Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Malcolm Choat
Tutor
Rachel Yuen-Collingridge
Contact via rachel.yuen@mq.edu.au
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Credit points |
Credit points
3
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
39cp or (6cp in AHIS or AHST units at 200 level)
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Corequisites |
Corequisites
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Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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Unit description |
Unit description
This unit will survey magic in the ancient world, from the Ancient Near Eastern civilisations, through the Egyptian and Graeco-Roman worlds, to Late Antiquity, Byzantium, and early Medieval Europe. It will provide thorough coverage of the way magic has been defined, understood, and used in these civilisations, and the way it has been conceived and studied in the history of modern scholarship over the past two centuries. Students will focus closely on the material sources for ancient magic, such as handbooks of spells on papyrus, amulets to ward off the evil eye, and lead curse tablets. There will also be close consideration of the construction of magic as an antithesis to religion in the ancient and modern worlds. As a coda, the unit will look beyond the ancient world to the role, use, and understanding of magic in wider historical, literary, and scientific contexts. This will include not only consideration of magic (and things which might be considered 'magic') in the Renaissance and modern worlds, but aspects of cognitive psychology such as perceptual illusions and delusional beliefs.
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Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
ALL written assignments must be submitted via Turnitin within iLearn.
You are required to present yourself for examination at the time and place designated in the University Examination Timetable. The only exception to sitting an examination at the designated time is because of documented illness or unavoidable disruption. In these circumstances, please consult University Policy for the available procedure.
ALL deadlines are firm unless an extension has been requested in writing one (1) week before the due date. A penalty for lateness will apply unless a doctor's certificate is supplied. No written work will be accepted for assessment after the end of Week 13. 5% of credit will be deducted for the first day assignments are submitted late without an extension and thereafter 2% of credit will be deducted per day for assignments submitted late without an extension. If an assessment task is more than two (2) weeks late, students will need the permission of the unit convenor before submitting the task. Tasks more than two (2) weeks late, without extension or convenor permission, will not be marked. Assignments handed in early will not be marked and returned before the due date. Always retain a copy of work you submit in case it is lost in the online system.
In order to complete this unit satisfactorily students must gain a mark of 50% or more, and attempt all assessment tasks.
Name | Weighting | Due |
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Academic Honesty Quiz | 0% | Week 2 Friday 12/8 |
Essay Question | 10% | Week 3 Friday 19/8 |
Essay Bibliography | 10% | Week 5 2/9 |
Essay | 45% | Week 7 Friday 16/9 |
Exam | 35% | Exam period |
Due: Week 2 Friday 12/8
Weighting: 0%
Students will complete a short quiz that gives examples of academic dishonesty. Students must gain full marks in this quiz to pass the unit. Students may attempt the quiz as many times as they wish.
Due: Week 3 Friday 19/8
Weighting: 10%
Students construct an essay question on the basis of a set of sources (provided), giving the question and stating why it is a significant issue in no more than 300 words (not including references or footnotes).
Due: Week 5 2/9
Weighting: 10%
Students must submit a bibliography for their essay. It will be assessed on the relevance of the items to their question and the sources, and the formatting of the bibliography, which must be consistent, and follow a standard disciplinary practice. A guide to ‘Essay Presentation & Conventions: Style Guide’ is available from the Ancient History Department Website; one of the systems laid out there be followed, or students may use another system, but it must be applied consistently.
Due: Week 7 Friday 16/9
Weighting: 45%
Students will submit a 2000 word essay on the question they designed in Assessment 2. The word count does not include footnotes and bibliography.
Due: Exam period
Weighting: 35%
There will be a two (2) hour examination during the exam period at the end of semester. Further guidance on the exam will be provided during the session.
There is no textbook for this unit. Readings required for each week's tutorial and for the essay will be placed on the iLearn site or be available electronically or in hard copy though the library.
The unit has an iLearn page which can be accessed at https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/login/index.php. PC and internet access are therefore required. Basic computer skills (e.g., internet browsing) and skills in word processing are also a requirement. Content, readings, and discussions for this unit will be delivered via the unit iLearn page. The lectures for this unit will be recorded and the audio recordings and accompanying slides will be available on the Echo 360 system. Readings will be available via the library and iLearn; other digital resources will also be placed on the iLearn site.
There will two one-hour lectures per week, on Tuesdays at 2-4 pm.
In the tutorials, we will focus on the historical interpretation of the sources for magic. There are tutorials in week 1.
The schedule and topics for the lectures and tutorial may be found on the unit iLearn site (https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/login/index.php).
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html
New Assessment Policy in effect from Session 2 2016 http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy_2016.html. For more information visit http://students.mq.edu.au/events/2016/07/19/new_assessment_policy_in_place_from_session_2/
Assessment Policy prior to Session 2 2016 http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html
Grading Policy prior to Session 2 2016 http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html
Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html
Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/complaint_management/procedure.html
Disruption to Studies Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html The Disruption to Studies Policy is effective from March 3 2014 and replaces the Special Consideration Policy.
In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/
Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au.
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
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