HACC: Central Pennsylvania’s Community College
Humanities 201: World Mythology
Spring 2015 Syllabus
Instructor
Calliope A. Pappadakis
Email (the best way to
contact me)
capappad@hacc.edu
Note: questions received by email will be answered within two business days.
CRN’s
Credits
Term
33913, 34261
3
February 2 through May 4, 2015 (12 weeks)
Note: Campus Meetings are not required for this course.
Important Websites and Email Addresses:
⇒ Desire 2 Learn, “D2L” (the location of our classroom):
https://myhacc.hacc.edu/cp/home/displaylogin
⇒ Contact the Instructor through email: capappad@hacc.edu
⇒ HACC Virtual Learning: http://www.hacc.edu/Campuses/OnlineLearning/index.cfm
⇒ HACC Website: www.hacc.edu
⇒ HACC's Library: http://lib2.hacc.edu
⇒ For Disability Services, Deborah Bybee, 717-270-6333, dabybee@hacc.edu
⇒ College Calendar: http://www.hacc.edu/Students/CollegeCalendars/14-15-AcademicCalendar.cfm
HUM 201 Catalogue Description: A cross-cultural consideration of the great myths of the world,
including creation, fertility, and hero myths. The myths will be studied as unique expressions of
individual cultures and also as universal ideas. (Core A) (D)
Prerequisite: English 101
Required Texts:
Thury, Eva M., Devinney, Margaret K. Introduction to Mythology: Contemporary Approaches to
Classical and World Myths. NY: Oxford University Press, 2013 edition.
ISBN13: 9780199859238 ----- ISBN10: 0195332946
We will use the text book for most of our reading, but online resources will be used to supplement this
text. Those pages are indicated in the weekly Content Modules in the classroom.
Learning Outcomes [§335.2]
Upon successful completion of the course the student will be able to:
 Demonstrate an understanding of myths from across cultures, including Classical and
European, Middle Eastern, Far Eastern, Egyptian, African, Pacific, and Native American
cultures
 Demonstrate the value and purposes of myth
 Apply major contemporary theories used to explain and analyze myths, such as
comparativist, psychological, socio-cultural, structuralist, and feminist
 Discuss the historical and cultural background of myth including the relationships between
myth, religion, philosophy, culture, and the arts in diverse world cultures
 Describe myth as literature and analyze the structure of myths
 Explain how myth informs contemporary global art and culture
Email, Contacting the Instructor, Emergencies
EMAIL is the best way to reach me. If you have an emergency, send me an email
(capappad@hacc.edu), or mail me in our classroom in D2L. Please include your name in all email
correspondence.
Attendance and Participation (AP 661)
“III. E. Instructors may drop a student from a class with the concurrence of the division/campus
administrator when unexcused absences exceed 15% of the total class hours... and when excessive
absences preclude the possibility of a student attaining the stated learning outcomes for the course.”
“According to guidance from the federal Department of Education, an institution must demonstrate
that an online student participated in class or was otherwise engaged in an academically-related
activity for attendance purposes. Logging into an online class without active participation does not
meet their definition of attendance.”
The Introduction and Participation Quiz must be completed during Week 1 to show initial academic
engagement and is worth 20 points. If you do not complete the Quiz by Sunday, February 8, 2015, by
11:59PM, you will be withdrawn from the course. If you do complete it, you’ll earn up to 20 points
toward your final grade.
Students are expected to login regularly to the course through D2L; to participate fully in all Graded
Discussion Questions on the discussion board, and complete all Quizzes, Journals and Papers by the
prescribed due dates.
Part of a student’s participation is his/her interaction on the discussion board. Students should login
frequently to check Instructor’s Announcements (“News”), Discussion Posts, and Emails, including
HAWKmail.
If a student does not log in to D2L for 2 concurrent weeks, it is at the professor’s discretion to drop
the student from the class; however, a student may not be withdrawn and if they discontinue
attending class without contacting the instructor, they may receive an F in the course.
Attendance in this course is defined by frequent logins (about 3-4 times per week) and submission of
all assignments on time. Students are expected to promptly communicate with the professor if they
cannot actively participate in class, login, or complete assignments.
