COURSE SYLLABUS
HUM 2310– MYTHOLOGY—(8-Week Class)
VALENCIA COLLEGE OSCELOA – FALL 2015
DR. PARI JOYCE (DR. J), Professor
08.27.2015
HUM 2310—18081
MW Bldg.3- Room 115
3:00 PM – 5:45 PM
The Primary means of communication for this
course is
Messages via Blackboard.
Humanities Dept. Office: Bldg. 3-319
Phone: (407) 582-4108 Osceola
Instructor: Dr. P. Joyce/Dr. J
Please use Atlas for emergency only.
pjoyce@mail.valenciacollege.edu
Under Subject:
Please type your last name and Hum Online
Office Hours:
Before/after class and by
appointment
Sapere Aude – “Dare to Know.”
Kant
“Sometimes questions are more important than answers.”
Nancy Willard
“Knowledge dies through carelessness because the information lacks relevance to the practical
concerns of the moment, or because it contradicts prevailing modes of theological,
philosophical, political, racial, [gender,] or economic ideology.”
Jack Weatherford
If the world were a village of a hundred people, it would look like this:
There would be 32 Christians, 20 Muslims, 16 non-religious people, 14 Hindus, 6 Buddhists,
5 primal/indigenous believers, 5 Chinese traditionalists, 1 Sikh and 1 Jew.
There would be 57 Asians, 21 Europeans, 14 North and South Americans and 8 Africans.
50% of the entire world’s wealth would be in the hands of only 6 people.
All six would be citizens of the United States.
70 would be unable to read. 50 would suffer from malnutrition.
80 would be living in substandard housing and conditions.
ONLY 1 WOULD HAVE A COLLEGE EDUCATION.
Use this course to change these numbers
Required Texts:

Myths to Live By by Joseph Campbell. ISBN 9780140194616

The World of Myth , by David Adams Leeming. ISBN 9780199316366
* Check with the VC Bookstore for any changes to the ISBN
Required Technical Skills:
Use of Blackboard, Power Point, and if required, various media for postings and
the final video project (i.e. video: MPEG, JPEG, via phone, camera, computer, flip cam
etc., for upload or flash drive; posting to YouTube; Movie Maker, Mac video editing,
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etc.) You may contact VC tech support for assistance, download PC & Mac editing
tutorials, find a friend to help you, see YouTube tutorials, and see the Blackboard
tutorial site for more information.
Course Description: Prerequisite: Minimum grade of C in ENC 1101 or ENC 1101H or
IDH 1110. Examines world mythology in comparative perspective, analyzes myths with
a variety of methods, and considers the application of mythological ideas and symbols
in the humanities. Gordon Rule course which requires 6,000 words of writing.
Minimum grade of C required if used to satisfy Gordon Rule requirement.
No. Credit Hours: 3.0: Satisfactory completion of this course will satisfy three of the
nine hours required in Area 2 (humanities) of the General Education Requirements for
all degree programs.
Valencia Student Core Competencies:
Valencia faculty has defined four interrelated competencies (Think, Value,
Communicate, ACT) that prepare students to succeed in the world community. These
competencies are outlined in the College Catalog. In this course, through lecture and
discussion, group work, and other learning activities, you will further develop your
mastery of those competencies.
Course Objectives:
 To introduce you to and to gain a working knowledge of the development of
global cross-cultural and/or transhistorical human/mythological thoughts,
symbols and ideas and their applications through the humanities.
 To learn to share your “voice” in the public arena
 To further develop your critical reading, research/thinking skills
 To successfully analyze and evaluate various texts
Note: All papers must use MLA writing style and the course format for headings.
Some MLA specifics include using Times New Roman 11 point font, 1” margins all
around, indent ½ inch for new paragraphs, add a title to your work, include both
parenthetical references and a works cited page or area when needed. Your heading
should be single-spaced and include your name, assignment, and word count. Your
word count is for the body of the work only and does not include your heading, title, or
works cited.
Course Assignments:

Mythology & Film Analysis
(1000-1200 words /3-4 pages)

Ritual Experience

Online Journal Posts

Final Mythology Project

Midterm and Final Exam
(1000 words/4-5 pages)
(1500 words/4-5 pages)
(400-500 words x 5 = 2500 words)
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
Mythology & Film Analysis
Attend or watch a film that demonstrates mythology in some way. Write your analysis
paper in 1000-1200 words. ANALYZE the film from a mythological viewpoint
(cosmological, historical, metaphysical, psychological or sociological, etc.), and either
cross-cultural, transhistorical, nationalistic, or ethnic position/concern.
See your schedule for due date. See the Myth & Film Analysis document on the
content page for more information.

