Myth, Magic and Religion in the Ancient World (ANCH2030)

There are ten tutorials in ANCH2030, starting in Week 2. A detailed Tutorial Programme, including reading lists, will be made available via Blackboard. You should sign up for a tutorial group before Week 1 and remain in that group for the entire semester.

Tutorials are an integral part of the course, since they offer the opportunity for small-group discussion of specific topics and close analysis of ancient evidence. Exam questions will also address material covered in tutorials. Students are expected to prepare for each tutorial by completing the required reading, preparing notes based on discussion questions for use in class, and participating in discussion and activities during the tutorial.

This assessment task is to be completed in-person. The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.

Your tutorial participation will be assessed according to the following criteria: 

1.    Evidence of participation in discussions.

2.    Evidence of preparation for the tutorial, most notably through completing the set readings.

3.    Quality of contributions to discussions.

4.    Fostering of group discussions, through courteous and respectful interactions with staff and     students.

5.    Attendance is necessary to fulfill the above criteria, as per the course requirements, but marks cannot be awarded for attendance alone.

To achieve a grade of 7 (High Distinction, 85-100%), your attendance will be flawless and your participation exceptional. This grade reflects exceptional levels of preparation, mastery of course materials, and very high quality contributions to, and fostering of, group discussions. You should be able to engage with your peers very effectively.

To achieve a grade of 6 (Distinction, 75-84) your attendance will be excellent and your participation very substantial. This grade reflects excellent levels of preparation, knowledge of course materials, and high quality contributions to, and fostering of, group discussions. You should be able to engage with your peers effectively.

To achieve a grade of 5 (Credit, 65 – 74%), your attendance and participation will be good. This grade reflects proficient levels of preparation, good knowledge of course materials, and good quality contributions to, and fostering of, group discussions.

To achieve a grade of 4 (Pass, 50 – 64%) your attendance and participation will be satisfactory. This grade reflects adequate levels of preparation and knowledge of course materials, and an acceptable quality of contributions to, and fostering of, group discussions.

To achieve a grade of 3 (Marginal Fail, 45 – 49%) your attendance and participation will be unsatisfactory. This grade reflects irregular attendance and/or participation and superficial knowledge of course materials and basic levels of preparation. However, when in attendance, there is evidence of your ability to demonstrate developing achievement in contributions to, and fostering of, group discussions.

To achieve a grade of 2 (Fail, 25-44%), your attendance and participation will be very unsatisfactory. This grade reflects irregular attendance and/or participation, minimal knowledge of course materials, little evidence of preparation, and mixed to low quality of contributions to, and fostering of, group discussions.

To achieve a grade of 1 (Low Fail, 0-24%), your attendance and participation will be unsatisfactory. This grade reflects irregular attendance and/or participation, an no evidence of preparation, and little or no evidence of quality of contributions to, and fostering of, group discussions.

The In-Semester Test will be given in class in Week 8. The test will consist of short-answer and multiple-choice questions designed to test core knowledge and skills. Further information will be provided on Blackboard.

This assessment task is to be completed in-person. The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.

Your quiz assessment task will be assessed according to the following criteria: 

1.    Ability to produce a succinct response to a directed question.

2.    Knowledge of key themes, ideas or content.

3.    Ability to employ relevant terminology.

4.    Ability to write in clear English (where applicable).

Unlike formative assessment undertaken during your course (such as book reviews and essays), quiz answers are typically marked on right or wrong basis for multiple choice, single word and short answer questions. The overall grade achieved for a quiz is arrived at by totalling the marks for its constituent elements.

Students are required to research and write a scholarly essay of max. 2000 words (excluding bibliography and references) on one of the essay questions included in the Tutorial Programme (on Blackboard). The essay questions are linked to the weekly tutorial topics. You will be asked to sign up for an essay topic at the start of the semester. You only need to write one essay. You must submit an essay in order to pass the course.

The essay must be submitted through Turnitin by 2pm Friday in the week after the tutorial week at which that topic was discussed. That is, if you choose to write on the topic for Week 3, you must submit your essay by 2pm (14:00) on Friday in Week 4. The exact due date for each essay topic can be found in the Tutorial Programme. Please take account of the due date when choosing an essay topic and plan your time accordingly.

A reading list for each topic can also be found in the Tutorial Programme. It is essential that you use the Required Reading in writing your essay, including the ancient sources.