Keep in touch: Active communication is key! If for any reason the student is unable to log in to class,
the student should contact the instructor so that the student is not dropped from the course. If a
student loses their use of the Internet at home, or, where they normally login to class, the student is
responsible for finding another Internet connection within a day or two (public library, HACC computer
lab, HACC library, friend’s computer, Smart Phone, etc.) in order to login to class, contact the instructor
and stay on top of course work. If you don’t attend, participate and regularly login, you cannot stay
enrolled.
The designations of attendance from the College’s Student Attendance Policy (AP 661) are as follows:
•
The determination of what constitutes an excused versus an unexcused absence shall be made
by the instructor.
•
An instructor may require a student to furnish documentation substantiating that an absence
should be considered “excused” if absences become excessive or occur at questionable times
(for example, on the day of an exam).
•
Instructors may reduce course grades after unexcused absences exceed 10% of the total class
hours that will take place throughout the semester.
•
Instructors may drop a student from a class with the concurrence of the division/campus
administrator when unexcused absences exceed 15% of the total class hours that will take place
throughout the semester and when the excessive absences preclude the possibility of the
student attaining the stated learning outcomes for the course.
Excused Absence
An absence that occurred for reasons that were: a) beyond the student's control to prevent, and b)
significant enough to prohibit attendance in class.
Additionally, for the absence to be excused, the student also must also have contacted the instructor
prior to or on the day of the absence. It’s important to note that, depending on the number or pattern
of prior absences, an absence explained as simply ‘personal’ and ‘family emergency’ may not be
considered as excused unless sufficient detail is provided to the instructor.
Unexcused Absence – an absence that is not excused.
Additionally, an unexcused absence is one that occurred for reasons that were: a) within the student's
control to prevent, and b) not significant enough to prohibit attendance in class, even if uncontrollable.
An absence may be considered unexcused if the student does not contact the instructor about the
absence within a reasonable period of time.
According to HACC, the " “Y” Grade - may be granted in previously approved courses when the
instructor judges that the student has shown sufficient progress but needs more time to complete the
course objectives."
Academic Dishonesty Policy
The first time a student is found representing someone else’s work, they will fail the assignment. If this
infraction is found to become a habit of a particular student, he or she will be reported to the dean,
and may ultimately fail the entire course.
Do not copy and paste parts of online articles into your paper. You will fail the assignment if you do so.
Plagiarism is a serious matter and will not be tolerated. Students who turn in formatted, organized
papers, whose content contains quotes strung together from various resources, will not receive credit
for the paper. Please do your own work.
Students are responsible for submitting the correct/complete draft of their paper. If you turn in the
wrong draft of your paper, you must submit the correct/complete draft within 24 hours. The instructor
reserves the right to deduct points for lateness and incomplete work.
To review HACC's Definition of Academic Dishonesty, according to Administrative Procedure 594, see
below.
Academic Dishonesty Definitions:
Academic dishonesty is defined as an intentional act of deception in which a student seeks to claim credit
for the work or effort of another person, or uses unauthorized material or fabricated information in any
academic work. It includes, but is not limited to:
A. Cheating – giving or receiving answers on assigned material, using materials or aids forbidden by the
instructor, alteration of academic records, unauthorized possession of examinations, or the
falsification of admissions, registration or other related college materials, or any other intentional use
or attempted use of unauthorized materials, information, or study aid.
B. Plagiarism – the offering of someone else’s work, words, or idea as one’s own or using material
from another source without acknowledgement.
C. Interference – interfering without permission with the work of another student either by obtaining,
changing or destroying the work of another student.
D. Buying or selling of term papers, homework, examinations, laboratory assignments, computer
programs, etc.
E. Falsifying of one’s own or another’s records.
F. Knowingly assisting someone who engages in A-E above.
Grade Policies
(“I” Grade) at the Instructor’s discretion is given to students who require additional time to complete
coursework due to mitigating circumstances. Students who desire an “I” grade to prevent withdrawal
from or failure of the course, must complete an “Incomplete Grade Form” with the Instructor’s
signature. Incomplete coursework must be finalized within eight weeks of the following semester to
prevent a failing a grade. Depending on your situation, you may or may not receive the full 8 weeks to
complete the missed work. To apply for an Incomplete Grade you must contact me prior to last day of
class.
