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AHIX8210 – History Writing in Antiquity: Herodotus and Thucydides

2024 – Session 2, Online-flexible

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Convenor
Ian Worthington
ian.worthington@mq.edu.au
Contact via Email
B109 Arts Precinct
by appointment
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
Herodotus and Thucydides are seen as the founding fathers of the discipline of history. Their work has had a profound influence on later historians. This unit examines their different approaches to writing history as well as examining a range of modern historiographical approaches to the reading of these two influential historians. This unit will give students a thorough understanding of the major works by Herodotus and Thucydides, along with a comprehensive overview of the history of the study of these authors. At the same time, it will introduce some of the major historiographical techniques used in the study of these authors, and give the students the opportunity to analyse a range of critical responses to the writing of history. It will teach students to read these authors within their historical and historiographical context, to understand the characteristics of their particular type or genre and to evaluate the historical information gathered from them. All enrolment queries should be directed to Open Universities Australia (OUA): www.open.edu.au

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: Demonstrate understanding of principal historiographical approaches to the texts of key ancient historians.
  • ULO2: Identify, critically assess and evaluate approaches to the writing of ancient history.
  • ULO3: Research and interpret texts, using appropriate historiographical approaches to analysis.
  • ULO4: Communicate effectively with teaching staff and peers, demonstrating an informed respect for professional (academic) and ethical principles and values.

General Assessment Information

1) Follow the rubrics for the assignments carefully so as to gain maximum marks and submit your work on Turnitin – under each assignment below is a submission button.

2) 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.  (The times are Sydney times.)

3) IMPORTANT NOTE ON FINAL MARKS: Grading decisions for each assessment task will be moderated against the set criteria and standards before task results are released.

4) Do not plagiarise: plagiarism will not be tolerated: see 'MQ Academic Integrity Policy' below.

5) AI: An increasing number of students is turning to the various AI programmes when writing assignments, a practice much discussed at department and faculty levels. It is impossible to detect the use of AI accurately hence banning its use is to little avail. But I do urge you to be terribly careful if you resort to using such programmes as they are a double-edged sword: they do make errors and these are obvious during the marking process, and so will count against you. Also, the assignment questions rely heavily on your opinions and interpretations based on readings, so when it comes time to justifying your views in your answers an AI programme won't be of much help. It is always better, I think, to know your material and engage with it one-to-one for the maximum learning experience!

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Historiographical Analysis 25% No 8/9/24
Critical Evaluation of your weekly posts. 25% No 20/10/24
Essay 50% No 3/11/24

Historiographical Analysis

Assessment Type 1: Case study/analysis
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: 8/9/24
Weighting: 25%

A short written paper that requires historiographical analysis: your word limit is 1500 words. Further details on this task are on the unit's ilearn page.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate understanding of principal historiographical approaches to the texts of key ancient historians.
  • Identify, critically assess and evaluate approaches to the writing of ancient history.
  • Research and interpret texts, using appropriate historiographical approaches to analysis.

Critical Evaluation of your weekly posts.

Assessment Type 1: Reflective Writing
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: 20/10/24
Weighting: 25%

Compose a reflective, critical evaluation of your engagement with the unit's topics in your weekly posts: your word limit for this task is 1500 words. Further details on this task are on the unit's ilearn page.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate understanding of principal historiographical approaches to the texts of key ancient historians.
  • Identify, critically assess and evaluate approaches to the writing of ancient history.
  • Research and interpret texts, using appropriate historiographical approaches to analysis.

Essay

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: 3/11/24
Weighting: 50%

This is a longer written assessment task: your word limit is 2500 words. Further details on this task are on the unit's ilearn page.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate understanding of principal historiographical approaches to the texts of key ancient historians.
  • Identify, critically assess and evaluate approaches to the writing of ancient history.
  • Research and interpret texts, using appropriate historiographical approaches to analysis.
  • Communicate effectively with teaching staff and peers, demonstrating an informed respect for professional (academic) and ethical principles and values.

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

Schedule: There are no face-to-face lectures; all weekly lectures are recorded and made avaialble on the ilearn site from week 1  There will also be a weekly online discussion forum, which will also be the basis for the written assignments.

Method: AHIX 8210 is delivered in blended mode as a Macquarie University unit of study.

Webpage: Online units can be accessed at: http://ilearn.mq.edu.au/

Technology used and skills required: PC and Internet access are required. Basic computer skills (e.g., internet browsing) and skills in word processing are also a requirement.

Please contact IT staff for any further, more specific, requirements, to do with technology.

Required and recommended resources

No required purchase books.

eReserve readings on leganto (see 'Unit Readings' in iLearn Syllabus and weekly lecture and tutorial readings for information).

Unit Schedule

Please see the iLearn Syllabus for week-by-week details as some of these may change over the semester.

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 2024.01R of the Handbook