General guidance on essay-writing can be found in the Classics and Ancient History Study Guide and associated video resources, available on Blackboard.

This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills, and knowledge without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.

A word count that is within ±10% of the set length (word limit) is acceptable. Word count does not include footnotes; however, discursive footnotes are included in the word count. A word count that is outside these 10% will receive a proportionate penalty and will be graded against the grading criteria.

Your essay will be assessed according to the following criteria: 

1.             Ability to construct a well-reasoned argument.

2.             Depth and breadth of knowledge and understanding of central issues.

3.             Ability to form a well-structured essay.

4.             Engagement with academic sources and evidence.

5.             Insight and/or creativity in interpreting texts or constructing a point of view or argument.

6.             Capacity to produce a coherent and well-written essay using correct grammar and syntax.

7.             Appropriately referenced, as per discipline conventions.

To achieve a grade of 7 (High Distinction, 85-100%), your essay should reflect an exceptional level of achievement. It should demonstrate that you have undertaken extensive, high-level research, that you are able to form a very rigorous, well-organised argument, and that your discussion is original and creative. It should also demonstrate that you are able to evaluate and organise data and/or evidence in a critical manner and that you have a sophisticated and insightful understanding of problems and issues. Your essay should be very well written, clear and concise, pay strict attention to discipline conventions and have minimal, if any errors in referencing, expression, grammar, spelling and punctuation.

To achieve a grade of 6 (Distinction, 75 – 84%), your essay should reflect an advanced level of achievement. It should demonstrate that you have undertaken wide research, that you are able to form a rigorous, well-organised argument, and that your discussion is coherent and convincing. It should also demonstrate that you are able to evaluate data and/or evidence in a perceptive manner, and that your understanding of problems and issues is perceptive and insightful. Your essay should be well written, clear and concise, follow discipline conventions and have few errors in referencing, expression, grammar, spelling and punctuation.

To achieve a grade of 5 (Credit, 65 – 74%) your essay should reflect a proficient level of achievement. It should demonstrate that you have undertaken the expected level of research, that you are able to develop or adapt convincing arguments and justify them adequately, that you are able to evaluate data and/or evidence in a proficient manner, and that you have a proficient understanding of problems and issues. The presentation and referencing of your essay will largely follow discipline conventions, perhaps have some errors in grammar, spelling and punctuation, and demonstrate your ability to communicate effectively.

To achieve a grade of 4 (Pass, 50 – 64%) your essay should reflect a functional level of achievement. It should demonstrate that you are able to apply fundamental concepts and skills, that you have undertaken a basic level of research and have the basic ability to evaluate data and/or evidence, to identify problems and issues, to offer insights and to develop routine arguments. Your organisation, writing, referencing, spelling and grammar will be adequate and use some of the discipline conventions to communicate appropriately.

To achieve a grade of 3 (Marginal Fail, 45 – 49%), your essay should reflect developing levels of achievement. It should demonstrate that you have a superficial knowledge of fundamental concepts and skills, that you have undertaken a basic level of research, made some attempt to evaluate data and/or evidence, to identify problems and issues, and to offer insights. Your arguments, while underdeveloped, show your emerging ability to apply knowledge and skills. Your organisation, writing, spelling and grammar will be adequate, perhaps poor, and your referencing and use of discipline conventions poor/and or inconsistent. Alternatively, your essay may, in part, be well written and suggest human engagement and achievement but (whether actually developed with the help of AI or not) will (a) mostly exhibit the stereotypical and/or superficial understanding characteristic of generative AI text and/or (b) mostly fail, in a manner characteristic of generative AI text, to develop a sustained (multi-layered) argument: This grade is assigned for a total (sum of all the assessment components) in the range 45-49%. See assessment components for specific grading criteria.

To achieve a grade of 2 (Fail, 25-44%) your essay will reflect deficiencies in skill acquisition and in your understanding of the fundamental concepts of the course. It will demonstrate that you have not undertaken adequate research, that you are unable to evaluate data and/or evidence, to identify problems and issues, or to offer insights adequately. Your arguments will be unsupported and/or inappropriate, your organisation and writing will be poor and/or inappropriate, and referencing and use of discipline conventions poor/and or inconsistent. Alternatively, your essay may suggest developing or higher achievement but (whether actually developed with the help of AI or not) will (a) exhibit the stereotypical and/or superficial understanding that is characteristic of generative AI text and/or (b) may fail to develop, in a way that is characteristic of generative AI text, a sustained (multi-layered) argument: This grade is assigned for a total (sum of all the assessment components) in the range 25-44%. See assessment components for specific grading criteria

To achieve a grade of 1 (Low Fail, 0-24%), your essay will reflect that you have failed to meet the minimum learning requirements and skill acquisition for this course. Your essay will demonstrate an absence of research, evaluation of data and/or evidence, and lack argumentation. Use of discipline conventions will be absent, poor or inappropriate, and written expression poor or inappropriate.