According to HACC, the “I” Grade - may be awarded by the approving faculty member to students who,
because of extenuating circumstances, need additional time beyond the term to complete
coursework."
According to HACC, the " “W” Grade - may be awarded to students who have withdrawn or have been
withdrawn from a course after the refund period and through the last class day of the term/part of
term.
The Library
There is a helpful library service called "Ask Us" on HACC's library website: http://lib2.hacc.edu/. There
you can pick the brains of our discipline-specialized librarians for information on how and where to find
resources. Please plan to make use of scholarly articles in Databases like EbscoHost and JStor, both of
which can be found under “Databases and Journals” on http://lib2.hacc.edu
HUM 201 Course Requirements
The following is a list of required activities in which students must participate in order to fulfill the
Course Learning Outcomes, pass the course and stay enrolled in the course. These apply to HUM 201:
World Mythology.
1. “According to guidance from the federal Department of Education, an institution must
demonstrate that an online student participated in class or was otherwise engaged in an
academically-related activity for attendance purposes. Logging into an online class without active
participation does not meet their definition of attendance.”
The Introduction and Participation Quiz must be completed during Week 1 to show initial
academic engaging and is worth 20 points. If you do not complete the Quiz by Sunday, February 8
2015, by 11:59PM, you will be withdrawn from the course. If you do complete it, you’ll earn up to
20 points toward your final grade.
2. Content Modules are the "sections" or "topics" we will approach on a week-to-week basis. The
Contents section of the course replaces me standing in front of you in a traditional classroom
setting. This is where you access the course materials related to the weekly topic.
Note: Learning Modules begin at 12 AM Monday Morning and end at 11:59 PM on Sunday
Night. The Learning Module will remain open throughout the entire semester, and the assignments
due that week will be locked at the end of the Learning Module (11:59 PM on Sundays). At that
point, we move to the next Learning Module.
3. Quizzes (200 points total – 5 Quizzes @ 40 points each)
Students will take quizzes throughout the term that are valued at 40 points each, and will test
students on the weekly reading material. Quizzes will be a combination of fill-in-the-blank, multiple
choice, matching, true/false, and short-essay questions. Students will be given additional
information during the weeks quizzes are due. The quizzes will be made available through the QUIZ
link in the classroom (under Assessment). Quizzes are worth 28.57% of your grade in this class.
4. Discussion Questions – “DQ’s” (150 points total –3 DQ’s @ 50 points each)
Discussions are worth 21.43 % of your grade in this class. There are 3 DQ’s each valued at 50 points.
During the weeks DQ’s are due, the Graded DQ's are posted 12 AM Monday Mornings and end at
11:59 PM on Sunday Night, for a total of 5 questions throughout the semester.
Students are expected to post their main message by Thursday during the weeks we have DQs so
that others may have a chance to respond. Students who wait to post their main message after
Thursday will lose points.
To be eligible for a high mark for discussion, you must post one main message and respond
substantially to at least two (2) classmates' postings for each Graded DQ for a total of 3 posts per
week a DQ is assigned. Saying “I agree!” or “Great post!” is a terrific way to encourage others, but
it should be followed by 2-3 substantial sentences that help develop the conversation. Find a new
way to think about the topic and question. Bring something new to the table. Be original.
Discussion questions (DQ's) are used in online classes to stimulate thought, disseminate
information, and share ideas and, in general, to provide a connection among course participants as
well as between the participants and the instructor. Questions, answers, and follow-up messages
are posted in discussion forums and a "threaded" discussion is created. These messages can be
replied to by others and a conversation is developed.
5. Journals (150 points total – 3 journals @ 50 points each)
Journals are private writing spaces where students reflect on one of the topics we’re studying
during that week. Journals are informal, but should be well-written and carefully answer the
question provided. Instructions for each journal are given in the dropbox assignment area. To
submit a journal, upload your Word doc to the dropbox by Sunday at 11:59pm during the week it is
due. Journals are worth 21.43% of your grade in this class.
6. Mythological Figure Research Paper (180 Points /25.71% of class total)
Assignment 1 Has Two Parts:
PROPOSAL (Topic [name/culture of mythological figure] and 3 Resources in MLA formatting) Due for
Professor Approval: Sunday, April 5, uploaded to assignment dropbox by 11:59pm (30 points)
2 weeks later…
PAPER Due Sunday, April 19 uploaded to the assignment dropbox by 11:59pm (150 points)
Format for Journals and Critiques
•
•
All papers will be submitted through their own assignment link (“dropbox”) in the online classroom.
