Course Grading: Your grade for the course will be determined as follows:

Exam #1: 20% (3/11 and 3/13)
Exam #2: 20% (5/11)                                                                       
Attendance and Class Participation: 20%
Two Written Assignments: 20% each

Attendance Policy: Given the fact that participation is part of your grade, your attendance is required at every class meeting.  You are allowed one unexcused absence for the session.  More than one absence without a valid excuse will affect your grade for the course.

Participation: A portion of your grade will be based upon the degree to which you participate in class discussions. 

Course Readings

Textbook: Gloria  K. Fiero, The Humanistic Tradition, Book 1: The First Civilizations and the Classical Legacy, 5th Edition, ISBN-13 9780072910070

 In addition to the textbook, you will be reading the following short works (Any editions are acceptable):

The Epic of Gilgamesh
The Iliad
Plutarch's Lives, Volume 2, Modern Library Edition

Additional supplementary readings will be assigned each week as well. 

Written Assignments

You are required to complete at least two of the following 3 page papers for the class.  If you complete all three, the highest two out of the three assignment grades will count towards your final average, and the third assignment grade will add up to 5% extra credit to your final average.
 

• Assignment # 1: Read The Epic of Gilgamesh, and then answer the following questions in a well written essay: What does this source tell us about ancient Sumerian ideals of leadership?  What were the duties which a good ruler was expected to fulfill?  Was Gilgamesh considered a good leader by his people?  Why or why not?  Support your answer with examples from the book.  Due 2/13

• Assignment # 2: Read The Iliad, (Books 1-9, 16, 20-24), and then answer the following questions in a well written essay: What does this source tell us about ancient Greek ideals of leadership?  What were the duties which a good leader was expected to fulfill?  Which characters in the book are portrayed as the best leaders?  Which are portrayed as the worst?  Why?  Support your arguments with examples from the book.  Due 3/27

• Assignment # 3: Read the biographies of Alexander and Julius Caesar in Plutarch's Lives and then answer the following questions in a well written essay:  Why do you think Plutarch decided to pair these two lives together?  What does he admire about each man?  What faults does he criticize in each?  Finally, what do these two biogtaphies tell us about leadership ideals in the Roman world in which Plutarch lived?  Support your answer with examples from the book.  Due 4/17

Formatting: Each essay should be 3 double spaced pages, using 12 point Times New Roman font and one inch margins.  All essays must be word processed.  Neither e-mail submissions nor papers not stapled or otherwise clipped together will be accepted.  

Style and Grammar: You must present your arguments in clear, concise, and grammatical English.  Make sure to proofread and use spell-check. For tips on improving your writing, please consult the College's Writing Center.

Citations:  You MUST include a formal citation any time you refer to a specific passage in a text, even if you do not quote the text directly.  The most commonly accepted method for citing sources is the MLA's format for in text citations.  According to this format, at the end of passage drawn from a specific part of a source, you insert a set a parentheses containing the author's last name and the page number or numbers: (Name #).  Consult the previous web link for more detailed information on MLA style citations.

Disruptive Behavior: Disruptive behavior will not be tolerated.  Private conversations during lecture or class discussions, ringing mobile phones, and walking out of class early all distract and disturb your instructor and your classmates.  Please be considerate.  If you have a question or a comment on the course material, please raise your hand and share it with the class. 

Academic Honesty: Common examples of academic dishonesty and misconduct can be found below and in the Student Code of Conduct, Section IV. These examples are not an all-inclusive list of all prohibited behavior. If you are in doubt about what constitutes academic dishonesty, consult your professor or the Student Code of Conduct.

Examples of academic dishonesty include, but are not limited to using "cheat notes" during an exam, copying answers from another student, allowing another student to copy your work, either inside or outside of class; using work from previous semesters; and copying from a book, magazine, Internet site, or brochure when writing a paper without giving credit to the source.

Faculty members may impose grade sanctions for violations of academic ethics, normally ranging from a minimum of F on the assignment in which the dishonesty occurred to a maximum of an F in the course. Faculty members may choose to impose different sanctions. Faculty members also have the prerogative of referring a case to the campus Dean of Student Development with a specific request that the dean consider imposing additional sanctions.

For a bit more discussion on why you will probably get caught if you try to use the web to plagiarize, see "How Dumb Do They Think We Are?" by Jonathan Malesic.

Classroom Conduct: The College seeks to provide an environment where discussion and expression of all views relevant to the subject matter of the class are recognized as necessary to the educational process. However, students do not have the right to interfere with the freedom of the faculty to teach or the rights of other students to learn.

Faculty set the standards of behavior that are acceptable in the classroom by announcing these standards early in the semester. It is your responsibility to pay attention when these standards are outlined; missing a class period does not absolve you of this responsibility. Following these standards will contribute to a respectful learning environment for everyone in the classroom. Examples of acceptable behavior include, but are not limited to turning pagers and cell phones off or to "silent mode" during class and entering class quietly if one is late.