The Final Exam will be held on campus during the exam period. The exam will consist of short-answer and multiple-choice questions, a source analysis excersie, and an essay. Exam questions will be based on lecture and tutorial content.

Further details will be provided in class and on Blackboard.

You must sit the exam in order to pass the course.

This assessment task is to be completed in-person. The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.

Your exam responses will be assessed according to the following criteria:

Multiple–Choice/One-Word Answer Questions

Students will be assessed on:

1.             Ability to recall terminology and factual knowledge.

2.             Ability to recognise the correct contexts for the application of factual knowledge.

Short Answer Questions

Students will be assessed on:

1.             Ability to produce a succinct response to a directed question.

2.             Knowledge of key themes or ideas.

3.             Ability to employ relevant terminology, as required.

4.             Clear and concise written expression, well presented.

Gobbets/Textual/Object Analyses

Students will be assessed on:

1.             Ability to identify author and/or creator of the item.

2.             Ability to explain the context of the item.

3.             Ability to identify the key components, themes or features that allow critical appreciation.

4.             Ability to explain the significance of the item.

5.             Clear and concise written expression, well presented.

Essay Questions

Students will be assessed on:

1.             Ability to recognize key issues in the question.

2.             Ability to structure an argument.

3.             Use of evidence.

4.             Engagement with academic scholarship and/or debates.

5.             Clear and concise written expression, well presented.

Unlike formative assessments undertaken during your course (such as book reviews and essays), exam answers are typically marked on right or wrong basis for multiple choice, single word and short answer questions. Individual exam essays and other exam questions are not awarded grades, but are assessed numerically (such as a mark out of five, or a mark out of ten). The overall grade achieved for an exam is arrived at by totalling the marks for the constituent elements of the exam.

To achieve a grade of 7 (High Distinction, 85-100%), your take-home exam essay should demonstrate an exceptional level of rigour in argumentation and understanding of issues, exceptional organization of material, extensive research, and insightful and creative discussion. The written expression and presentation should be excellent and follow discipline conventions.

To achieve a grade of 6 (Distinction, 75-84%), your take-home exam essay should demonstrate an advanced level of rigour in argumentation and understanding of issues, very good organisation of material, wide research, and a capable synthesis of research materials. The written expression and presentation should be very good and follow discipline conventions.

To achieve a grade of 5 (Credit, 65 – 74%), your take-home exam essay should demonstrate a proficient level of rigour in argumentation and understanding of issues, good organization of material, a good level of research, and synthesis of research materials. The written expression and presentation should be good and largely follow discipline conventions.

To achieve a grade of 4 (Pass, 50 – 64%), your take-home exam essay should demonstrate a basic level argumentation, a fundamental understanding of issues, adequate organisation of material, a basic level of research, and an adequate synthesis of research materials. Your written expression and presentation should be satisfactory and follow discipline conventions.

To achieve a grade of 3 (Marginal Fail, 45 – 49%), your take-home exam essay will demonstrate that your attempt, while underdeveloped and falling short of a pass, shows your emerging ability to apply basic knowledge and skills. Your argumentation and understanding of issues will be superficial, your material poorly organised and synthesis of research materials limited. Your written expression and presentation should be adequate and should attempt to follow discipline conventions.

To achieve a grade of 2 (Fail, 25-44%), your take-home exam essay will demonstrate that your argumentation and understanding of issues was deficient, that your research was limited and/or poorly organised and explained, and that you did not understand fundamental aspects of the course. Your writing will be poor and/or inappropriate, and will not follow discipline conventions.

To achieve a grade of 1 (Low Fail, 0-24%), your take-home exam essay will demonstrate that you have failed to meet the minimum learning requirements and skill acquisition for this assessment task. You will not have mounted sound arguments and/or understood relevant issues. Your research will be limited and inadequately explained. Your essay will be poorly organised and/or poorly written, and will not follow discipline conventions.