Classics 303: The Life and Literature of the Roman Empire
Spring 2016
Dr. Kevin Muse, Associate Professor of Classics,
Dept. of Foreign Languages and Literature
Room NWQ 1975; MW 12:30-1:45
Email: kmuse@uwm.edu
Office: Curtin 813
Office Hours: MW 11:15-12:15 (or by appointment)
I. Course Description
Classics 303 is an introductory course in the literature and civilization of the early Roman Empire.
We will begin the course by reading Suetonius’ biographies of Julius Caesar and the emperor
Augustus, which will provide a foundation for understanding the crises that led to the fall of the
Roman Republic and the founding of the new form of autocracy known as the Principate. We will
turn our attention next to the study of Roman imperial literature, focusing on the great masterpiece
of the Augustan era, Vergil’s Aeneid, an epic poem about the origins of the Romans that praises the
renewal of Rome under the Augustan regime while expressing a profoundly tragic view of Roman
history and human life. Throughout our reading of the Aeneid we will explore an array relevant
social, cultural, historical, literary, and philosophical topics that will illuminate the poem’s meaning
and purpose. We will turn next to Suetonius’ biographies of Augustus’ successors, crucial
documents for understanding the evolution of Roman society in the first century CE. Finally, we
will read Apuleius’ novel The Golden Ass, one of the earliest novels in the Western tradition and a
fascinating mixture of misadventure and allegory. Assessments of your daily homework
assignments and your examinations will determine whether you have satisfied the GER Humanities
outcomes specified for this course.
Classics 303 is an approved to fulfill the following undergraduate requirements:
GER Humanities
II. Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites for this course other than junior status. This requirement may be waived
with the approval of the instructor. It is recommended, but not required, that students have
completed Classics 170.
III. Course Objectives
III.1 Humanities GER learning outcomes and assessment
Classics 303 fulfills the Humanities GER requirement and meets the following criteria for a
Humanities GER course:
Criterion 1. Identify the formation, traditions, and ideas essential to major bodies of historical,
cultural, literary, or philosophical knowledge.
Criterion 2. Respond coherently and persuasively to the materials of humanities study; this may be
through logical, textual, formal, historical, or aesthetic analysis, argument and/or
interpretation.
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UW System Shared Learning Goal outcome 3. Effective Communication Skills including
listening, speaking, reading, writing, and information literacy. Although your participation in class
will not constitute formal oral presentations, I will use the same rating scale (see rubric below) to
assess your verbal participation in the course. Your comments in class should reflect careful
preparation, organization, and a willingness to engage with me and your peers.
How Classics 303 Achieves and Assesses Humanities GER Outcomes
The readings and assignments in Classics 303 are well suited to achieving the GER Humanities
outcomes and UW System Shared Learning Goal outcome listed above. As we explore Vergil’s
Aeneid, the biographical writings of Suetonius, and Apuleius’ The Golden Ass, you will learn about
the historical background of these works, their foundational importance in the development of
major genres of Western literature (epic poetry, biography, the novel), the ways in which they
illustrate distinctive aspects of Roman culture and society (e.g., imperialism, propaganda, religion,
political conflict, social hierarchy, family structures, relationships between the sexes), and how
contemporary intellectual and philosophical trends influence them (e.g., Roman rhetorical
education, Philhellenism, Hellenistic schools of philosophy, etc.). Through readings, lectures, class
discussions, class presentations, and written assignments, you will learn to identify and discuss
these aspects of Roman literature. The content you learn will be assessed based on the evidence of
your writing assignments and examinations (using the Humanities GER Assessment Rubric for
Criterion 1; see below). In your homework and in your examinations you will also demonstrate
what you have learned about using primary sources of Roman literature (in translation) to form
theses and arguments about logical, textual, formal, historical, or aesthetic questions concerning
Roman imperial literature. Your performance in this area will be assessed using the GER
Assessment Rubric for Criterion 2; see below. You will achieve UW System Shared Learning
Goal outcome 3 by means of successfully completing the writing assignments, which will be
assessed using the Writing Assessment Rubric. All assignments will contribute toward achieving
the GER Humanities Outcomes.
