Heartland Community College
Humanities & Fine Arts
Course Syllabus for Students
Course Prefix and Number: HUMA 250
Course Title: Classical Mythology
Credit Hours: 3
Lecture Hours: 3 Laboratory Hours: 0
Days and times the course meets: Monday, Wednesday, Fridays, 9:00 AM to 9:50 AM,
Room 1703
Catalog Description: An interdisciplinary introduction to classical Greek and Roman
mythology, from the myths of creation to the legends of gods and heroes. Myths and legends are
related not only to their own time and culture but are traced through the later art and culture of
Western civilization through their expression in literature, painting, sculpture, music, and film,
revealing how they have influenced thought, art, and cultural events that are still with us today.
Instructor Information:
Instructor name: Ardis L. Stewart, J.D.
Instructor e-mail address, if one: ardis.stewart@heartland.edu or alstew3@ilstu.edu
Location of instructor’s office: ICB 2000 Suite
Hours and days of instructor’s office hours: by appointment
Textbook (Required): Powell, Classical Myth. 4th ed.
Relationship to Academic Development Programs and Transfer: (Indicate if course is
General Education/IAI): HUMA 250 fulfills 3 of the 9 semester hours of credit in
Humanities/Fine Arts required for the A.A. or A.S. degree. It satisfies the Humanities
component of this requirement. HUMA 250 should transfer to other Illinois colleges and
universities as the equivalent of the General Education Core Curriculum course H9 901,
described in the Illinois Articulation Initiative. However, students should consult an academic
advisor for transfer information regarding particular institutions. Refer to the IAI web page for
information as well at www.itransfer.org
Student Learning: Consistent participation in the course is essential to your success, because
the reading assignments, class discussions, presentations, and other activities are all geared to
helping you better understand how to carry out the major paper assignments effectively. There is
room to negotiate individually on deadlines, absences, and approaches to assignments if you are
attending regularly, have consistent participation, have extenuating circumstances that warrant
such negotiation, and maintain consistent communication with me.
You will need to spend at least six hours per week outside of class on work for this course. The
actual number is determined by your preparation, attitude, getting your questions answered, and
your personal goals.
Instructor’s Role: I facilitate interaction among students in various ways in order to help each
of you achieve effective analytical, evaluative, and rhetorical abilities. I provide a broad context
in which each student constructs a place to work with respect to his or her own interests.
Moreover, if you need more support to learn, let me know so I can help you find tutorial, library,
reading, study skills, time management, or other assistance programs.
Course Objectives (Learning Outcomes): After completing this course, a student should be
able to:
1.
Identify the principal gods, goddesses, heroes, and heroines of Greek and Roman
mythology.
2.
Recognize some of the major artists and works of literature, painting, music, and
sculpture that have employed mythological themes and subjects.
3.
Understand the various ways that classical mythology has shaped the thinking and
institutions of the contemporary world.
4.
Recognize and define such terms as hamartia, in medias res, Dionysian,
metamorphosis, Hellinistic, and others.
5.
Articulate and communicate the major themes and ideas found in classical
mythology, showing the continuity between ancient thought and the present time.
Course/Lab Outlines:
1. Myths of Creation
2. Cronos and the Titans
3. Zeus' Rise to Power
4. Zeus, Hera, and Their Children
5. Deities, Divinities, and Monsters
6. Athena
7. Aphrodite and Eros
8. Artemis and Apollo
9. Hermes and Dionysus
10. Hades and the Afterlife
11. The Theban Saga
12. The Trojan Saga
13. Odysseus
14. Hercules
15. Perseus and the Legends of Argos
16. Theseus and the Legends of Attica and Crete
17. Jason and the Argonauts
Method of Evaluation (Tests/Exams, Grading System): Student assessment is based on the
following:
Exam #1:
Exam #2:
Exam #3:
Exam #4:
Final exam:
Research paper:
Prospectus (15%)
Final Draft and copies
of sources(85%)
Short paper:
Class preparation and
participation, quizzes,
and assignments
Grades
10%
10%
10%
10%
10%
20%
10%
20%
will be determined according to the following scale:
92 to 100 = A
83 to 91 = B
74 to 82 = C
65 to 73 = D
Below 65 = F
Participation (or Attendance): Class participation is required. “Participation” means more than
being present in the classroom at the appointed time. Every class session has a participation and
preparation grade. Absence results in zero participation points for the day, because class
discussions, hearing and visual presentations, and so forth are impossible to make up. The same
goes for working on other projects, or snoozing during class. There are no “excused” absences
(only “explained” absences). An absence or two will not significantly affect your grade, if the
rest of your performance is satisfactory. If possible, bring any written assignments due during
the class period that you are absent to the HFA office (ICB 2000) and place them in the drop box
in front of the secretary’s desk (to the left as you walk in) before the due date and time. Do not
rely on e-mailing your paper as an attachment—sometimes the attachment is garbled, sometimes
there is no attachment, sometimes there is no e-mail. If I do not receive it or I cannot read it, it
isn’t turned in. Any assignments started during the class period in which you are absent are due
when everyone else’s is. Therefore, talk to me about planned absences in advance and call me or
e-mail me as soon as possible if you miss class unexpectedly. In any case, all assignments must
be completed satisfactorily in order to pass the course.