Online Journal
You will have challenging online Journal assignments that you must complete before
most classes on each of the scheduled due dates. Some journals may be shared with
the class. See your schedule for Journal due dates. Click on the Journal link for
assignment specifics. These are challenging critical & creative thinking exercises.
Check your journal site early to allow you enough time to complete your posts. See the
Journal Rubric document on the content page.

Ritual Experience:
As a team, create and perform for the class an original ritual. Includes a 4-5-page
explanation of your ritual and how it connects with mythological concepts. See your
schedule for due date. See Ritual document on the Content page for additional
information.

Final Project:
Choose from the following projects below. You will complete your project and present it
to the class. You must have approval for your project before you proceed. You may
register your project at any time up to the final approval date –see your schedule.
Once approval is given you may not change your project. See the Final Project Options
& Detailed Notes document on the Content page. All projects include a Power Point
presentation. You must complete all components of the Final Project in order to
receive credit. No partial credit it given.
Project #1: Write a modern mythological story.
Project #2: Research and discuss how one mythological story from your text
could be used as a modern parable for our world.
Project #3: Find one new mythological story that has been updated in a
modern version. Discuss the original story and then the modern one through
comparison and contrast.
Project #4:
Create an original and sophisticated artwork reflecting or inspired by mythology
that might include media, recycled materials, video, food, or fashion, etc.
Project #5:
Choose one mythological story and perform it in class.
SEE FINAL PROJECT OPTIONS & DETAILS DOCUMENT ON THE CONTENT PAGE
OF BLACKBOARD FOR MORE DETAILS ABOUT EACH PROJECT
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Notes:

Papers and projects will be graded on the depth of inquiry, level of specificity,
well-supported thoughts, clarity, original observation, and analysis.