III.1.2 Humanities GER assessment rubric: assessment scores will be recorded for each criterion
for both your homework assignments and your examinations; the UW-System Shared Learning
Goal 3 will be assessed using the Writing Assessment rubric.
Poor/minimal (1)
Criterion 1: Identify
the formation,
traditions, and ideas
essential to major
bodies of historical,
cultural, literary, or
philosophical
knowledge
Paper/examination
is nearly devoid of
any identification
and discussion of
the relevant ideas
and knowledge of
Roman history,
culture, literature,
or philosophy that
illuminate the
paper topic or the
examination
questions
Marginal/Needs
Significant Work
(2-4)
Paper/examination
demonstrates some
familiarity with
some of the
relevant ideas and
knowledge
concerning Roman
history, culture,
literature, or
philosophy, but the
paper/examination
responses miss
obvious
opportunities to
Average/Satisfacto
ry (5-7)
Very
Good/Superior (810)
Paper/examination Paper/examination
demonstrates a
demonstrates a
basic mastery of
thorough mastery
the relevant ideas
of the relevant
and knowledge
ideas and
concerning Roman knowledge
history, culture,
concerning Roman
literature, or
history, culture,
philosophy, but the literature, or
paper/examination philosophy that
responses miss one illuminate the
or two salient
paper topic or
points and/or
examination
contains a glaring
questions; the
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Criterion 2:
Respond coherently
and persuasively to
the materials of
humanities study;
this may be
through logical,
textual, formal,
historical, or
aesthetic analysis,
argument and/or
interpretation
UW System Shared
Learning Goal
Paper/examination
responses fail in
making a coherent
and persuasive
analysis/argument/
interpretation
identify and
engage with
several of the
relevant ideas and
facts and/or
contains a number
of glaring
inaccuracies
Paper/examination
responses are
coherent and
persuasive in some
portions or in
some respects, but
in several cases or
in major sections
are not coherent or
persuasive
inaccuracy or a
number of minor
mistakes of fact
Paper/examination
responses are
coherent and
persuasive in large
part, but there may
be one or two
major instances
where the
paper/examination
responses lapse in
their coherence
and/or
persuasiveness, or
there are several
minor lapses
See writing assessment rubric below (III.2.2)
paper or
examination
responses have
only a few minor
or trivial omissions
or inaccuracies
Paper/examination
responses are
entirely coherent
and persuasive;
any lapses in
argument/analysis,
etc. are few and
minor
III.2.2 Writing Assessment Rubric (Note: this rubric simultaneously assesses the student’s
achievement of the UW System Shared Learning Goal 3)
Poor/minimal (1) Marginal/Needs
Significant Work
(2-4)
Writing reflects
Writing shows
Criterion 1:
Critical reading, carelessness in
understanding of
logical thinking, reading of the
some aspects of
and the use of
text, a lack of
logical thinking
argument and
coherent thought and use of
evidence.
about the
coherent
question or topic, arguments and
and minimal or
evidence, but
no use of
there are some
argument and
major
evidence
deficiencies and
several areas that
need
improvement
Criterion 2: The Writing shows
Writing shows
use of
poor use of
competence in
Average/Satisfactory Very
(5-7)
Good/Superior
(8-10)
Writing shows
Writing shows
general competence excellent grasp
in critical reading,
of critical
logical thinking, and reading, logical
use of argument and thinking, and use
evidence, but there
of argument and
are one or two areas evidence; little
of significant
weakness evident
weakness and/or
(i.e., minor or
several minor
trivial weakness
weaknesses evident in at most one or
two areas)
Writing shows
general competence
Writing shows an
excellent grasp
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appropriate
stylistic and
disciplinary
conventions in
writing and/or
speaking.
standard English
(grammar,
spelling,
punctuation);
lacks proper
format for
citations (which
may be few or
absent)
Criterion 3:
Critical analysis
of information
from primary or
secondary
sources for some
portion of the
speaking and/or
writing.
