INTRODUCTION TO CLASSICAL
STUDIES: GREECE (CLST 1003)
UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
FALL SEMESTER, 2012
Professor Daniel B. Levine
ILLUSTRATION: Scene from Herodotus Histories,
book 1, Croesus the Lydian king on the pyre at the order of Cyrus the Great
of Persia. Croesus remembers the words of the wise Athenian Solon, just
as the flames approach him. What can save Croesus now? (Attic red-figure
amphora, attributed to Myson, perhaps 500-490 BCE. Paris, Louvre.)
Welcome to Classical Studies 1003!
In this class we will look at the ancient Greeks through
Words and Dirt. Namely, the physical remains of their culture
which we find buried in the soil, and the literary creations which have
become the foundation of western culture. This class will require the students
to read, to write, to think, and to participate.
The professor will endeavor to combine lecture, class discussion, and reading
assignments to give students an impression of what these ancient people
were like, how they lived, and what they have bequeathed to us.
Class Procedures
Our class meets two days a week, during which time we will address ancient Greek civilization and literature. After distribution of graded daily assignments, classes will begin with student presentations on Classics in Our World (see below), and continue with the professor discussing the day’s readings with the class. All students will come to class having read the texts assigned for the day, and having answered the daily Study Questions (see below). The professor will lecture, and call on students to respond to the day’s readings. He will invite discussion of the issues raised in the texts, show slides, and share thoughts on the day’s topic. At the end of each class, students will write short reactions to the materials they read and hand them in (Special Learning Opportunities). Two class periods will consist of presentations by members of the honors section on their Honors Projects.
There is a good deal of reading required for this class, and students will hand in short written work in almost every class.
Previous students in a mid-term survey gave advice to friends who might consider taking this course. Their
anonymous comments are here.
Before the first class, please complete and print out the Student
Information Form and bring it to our first class. Thanks!
Contacting the Instructor and Teaching
Assistant
The instructor of this course is Professor Daniel Levine. Mr. Tyler Johnson is the Graduate Teaching Assistant in charge of class business. If students need to report an absence, they should contact Mr. Johnson (tdjohnso@uark.edu). Students should feel free to contact the instructor or the teaching assistant any time they have questions. Dr. Levine’s office hours are Monday and Wednesday, 10:30-12:00, and by appointment,
in Kimpel Hall 502. His office telephone is 575-5937. His FAX is: 575-6795;
email: dlevine@uark.edu. You may send him Campus Mail to “D. Levine, World Languages, KIMPEL HALL 425.” You may also leave messages in his mailbox in Kimpel Hall 425. (Department of World Languages).
Before the first class, please complete and print out the Student
Information Form and bring it to our first class. Thanks!
Daily Assignments (a.k.a. Study Questions
and Reading Reactions)
1. STUDY QUESTIONS. For each reading assignment, the professor will provide the students with “Study Questions.” The purpose of these questions is to check reading retention and stimulate thought about the content of the assignments. At the end of each class, these study questions will serve as the basis of the “special learning opportunities,” in which when students will write a response to one of the study questions. These Study questions are found at this link: “Study Questions”. These study questions will be posted on the course web site.
The last digit of the University of Arkansas ID number will determine which questions students will be responsible for in class. For example, students with “4” as the last ID# digit will concentrate on answering questions 4, 14, 24, etc. Students do not need to write out answers to these questions, but should be prepared to discuss them and write an answer in class, if required. Answers will be graded on accuracy, completeness, spelling, grammar, and clarity/insight. The professor will not give Special Learning Opportunities outside of class.
2. READING REACTIONS. Most of our readings will be in Greek literature: epic, history, tragedy, and comedy. These readings are included on the Class Schedule page. Students will read all of each assignment before coming to class, and will come to class prepared to discuss the day’s reading assignment. On the daily “Special Learning Opportunities,” in addition to anwering one of the Study Questions, students will write several thoughtful sentences in reaction to what they have read. For a full explanation of these Reading Reactions, including “do’s” and “dont’s”, look at the Reading Reaction page. The professor will not give Special Learning Opportunities outside of class.
The professor will drop the three lowest study-question/reading reaction scores for each student (i.e. “Special Learning Opportunities”).
Student Presentations “Classics
in Our World”
Our language and culture is permeated by the classical past. During the course of this semester, students will present some examples of the relevance of Classics to modern life and language. Each student group will make brief (2 minute) presentations in class, telling about some word, expression, art form, or literary conceit that we owe to the Greeks. The Professor will assign these words in the first week of classes. Further explanation and list of words are here.
Real Greek for Real Students.
Language and culture are so closely interconnected! To
understand Greeks best, we should know their language. Since our time is
limited this semester, we will at least learn the Greek alphabet
as a step towards our goal of assimilating as much ancient Greek civilization
as we can this term. You will find the Greek alphabet (capitals and lower
case) as you will write it
at this site,
and some practice exercises here
(at the bottom of the page on the linked site). Please write out the
whole Greek alphabet as I have written it — at least ten examples of each
letter, upper and lower case. It’s fun!
Students will use their knowledge of the Greek alphabet
at several points in the semester, including your presentations on Classics
in Our World.
Honors Section
Students enrolled in CLST 1003H will complete all the assignments for CLST 1003. In addition, they will meet a few times outside of regular class time, read some modern works, and work in pairs to prepare presentations for the full class — during the last two class periods. Each honors student will hand in a short paper based on the semester’s readings. Details will be linked here.
Grades
Grades in this class will be determined as follows:
(A=90-100%, B=80-89%, C=70-79%, D=60-69%)
The course grade will be determined based on the following:
20% Daily Special Learning Opportunities (Study Questions/Reading
Reactions); the professor will drop three lowest scores.
10% Class Presentations and Participation (includes
“Classics in Our World”, attendance, active participation, and
good citizenship).
25% Odyssey Essay. September 26, 2012.
25% Herodotus/Thucydides Essay. November 7, 2012.
20% Last Special Learning Opportunity. December 12, 2012.
Working Together and Academic Honesty
I want you to work together. However, the products of student work must be personal. That is, if you study together, do not copy what your study partner has written. The main point is that you do your own work, and do not steal someone else’s. Identical work will arouse the suspicion of academic dishonesty. If you have questions about the University’s policy on Academic Honesty, look in the University of Arkansas Catalog or check the “Academic Integrity” University of Arkansas site: http://provost.uark.edu/245.php.
The professor will report students who copy from one another or who hand in work that is not their own.
Required Texts
Please use the following editions, as the daily
study questions will be based on these editions. Also, bring the relevant
book to class with you when we will be discussing its material. Thanks!
- THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF GREECE
(Cornell) second edition. William Biers. - ODYSSEY HOMER (Hackett) Stanley
Lombardo, translator. - THUCYDIDES PELOPONNESIAN WAR (Hackett)
Steven Lattimore, translator. - HERODOTUS THE HISTORIES (Oxford)
Robin Waterfield, translator. - AESCHYLUS ORESTEIA (Hackett)
Peter Meineck, Translator. - ARISTOPHANES I: CLOUDS WASPS BIRDS (Hackett) Peter Meineck, translator.
Inclement Weather Policy
When the University is open, I will meet classes. If serious
weather prevents a student from making it to class, I will permit that student
to make up the day’s work without penalty.
I look forward to exploring the world of ancient Greece
with you!
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