Students

AHIS280 – Ancient Egyptian Culture and Society

2017 – S1 External

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Convenor
Alex Woods
Contact via Dialogue tool on iLearn
W6A 532
Wednesday 11-1pm or by appointment (during teaching weeks)
Online Tutor
Nikki Leary
Contact via Dialogue tool on iLearn
N/A
By appointment online
Credit points Credit points
3
Prerequisites Prerequisites
AHIS170 or AHST100
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit studies ancient Egyptian civilisation during the Predynastic and Pharaonic periods (c. 5000 – 323 B.C.E.) and provides a thematic approach in order to understand the major social, economic and cultural developments of the Egyptian state. The unit examines topics such as social organization and identity, gender and sexuality, modes of cultural expression, methods of governance, (re-)use of mortuary and cultic landscapes and Egypt in the memory of the world.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • Analyse and express your judgment about ancient Egyptian political, social, economic and cultural history in an oral and written form;
  • Find, analyse and critique primary and secondary sources for ancient Egyptian history and present the information in a written format;
  • Interpret historical and archaeological information with appreciation and understanding and identify the social processes by which the Egyptian civilisation transformed and yet maintained its cultural identity throughout its long history.
  • Actively participate in online discussion; work with and respond to the views of Ancient History staff and other students in the unit in an oral form; show an ability to reflect on the learning experience.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Online quiz 25% No Weeks 2,6,7,9,10,11,12,13
Book review 25% No Monday Week 5 @ 10pm
Research Essay 35% No Friday Week 8 @ 10pm
ePortfolio 15% No Friday Week 13 @ 10pm

Online quiz

Due: Weeks 2,6,7,9,10,11,12,13
Weighting: 25%

Online quiz – Answer a series of questions (e.g. multiple choice, true/false) on the required weekly readings. The quiz will go live at 6pm on the Friday one week prior to the class and close at 11.55pm on the Wednesday night before class in Weeks 2,6,7,9,10,11,12,13 (weeks without major assessment tasks due). You will not have access to the quiz after this time and you cannot take a ‘make up’ quiz later to catch up. Complete the quiz using the iLearn quiz tool.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Analyse and express your judgment about ancient Egyptian political, social, economic and cultural history in an oral and written form;
  • Find, analyse and critique primary and secondary sources for ancient Egyptian history and present the information in a written format;
  • Interpret historical and archaeological information with appreciation and understanding and identify the social processes by which the Egyptian civilisation transformed and yet maintained its cultural identity throughout its long history.

Book review

Due: Monday Week 5 @ 10pm
Weighting: 25%

Prepare a short critique of the unit’s textbook, Shaw, I. (ed.), The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt (Oxford, 2003), according to a set of guided questions available on iLearn.

Word length: 1000 words. Submit via Turnitin.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Analyse and express your judgment about ancient Egyptian political, social, economic and cultural history in an oral and written form;
  • Find, analyse and critique primary and secondary sources for ancient Egyptian history and present the information in a written format;
  • Interpret historical and archaeological information with appreciation and understanding and identify the social processes by which the Egyptian civilisation transformed and yet maintained its cultural identity throughout its long history.

Research Essay

Due: Friday Week 8 @ 10pm
Weighting: 35%

Students will complete ONE (1) research essay. The question is listed on iLearn. Students will submit a self-evaluation using the marking rubric provided on iLearn. 