Little to no
engagement with
the sources;
minimal or no
analysis based
on relevant
primary and/or
secondary
sources
Class
Participation
Not well
prepared or
organized; not
engaged; shows
minimal mastery
of the reading
some aspects of
standard English
usage and proper
methods of
citation, but there
are major
deficiencies in
several areas
in use of standard
English and in
conventions of
citing sources; there
may be one or two
areas needing
substantial
improvement (or
several minor
weaknesses)
Writing shows an Shows a basic grasp
attempt to engage of how to engage
with primary
with primary and/or
and/or secondary secondary sources
sources, but there and use them
are major
effectively in a
deficiencies in
critical analysis;
the analysis or
there may be one or
use of sources
two major
weaknesses in using
sources, or several
minor weaknesses
Preparation and
Preparation and
organization is
organization are
good in some
good, but
respects, but
improvement is
substantial
needed in one area
improvement is
(e.g., mastery of the
needed in two
reading,
areas (e.g.,
organization of
mastery of the
comments, level of
reading,
engagement/interest)
organization,
level of
engagement in
the class
discussions)
of standard
English and
conventions of
citing sources;
errors are few
and trivial
Shows strong
engagement with
the sources and
care in analyzing
questions using
relevant primary
and/or secondary
sources; only
very minor
weaknesses
evident, if any
Presentation is
excellent to
superior;
comments and
questions are
engaging and
well motivated,
reflecting careful
thought about the
reading and the
class discussion;
any deficiencies
are minor or
trivial
IV. Required Texts
Edwards, C. Suetonius: Lives of the Caesars. Oxford, 2009 (reprint). ISBN-13: 978-0199537563
Fitzgerald. Virgil: The Aeneid. Random House, 1990 (reprint). ISBN-13: 978-0679729525
Walsh, P. G. Apuleius: The Golden Ass. Oxford, 2008 (reprint). ISBN-13: 978-0199540556
V. Course Grade
V.1 Grading Scale
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A: 93-100%
A-: 90-92%
B+: 87-89%
B: 83-86%
B-: 80-82%
C+ 77-79%
C 73-76%
C- 70-72%
D+ 67-69%
D 63-66%
D- 60-62%
F: below 60%
V.2 Breakdown of assignments and their contribution to your course grade:
1. Attendance and Participation (5% Class Participation, 5% Attendance)
2. Study Question Sets (40%)
5. Midterm Examination (25%)
6. Final Examination (25%)
VI. Workload Statement
On average students should expect to spend 48 hours per credit hour in a college course. The
estimated breakdown of time required to complete the work for Classics 303 is as follows:
Course meetings (75 minutes, twice a week): 75 minutes X 29 meetings = 36.25 hours
Final Examination = 2 hours
Course Readings = 52 hours
Written Assignments = 53.75 hours
Total time invested = 144 hours
Keep in mind that this is an estimate. Your course grade will be based on your performance on
assignments and tests, not on how much time you invest in preparing.
VII. Attendance and Make-up Policies
Attendance and Participation: Taking careful lecture notes will be essential to success in this
course; much of what we will cover in course meetings will not be in your books or D2L site. I
assume that you will attend regularly and participate. See the Class Participation and Attendance
grading policy above.
The final exam will be limited to material from the second half of the course. Make-up exams are
allowed only in documented cases of illness or emergency. If a make-up exam is necessary, it must
be taken as soon as possible after the regularly scheduled exam, and it may differ from the original
exam in content.
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Late work: Assignments are due by the beginning of class on the due date listed in the
syllabus. Students’ grades for late assignments will incorporate a penalty. Assignments turned in
later on the due date will lose 5 pts automatically (half a letter grade); an assignment turned in on
the following calendar day will lose 10 pts, and for each subsequent day the assignment grade will
be adjusted down an additional 10 pts. The penalty will be waived only if the student can provide
documentation of an illness or emergency, and in such instances the penalty will be adjusted
proportional to the duration of the illness or emergency. For example, a viral illness lasting three
days cannot compensate for turning in an assignment three weeks late.
