Students

AHIS370 – Archaeology of Early Egypt

2017 – S2 Day

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor
Yann Tristant
Contact via email
Australian Hearing Hub, South Wing, Level 2
By appointment only
Credit points Credit points
3
Prerequisites Prerequisites
((AHIS170 or AHST100) and 6cp at 200 level including (AHIS280 or AHST261)) or admission to GDipArts
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
The cultures of Pre- and Early Dynastic Egypt represent the foundations of Ancient Egyptian civilisation. This unit examines and discusses the social organisation, material culture, art and earliest historical evidence starting with early prehistory (c. 500,000 BCE) until the end of Dynasty 2 (c. 2750 BCE). Particular attention is given to the processes involved in the formation of the early Egyptian state.

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:

  • Acquire knowledge and skills specific to the discipline of Egyptology
  • Think critically and analytically
  • Solve problems and develop research skills
  • Think creatively and in an innovative way
  • Communicate effectively
  • Digest ambiguous and complex data
  • Commit to continuous learning

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Research Essay 30% No Week 8
Oral presentation 30% No From Week 4 onwards
Class Test 30% No Week 13
Preparation and Participation 10% No Every week

Research Essay

Due: Week 8
Weighting: 30%

Word limit: 2500 words.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Acquire knowledge and skills specific to the discipline of Egyptology
  • Think critically and analytically
  • Solve problems and develop research skills
  • Communicate effectively

Oral presentation

Due: From Week 4 onwards
Weighting: 30%

Short paper (30 min.) on a topic from a list of topic choices. Note: A bibliography must be submitted to the convenor 1 week prior to your presentation.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Acquire knowledge and skills specific to the discipline of Egyptology
  • Solve problems and develop research skills
  • Think creatively and in an innovative way
  • Digest ambiguous and complex data
  • Commit to continuous learning

Class Test

Due: Week 13
Weighting: 30%

The Class Test is a brief examination of all major concepts covered in class. Length is one hour.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Acquire knowledge and skills specific to the discipline of Egyptology
  • Think critically and analytically
  • Solve problems and develop research skills
  • Think creatively and in an innovative way
  • Communicate effectively
  • Digest ambiguous and complex data
  • Commit to continuous learning

Preparation and Participation

Due: Every week
Weighting: 10%

Students are required to attend all classes (lectures and tutorials), prepare the set of readings and participate in class.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Acquire knowledge and skills specific to the discipline of Egyptology
  • Think critically and analytically
  • Solve problems and develop research skills
  • Think creatively and in an innovative way
  • Communicate effectively
  • Digest ambiguous and complex data
  • Commit to continuous learning

Delivery and Resources

CLASSES

For lecture times and classrooms please consult the MQ Timetable website: http://www.timetables.mq.edu.au.This website will display up-to-date information on your classes and classroom locations

To complete the unit satisfactorily you will need to undertake all assessment tasks and to reach a minimum of 50% (Pass) in each of the tasks outlined above.

Assignments must be submitted through the iLearn website. Information about how to submit work online can be accessed through the iLearn unit.

Assignments will be returned via the ‘Assignments’ tool on iLean Unit site, and will contain feedback from the marker within them. The convener will aim to return your assignments within two weeks.

There is no formal examination in this unit. A Class Test is set for the last week of classes.

EXTENSIONS AND PENALTIES

Extensions for assignments can only be granted for medical reasons or on compassionate grounds. Without documentation (medical or counselling certificates) or prior staff approval, a penalty of 2% a day, including weekends, will be applied. If required, applications for extensions should be made to the convenor before the assignment's due date.

REQUIRED AND RECOMMENDED TEXTS AND/OR MATERIALS

The following textbooks are required:

  • Midant-Reynes, B., The Prehistory of Egypt (Oxford, 2000; Engl. Transl. by Ian Shaw).
  • Teeter, E. (ed.), Before the pyramids: the origins of Egyptian civilization (Chicago, 2011).
  • Wilkinson, T.A.H., Early Dynastic Egypt (London/New York, 1999).

Recommended:

  • Adams, B., Predynastic Egypt (Aylesbury, 1988).
  • Adams, B. and Cialowicz, K.M., Protodynastic Egypt (Buckinghamshire, 1997).
  • Spencer, A.J., Early Egypt: the Rise of Civilization in the Nile Valley (London, 1993).

For a detailed bibliography refer to the syllabus.

UNIT WEBPAGE AND TECHNOLOGY USED AND REQUIRED

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

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

Date

Seminar

Assessment

1

03/08/2017

Introduction

No assessment

2

10/08/2017

Historiography and Chronology

No assessment

3

17/08/2017

Environment and Palaeolithic

Oral presentations

4

24/08/2017

Egyptian Neolithic: the first farming communities

Oral presentations

5

31/08/2017

Predynastic Egypt: an overview

Oral presentations

6

07/09/2017

Predynastic material culture

Oral presentations

7

14/09/2017

Predynastic cemeteries

Oral presentations

 

 

 

MID SEMESTER BREAK

 

8

05/10/2017

Predynastic settlements

Oral presentations

Research Essay due

9

12/10/2017

Predynastic cult and religion

Oral presentations

10

19/10/2017

Egypt and its neighbours

Oral presentations

11

26/10/2017

The earliest monumental architecture

Oral presentations

12

02/11/2017

The making of kingship

Oral presentations

13

09/11/2017

No lecture

Class Test

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

  • Acquire knowledge and skills specific to the discipline of Egyptology
  • Solve problems and develop research skills
  • Think creatively and in an innovative way
  • Communicate effectively
  • Digest ambiguous and complex data

Assessment tasks

  • Research Essay
  • Oral presentation
  • Class Test
  • Preparation and Participation

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

  • Acquire knowledge and skills specific to the discipline of Egyptology
  • Think critically and analytically
  • Solve problems and develop research skills
  • Think creatively and in an innovative way
  • Communicate effectively
  • Digest ambiguous and complex data

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

  • Digest ambiguous and complex data

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 outcomes

  • Acquire knowledge and skills specific to the discipline of Egyptology
  • Solve problems and develop research skills
  • Think creatively and in an innovative way
  • Digest ambiguous and complex data

Assessment tasks

  • Research Essay
  • Oral presentation
  • Class Test
  • Preparation and Participation

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

  • Acquire knowledge and skills specific to the discipline of Egyptology
  • Think critically and analytically
  • Solve problems and develop research skills
  • Think creatively and in an innovative way
  • Digest ambiguous and complex data

Assessment tasks

  • Research Essay
  • Oral presentation
  • Class Test
  • Preparation and Participation

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

  • Acquire knowledge and skills specific to the discipline of Egyptology
  • Think critically and analytically
  • Solve problems and develop research skills
  • Think creatively and in an innovative way
  • Communicate effectively

Assessment tasks

  • Research Essay
  • Oral presentation
  • Class Test
  • Preparation and Participation

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

  • Think critically and analytically
  • Communicate effectively

Assessment tasks

  • Research Essay
  • Oral presentation
  • Class Test
  • Preparation and Participation

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

  • Think critically and analytically

Assessment tasks

  • Class Test
  • Preparation and Participation

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

  • Think critically and analytically
  • Digest ambiguous and complex data

Assessment tasks

  • Research Essay
  • Oral presentation
  • Class Test
  • Preparation and Participation

Changes since First Published

Date Description
12/09/2017 Essay date