Word length: 1,500 words. Submit via Turnitin. 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Analyse and express your judgment about ancient Egyptian political, social, economic and cultural history in an oral and written form;
  • Find, analyse and critique primary and secondary sources for ancient Egyptian history and present the information in a written format;
  • Interpret historical and archaeological information with appreciation and understanding and identify the social processes by which the Egyptian civilisation transformed and yet maintained its cultural identity throughout its long history.

ePortfolio

Due: Friday Week 13 @ 10pm
Weighting: 15%

The ePortfolio will be comprised of 2 elements:

  1. Journal of Learning (after each class): Each week students will submit a weekly self-reflection documenting their learning and highlighting the major challenges/positives from the weekly content in a Journal of Learning (max 200 words). Time will be allocated at the end of zoom meeting for students to complete their weekly reflections.
  2. Self-Reflection on Student Led-Discussion: Each student will lead the discussion time in 1 tutorial via ZOOM (30 mins), which will be based on analysis of the lecture readings and content. Each student will prepare and submit their planning notes, peer-evaluations and self-reflection of the discussionThe first Zoom meeting will be scheduled for Week 1 - Thursday 6-7pm. For details on Zoom, see http://www.mq.edu.au/iLearn/zoom.htm 

The final ePortfolio submission will include the weekly Journal of Learning compiled into one document in addition to the planning form, peer-evaluations and the self-reflection of the student led Discussion. Guidelines and word limit available in iLearn. Submit via Turnitin.​


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Analyse and express your judgment about ancient Egyptian political, social, economic and cultural history in an oral and written form;
  • Find, analyse and critique primary and secondary sources for ancient Egyptian history and present the information in a written format;
  • Interpret historical and archaeological information with appreciation and understanding and identify the social processes by which the Egyptian civilisation transformed and yet maintained its cultural identity throughout its long history.
  • Actively participate in online discussion; work with and respond to the views of Ancient History staff and other students in the unit in an oral form; show an ability to reflect on the learning experience.

Delivery and Resources

UNIT REQUIREMENTS AND EXPECTATIONS

Weekly schedule

iLearn will play a pivotal role throughout the session and it will be your central hub for information and instructions. Each week will be structured as follows:

Step 1 | Preparation - complete the required readings that will be available to download;

Step 2 | Assessment - answer a series of questions on the required readings in an Online quiz;

Step 3 | Lecture content - listen to the lecture content via Echo360; 

Step 4 | Engage with your peers - Lead/participate in online group discussion via Zoom - Macquarie’s web conferencing tool which provides video and voice communication, text chat, interactive whiteboard, screen sharing and annotation. Zoom is very simple to use and offers a wide variety of opportunities for learning and teaching such as real-time online tutorials, virtual consultations with students or including an external guest speaker in a lecture etc..

Step 5 | Journal of Learning - write a short reflection on the weekly readings, lecture content or tutorial discussion in your learning journal.

Students must achieve an overall mark of 50% or above to complete this unit satisfactorily.

REQUIRED AND RECOMMENDED TEXTS AND/OR MATERIALS

Required texts:

  • Wendrich, W., (ed.) Egyptian Archaeology (Chichester, Malden, 2010).
  • Kemp, B.J., Ancient Egypt. Anatomy of a Civilisation (London, New York, 2nd ed. 2006).
  • Shaw, I. (ed.), The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt (Oxford, 2003).

Recommended texts:

  • Baines, J. 2007. Visual and written culture in ancient Egypt. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Baines J. and Malek, J., Cultural Atlas of Ancient Egypt (New York, 2000, rev. edition).
  • W. Carruthers (ed.) Histories of Egyptology: Interdisciplinary Measures (New York, 2015).
  • Frood, E., and McDonald, A (eds.) Decorum and Experience: Essays in ancient culture for John Baines (Oxford, 2013).
  • Lloyd, A. B. (ed.) A Companion to Ancient Egypt. 2 volumes (Chichester,  2010). Full text available from Blackwell Reference Online - 2010 Collection (access through MQ library catalogue)
  • Trigger, B. G. and Lloyd, A., Kemp, B., O‘Connor, D., Ancient Egypt: A social history (Cambridge, 1983).
  • Wengrow, D. The Archaeology of Early Egypt: Social Transformation in North-East Africa, 10,000 to 2650 BC (Cambridge, 2006).
  • Wilkinson, R.H. (ed.), Egyptology Today (Cambridge, New York, 2008).