VIII. Course Rules
1) Attend every course meeting and participate in the discussion. Take careful notes in class and
review them everyday.
2) Check your email at least once a day. If I need to make adjustments to the schedule of
assignments or communicate other information to you, you will usually receive notice well in
advance, both by email and announcements in class. It is your responsibility to come to class and
check your email regularly so that we are all on the same page.
3) Do all of the assigned reading before you come to class and bring it with you.
4) Think carefully about what you read, taking notes, outlining, and formulating questions. You
may not understand everything on the first pass; it is important that you read slowly and re-read if
necessary. Take your time in completing your homework assignments.
5) Etiquette: Please refrain from talking during the lecture unless you have a question or are called
on. Please do not eat or chew gum during class. Please be on time. Please refrain from using
electronic devices in class.
IX. Academic Misconduct
You are expected to uphold the standards of academic integrity in this course. Plagiarism and other
forms of cheating will not be tolerated. For the UWM policy on academic misconduct see
http://www4.uwm.edu/acad_aff/policy/academicmisconduct.cfm.
X. Links to Important UWM Policies
1. Students with disabilities. http://www4.uwm.edu/sac/
2. Religious observances. Accommodations for absences due to religious observance should be
noted. http://www4.uwm.edu/secu/docs/other/S1.5.htm
3. Students called to active military duty. Accommodations for absences due to call-up of
reserves to active military duty should be noted. Students:
http://www4.uwm.edu/current_students/military_call_up.cfm Employees:
http://www4.uwm.edu/secu/docs/other/S40.htm (Editorially Revised, 3/25/09)
4. Incompletes. A notation of "incomplete" may be given in lieu of a final grade to a student who
has carried a subject successfully until the end of a semester but who, because of illness or other
unusual and substantiated cause beyond the student's control, has been unable to take or complete
the final examination or to complete some limited amount of term work.
https://www4.uwm.edu/secu/docs/other/S_31_INCOMPLETE_GRADES.pdf
5. Discriminatory conduct (such as sexual harassment). Discriminatory conduct will not be
tolerated by the University. It poisons the work and learning environment of the University and
threatens the careers, educational experience, and well-being of students, faculty, and staff.
https://www4.uwm.edu/secu/docs/other/S_47_Discrimina_duct_Policy.pdf
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6. Academic misconduct. Cheating on exams or plagiarism are violations of the academic honor
code and carry severe sanctions, including failing a course or even suspension or dismissal from the
University. http://www4.uwm.edu/osl/dean/conduct.cfm
7. Complaint procedures. Students may direct complaints to the head of the academic unit or
department in which the complaint occurs. If the complaint allegedly violates a specific university
policy, it may be directed to the head of the department or academic unit in which the complaint
occurred or to the appropriate university office responsible for enforcing the policy.
https://www4.uwm.edu/secu/docs/other/S_47_Discrimina_duct_Policy.pdf
8. Grade appeal procedures. A student may appeal a grade on the grounds that it is based on a
capricious or arbitrary decision of the course instructor. Such an appeal shall follow the established
procedures adopted by the department, college, or school in which the course resides or in the case
of graduate students, the Graduate School. These procedures are available in writing from the
respective department chairperson or the Academic Dean of the College/School.
