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AHIS1150 – Hieroglyphic Egyptian A

2023 – Session 1, Online-flexible

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Camilla Di Biase-Dyson
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit introduces students to Middle Egyptian, the classical language of Ancient Egypt. This was the language of the Middle Kingdom and the early New Kingdom but it remained in use in religious and literary texts as long as the Egyptian civilisation survived. The understanding of Middle Egyptian is essential to earlier and later stages of this language.

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: Recognize, memorize and recall Egyptian script, phonetic structures and foundational Egyptian vocabulary
  • ULO2: Identify and recall Egyptian grammatical structures at elementary level
  • ULO4: Apply relevant grammatical and lexical reference tools
  • ULO3: Assess the grammar required for the translation of simple Egyptian texts
  • ULO5: Recall and apply linguistic metalanguage
  • ULO6: Integrate knowledge of grammar and vocabulary in translating, reading and/or writing simple Egyptian texts
  • ULO7: Reflect and comment on the significance of hieroglyphic Egyptian for the study of relevant ancient cultures

General Assessment Information

Guidelines for preparing the assessment tasks as well as assessment criteria are available on iLearn. The assessment tasks are compulsory in this unit. Each assessment task has a due date and students are expected to submit their work on time.

Late Assessment Submission Penalty  

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a mark of ‘0’ (zero) will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical issue.   

This late penalty will apply to non-timed sensitive assessment (incl essays, reports, posters, portfolios, journals, recordings etc)Late submission of time sensitive tasks (such as tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs etc) will only be addressed by the unit convenor via a Special Consideration application (https://students.mq.edu.au/study/assessment-exams/special-consideration). The Special Consideration outcome may result in a new question or topic.

Please note that grading decisions for each assessment task will be moderated against the set criteria and standards before task results are released.

The grade a student receives will signify their overall performance in meeting the learning outcomes of a unit of study. Grades will not be awarded by reference to the achievement of other students nor allocated to fit a predetermined distribution. In determining a grade, due weight will be given to the learning outcomes and level of a unit (ie 100, 200, 300, 800 etc). Graded units will use the following grades: HD High Distinction 85-100 D Distinction 75-84 Cr Credit 65-74 P Pass 50-64 F Fail 0-49.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Vocabulary Tests 25% No Weeks 3, 4, 7, 9, 10
Assignments 30% No Weeks 6 and 11
Revision Test 15% No Week 8
Final Test 30% No 07.06.2023

Vocabulary Tests

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 1 hours
Due: Weeks 3, 4, 7, 9, 10
Weighting: 25%

 

Students demonstrate their capability of reading hieroglyphs and their recall of vocabulary and phrases of hieroglyphic Egyptian.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Recognize, memorize and recall Egyptian script, phonetic structures and foundational Egyptian vocabulary
  • Identify and recall Egyptian grammatical structures at elementary level

Assignments

Assessment Type 1: Reflective Writing
Indicative Time on Task 2: 8 hours
Due: Weeks 6 and 11
Weighting: 30%

 

Students complete a series of mixed questions to transliterate and translate hieroglyphic Egyptian as well as explain grammatical structures. They will demonstrate the appropriate use of the relevant reference tools. The assignments align with the weekly content and the students will experience a development in their proficiency in reading and understanding hieroglyphic Egyptian.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Recognize, memorize and recall Egyptian script, phonetic structures and foundational Egyptian vocabulary
  • Identify and recall Egyptian grammatical structures at elementary level
  • Apply relevant grammatical and lexical reference tools
  • Assess the grammar required for the translation of simple Egyptian texts
  • Recall and apply linguistic metalanguage
  • Integrate knowledge of grammar and vocabulary in translating, reading and/or writing simple Egyptian texts

Revision Test

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 1 hours
Due: Week 8
Weighting: 15%

 

Students transliterate, translate and demonstrate their understanding of the hieroglyphic script and elementary level sentence structures. This Test provides the opportunity for thorough revision and consolidation of the weekly content up to the time of the test.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Recognize, memorize and recall Egyptian script, phonetic structures and foundational Egyptian vocabulary
  • Identify and recall Egyptian grammatical structures at elementary level
  • Apply relevant grammatical and lexical reference tools
  • Assess the grammar required for the translation of simple Egyptian texts
  • Recall and apply linguistic metalanguage

Final Test

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 2 hours
Due: 07.06.2023
Weighting: 30%

 

Students are tested on the knowledge of the hieroglyphic script, vocabulary, syntax and grammar they have built, practiced and consolidated in the course of the unit. They demonstrate their ability to transliterate and translate text and understand cultural context.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Recognize, memorize and recall Egyptian script, phonetic structures and foundational Egyptian vocabulary
  • Identify and recall Egyptian grammatical structures at elementary level
  • Apply relevant grammatical and lexical reference tools
  • Assess the grammar required for the translation of simple Egyptian texts
  • Recall and apply linguistic metalanguage
  • Integrate knowledge of grammar and vocabulary in translating, reading and/or writing simple Egyptian texts
  • Reflect and comment on the significance of hieroglyphic Egyptian for the study of relevant ancient cultures

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

The unit is taught as a "lectorial", which means lecture and tutorial are integrated as a 3-hour block. Each of these sessions will take place in person and will also be recorded and made available the same day on the iLearn site over the Echo360 portal. Some classrooms also offer livestreaming -- if this is available in the allocated classroom, livestreaming will also be available.

