LLT 121: Mythology iCourse Office: Siceluff 113
Section 750 Office Hours: 10:00-11:15 MWF
Fall 2016 Phone: 836-6601 (messages 836-5122)
5:30 pm T, STRO 202 E-mail: JosephHughes at MissouriState.edu
Instructor: Dr. Joseph Hughes WWW: http://cicero.missouristate.edu/myth

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

The instructor of this iCourse will not be held responsible for student issues arising from a student's failure to attend the mandatory orientation session at 5:30 pm, Tuesday, August 23, 2016. In such cases, the student bears sole responsibility for initiating contact with the instructor in a timely fashion.

TEXTS:

Powell, Classical Mythology (any edition)
Lattimore and Grene, The Greek Tragedies, volume 1
LLT 121 Reading Guide
Classical Mythology Telecourse Lectures (available as .mp3 podcasts at iTunes University)

COVRSE 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. 

COVRSE OBJECTIVES AND GENERAL EDVCATION 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 Midterm and Final = 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 the 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:

Midterm (Lectures 01-21) Tue., 04 Oct 2016 5:30 pm, STRO 202
Final (Lectures 22-38) Tue., 13 Dec 2016 5:30 pm, STRO 202

ALTERNATE EXAM DATES

If you are a Distance Learning student taking the iCourse off-campus, please email the instructor for details. Even if you already have emailed him. Make-up tests will be given ONLY in demonstrable emergencies. Email the instructor if such an emergency arises.

READINGS

Important! The textbook on which these taped lectures was based is now out of print.  Consequently, there may be minor discrepancies between the taped lectures and the schedule of readings below. Keep in mind that the lectures take precedence over the readings in determining the choice of questions on the exam. The links are to the Online Reading Guide designed to assist you in reading the textbook.

Midterm Exam (Lectures 01-21)

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
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

Final Exam (Lectures 22-38)

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
Sophocles, Oedipus the King Grene, The Greek Tragedies
The Trojan War Powell, Chapters 19 and 20
The Return Voyages Powell, Chapter 21