http://www4.uwm.edu/secu/docs/other/S28.htm
9. The final exam requirement, the final exam date requirement, etc.
http://www4.uwm.edu/secu/docs/other/S22.htm
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XI. Schedule of Topics and Assignments
(subject to revision)
Mon. 1-25 Introduction to the course; timeline of Roman history; review of the crisis of the late
Republic
Wed. 1-27 Suetonius The Deified Julius Caesar: Edwards vii-xxx; 3-18
Turn in to D2L Dropbox before class: Study Question Set 1
Mon. 2-1 Suetonius The Deified Julius Caesar: Edwards 18-42
Turn in to D2L Dropbox before class: Study Question Set 2
Wed. 2-3 Suetonius The Deified Augustus: Edwards 43-52; introduction to Vergil; Vergil Eclogues
1, 9 (on D2L); Horace Satires 1.5 (on D2L)
Turn in to D2L Dropbox before class: Study Question Set 3
Mon. 2-8 Suetonius The Deified Augustus: Edwards 52-90
Turn in to D2L Dropbox before class: Study Question Set 4
Wed. 2-10 Suetonius The Deified Augustus: Edwards 90-97; Introduction to Vergil’s Aeneid
Turn in to D2L Dropbox before class: Study Question Set 5
Mon. 2-15 Aeneid 1: Fitzgerald 3-30
Turn in to D2L Dropbox before class: Study Question Set 6
Wed. 2-17 Aeneid 2: Fitzgerald 33-61
Turn in to D2L Dropbox before class: Study Question Set 7
Mon. 2-22 Aeneid 3: Fitzgerald 65-91
Turn in to D2L Dropbox before class: Study Question Set 8
Wed. 2-24 Aeneid 4: Fitzgerald 95-121
Turn in to D2L Dropbox before class: Study Question Set 9
Mon. 2-29 Aeneid 5: Fitzgerald 125-156
Turn in to D2L Dropbox before class: Study Question Set 10
Wed. 3-2 Aeneid 6: Fitzgerald 159-192
Turn in to D2L Dropbox before class: Study Question Set 11
Mon. 3-7 Aeneid 6: Fitzgerald 159-192 (continued)
Turn in to D2L Dropbox before class: Study Question Set 12
Wed. 3-9 Midterm Examination
March 13-20 Spring Break
Mon. 3-21 Aeneid 7: Fitzgerald 195-225
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Turn in to D2L Dropbox before class: Study Question Set 13
Wed. 3-23 Aeneid 8: Fitzgerald 229-256
Turn in to D2L Dropbox before class: Study Question Set 14
Mon. 3-28 Aeneid 9: Fitzgerald 259-289
Turn in to D2L Dropbox before class: Study Question Set 15
Wed. 3-30 Aeneid 10: Fitzgerald 293-327
Turn in to D2L Dropbox before class: Study Question Set 16
Mon. 4-4 Aeneid 11: Fitzgerald 331-364
Turn in to D2L Dropbox before class: Study Question Set 17
Wed. 4-6 Aeneid 12: Fitzgerald 367-402
Turn in to D2L Dropbox before class: Study Question Set 18
Mon. 4-11 Suetonius Life of Tiberius: Edwards 98-135
Turn in to D2L Dropbox before class: Study Question Set 19
Wed. 4-13 Suetonius Life of Caligula: Edwards 136-167
Turn in to D2L Dropbox before class: Study Question Set 20
Mon. 4-18 Suetonius Life of Claudius: Edwards 168-194
Turn in to D2L Dropbox before class: Study Question Set 21
Wed. 4-20 Suetonius Life of Nero: Edwards 195-227;
Turn in to D2L Dropbox before class: Study Question Set 22
Mon. 4-25 Apuleius The Golden Ass: Walsh xi-xxiii; 1-38
Turn in to D2L Dropbox before class: Study Question Set 23
Wed. 4-27 Apuleius The Golden Ass: Walsh 39-99
Turn in to D2L Dropbox before class: Study Question Set 24
Mon. 5-2 Apuleius The Golden Ass: Walsh 100-190
Turn in to D2L Dropbox before class: Study Question Set 25
Wed. 5-4 Apuleius The Golden Ass: Walsh 191-240; xxiii-xlviii
Turn in to D2L Dropbox before class: Study Question Set 26
Mon. 5-9 review for final examination
Final Examination: Monday, May 16, 12:30-2:30 pm