See Blackboard for more information and postings about specific assignments.
ALL WORK MUST BE ATTEMPTED/SUBMITTED
IN ORDER TO PASS THIS CLASS.
(You may not opt out of any assignment in this course.)
Evaluation:
Grading:
Mythology & Film Analysis….10%
Ritual Project….15%
Online Journal (5 @ 6% ea.)….30%
Midterm Exam…10%
Final Project….20%
Final Exam…15%
90-100 A
80-89 B
70-79 C
60-69 D
Below 60 is and F
Policies:
Attendance: Punctual attendance is expected. The primary means of attendance
recording is a sign-in sheet. You must sign in before class begins. You are
responsible for making certain your name is on the sign in sheet and I would suggest
you keep close tally of your absences. You are free to check your attendance with me
at any time also. While full class attendance is expected, you may, however, have two 2 non-penalized absences for any reason during the term. Subsequent absences will
affect your final grade: each occasion will lower your final grade by 5 percentage
points.
Email: If you need to contact me, please use MESSAGES on our course
Blackboard site. Click on Messages, then create message, select my name,
add your message and/or download your file, select send. If you do not have an
email address, you can get one for free at the LRC here on campus. Email will be our
primary means of communication. I check my email often and will check it prior to
class. You should also check your email often and before class. Your secondary email
source is the Atlas e-mail system. I will always acknowledge the receipt of your
email. If you do not get this acknowledgement within a reasonable time (a day or
less)—try again, or check with me, I may not have received your correspondence. This
is especially important if you are attempting to get work into me on time (i.e. within
the 24 hours allotted for medical/emergency absences). The instructor is not
responsible for information that is missed because a student failed to check their email frequently.
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Assignments/Late papers: Papers must be submitted on Blackboard. See your
schedule and assignment documents for due dates and times. Late papers will not be
accepted. Exception: Those missing class for medical/emergency reasons may
submit work with explanatory note and/or documentation for instructor discretion.
If you think there is a problem with Blackboard,
email me a copy of your work via Atlas.
Title the email as “Back-up & the name of the assignment.”
Student Responsibility after an Absence: If you are absent, it is your responsibility
to find out from other students in the class what you missed. You are expected to get
any notes or information that was announced. If a change was made to an
assignment due date, or if work was assigned, you are responsible for the information.
Exams: All students must attend/take the midterm & final exams.
Make-up Policy on Tests: All students must take exams on the scheduled dates.
However, in the case of an absence under extenuating circumstances that can be
documented, such as a death in family, severe illness, a make-up may be offered with
no penalty, but at the instructor’s discretion. Make-up tests may be administered in
the Testing Center in Building 4. NOTE: Final exam must be taken on final exam date
and ALL STUDENTS MUST ATTEND. (See course schedule for scheduled date and
time.)
Make-up Policy on Quizzes: Due to the nature of the quizzes in this course, there will
be no make-ups on quizzes, regardless of circumstances.
Rewrite Policy: The allowance for rewrites may be given on an individual basis under
the most extreme of circumstances, will be solely my discretion, and should not be
inferred as all-inclusive to the student body at large.
Extra Credit: You will be given the chance to succeed in this course through your
diligent participation, the receipt of a detailed course schedule, and study guides
before each test. With that, there is no need for extra credit in this course.
Plagiarism: According to general sources, plagiarism is defined as “using someone
else’s words or ideas, intentionally or unintentionally, without giving the source proper
credit”, also turning in another author’s work as your own. Be advised that if
plagiarism occurs, you will be given an automatic “F” for that paper, and may be
subject to an academic grievance and/or failure of the course.
 You must have parenthetical references in the body of your work that
match your works cited page.
 Not citing sources in your work is equivalent to plagiarism. Be certain
you have correct and complete source citations.
 Never use Wikipedia and other open sources—they are not accepted as
valid.
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Syllabus: This syllabus is an agreement between students and instructor. The class
schedule may be subject to change, but the basic tenets of the syllabus remain
constant. Attendances in this class means that you have received, read, understand,
and agree to abide by the syllabus/class contents. You are responsible for making
certain you have the most current revision of the schedule (see Revision date on the
first page, top right).
Blackboard: Be certain to download your website supplementals within the first
week—Have a hard copy of your syllabus and schedule with at all times. The
website includes the course syllabus, schedule, and important additional information
on each of the specific areas of this course, grade register, and supplemental links.
Open Classroom: This is an open classroom where freethinking, expression, and
exchange are encouraged—censorship and bias unwelcome. We cannot explore our
world in any capacity when we are hindered by dominant ideologies, assumptions, and
preconceptions. Please leave them at the door.
Valencia ID: Every student must have a Valencia photo ID in order to check out
library books or take make-up tests in the Testing Center. You can get an ID on the
second floor of building 5.
Communications Center: The Communications Center is available, free of charge, to
all students at VC. It is recommended that you visit the EAP, located in the Academic
Success Center, first floor of Building 4, Room 105. Hours: Mon-Thurs: 8am-5:30pm;
Fri: 8am-5pm; Sat & Sun: Closed.
Withdrawing: October 9th is the fall 1H term withdrawal deadline for this class and
for receiving a “W” grade. If you withdraw from a course prior to this date, you will
automatically receive a “W,” regardless of the grade you were earning at the time. A
withdrawal after the deadline can only be performed administratively. You will have an
accurate assessment of your skills and grade prior to that date so that you can make
an informed decision. Let me know if you are considering withdrawing from the class.
Beverages in Classroom: Beverages will only be allowed if they are in a container
with a screw-top cap. Containers with an open top should not be brought into the
room, as they spill easily.
Expected Student Conduct & Classroom Behavior:
Valencia Community College is dedicated to promoting honorable personal and social
conduct. By enrolling at Valencia, a student assumes the responsibility for knowing
and abiding by the rules articulated in the Student Code of Conduct (6Hx28:10-03).
The instructor reserves the right to refer students who engage in activities that are
disruptive to the learning environment to the Dean of Students for disciplinary action.
The following list, though not exhaustive, includes things that are disruptive to the
learning environment:
 Use of any electronic devices including but not restricted to: Cell phones,
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iPods, and laptop computers (documentation from OSD will be taken into
consideration).
 Preparing homework for other courses during class.
 Engaging in private conversations with classmates while class is in session.
 Excessive tardiness
 Leaving and re-entering the classroom while the class is in session.
In addition, Valencia Community College strives to provide a drug-free learning
environment for all those involved in the academic experience. Our policy is as follows:
In compliance with the provisions of the Federal Drug-Free Schools and
Policy: Communities Act of 1989, Valencia Community College will take such steps as
are necessary in order to adopt and implement a program to prevent the unlawful
possession, use, or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol by Valencia
Community College students or employees on college premises or as part of any
college activity.
1.
Please come to class a few minutes early—please do not enter late.
2.
All cell phones are prohibited during class.
3.
All computers must remain closed unless permission is granted.
Computer/Equipment Use Policy: (Required for all classes, since students use
the open lab even if they do not have computer access in classroom): Use of
computers in the Business, IT, and Public Service classrooms at Valencia College is
restricted to those activities designated by the instructor to enhance the class
materials. Any other use is strictly forbidden. Inappropriate use includes, but is not
limited to: Use of computer to send E-mail or access Internet sites not specifically
assigned in class. Use of a computer for job, internship, homework or other activities
not assigned in class are not permitted. Modifying any hardware or software system
configuration or setting. Activities not in accordance with the Valencia Student Code of
Conduct Use of computers in the departmental open lab is limited to those activities
involved with preparing homework or coursework in this department and is subject to
the same restriction as listed above. Computer use is remotely monitored; any student
using computers inappropriately may be subject to dismissal from class or
banishment from the lab. Subsequent offense may be sent to the campus
administration for further disciplinary action.
Students with Disabilities: Students with disabilities who qualify for academic
accommodations must provide a notification from the Office for Students with
Disabilities (OSD) and discuss specific needs with the instructor, preferably during the
first two weeks of class. The Office for Students with Disabilities determines
accommodations based on appropriate documentation of disabilities. The East
Campus Office is located in Building 5.
NOTE: See individual assignment pages posted on the Content page of
Blackboard for details of the course assignments and your course schedule.
This syllabus is subject to minor corrections or changes.
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HUMANITIES MYTHOLOGY
SCHEDULE
VC OSCEOLA/FALL 2015 – 8 WEEK CLASS
Mon/Wed 3:00 – 5:45 pm (18081)
SCHEDULE OF CLASS ASSIGNMENTS
INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Pari Joyce (Dr. J)
Email: VIA MESSAGES on BLACKBOARD--use as your primary contact source) (in case of
emergency use Atlas: Pjoyce@mail.valenciacollege.edu)




