ISSI402: Classical Mythology and Religion
Goals and Requirements

There are no exams in this course. Your final grade will be based primarily upon  class participation and personal reflections upon the course material.

The grade will be determined in the following way

I. Class Participation and Quizzes 10%
II. Personal Webage 10%
III. Personal Statements  35%
IV. Individualized Project 35%
V. Group Presentation 10%

I. Class Participation and Quizzes
Since there are no exams in this coures, regular participation in classroom activities is very important. Everyone is expected to come to class prepared to discuss the readings assigned for that day. While attendance is not recorded, you are expected to participate regularly in class discussions. The instructor will keep track of those who volunteer information and opinion. Each student will be expected to lead the class discussion at least once during the semester.

Quizzes, both announced and unannounced, may be given at the discretion of the instructor. No make-ups for quizzes will be given.

Class participation and quizzes count 10% of your final grade.

II. Personal Webpage
Each student is expected to develop a personal webpage which will contain at least the following information: a.) a resume; b.) some personal information; c.) a statement of personal religious beliefs; d.) links to all materials written for this course; e.) at least one image. All of these personal websites will be linked to the website for this course. A sample website can be accessed here.

III. Personal Statements
Approximately once a week each student will submit a written personal statement on a class discussion and course reading. All of these statements (except the mid-course evaluation) will be posted on your personal website. Students are expected to submit a minimum of TEN (10) of these during the semester. Additional statements will count as extra credit. These statements, at least 600 words (two pages) in length, are informal, short, non-research essays on discussion topics. They are not just summaries of of what was said or what was read. They should go beyond mere recording of events to include personal analysis and commentary. Emphasis will be on (1) integration of the student's own ideas and thoughts with the subject matter of the course and on (2) coherent and logical expression of these ideas. In these statements you will briefly summarize the main points, offer your own opinion and thoughts about the topics raised, and support your statement with specific data. One of these statements will consist of a mid-course evaluation. Another will be a reaction to the Fox Classics Lecture. These statements will be graded on a four-point scale. Submission of the work on time earns the student one point. Additional points will be earned for following content and stylistic requirements and for personal analysis and commentary. The average of your ten statements grades counts 35% of your final grade. Any additional statement grades will count as extra credit.

Point System for Statements

4.0 = A
3.0 = B
2.0 = C
1.0 = D
0.0 = M (=0)

III. Individualized Project
Each student will pursue a semester-long project which focuses on some special aspect of religion and mythology and which relates this material to the student's own beliefs and experiences.  Preparation for this project must include library research, analysis of historical evidence, and original work. 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 central products must be supplemented by a written statement (c.600 words) which contains the following information: 1.) a summary of the project; 2.) a description of its preparation; 3.) an annotated bibliography of at least ten works consulted ("annotated" means a brief explanation of how these works were used in the project); and 4.) an explanation of original aspects of this project. All written portions of this individualized project will be posted on your personal website. A prospectus for this project will be submitted around mid-semester. The final individualized project  will be 35% 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 ten 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 encylopoedia articles) is not advised.

IV. Group Presentations
Working in groups of three, students will present all their individualized projects 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. Consider the quality of the presentation and its appropriateness for presentation to the class. These statements will be shared with other members of the group and with the instructor. (This evaluation will count as a personal statement. See #II.) The group will then meet to decide to make this oral presentation. The presentation will be graded on oral technique, originality, and content.  Students will receive a group grade for the presentation and an individual grade based upon the information in the statement. 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 average of the group and individual grades will be 10% 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.

Back to the Top
Back to the ISSI402 Website
Back to the Monmouth College Classics Dept. Website