Students
AHIS3241 – Dialogue of Cultures: Ancient Egypt and the Near East
2020 – Session 2, Special circumstance
Notice
As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group learning activities on campus for the second half-year, while keeping an online version available for those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.
To check the availability of face to face activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.
General Information
Download as PDF
| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Javier Alvarez-Mon
Peter Edwell
|
|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
10
|
| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
130cp at 1000 level or above or (20cp in AHIS or AHST units at 2000 level)
|
| Corequisites |
Corequisites
|
| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
|
| Unit description |
Unit description
This unit offers and advanced study of cultural dialogue between ancient societies, by examining the material and literary records of the ancient Near East and neighboring regions, including Egypt. Western cultural stereotypes and prejudices are investigated, as well as notions of cultural identity, assimilation, rejection, and superiority. Problems to be addressed may concern, among many, cultural borrowing, funerary traditions, gift-giving, tribute, plundering, arts and coinage, trade, and dress. |
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:
- ULO1: Apply notions of cultural identity, acculturation, assimilation, rejection, and superiority amongst peoples and cultures of Egypt and the ancient Near East.
- ULO2: Understand and critically evaluate methodological approaches to the study of cultural dialogue in antiquity.
- ULO3: Acquire skills necessary for the analysis and interpretation of social and political identity in the ancient world.
- ULO5: Conduct independent research, synthesize acquired knowledge, and effectively plan, organize and prioritize work.
- ULO6: Communicate effectively with teaching staff and peers.
General Assessment Information
I. Class Discussion (10%)
Discussion of reading of the week Tutorials by answering questions pertaining to readings.
II. Summary of Weekly Reading (20%)
Select ONE weekly reading PER WEEK and summarize its content and significance in no more than 150 words (total 12 summaries).
- Weighting: 20% of the total grade
- Length: 150 words maximum per reading. The summary must be in your own words.
- Due Date: WEEK 3 (Sunday at 11:59pm). Feedback will be provided for the first three summaries.
- Due Date: All remaining summaries are due in Week 13 (Sunday at 11:59pm).
III. Short Research Essay (20%)
Select an object, structure, site, or person that has captured your interest during the lectures and write an essay placing it in the context of one or more major themes discussed in class (see above “Theoretical Backgrounds to be Discussed in Class”). Please cite a minimum of five (5) references to demonstrate your breadth of reading on the topic.
- Weighting: 20% of the total grade
- Length: 1,000 words; Five references minimum. Footnotes and references not included in word count.
- Referencing system (see long-essay below).
- Due Date: Mid-Semester Break (27 September at 11:59pm).
IV. Long Research Essay (50%)
Write a 3,000 word essay on any ONE of the twelve questions provided (for the list of Essay Questions, see iLearn). The essay must be double-spaced and size 12 font throughout. Bibliography is to be placed at the end listing all works referred to in-text (footnotes and bibliography are not included in the word count). Submit by the due time and date to avoid late penalties.
- Weighting: 50% of the total grade
- Due Date: Week 13 (Sunday at 11:59pm)
- Topics: Select one essay from the list provided at the end of this unit guide.
- Length: 3,000 words; footnotes and references not included in total.
- Referencing system: References “in-text”. The university does have a guide to referencing systems for assignments, which can be found
at: https://www.mq.edu.au/public/download/?id=292059
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discussion of reading of the week in tutorials by answering questions pertaining to readings | 10% | No | Week 13 |
| Weekly Readings | 20% | No | Weeks 3 and 13 |
| Short Essay | 20% | No | Mid-Semester Break (27 September at 11:59pm). |
| Long Research Essay | 50% | No | Week 13 |
Discussion of reading of the week in tutorials by answering questions pertaining to readings
Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 11 hours
Due: Week 13
Weighting: 10%
Class discussion
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Acquire skills necessary for the analysis and interpretation of social and political identity in the ancient world.
- Communicate effectively with teaching staff and peers.
