History 270.001
Spring 2000
Course Requirements
Exams, Quizzes and Attendance

Theme Essay: Students will write one theme essay (4-5 pages) on the reading assignments, choosing a group of primary texts and addressing specific historical questions related to them, including an exegesis (i.e., explanation and critical interpretation) and historical analysis. The theme paper is due February 15, and its specific requirements are located below under "Paper Requirements."

Term Paper: Students are required to complete one term paper (7-9 pages) on some aspect of Egyptian society as it can be related to the course's final project or as viewed within the lens of the project. Students should also work into the paper a short report and reaction statement about their participation in the project. The term paper is due April 25, and information about format is located below under "Paper Requirements."

Reading Quizzes: Two quizzes on the class readings will be administered in this course, one prior to the midterm, the other after. The date of each quiz is noted in the section, "Lectures and Reading Assignments," below.

Examination: The only general examination in this course is the midterm exam containing objective questions, identifications or short answers, and essays drawn from the lectures, readings, and videos. There is no final exam, since that is replaced by the final group project.

Final Project: In lieu of a final examination, students will prepare a collective project for the class and the College of Charleston community. They will stage under, their own direction, the production of an ancient Egyptian sacred drama--as part of an extended unit on the nature and function of Egyptian drama and what it reveals about Egyptian society. To expedite this project, students will divide themselves into a number of study groups/production teams to discuss the drama and to adapt and mount the play, for which they will be graded. For more information on this project, see the separate handout, 'The Conflict of Horus and Seth: A Sacred Drama," and/or the related page on the course Web pages. Sixty percent (60%) of the grade for this project will derive from the instructor's evaluation of the entire group's achievement, and 40% from the students themselves within each team, who will grade each other anonymously on their respective levels of contribution, cooperation, and attendance.

Attendance and Participation: Discussion figures prominently in the class-program. Participation and attendance in class will constitute a significant percentage of the course grade. According to College policy, attendance will be taken regularly in class; unexcused absences will result in grade reduction. Absences are excused by presenting written documentation to the Office of Undergraduate Studies. Running errands is not a valid excuse. If you will miss class for a college function, please inform the instructor at least a week in advance, but do not telephone him on the same day to say you will be absent, nor should you ever(!) call the History Department office to report your absence. If the instructor does not call the roll, then an attendance sheet will be circulated daily in class. If your signature is not there, you are considered absent. Students who sign the sheet and then leave are counted as absent and reported to the College Honor Board. Those who leave class for an inordinate period of time without valid excuse are marked as absent. Students are responsible for all the material in the readings, videos, and lectures, whether they are present or not.


Due Dates and Topics: The due dates of all quizzes, exams, and papers are noted on the "Reading Assignments"-page of these course Web pages. Late papers will be penalized 5 points for each day late (including weekends), up to three days, after which they will receive an automatic grade of "F".

Please note that in order to maintain flexibility in covering the course materials adequately, the instructor reserves the right to alter the schedule of lectures, discussions, and reading assignments at any time.


Policy on Plagiarism, Cheating,
and Disruptive Behavior

As you prepare the theme paper and term paper for this course, be careful not plagiarize any of your sources. Any plagiarism, whether intentional or unintentional, whether blatant or merely inappropriate paraphrasing, cannot be tolerated. If you have any questions as you prepare your assignments, please do not even hesitate to ask the advice of the instructor (who well remembers his undergraduate days and can empathize with his students' plight). If in doubt about anything, quote it--even indirect quotations! The Honor Code of the College of Charleston strictly prohibits plagiarism, cheating, and attempted cheating. A student committing these offenses will be reported to the Honor Board and will fail this course. Additional penalties may include suspension or expulsion from the college at the discretion of the Honor Board. See the College of Charleston Student Handbook for definitions of these offenses.

Students are reminded that eating, drinking, and smoking are prohibited in the classrooms of the College of Charleston. Students may not make or receive cellular telephone calls or accept electronic pages during the class period. Please turn off any cell phones, pagers, etc. at the start of class. The classroom is an inappropriate venue for personal grooming, such as combing hair, applying makeup, etc., or even for sleeping.