These texts are available for purchase at the Co-Op bookstore. To arrange for texts to be sent to you please contact the Co-Op online at the following address http://www.coop-bookshop.com.au.

UNIT WEBPAGE AND TECHNOLOGY USED AND REQUIRED

This unit will use iLearn: https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/login/MQ/

PC and Internet access are required. Basic computer skills (e.g., internet browsing) and skills in word processing are also a requirement. Please consult teaching staff for any further, more specific requirements.

 

Unit Schedule

Week

Lecture

Tutorial

Assessment

1

Introduction to Ancient Egyptian Culture and Society

NO TUTORIAL

  • Unit guide Online Quiz (non-assessable)

2

Ancient Egyptian Society | Hierarchy, literacy and education

Research

methods 1: Critical thinking

  • Online quiz – Week 2

3

Ancient Egyptian Administration | Politics and Governance

 

Research

methods 2: Porter and Moss

  • No Quiz

4

Institution of Ancient Egyptian Kingship

Research

methods 3: Lexikon der Ägyptologie

  • No Quiz

5

Foreign Interactions: Egypt and the Near East

eXplore your potential

  • No Quiz
  • Book Review due (Monday @ 10pm)

6

Sex and Gender in Ancient Egypt

Student Led Tutorial discussion

  • Online quiz – Week 6
7 The Archaeology of Death: Ancient Egyptian Attitudes to Death and the Afterlife  Student Led Tutorial discussion
  • Online quiz – Week 7

MID-SESSION BREAK

8 NO CLASS NO CLASS
  • No Quiz
  • Research essay due (Friday @ 10pm)

9

“Art” and the Aesthetic

Student Led Tutorial discussion

  • Online quiz – Week 8

10

Spaces, landscapes and natures: Ancient and Modern perceptions of the Egyptian Environment and Landscape

Student Led Tutorial discussion

  • Online quiz – Week 9

11

Cultic and Mortuary Landscapes: Use and Re-use

Student Led Tutorial discussion

  • Online quiz – Week 10

12

Tradition, Innovation and Archaism

Student Led Tutorial discussion

  • Online quiz – Week 12

13

Ancient Egypt in the Memory of the World

Student Led Tutorial discussion

  • Online quiz – Week 13
  • ePortfolio due (Friday @10pm)

Policies and Procedures

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

Assessment Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy_2016.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 (in effect until Dec 4th, 2017): http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html

Special Consideration Policy (in effect from Dec 4th, 2017): https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policies/special-consideration

In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/

Results

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.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

IT Help

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.

Graduate Capabilities

Creative and Innovative

Our graduates will also be capable of creative thinking and of creating knowledge. They will be imaginative and open to experience and capable of innovation at work and in the community. We want them to be engaged in applying their critical, creative thinking.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Analyse and express your judgment about ancient Egyptian political, social, economic and cultural history in an oral and written form;
  • Actively participate in online discussion; work with and respond to the views of Ancient History staff and other students in the unit in an oral form; show an ability to reflect on the learning experience.

Assessment tasks

  • Online quiz
  • Book review
  • Research Essay
  • ePortfolio

Capable of Professional and Personal Judgement and Initiative

We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Find, analyse and critique primary and secondary sources for ancient Egyptian history and present the information in a written format;
  • Interpret historical and archaeological information with appreciation and understanding and identify the social processes by which the Egyptian civilisation transformed and yet maintained its cultural identity throughout its long history.
  • Actively participate in online discussion; work with and respond to the views of Ancient History staff and other students in the unit in an oral form; show an ability to reflect on the learning experience.

Assessment tasks

  • Online quiz
  • Book review
  • Research Essay
  • ePortfolio

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Our graduates will have enquiring minds and a literate curiosity which will lead them to pursue knowledge for its own sake. They will continue to pursue learning in their careers and as they participate in the world. They will be capable of reflecting on their experiences and relationships with others and the environment, learning from them, and growing - personally, professionally and socially.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • Actively participate in online discussion; work with and respond to the views of Ancient History staff and other students in the unit in an oral form; show an ability to reflect on the learning experience.