The preferred format for papers is Microsoft Word (2010, 2007 or 2003 are okay). Papers will not be
accepted in any other format. Other programs can be used (such as Google Documents or Open Office)
as long as they saved in and submitted in the .doc format. If an assignment is submitted in a format
other than the above, points will be deducted from the assignment for failure to comply with the
required format for submission.
•
“What if I don’t have Microsoft Office (Word, Powerpoint, etc.)?”
You can download a free office software program called OpenOffice that acts and looks very similar to
Microsoft's products. Here is the link http://www.openoffice.org/. Once there, you can download and
install the software for free. The Word equivalent is called: "Writer" and the PowerPoint equivalent is
called: "Impress". Both of these programs can save in the Microsoft formats, meaning you can save it as
.ppt or .doc. You have to select "save as" when saving and choose .doc (if using Writer) or .ppt (if using
Impress). Otherwise it will save as a Writer file or an Impress file, depending on what program you are
working in. Please save OpenOffice documents in the Microsoft Office format (.doc for Word).
Late Work
 JOURNALS & Research Proposal/Paper cannot be turned in late unless there is an extenuating
circumstances; and at the professor’s discretion, a student may be given extra time. The
professor reserves the right to require documentation. If you have a conflict, contact me right
away.
 QUIZZES cannot be submitted late unless circumstances preclude a student from taking the
quiz; permission to take a past-due quiz is at the instructor’s discretion.
 DISCUSSIONS: Students will participate on the discussion board during weeks when a discussion
is due. Discussions are open for a full week – 12 AM Monday Morning and end at 11:59 PM on
Sunday Night. Graded DQ’s cannot be made up unless there are extenuating circumstances that
precludes your completion of the assignment; contact the professor immediately. Late replies
can’t receive any credit since they no longer further the conversation once a week has ended.
Assignments and Points: All Assignment Guidelines are posted in the Course on the Homepage
Assignment
1 Intro/Participation
Quiz
5 Quizzes
3 DQ’s
3 Journals
Mythological Figure
Research Proposal
(30 points) + Paper
Points Per Assignment
Total Points
20 points
20 points
40 points each
50 points each
50 points each
200 points
150 points
150 points
180 points
180 points
Percentage
2.85%
28.57%
21.43%
21.43%
25.71%
(150 points)
Total Points
700 points total
Grading Scale:
A
B
C
D
F
I
W
90-100%
80-89%
70-79%
60-69%
0-59%
Incomplete
(630 – 700 points)
(560 – 629 points)
(490 – 559 points)
(420 – 489 points)
(0- 419 points)
Withdrawn
Tentative Class Schedule
For more information on HACC’s events, visit the Academic Calendar.
(http://www.hacc.edu/Students/CollegeCalendars/14-15-Academic-Calendar.cfm)
Note: Classes Begin Monday, February 2, 2015. Please login to class that day.
Week/Date
Topic
Intro/Participation Quiz (20 points),
+Quiz Week 1 (Ch 2) Due Feb 8 (40 points),
+ Introduce Yourself DQ (not graded)
Chapters 3-4
Journal due February 15 at 11:59 PM
Chapters 5-6
DQ due February 22 at 11:59 PM
Creation Myths: Icelandic/Norse
(Prose Edda)
Chapter 7
Quiz due March 8 at 11:59PM.
Midterm break (no classes, HACC
open)
Creation Myths: North America and
Mesoamerica (Popol Vuh)
----
-----
Chapter 8 and 11
Journal due March 22 at 11:59PM.
Creation Myths: African (Uganda,
Nigeria) and Chinese (“Nu Kwa” –
the heroine)
Destruction Myths: Roman, Hebrew
and Icelandic
Handout: Geomythology
Reading: “Evidence for a Flood”
Chapters 9 and 10
DQ due March 29 at 11:59PM.
Chapters 12-14
Quiz due April 5 at 11:59PM.
The Hero and the Monomyth
Chapter 15
Journal due April 12 at 11:59PM.
