Crime and the Courts in the Ancient World (ANCH3590)

Course overview

This course takes an in-depth look at the workings of the law courts and some of the most important trials that took place in ancient Greece and Rome. The course spans archaic Greece to the high Roman empire, with particular attention to Classical Athens and the late Roman republic. Each lecture examines a different area of ancient law and its historical development, followed by close study of a particular trial speech in the linked tutorial. These texts include allegations of murder, treason, and magic, and high-powered oratory by two of the ancient world’s most famous speakers: Demosthenes and Cicero. In the process, the course will explore issues and themes that have helped to shape modern legal systems, including the use of trial by jury, the idea of equality before the law, and the relationship between law and politics.

Course requirements

Recommended prerequisites

We recommend completing the following courses before enrolling in this one:

ANCH1240, ANCH1250

Incompatible

You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:

ANCH3560 (for students who completed ANCH3560 in 2024 only)

Course staff

Timetable

The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.

Aims and outcomes

This course aims to introduce students to:

• Greek and Roman law and procedure in the courts, including trials for murder, violence, and treason;
• The nature of forensic oratory (speeches delivered in court) and some of its leading practitioners, such as Demosthenes and Cicero;
• Some important trials and the events and people involved;
• The historical and political significance of the courts in ancient Greece and Rome;
• The impact of ancient legal systems on contemporary law and society.

Learning outcomes

After successfully completing this course you should be able to:

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment details

Essay

Mode

Written

Category

Essay/ Critique

Weight

35%

Due date

The essay must be submitted by 2pm Friday in the week after the tutorial at which that topic was discussed. For example, 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.

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03, L04, L06

Task description

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

Podcast

Mode

Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia

Category

Presentation

Weight

20%

Due date

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

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03, L04, L06, L07

Task description

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

Tutorial participation

Mode

Activity/ Performance

Category

Participation/ Student contribution

Weight

10%

Due date

3/03/2025 - 19/05/2025

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L07

Task description

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.

Exam

Mode

Written

Category

Examination

Weight

35%

Due date

End of Semester Exam Period

7/06/2025 - 21/06/2025

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L07

Task description

Exam details

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You may be able to defer this exam.

Course grading

Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.

Additional course grading information

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.

Essay Assessment 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.

Podcast Assessment Criteria

Your podcast or video documentary will be assessed according to the following criteria:

1. Communication of a well-reasoned argument;

2. Demonstration of a depth and breadth of knowledge and understanding of the central issues;

3. Clarity of structure;

4. Engagement with academic sources and evidence;

5. Demonstration of insight and creativity in constructing a point of view or argument;

6. Capacity to produce a coherent and clearly-spoken podcast or documentary.

7. Appropriate referencing, as per discipline conventions, in an accompanying script.

To achieve a grade of 7 (High Distinction, 85-100%), your podcast or video documentary should communicate an exceptionally well-reasoned argument, demonstrate a deep understanding of the central issues, be clearly structured, deeply engage with the academic sources and evidence, display great insight and creativity, be extremely coherent and clearly-spoken, and be flawlessly referenced according to discipline conventions.

To achieve a grade of 6 (Distinction, 75-84%) your podcast or video documentary should communicate a very well-reasoned argument, demonstrate a strong understanding of the central issues, be very well structured, engage with the academic sources and evidence, display good insight and creativity, be highly coherent and clearly-spoken, and be very well referenced according to discipline conventions.

To achieve a grade of 5 (Credit, 65 – 74%), your podcast or video documentary should communicate a well-reasoned argument, demonstrate an adequate understanding of the central issues, be sufficiently well structured, engage with the academic sources and evidence, display some insight and creativity, be coherent and clearly-spoken, and be well referenced according to discipline conventions.

To achieve a grade of 4 (Pass, 50 – 64%), your podcast or video documentary should communicate an identifiable argument, demonstrate some understanding of the central issues, have a basic structure, demonstrate a basic level of engagement with the academic sources and evidence, display some insight and creativity, show basic coherency and be clearly-spoken, and be adequately referenced according to discipline conventions.

To achieve a grade of 3 (Marginal Fail, 45 – 49%), your podcast or video documentary will have communicated a poorly-reasoned argument, have a weak understanding of the central issues, lack structure, demonstrated limited engagement with the academic sources and evidence, shown poor insight and creativity, lacked coherency and clear articulation, and failed to follow the basic discipline conventions on referencing.

To achieve a grade of 2 (Fail, 25-44%), your podcast or video documentary will have communicated a very weak argument, demonstrated little understanding of the central issues, shown a severe lack of structure, shown little engagement with the academic sources and evidence, displayed little insight or creativity, is incoherent and poorly spoken, and will have major flaws in the referencing based on discipline conventions.

To achieve a grade of 1 (Low Fail, 0-24%), your podcast or video documentary will have failed to communicate an argument, demonstrated no understanding of the central issues, lacked any structure, shown no engagement with the academic sources and evidence, displayed no insight or creativity, is incoherent and very poorly spoken, and the referencing will have failed to follow the basic disciplinary conventions.

Tutorial Participation Assessment Criteria

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.

Exam Assessment Criteria

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

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.

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.

Supplementary assessment

Supplementary assessment is available for this course.

Additional assessment information

• Failure to submit all major assessment items (those worth 15% and above) will result in a maximum grade of 2 (Fail).
• By submitting work through Turnitin you are deemed to have accepted the following declaration:‘I certify that this assignment is my own work and has not been submitted, either previously or concurrently, in whole or in part, to this University or any other educational institution, for marking or assessment’.
• All students must ensure that they receive their Turnitin receipt on every submission of assessment items. YOU MUST CHECK THAT THE RECEIPT CONFIRMS THAT SUBMISSION HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL.
• A valid Turnitin receipt will be the only evidence accepted if assessments are missing.ﾠWithout evidence, the assessment will receive the standard late penalty, or after 7 calendar days, will receive zero. In the case of a Blackboard outage, please contact the Course Coordinator as soon as possible so that they can confirm the outage with ITS.
• It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that they are submitting assessment items on a device that is capable of the task, and that appropriate internet bandwidth and speed is available. If you cannot be sure that your device or internet will enable you to complete or submit an assessment task, you must come onto campus and use one of the University Computers in the Library or Computer Labs.
• Plagiarism, and asking or paying someone else to do your work is cheating and constitutes academic misconduct. See ECP Section 6.1
• Feedback against the assessment criteria in the form of comments on your script will be provided through Turnitin or on your script directly.
• For information on assessment remarks see: https://my.uq.edu.au/information-and-services/manage-my-program/exams-and-assessment/querying-result

In the event of disruption during the end of semester exam period that prevents the scheduled assessment occurring as planned, the assessment will be changed to an alternative form of assessment. The timing of the assessment may also be impacted.

Learning resources

You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.

Library resources

Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.

Learning activities

The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.

Policies and procedures

University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:

• Student Code of Conduct Policy
• Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
• Assessment Procedure
• Examinations Procedure
• Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure

Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.