READ CHAPTERS BEFORE THE POSTED DATES
Posted informational handouts will be found on the Content page of blackboard course site.
Your calendar is a partial listing of information.
Information will be posted on blackboard after class discussions.
Monday August 31
WEEK 1






Intro to Class/Introductions
Syllabus and Schedule
Review BB & Content page
Review Journal Rubric/J #1
Leeming: Intro pages 1-7
Campbell Ch.1: The Impact of Science
on Myth
Monday September 7
Watch Film on Content Page
“Gobekli Tepe”
WEEK 2
NO CLASS LABOR DAY
WEEK 3
Monday September 14
 Leeming: Supreme Being & Great
Mother pages 117-135
 “Myth of Matriarchy” on BB
 Discussion of video When God Was a
Girl on BB

Revision 09.01.2015
Wednesday September 2
Reading & Interpreting Myth PP Lecture
 Leeming: The Creation pages 13-40
 Leeming: Pantheons pages 87-116
Campbell: Ch.2: The Emergence of Mankind
 Review Myth & Film Paper
Wednesday September 9
Critical Theory & Myth PP Lecture
Lenses for Discourse & Discovery
 Leeming: Gods, Goddesses, and Lesser Gods
pages 167-201 / Mythic Applications
TEDTalk and East vs. West PP Lecture
 Campbell Ch.4: The Separation of East and West
 Campbell Ch.5: The Confrontation of East /West
Journal #1 due Sunday Sept 13th

Wednesday September 16
Leeming: The Dying God pages 136-153
Mythic Applications

Myth & Film Review/Workshop
Journal #2 due today before class
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WEEK 4
Monday September 21
 Leeming: The Flood and The
Apocalypse pages 41- 84
Wednesday September 23
Note: Mythology & Film Analysis Due on or before
11:59pm Today
Midterm EXAM
ALL STUDENTS MUST ATTEND!
Ritual & Myth PP Lecture
 Campbell: Ch.3: The Importance of Rites
Choose teams for ritual
Ritual Workshop
Monday September 28

Leeming: Place & Object Myths pages
275-305

Ritual Workshop—All students must
attend
Journal #3 due today before class
WEEK 5
Wednesday September 30

Ritual Workshop
Ritual Experience
Presentations
Submit papers on the content page on BB ALL due by
class time today
All students must attend.
WEEK 6
Monday October 5
The Hero/Heroine Archetype
PP Lecture
 Leeming: Hero Myths pages 203-273
Wednesday October 7
Critical Analysis at Work PP Lecture
 Read the Myth of Osiris & Isis on BB & Text
before this class
Journal #4 due today before class



Last day for final project approval/Final
Project Review
Monday October 12
America and Mythology PP Lecture
WEEK 7
Draw Project Presentation order

Leeming: Trickster pages 163-172
Trickster Video & review
Campbell Ch.10: Schizophrenia—the
Journey
Metamorphosis
Inward
Wednesday October 14
Final Project Presentations
ALL documents and Power Points are due at class
start of class today
Journal #5 due Sunday Oct 18th
WEEK 8
Monday October 19th
Journal #X (optional) due Sunday October 18th
FINAL EXAM—ALL STUDENTS MUST ATTEND
Subject to Revision
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