Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Unit Convenor
Lea Beness
Contact via lea.beness@mq.edu.au
W6A 523
Thursdays 4-5pm or by appointment
Unit Convenor
Thomas Hillard
Contact via thomas.hillard@mq.edu.au
W6A 515
TBA
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Credit points |
Credit points
3
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
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Corequisites |
Corequisites
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Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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Unit description |
Unit description
This unit concerns itself with the beginnings of the so-called Roman Revolution, paying special attention to the period from 168 BCE (the battle of Pydna) to Sulla's dictatorship. The main questions will be how and why the traditional political order was challenged and finally overrun by violence, leading to military autocracy and the radical transformation of the Republic. Larger social and economic developments in Italy and the Mediterranean and the distinctive features of the moral and political thought of the period will also be considered. The course is largely a study of the Roman nobility and its members' response to change and crisis.
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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:
Name | Weighting | Due |
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Assessment 1 | 10% | Wednesday of Week 5 |
Assessment 2 | 15% | Thursday of Week 7 |
Assessment 4 | 40% | Examination period |
Assessment 3 | 35% | Tuesday of Week 10 |
Due: Wednesday of Week 5
Weighting: 10%
A very short exercise designed to ensure that students are familiar with the desired mode of presenting evidence and documenting an academic paper. The paper will be submitted electronically via the iLearn website.
Due: Thursday of Week 7
Weighting: 15%
This will serve as a preliminary research exercise that will lead to the completion of the main essay. Students will find ten ancient sources on a designated Roman political figure. The exercise will be discussed at the on-campus session but precise details will also be posted later on the iLearn website.
It will introduce students to the necessary research skills that they will carry forward into further studies of the ancient world.
The source dossier will be submitted electronically via the iLearn website.
Due: Examination period
Weighting: 40%
A two hour examination on all course content.
Students are expected to present themselves for examination at the time and place designated. The timetable will be available in Draft form approximately eight weeks before the commencement of the examinations and in Final form approximately four weeks before the commencement of the examinations at:
<http://www.timetables.mq.edu.au/exam>.
The only exception to sitting an examination at the designated time is documented illness or unavoidable disruption. In these circumstances you may wish to consider applying for Special Consideration. Information about unavoidable disruption and the special consideration process is available under the Policies and Procedures section of this Unit Guide. If a Supplementary Examination is granted as a result of the Special Consideration process, the examination will be scheduled after the conclusion of the official examination period. You are advised that it is Macquarie University policy not to set early examinations for individuals or groups of students. All students are expected to ensure that they are available until the end of the teaching semester, that is, the final day of the official examination period.
The grade a student receives will signify their overall performance in meeting the learning outcomes of the unit. 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 the unit. Markers in the unit 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
A student is required to achieve an overall mark of 50% or above to complete the unit satisfactorily.
Due: Tuesday of Week 10
Weighting: 35%
A prosopographical exercise, built upon the previous assignment, designed to promote a deeper understanding of the ethos of the Roman ruling elite and to introduce students to the ways in which modern historical analysis rests upon ancient evidence.
The exercise will introduce students to the mobilisation and synthesis of evidence and the evaluation of alternative modern interpretations, techniques that they will carry forward into further studies of the ancient world.
The essay will be submitted electronically via the iLearn website.
The essay proper should be no more than 1000 words. The associated elogium should be no more than 250 words.
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 classes and classroom locations. Where possible, external students are welcome to attend internal classes. All lectures will be recorded and can be downloaded or streamed via ECHO360. Students are asked to discuss tutorial topics amongst themselves by posting online via the iLearn website.
RESOURCES
Required Reading and Texts
Plutarch Roman Lives: A Selection of Eight Lives (Oxford World's Classics)
Appian The Civil Wars (Penguin Classics)
Book of Readings: The Roman Republic in Crisis
NOTE
In this course emphasis is placed upon the direct examination of the ancient sources and evidence. Students are expected to base all their work on a personal examination of these sources. It will not be sufficient simply to read modern studies on any topic, however sound and highly recommended these are: it will be essential to look first at the ancient sources on which all modern studies are necessarily based.
H.H. Scullard, From the Gracchi to Nero (5th edition, 1982)
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.
SATISFACTORY COMPLETION OF UNIT
Students must achieve an overall mark of 50% or above to complete the unit satisfactorily. It is expected that students attend the on-campus session on the Saturday at the close of Week 3 and participate in tutorial discussions online via the iLearn website. Students who are unable to attend the on-campus session for reasons beyond their control should contact the convenor as soon as possible.
In 2012 external students submitted hard copy assignments through the COE (Centre for Open Education). In 2014 we are trialling electronic submission of assignments through the iLearn website.
In 2012 external students were required to undertake five assessment tasks. In 2014 they are required to undertake four which are now identical to those undertaken by internal students.
Please see the separate document on the unit's iLearn website for the schedule of topics to be covered each week in the internal mode of delivery. The external recordings will follow this schedule as closely as possible.
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.
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
ASSIGNMENT SUBMISSION
Assignments must be submitted through the iLearn website. Information about how to submit work online can be accessed through the iLearn unit.
ASSIGNMENT RETURN
Assignments will be returned via the 'Assignments' tool on the iLearn website and will contain feedback from the marker. Every effort will be made to return assignments in a timely fashion.
EXAMINATION
Students are required to present themselves for examination at the time and place designated by the University. The only exception to sitting an examination at the designated time is because of documented illness or unavoidable disruption. In these circumstances, please consult University Policy for the available procedure.
EXTENSIONS
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 before the assignment's due date.
NB You should always keep a copy of completed tasks in case of loss.