Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Unit Convenor
Ian Plant
Contact via ian.plant@mq.edu.au
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Credit points |
Credit points
4
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
Admission to MA in (Ancient History or Coptic Studies or ECJS or Egyptology or History or Late Antiquity or Ancient Art and Architecture) or PGDipArts in (Ancient History or ECJS) or PGCertArts in (Ancient History or Coptic Studies)
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Corequisites |
Corequisites
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Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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Unit description |
Unit description
In antiquity Herodotus was regarded as the father of history. Thucydides is widely acknowledged as the creator of political history. This unit examines a range of historiographical approaches to the reading of these two influential Greek historians. The aim of this unit is both to understand Herodotus and Thucydides as writers and to evaluate the different historiographical approaches taken by the modern scholars who have studied them.
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Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
Assignment Submission
Assignments are to be submitted electronically through the links provided on the unit’s website. Please consult your online unit on the iLearn website for detailed assignment submission instructions.
Extensions and penalties
All due dates are firm. Permission to submit a late piece of work will only be granted in case of illness or other exceptional cases. Special approval for such late submissions must be sought in advance (where circumstances permit it). Late work will otherwise incur a penalty of 2% per day. Applications for special approval must be made online (see Disruption of Studies below).
Final Submission Date
All work for this course must be submitted by the Friday of week fourteen, unless there are special circumstances (normally illness or serious misadventure) and unless an extension of time has been granted by the Unit Convenor or the Dean of Arts.
Disruption of Studies & Grade Appeals
The Faculty of Arts has a webpage where online applications may be made for Disruption of Studies and Grade Appeals. Go to: http://www.arts.mq.edu.au/current_students/undergraduate Click on the appropriate type of approval you are requesting. Disruption of Studies should be chosen if you are applying for special consideration or an extension of time for one of your assignments.
Important Note on Grade Appeals A Grade Appeal can only be lodged on specific grounds. Please ensure you understand what these grounds are before submitting any application. Do follow the procedure specified for a Grade Appeal so that your appeal can be resolved promptly. Please do not email me to ask me to remark work. Note that it is not possible to appeal the result of an individual assessment task completed during the teaching of the unit. An appeal is only possible once the final grade has been released.
For the university's policy on Grade Appeal see: http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/procedure.html For the university's procedure on Grade Appeals see: http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/procedure.html
Name | Weighting | Due |
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Paper 1 | 12% | Friday, relevant Week: 9pm |
Paper 2 | 13% | Friday, relevant Week: 9pm |
Paper 3 | 25% | Friday Week 8: 9pm |
Paper 4 | 50% | Friday Week 14: 9pm |
Due: Friday, relevant Week: 9pm
Weighting: 12%
You choose one of the twelve topics listed (Weeks 2-13) and address the questions for the topic succinctly, in no more than 750 words (about three pages). Part of your answer may be in point form. However, do make sure that you refer to relevant ancient evidence in your answer. You must include a bibliography of works cited. This seminar paper is not meant to be a research essay. It is designed to guide your reading of the evidence, discussion of the topic and to allow feedback from your tutor.
Due: Friday, relevant Week: 9pm
Weighting: 13%
You choose another one of the twelve topics listed (Weeks 2-13) and address the questions for the topic succinctly, in no more than 750 words (about three pages). Part of your answer may be in point form. However, do make sure that you refer to relevant ancient evidence in your answer. You must include a bibliography of works cited. This seminar paper is not meant to be a research essay. It is designed to guide your reading of the evidence, discussion of the topic and to allow feedback from your tutor.
Due: Friday Week 8: 9pm
Weighting: 25%
Choose one of the seminar topics from Weeks 2-6. Formulate an appropriate essay question from the topic. You should choose this question in consultation with the unit convenor. You may not write your essay on the same topic you choose for your seminar papers. You must include a bibliography of works cited. Your essay should be 1500 words in length (no more), based firmly upon the ancient evidence, and should show an understanding of historiography: the critical analysis of historical writing.
Due: Friday Week 14: 9pm
Weighting: 50%
Choose one of the seminar topics from Weeks 7-13. Formulate an appropriate question from the topic. You should choose this question in consultation with the unit convenor. You may not write your essay on the same topic you choose for your seminar papers. You must include a bibliography of works cited. Your essay should be 3000 words in length (no more), based firmly upon the ancient evidence, and should show an understanding of historiography: the critical analysis of historical writing.
There are two set texts for this unit. They are English translations of Herodotus and Thucydides. I recommend you obtain one of the two editions of each text listed below. However, you may choose to use a different edition of Herodotus or Thucydides.
Herodotus:
EITHER
OR
Thucydides:
EITHER
OR
This unit has an online presence. Login is via: https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/ Students are required to have regular access to a computer and the internet. Mobile devices alone are not sufficient. - For technical support go to: http://mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/informatics/help - For student quick guides on the use of iLearn go to: http://mq.edu.au/iLearn/student_info/guides.htm
Weekly schedule: |
Week 1 |
Introduction to Herodotus and Thucydides |
Week 2 |
Herodotus and his sources |
Week 3 |
Women in Herodotus |
Week 4 |
Gods in Herodotus |
Week 5 |
Politics in Herodotus |
Week 6 |
Herodotus as literature |
Week 7 |
Thucydides: the composition question |
Week 8 |
Use of speeches by Thucydides |
Week 9 |
Past or present? Model history |
Week 10 |
Narratology: reader and text |
Week 11 |
Structure and intertextuality |
Week 12 |
History and historiography |
Week 13 |
Thucydides, Herodotus and history |
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.html
Grading Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html
Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html
Grievance Management Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grievance_management/policy.html
Disruption to Studies Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html The Disruption to Studies Policy is effective from March 3 2014 and replaces the Special Consideration Policy.
In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://informatics.mq.edu.au/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
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