Egypt of the Pharaohs, Course Requirements


	Required Texts & Media	Papers
	Class Participation & Attendance	Exams
	Quizzes	Small Final Research Project

This course will require a lot of work,
but it will also be a lot of FUN.

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Page last updated 1/11/04

Required Texts and Media

Four required books are available at the IC bookstore and are on reserve at the library if you cannot purchase them:

Ian Shaw, The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt
Miriam Lichtheim, Ancient Egyptian Literature, Vol. 1: The Old and Middle Kingdoms
Miriam Lichtheim, Ancient Egyptian Literature, Vol. 2: The New Kingdom
Elizabeth Peters, Crocodile on the Sandbank

Additional required readings and multimedia assignments include:

a coursepack for sale in 424 Muller center
websites related to ancient Egypt; hotlinks are on the online syllabus
films at required screenings outside of class

NOTE: Attendance at film screenings is mandatory. Students who cannot attend for a legitimate reason (another class, team practice, etc.) must view the film on their own time before the class discussion on that film. All films are on reserve in the media center at the IC library.

Lichtheim's Ancient Egyptian Literature, Vol. 3: The Late Period is only recommended, since we are using less than half of the book. It is also on reserve at the library.

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Class Participation and Attendance

Class participation is an integral part of this course. All students are expected to participate in a thoughtful, well-prepared manner that is grounded in the course assignments.

Reading and multimedia assignments should be completed before class on the day on which they are listed on the syllabus.Students should come to class prepared to discuss the assignments every day. Bring to class specific questions about the assignments and topics for class discussion. I will occasionally provide study guides or in-class exercises to help you with the readings and class discussions. All members of the class are expected to reflect critically on they ways in which they can contribute to constructive rather than destructive class dynamics. I often call upon students and may not wait for students to volunteer themselves. Take notes: you will be expected to incorporate issues raised in class discussions in your papers.

In preparing for class, consider the following:

What do the primary sources seem to be about?

Who is their audience?
Where were they located (papyrus, temple, tomb)?
Why were they created, and by whom?

What is the underlying argument, thesis, agenda, or perspective behind the secondary sources, internet sites, and films?
What are the basic "facts" and concepts presented in the secondary sources?
How do the secondary sources and primary sources complement each other?
Do the readings or multimedia assignments every contradict each other? How and why?
How does what you are reading today relate to what we have already studied in the course?

Your class participation grade will include an in-class presentation on the class assignments for one day. This presentation will be graded on a Pass/Fail basis; exceptional work will earn a Pass+.

The attendance policy is:

More than 2 absences in the semester will begin to severely affect your grade. Additional absences will drop your final course grade.
Students with more than 2 excused absences can make up missed quizzes or class participation with a make-up assignment of the professor's choosing. Students cannot make up work frum unexcused absences.
Make friends. If you miss class, get notes from one of your peers before coming to talk to the professor about the material.
Attendance at film screenings is mandatory. Students who miss the film screening are responsible for viewing on their own time before the scheduled class discussion of the film. All films are on reserve at the library.

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Quizzes

Frequent, brief, and unanounced quizzes will be administered at the beginning of the class.

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Papers

Each student will complete two papers from 1300-1500 words in length based on the class readings. You will do no outside research. Papers will be graded on the strength of their argument and use of course materials, as well as grammar, style, and spelling. Turn in all papers to the course WebCT site.

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Exams

Two exams will be given in class. The first covers material from the beginning of the course up through the Second Intermediate Period. The second covers material from the New Kingdom and the Later Periods. Exams will have maps, identification items, short answers, and/or essays. There is no final exam.

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Final Project

A small research paper on the topic of your choice will be turned in on the exam day for this course. The paper must have a minimum of 1500 words and a bibliography containing at least three print sources beyond the class readings. I will hand out suggestions for paper topics and further guidelines in class.

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