All relevant study materials, exercises and practice opportunities are offered through iLearn: https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/.

Students are required to access the online unit in iLearn at the beginning of Week 1 at the very latest and follow any relevant instructions and links for downloads that may be required. • For central technical support go to: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/technology/service-desk • For student quick guides on the use of iLearn go to: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/technology/systems/ilearn

Active engagement with the iLearn website is essential to successfully complete the unit. Discussion of items not covered in class can be conducted online via the Announcements and Discussion Forum on the unit's iLearn site. Students are expected to complete the homework exercises set in preparation for each class. This will enable them to participate actively in class, get feedback on what they have prepared, ask pertinent questions, and integrate the new topics into a progressively more solid foundation.

All tests (five Vocabulary Tests, one Revision Test and one Final Test) will also be conducted via the iLearn website. For details on the submission of the two Assessment Tasks in Weeks 6 and 11) see the "Assessment" section of the iLearn site.

Students are required to have regular access to a computer and the internet. Mobile devices alone are not sufficient. External students are required to work through the recordings and the accompanying exercises and practice material as directed. For students attending classes on campus we strongly encourage that you bring along your own laptop computer, ready to work with activities set for the unit.

The textbook is B. G. Ockinga, Concise Grammar of Middle Egyptian, 3rd edition (Mainz, 2012). This textbook is available to purchase online (and can be picked up in class in Weeks 1 and 2) but will also be made available in digital form to all students. If you are only using a digital version, please print it out so that you can make notes on it.

The various sections of the textbook contain all the materials you will need to successfully study Hieroglyphic Egyptian in AHIS1150 (Grammar, Vocabulary, Exercises, Reading Exercises, Sign List, Indices). It is also the essential reference work for the other language units taught: AHIS2150 and AHIS3150 (Hieroglyphic Egyptian B and C), and beyond.

Students who wish to continue with Egyptian studies should also acquire or get a digital copy (contact your Convenor!) of:

A. H. Gardiner, Egyptian Grammar 3rd ed. (Oxford, 1957 & reprints)

R.O. Faulkner, A Concise Dictionary of Middle Egyptian (Oxford, 1962 & reprints).

A transliteration keyboard that can be used in iLearn and other platforms, which was developed by David Chapman, a Macquarie student, is available on iLearn to download with instructions on how to install it. The keyboard font can be used when doing assignments and translation tests, but it should not be used for vocabulary tests (for this, Codage should be used, which will be explained in class).

Unit Schedule

Week

Topic

Textbook chapters

Due dates

1

Introduction to the unit

Principles of the script (1): phonograms, logograms, determinatives/classifiers and principles of transliteration

§§1–13

 

-----

2

Principles of the script (2) phonetic complements and honorific transposition

Parts of Speech (POS)

Nouns (1): Masculine, feminine, singular, plural, dual

§§1–17

 

-----

3

Nouns (2): Direct and indirect genitive, coordination, adjectives

§§18–25

 

Vocab Test 1

4

More with adjectives (nisbe, nfr-ḥr), numbers and dates

§§22–25, 39–41

Vocab Test 2

5

Pronouns, prepositions, particles

§§26–38

-----

6

Non-verbal sentences (1): Adverbial sentences

 

§§42–47

Assignment 1

7

Non-verbal sentences (2): Nominal sentences

 

§§48–55

Vocab Test 3

 

Semester break – time for revision

 

8

Non-verbal sentences (3): Adjectival sentences,

Expressions of possession

 

§§56–59, 116

Revision Test

9

Verbal sentences (1): Introduction to verbs

(verb classes, tense – aspect – mood (TAM), transitivity)

The imperative mood

§§60–67

Vocab Test 4

10

Verbal sentences (2): Complex verb forms for present/imperfective (ı͗w(⸗f) sḏm⸗f) and past/perfective (ı͗w sḏm.n⸗f)

§§68–69, 71, 89–92, 95, 97, 117

Vocab Test 5

11

Verbal sentences (3): Subjunctive mood (sḏm⸗f), main clause and nominal use

§§75

Assignment 2

12

Verbal sentences (4): The Future tense (sḏm.w/y⸗f)

Negation of verbal sentences

§§74, 133, 135, 139–140, 142

 

 

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13

Revision

 

 

-----

Week after

 

 

Final Test

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/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

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

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

The Writing Centre

The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via AskMQ, or contact Service Connect.

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.


Unit information based on version 2023.01R of the Handbook