Assessment tasks

  • Online quiz
  • Book review
  • Research Essay
  • ePortfolio

Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills

Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • Analyse and express your judgment about ancient Egyptian political, social, economic and cultural history in an oral and written form;

Assessment tasks

  • Online quiz
  • Book review
  • Research Essay
  • ePortfolio

Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Analyse and express your judgment about ancient Egyptian political, social, economic and cultural history in an oral and written form;
  • Find, analyse and critique primary and secondary sources for ancient Egyptian history and present the information in a written format;
  • Interpret historical and archaeological information with appreciation and understanding and identify the social processes by which the Egyptian civilisation transformed and yet maintained its cultural identity throughout its long history.
  • Actively participate in online discussion; work with and respond to the views of Ancient History staff and other students in the unit in an oral form; show an ability to reflect on the learning experience.

Assessment tasks

  • Online quiz
  • Book review
  • Research Essay
  • ePortfolio

Problem Solving and Research Capability

Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Analyse and express your judgment about ancient Egyptian political, social, economic and cultural history in an oral and written form;
  • Interpret historical and archaeological information with appreciation and understanding and identify the social processes by which the Egyptian civilisation transformed and yet maintained its cultural identity throughout its long history.

Assessment tasks

  • Online quiz
  • Book review
  • Research Essay
  • ePortfolio

Effective Communication

We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Find, analyse and critique primary and secondary sources for ancient Egyptian history and present the information in a written format;
  • Actively participate in online discussion; work with and respond to the views of Ancient History staff and other students in the unit in an oral form; show an ability to reflect on the learning experience.

Assessment tasks

  • Online quiz
  • Book review
  • Research Essay
  • ePortfolio

Engaged and Ethical Local and Global citizens

As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nation's historical context. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded, sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates should be aware of disadvantage and social justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • Find, analyse and critique primary and secondary sources for ancient Egyptian history and present the information in a written format;

Assessment tasks

  • Online quiz
  • Book review
  • Research Essay
  • ePortfolio

Socially and Environmentally Active and Responsible

We want our graduates to be aware of and have respect for self and others; to be able to work with others as a leader and a team player; to have a sense of connectedness with others and country; and to have a sense of mutual obligation. Our graduates should be informed and active participants in moving society towards sustainability.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Find, analyse and critique primary and secondary sources for ancient Egyptian history and present the information in a written format;
  • Actively participate in online discussion; work with and respond to the views of Ancient History staff and other students in the unit in an oral form; show an ability to reflect on the learning experience.

Assessment tasks

  • Online quiz
  • Book review
  • Research Essay
  • ePortfolio

Assignment Submission and Extensions

ASSIGNMENT SUBMISSION

All written work must be submitted through the iLearn website. Please upload your assignment to the drop-box for the relevant week. Save your assignment as a pdf or a doc file (a pdf is best; please do not use docx). All assignments must include the following at the start:

  • Student name;
  • Student Number;
  • Assessment Task Title or Question.

Any assignment submitted without these will not be marked.

The book review and research essay will be returned via the ‘turnitin’ tool on the iLearn unit site, and will contain feedback from the marker within them. Information about how to submit work online can be accessed through the iLearn unit.

The online quizzes will be undertaken using the iLearn quiz tool and the ePortfolio will be submitted via the 'Assignment' tool on the iLearn unit site.

MARKING RUBRICS

All written assessment tasks will be graded using a rubric, which can be found on the iLearn unit site. 

RELEASE OF RESULTS

The convener will aim to return your assignments within 3 weeks of the due date. Results can be viewed via iLearn using the Gradebook tool.

EXAMINATIONS

There is no formal examination in this unit.