Weekly Readings
Assessment Type 1: Literature review
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: Weeks 3 and 13
Weighting: 20%
Summaries of Weekly Readings
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Apply notions of cultural identity, acculturation, assimilation, rejection, and superiority amongst peoples and cultures of Egypt and the ancient Near East.
- Understand and critically evaluate methodological approaches to the study of cultural dialogue in antiquity.
- Conduct independent research, synthesize acquired knowledge, and effectively plan, organize and prioritize work.
Short Essay
Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: Mid-Semester Break (27 September at 11:59pm).
Weighting: 20%
Essay requiring independent research; Length: 1,000 words;
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Apply notions of cultural identity, acculturation, assimilation, rejection, and superiority amongst peoples and cultures of Egypt and the ancient Near East.
- Understand and critically evaluate methodological approaches to the study of cultural dialogue in antiquity.
- Acquire skills necessary for the analysis and interpretation of social and political identity in the ancient world.
- Conduct independent research, synthesize acquired knowledge, and effectively plan, organize and prioritize work.
Long Research Essay
Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 70 hours
Due: Week 13
Weighting: 50%
Essay requiring independent research; Length: 3,500 words
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Apply notions of cultural identity, acculturation, assimilation, rejection, and superiority amongst peoples and cultures of Egypt and the ancient Near East.
- Understand and critically evaluate methodological approaches to the study of cultural dialogue in antiquity.
- Acquire skills necessary for the analysis and interpretation of social and political identity in the ancient world.
- Conduct independent research, synthesize acquired knowledge, and effectively plan, organize and prioritize work.
1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:
- the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
- the Writing Centre for academic skills support.
2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation
Delivery and Resources
This unit is comprised of 2 key elements:
- 2 hours of instruction (1-2 hours of pre-recorded lectures)
- 1 hour of student led discussion in tutorials online via Zoom (See bellow MQ's web conferencing tool);
Students are expected to attend all tutorials, unless there are extenuating circumstances such as illness etc. A log will be taken to record attendance.
For lecture times 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.
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:
ONLINE STUDENT LED DISCUSSIONS | ZOOM MEETINGS
All students enrolled in the unit are required to meet each week with your online tutor to discuss the set readings for the week.
The tutorial discussions will be conducted through Zoom, which is 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. Click here for a summary of the basics of Zoom from the MQ L&T Blog.
It is your responsibility to make sure you pre-configure your computer to use this software prior to the first meeting in Week 1.
Pre-Configuration:
- To access Zoom and set up and meeting, go to https://macquarie.zoom.us/ and enter your OneID and password.
- Please make sure your Mac or PC is equipped with a microphone and speakers, so that you can use the audio functionality built into the web conferencing software.
- Please note that it is extremely important that you get your system set up prior to the start of the event. Information on installing the necessary software and configuring your PC or Mac is available at https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/categories/200101697-Getting-Started
Please note that this link is only for Set up. Once you have completed the setup, close down the link and use the link provided on iLearn to access the room for the first meeting.
SPECIAL CONSIDERATION
Please note: unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply – two (2) marks out of 100 will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be accepted more than seven (7) days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline. No late submissions will be accepted for timed assessments – e.g. quizzes, online tests
This link will explain how to file for special consideration:
https://students.mq.edu.au/study/my-study-program/special-consideration
IMPORTANT NOTE ON FINAL MARKS: Please note with respect to the marks you receive for work during the session: that the marks given are indicative only; final marks will be determined after moderation. See further the note on Results in the Policies and Procedures section below.
Policies and Procedures
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
- Academic Appeals Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progression Policy
- Assessment Policy
- Fitness to Practice Procedure
- Grade Appeal Policy
- Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public
- Special Consideration Policy (Note: The Special Consideration Policy is effective from 4 December 2017 and replaces the Disruption to Studies Policy.)
Students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/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/study/getting-started/student-conduct
Results
Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) 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 or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@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 help you improve your marks and take control of your study.
The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources.
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
If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@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.