presentation to the class. These statements will be shared with other members of the group and with the instructor.
The group will then meet
to decide how to make this oral presentation. The projects can be presented as a
group or or serially,
but the presentation should be a group effort. Individuals should not present their own projects
one by one; that is, individuals should NOT present their own project, even in
summary form, by themselves. The
presentation will be graded on oral technique, originality, and content. Appropriate use
of the personae of ancient Greeks and Romans in these presentations will automatically
insure a higher grade. All of these
presentations will take place at the final meeting during the examination
period. Students will receive a group grade for this presentation, but the instructor reserves the right to give individual grades
in addition to group grades if there is some indication that there were problems
with the group dynamic. The grade on this oral presentation will be 5% of the final score.
This material has been published on the web by Prof. Tom Sienkewicz for his students at Monmouth College. If you have any questions, you can contact him at toms@monm.edu.