EXTENSIONS AND DISRUPTION TO STUDIES

Extensions can only be granted in exceptional cases and may only be sought in consultation with the unit convenor and with support of documentary evidence. If you anticipate any difficulty in meeting assigned due dates then it is important that you contact the unit convenor and/or tutor as early as possible via the dialogue tool.

Please avoid asking for extensions as missing deadlines complicates the work of markers and puts you behind. If you have to ask for an extension, request it BEFORE the deadline and not on the due date. Excuses such as ‘Getting behind with your work’ or 'I had other deadlines' do not count.

IMPORTANT PENALTIES TO BE APPLIED:

  • Written assessment tasks submitted after the due date or the date after which an extension has been given and without submission of a Disruption to Studies request will not be accepted. A zero grade will be applied. 
  • Written assessment tasks submitted that are under or over the word length by more than 15% will be penalised with a 10% deduction. The marker will only read to the listed word limit, i.e. if the word limit is 1000 words they will stop reading at 1000 words (plus or minus up to 150 words).
  • Written assessment tasks submitted without proper referencing, i.e. few or no page numbers or no bibliography, will be marked according to the Macquarie University Plagiarism Policy and the schedule of penalties, including one of the following: reduced mark for the assessment task; required resubmission with reduced maximum mark; issuance of a caution or an automatic fail.

EXTENSION REQUEST PROCEDURE

The granting of extensions is subject to the University's Disruptions Policy: http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html.

Disruption to Studies

If you require an extension, you will be required to submit a 'Disruption to Studies' Notification. Please follow the procedure below:

1. Visit https://ask.mq.edu.au/account/forms/display/disruptions and use your OneID to log in.

2. Select your unit code from the drop down list and fill in your relevant details. Note: A notification needs to be submitted for each unit you believe is affected by the disruption.

3. Click "Submit form".

4. Attach supporting documents by clicking 'Add a note/attachment', click 'browse' and navigating to the files you want to attach, then click 'submit note' to send your notification and supporting documents

5. Please keep copies of your original documents, as they may be requested in the future as part of the assessment process.

Please ensure that supporting documentation is included with your request. Notify your lecturer via your iLearn dialogue box if you are submitting a 'Disruption to Studies' Notification. Your request will be considered once all the documentation has been received. If you have issues, please contact your convenor via the dialogue tool immediately.

Disruption to Studies

DISRUPTION TO STUDIES POLICY

<http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html>

This Policy applies only to serious and unavoidable disruptions that arise after a study period has commenced. Such disruptions commonly result from personal, social or domestic circumstances and may include illness (either physical or psychological), accident, injury, societal demands (such as jury service), bereavement, family breakdown or unexpected changes in employment situations.

Notification of Disruption to Studies

In order to support students who have experienced serious and unavoidable disruption, the University will provide affected students with an additional opportunity to demonstrate that they have met the learning outcomes of a unit.

An additional opportunity provided under such circumstances is referred to as Special Consideration. Special Consideration will be granted after careful evaluation of evidence supporting a notification for disruption to studies.

DISRUPTION TO STUDIES NOTIFICATION

It is a student’s responsibility to notify the University of their circumstances. All students of the University have the right to provide notification of a disruption to studies.

A student may notify the University of a disruption to their studies regardless of whether the disruption meets the serious and unavoidable criteria.

To be eligible for Special Consideration, a student must notify the University of a serious and unavoidable disruption within five (5) working days of the commencement of the disruption (Disruption to Studies notification).  

All Disruption to Studies notifications are to be made online via the University’s Ask MQ system.

Students granted a Disruption to Studies may by awarded an Incomplete Grade in first session results released in mid-July.

Changes since First Published

Date Description
23/04/2017 Changed a sentence in the ePortfolio description: Each student will prepare and submit their planning notes, peer-evaluations and self-reflection of the discussion.
01/03/2017 Error in submission date for Book review.
01/03/2017 Corrected typo
18/02/2017 Due to staffing changes, updated the Unit Schedule and swapped Weeks 7 & 9.