Introduction to Mythology
February 2 – 8
Ways of Understanding Myth and
the Insights We Gain From Them
Creation Myths (“Cosmogony”):
Greek and Roman (Classical)
Writers: Hesiod and Ovid
Creation Myths: Hebrew (The Bible,
Genesis) and Mesopotamian
(Enuma Elish)
February 9 – 15
Week 3
February 16 – 22
Week 4
March 2-8
March 9-15
Week 5
March 16 – 22
Week 6
March 23 – 29
Week 7
March 30 – April 5
Week 8
Class Assignment/Schedule
Chapters 1 – 2
Week 1
Week 2
Reading
Mythological Figure Research
Proposal Due Sunday, April 5,
11:59pm
April 6-12
Week 9
April 13-19
Week 10
April 20-26
Week 11
April 27 through
May 4
The Hero and the Monomyth in The
Epic of Gilgamesh
(Mesopotamia)and
The Ramayana (India)
Ritual and Myth & The Role of
Women in Myth: Demeter and Isis
Chapters 17-18
DQ due April 19 at 11:59PM.
Chapters 27-29
Quiz due April 26 at 11:59PM.
Myth as Literature: the Structure of
Myths
Chapter 45
Quiz due on May 6 (Wednesday) at 11:59 PM
Leslie Marmon Silko’s “Yellow
Woman”
Mythological Figure Research Paper
Due Sunday, April 19, 11:59pm
(Classes End May 4, 2015)
Classes End Monday, May 4, 2015.
Final grades available to students via HACCWeb May 15, 2015.
STUDENTS IN NEED OF ACCOMMODATIONS:
Students with disabilities who are in need of accommodations should contact the campus disability coordinator
listed below. Coordinators for each campus are listed here:
http://www.hacc.edu/Students/DisabilityServices/Contact-Disability-Services.cfm
EEOC POLICY 005:
It is the policy of Harrisburg Area Community College, in full accordance with the law, not to discriminate in
employment, student admissions, and student services on the basis of race, color, religion, age, political
affiliation or belief, gender, national origin, ancestry, disability, place of birth, General Education Development
Certification (GED), marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, genetic
history/information, or any legally protected classification. HACC recognizes its responsibility to promote the
principles of equal opportunity for employment, student admissions, and student services taking active steps to
recruit minorities and women.
The Pennsylvania Human Relations Act (“PHRAct’) prohibits discrimination against prospective and current
students because of race, color, sex, religious creed, ancestry, national origin, handicap or disability, record of a
handicap or disability, perceived handicap or disability, relationship or association with an individual with a
handicap or disability, use of a guide or support animal, and/or handling or training of support or guide animals.
The Pennsylvania Fair Educational Opportunities Act (“PFEOAct”) prohibits discrimination against prospective
and current students because of race, religion, color, ancestry, national origin, sex, handicap or disability, record
of a handicap or disability, perceived handicap or disability, and a relationship or association with an individual
with a handicap or disability.
Information about these laws may be obtained by visiting the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission
website at www.phrc.state.pa.us.
HACC—Lebanon Campus and Virtual Learning
Deborah Bybee
Coordinator, Disability Services
104R
735 Cumberland Street
Lebanon, PA 17042
Phone: 717-270-6333
Email: dabybee@hacc.edu
Technical Requirements for this course
System Requirements:
These are typical requirements of a computer system needed for D2L online courses at HACC:
IBM Compatible Computer - Pentium class process (or better) with at least 64MB of RAM (128 MB
recommended), with Windows 95, 98, NT, or 2000, CD-ROM drive, VGA compatible graphics, sound card and
speakers, modem with a minimum speed of 56kbs (preferably faster), and a telephone line (or cable modem).
OR
Macintosh - Power Macintosh G3 processor, at least 64MB of RAM (128 MB recommended), modem with a
minimum speed of 56 kbs (preferably faster), and a telephone line (or cable modem).
You will need an Internet Service Provider (ISP) and an email account.
Software Requirements:
Operating System: Windows 95 or above; MAC OS 8.1 or above
Course Specific Software: Office 2000 or better. All papers will be submitted as .doc or .docx attachments by
each student, uploaded to the Assignment Dropbox in the classroom