LLT 121. Section 750 (iCourse), Fall 2014

Instructor: Dr. Edwin Carawan

Office: Siceluff 115, Phone: 836-4831

Office Hours: 12:30 MWF, 2pm TTh

Meetings: 5:30 W  — Strong 202

E-mail: ECarawan@MissouriState.edu

IMPORTANT NOTICE:  It is the student's responsibility to attend and take note of directions given at the orientation session at 5:30 pm, Wed., Aug. 20, 2014,  and to study the following:

 

TEXTS:    Powell, Classical Mythology (6-7 edns preferred; just about any will do: Later chapters ‘slashed’ indicate change in later edn)
Lattimore and Grene, The Greek Tragedies, volume 1
LLT 121 Reading Guide  and additional materials online at: Prof. Hughes' Myth Page.
Classical Mythology Telecourse Lectures (.m4v downloads at iTunes University) 
MythLectures on YouTube

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION:  LLT 121: Classical Mythology is a class in the Missouri State University General Education program. It examines the diverse contributions made to human knowledge and experience by Classical Greco-Roman myth through cultural products such as art, music, and texts. The development of myths – that is, oral traditions once believed to be true – empowered ancient Greeks and Romans to chart humanity’s place in the universe and to contextualize pressing social questions such as class, gender, and race. Even in this age of science and social media, Classical myths continue to shape our consciousness of cultural and historical settings, both our own, and those of other people worldwide. By analyzing Classical myth as the fullest expression of ancient Greco-Roman cultural traditions and perspectives, students will develop an informed understanding of their own cultural contexts and to refine their thinking, believing, and acting toward success in a far more advanced but yet profoundly similar world. 

 

COURSE OBJECTIVES AND GENERAL EDUCATION GOALS: As part of the Missouri State University General Education program, LLT 121: Classical Mythology fulfills a Knowledge of Human Cultures requirement. As detailed below, the LLT 121 Course Objectives directly address the Specific Learning Objectives (SLOs) for General Goal 9.

General Goal 9 (Humanities and the Arts): Students will cultivate their intellect, imagination, and creativity as they develop an understanding of how social, cultural, linguistic, artistic, religious, philosophical, and historical contexts have shaped the thoughts and actions of people worldwide.

SLO 9.1: Understand how various forms of written, oral, musical, visual, and bodily expression contribute to human knowledge and experience.

In LLT 121, students will learn to understand how Greco-Roman myth has contributed, in its various modes of expression, to the knowledge and experience of spatially and temporally diverse human cultures.
   
SLO 9.4: Interpret texts and other cultural products in ways that reflect informed understanding of relevant contextual factors, including socio-cultural influence and cultural traditions,  perspectives, and behavioral patterns.
In LLT 121, students will learn to develop their understanding of cultural influences, traditions, perspectives, and behavioral patterns via the close study of Greco-Roman myth as represented in its diversity of expressions and contexts.

SLO 9.5: Analytically compare the influences of community, institutions, and other constructions such as class, gender, and race on the ways of thinking, believing, and acting in cultural and historical settings other than one’s own.
In LLT 121, students will learn to construe their values and behaviors both in their private lives and in the diverse society at large, as reflected in course readings.

 

TESTING AND GRADING:  The student's work in the course will be evaluated as follows: Average of Average of 4 hour Exams = 100%. Exams will consist of objective (identification, short answer, matching) and essay (thesis statement, proof, conclusion) questions. These will be largely, but not completely, non-comprehensive. Check Prof. Hughes' Examination Format Page for details. Extra credit will not be given under any circumstances. Final grades will be assigned on the following basis: 90-100%= A; 80-89%= B; 70-79%= C; 60-69%= D; 59%-below= F. Students with questions about the evaluation of their work should consult the instructor immediately.

