Fall 2007
MWF 12 - 1 in CAL 100
W 5 - 7:30  in MEZ 1.306

ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME: FILM AND REALITY
Classical Civilization 304C (33090)

From left to right: Ben Hur, Troy, Cleopatra, Passion of the Christ, 300 Spartans, Gladiator

 Instructor: Karl Galinsky
Office Hours:  WF  1:30-3:00 P.M. in WAG 215
email: galinsky@mail.utexas.edu

TA: Sean Sweany
Office Hours: MTh 1:30-3:00 P.M. in WAG 121  
email: sean.sweany@gmail.com

REQUIRED TEXTS:

R. Morkot, The Penguin Historical Atlas of Ancient Greece (1996)
Homer, The Odyssey, trans. R. Fitzgerald (Farrar/Straus 1998)
A. Kamm, The Romans (Routledge 1995)
W.  Shakespeare, Julius Caesar (Folger Library ed., 2005)

There'll be two course packets, one on the Greek portion of the course, and the other on the Roman; available from Abel’s Copies (University Towers, 715D W. 23rd Street) .
LECTURES, FILMS, AND READINGS
GRADING AND EXAMS:

EXAMS: Four exams.  Three will count for 27% each towards your course grade; the one with the lowest score will count for 19%.   Optional additional work (such as a paper) will NOT be accepted; take the exams seriously and study for them. If you take the course CR/F, you must take all four exams and make a credible effort at passing each one. Each exam will be on the materials covered since the previous exam.

Format: 50% multiple choice questions (25 questions for 2 points each) and 50% essays (choose one of two topics), or 100% essays (write on both essays).
Review Sessions: We’ll have review sessions before each exam.  I will try to accommodate most of the reviews within the class periods, but some may take place outside of class and will, of course, be optional.
       
SCREENINGS: The Wednesday evening screenings in MEZ 1.306 are offered as a convenience, esp. for movies that you may have trouble renting, and for the group experience.  If you watch a movie on your own, please do so on the basis of the weekly schedule. I cannot loan you any movies, so plan ahead.

MAKE-UP TESTS: Only in case of a demonstrated medical reason (physician's statement required). If grandfather dies, I'll need to see a copy of the obituary, listing you as one of the bereaved.

POLICY ON ACADEMIC DISHONESTY: I won't tolerate it. It's grossly unfair to the other students. Don't mess with me or Texas. See http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/sjs/scholdis.php.
HOW TO STUDY FOR THIS CLASS: 

(1) Take good notes. That does not mean a verbatim transcript. In the lectures, I rephrase major points more than once, so you have adequate time to write them down. Also, I stop at various points during the lecture to take questions, so feel free to ask. As for general study techniques, taking notes, summarizing readings, etc.the Learning Skills Center in Jester has an array of workshops and pamphlets, and they are free. Highly recommended, as is the Writing Center in FAC. In addition, I'm available in person during office hours, and by e-mail. So is the TA. We will not, however, offer a correspondence course. If you have detailed questions, see us during office hours.  Also, don't just watch the films, but take notes on them, both informational and for questions to bring up in class.

(2) Do the readings BEFORE the class in which they will be discussed and bring the texts to class. I will always alert you to this in advance. Mark up and highlight major points, facts, and examples in your readings.

(3) Budget at least one hour a week to go over your lecture and film notes and your annotated/highlighted readings. Summarize them, synthesize them, and organize them. Memorize the major names, dates, facts, and connections. This will make your reviewing for the exams a lot easier as you can't intelligently digest a month's material a day or so before the exam.

(4) Form a study group. You still have to do most of the work on your own, but it helps to have the input from more than one person especially in reviewing before a test.

(5) Take the first exam seriously. Do not try to see whether I mean business. I do.

(6) When you see me or the TA with any concerns about your performance, be sure to bring in your lecture and film notes, your highlighted/annotated texts, and your summaries (along with your tests). That will enable us to give you concrete and specific advice.

(7) From the night before the lecture, the lecture outline will usually be available from the course web page; please bookmark it. The same goes for the syllabus: if you lose yours, download it from the Web. Before downloading, please check the date in the lower left corner so you get the updated 2007 version instead of an older one.

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES:
The University of Texas at Austin provides upon request appropriate academic accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. For more information, contact the Office of the Dean of Students at 471-6259, 471-4641 TTY.

RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS:
I follow UT's standard procedures.
Modified on 08/28/2007
galinsky@mail.utexas.edu