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English 240: Ancient Literature Course Policies Alfred J. Drake. Hours: Cyber Cafe Tu/Th. 12-1 | ajdrake@ajdrake.com Required Texts: King James Bible. Oxford: Oxford UP, 1998. ISBN: 0192835254. Bhagavad-Gita. Trans. Stephen Mitchell. New York: Three Rivers, 2000. ISBN: 0609810340. Sappho. Poems. Trans. Mary Barnard. UC Press, 1999. ISBN: 0520223128. Aeschylus. The Complete Greek Tragedies: Aeschylus II. Eds. Richmond Lattimore and David Grene. 2nd Edition. Chicago: U of Chicago Press, 1992. ISBN: 0226307948. Sophocles. Three Theban Plays. Trans. Robert Fagles. New York: Penguin,
1984. ISBN: 0140444254. West, Thomas and Grace. Four Texts on Socrates. Rev. ed. Ithaca: Cornell, 1998. ISBN: 0801485746. Lucretius. On the Nature of the Universe. Trans. Ronald Melville. Oxford: Oxford UP, 1999. ISBN: 0192817612. Seneca. The Tragedies, Volume 1: The Trojan Women, Thyestes. Eds.
Slavitt and Bovie. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins, 1992. 080184309X. Augustine. Confessions. Trans. Henry Chadwick. Oxford: Oxford UP, 1998 (reprint). ISBN: 0192833723. Course Objectives: E240, a survey of ancient literature, could be structured many ways. I have chosen to focus on two sacred texts (the Bible and the Bhagavad Gita) along with a variety of Greek and Roman works. We shall read the assigned texts as carefully as possible given the constraints of a single-semester. Lectures will provide an understanding of the works' historical context, structures, and themes, while classroom discussion will center on attention to key points in the texts. Where appropriate, we shall explore the links we find among our various readings. The purpose of a survey is to introduce periods, genres, and texts in a way that encourages you to begin discovering what most interests you. My aim is not to offer definitive interpretations; rather, it is to communicate what I find valuable in the readings and challenge you to do the same. No one survey could introduce you to all there is to learn about ancient literature -- I suggest that as time permits, you study the literature, history, philosophies, and religions of as many different cultures as you can. Finally, please read the following guide: How to Get the Most from College. Major Study Units: We will study the sacred texts first, and then move on through the Greek and, finally, the Roman works on our syllabus. Classroom Strategies: Lecture; class discussion, supplementary film versions of some of the tragedies. There will be a strong web presence for the course, with as many materials as possible being made available online. Please examine all the study questions as you read the assigned texts -- even the ones that you don't write about for your journal requirement. They will help you get the most out of class discussions. Methods of Evaluation: 5-7 page paper. 30%. Follow MLA guidelines. Rough draft required. Journal Requirement. See instructions. 30%. In-class final exam. Open book, open note, short paragraph and essay answers only. 40%. Attendance. I encourage students to attend regularly, but attendance is not a percentage of the course grade. The course grade will be based on the paper, journals, and the in-class final exam. When students cannot attend, they are responsible for keeping up with what transpires in class sessions via digital audio links on our syllabus page. Those audio files will become available within a day or so after lectures take place. Make-up Exams, Paper Drafts: I reserve the right not to accept final drafts not preceded by a rough draft. A paper becomes late when one doesn't get it to me (in person or as an email attachment) by midnight on the day the paper is due in class. If you email your paper, I will respond with a verification that I've received it; it is your responsibility to call me at 714-434-1612 if you do not receive a timely verification message. Plagiarism: As I'm sure everyone in this class knows, cheating on papers and tests will result in an "F" for the course and more -- in severe or repeated cases, it can lead to suspension or even expulsion from school altogether. But since many problems in this area are caused by students not yet knowing how to deal with source materials, I require that everyone read my guides Proper Citation and Plagiphrasing before writing the first paper.
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