 

NONDISCRIMINATION POLICY:  Missouri State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution, and maintains a grievance procedure available to any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against. At all times, it is your right to address inquiries or concerns about possible discrimination to the Office for Equity and Diversity, Siceluff Hall 296, (417) 836-4252. Other types of concerns (i.e., concerns of an academic nature) should be discussed directly with your instructor and can also be brought to the attention of the Modern and Classical Languages Department Head. 

 

DISABILITY ACCOMMODATION POLICY: To request academic accommodations for a disability, contact the Director of Disability Services, Plaster Student Union, Suite 405, (417) 836-4192 or (417) 836-6792 (TTY), http://www.missouristate.edu/disability.  Students are required to provide documentation of disability to Disability Services prior to receiving accommodations. Disability Services refers some types of accommodation requests to the Learning Diagnostic Clinic, which also provides diagnostic testing for learning and psychological disabilities. For information about testing, contact the Director of the Learning Diagnostic Clinic, (417) 836-4787, http://psychology.missouristate.edu/ldc.

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY POLICY:

Missouri State University is a community of scholars committed to developing educated persons who accept the responsibility to practice personal and academic integrity.  You are responsible for knowing and following the university’s student honor code, Student Academic Integrity Policies and Procedures, available at http://www.missouristate.edu/provost/3935.htm and also available at the Reserves Desk in Meyer Library.  Any student participating in any form of academic dishonesty will be subject to sanctions as described in this policy.

EXAM SCHEDULE: Important— alternate exams meet at 9am Saturdays (elsewhere) and must be arranged at least 3 days in advance.

 

Date

Event

August

 

Wednesday 20

Initial Class Meeting in STRO 202 at 5:30pm

 

 

September

 

Saturday 20

Alternate Exam 1* (Programs 1-9)

Wednesday 24

Exam 1 (Programs 1-9) in STRO 202 at 5:30pm

 

 

October

 

Saturday 18

Alternate Exam 2* (Programs 10-21)

Wednesday 22

Exam 2 (Programs 10-21) in STRO 202 at 5:30pm

 

 

November

 

Saturday 15

Alternate Exam 3* (Programs 22-32)

Wednesday 19

Exam 3 (Programs 22-32) in STRO 202 at 5:30pm

 

 

December

 

Wednesday 10

Final Exam in STRO 202 at 5:45pm (follows University final schedule)

 

 

READINGS:  Important! The numbering of assignments and lectures by chapter is based on an old edition of Powell’s text.  There will be discrepancies between the schedule below and more recent editions: focus on the title to be sure you are in the right chapter. In preparing for the exams use the lectures as a guide for what to focus on. The links to the Online Reading Guide will also assist you in getting the best out of the textbook.

 

Exam I covers the following Unit, Chh. 1-6 (Lectures 1-9)

The Nature of Myth

 

Powell, Chapters 1, 2, and 3

Myths of Creation

 

Powell, Chapter 4

The Origins of Humankind

 

Powell, Chapter 5

Myths of the Olympian Gods I

 

Powell, Chapter 6

 

Exam II.   Chh. 7-11/12 & Hippolytus (Lectures 10-21)

Myths of the Olympian Gods II

Powell, Chapters 7 and 8

 

 

Demeter and the Eleusinian Mysteries

Powell, Chapters 9 and 11

 

Dionysus and the Bacchic Mysteries

Powell, Chapter 10

 

Euripides, Hippolytus

Grene, The Greek Tragedies

 

Exam III   Chh. 12/13 to 18/19  (Lectures 22-32)

Legends of Heracles

Powell, Chapters 12 and 14

Legends of Athens and Crete

Powell, Chapters 15 and 16

Legends of Mycenae and Iolcus

Powell, Chapters 13 and 18

Legends of Thebes

Powell, Chapter 17

 

 

Exam IV   Chh. 19/20 to 22  (Lectures 33-38)

Sophocles, Oedipus the King

Grene, The Greek Tragedies

The Trojan War

Powell, Chapters 19 and 20

The Return Voyages

Powell, Chapter 21