Medical verification of illness or other proof of need for absence (these are “explained”
absences) will make me more flexible in negotiating acceptance of late assignments or make-up.
In any case, students must initiate negotiation of make up upon their return to class or over phone
or e-mail.
In case of illness or family emergency that requires missing more than one class, I expect that
you communicate early in the absence so make up arrangements can be pre-arranged. Excessive
absences for any reason create an obstacle to completion of the course. Without regular
communication from and with you to negotiate changes in deadlines during these absences,
progress in, and thus completion of the course is impossible. It is impossible to re-teach
extensive parts of the course.
Incompletes: I follow the official college policy, as found in the college catalog, as illustrated
by the following excerpt: “An incomplete grade may be given to a student who, by the
withdrawal date, can reasonably be expected to pass the course. Incompletes may be granted
only when justified by extreme circumstances (e.g. serious illness, accident, death or serious
illness in the immediate family).”
Make-up of tests and assignments: I reserve the right to negotiate with students over make up
and the excuse of absences. Late work, whether or not due to absences, unless negotiated with
me as in the cases explained above, will receive a zero. If negotiated make up schedules are not
kept, the work receives a zero. Leaving for Spring Break or Summer Break early is not a reason
to take an exam early.
Deadlines: Deadlines can be negotiated with me, but unless the deadlines are negotiated, all
late work will result in zeros. Papers and assignments due in a missed class should be dropped
off in Room 2000 as soon as possible.
Required Writing and Reading:
Research paper: Students will write one prospectus (2 pages) in connection with one long
paper (8-10 pages) presenting the results of students' independent library research. The paper
will focus on the importance of myth in modern culture Students should cite from at least 6
book sources (a total minimum of 6 sources), and all citations should follow the MLA Handbook
for Research Papers. Internet sources are not acceptable without my prior permission. Students
should write in a formal style for an academic audience who is familiar with the work of
literature.
Students will also write one shorter paper (5-7 pages). Details on the papers will be
forthcoming.
Student Conduct: Students should come prepared by having read the readings assigned for that
class and given out the class before and by bringing assignments to class. The emphasis on this
class is maintaining an atmosphere conducive to learning. When you are late, arrive quietly. If
you leave early, depart gracefully and quietly. During presentations, listening to the presenter is
a form of participation.
Differences in perspective, values, and beliefs will surface in classroom discussions, classroom
activities, and presentations. The free exchange of ideas is encouraged, but intimidating or
disrespectful language and behavior have no place in such exchanges. Refer to the Democratic
Ethic description in the Course Guide and the College policies in the Heartland Community
College Handbook.
Academic Integrity: Academic integrity is a fundamental principle of collegial life at Heartland
Community College and is essential to the credibility of the College’s educational programs.
Moreover, because grading may be competitive, students who misrepresent their academic work
violate the right of their fellow students. The College, therefore, views any act of academic
dishonest as a serious offense requiring disciplinary measures, including course failure,
suspension, and even expulsion from the College. In addition, an act of academic dishonesty may
have unforeseen effects far beyond any officially imposed penalties.
Violations of academic integrity include, but are not limited to cheating, aiding or
suborning cheating or other acts of academic dishonesty, plagiarism, misrepresentation of data,
falsification of academic records or documents and unauthorized access to computerized
academic or administrative records or systems. Definitions of these violations may be found in
the college catalog.
Plagiarism: Plagiarism is the presenting of others’ ideas as if they were your own. When you write
a paper, create a project, do a presentation or create anything original, it is assumed that all the
work, except for that which is attributed to another author or creator, is your own. Plagiarism is
considered a serious academic offense and may take the following forms:
1
Copying word-for-word from another source and not giving that source credit.
2
Paraphrasing the work of another and not giving that source credit.
3
Adopting a particularly apt phrase as your own.
4
Using an image or a copy of an image without crediting its source.
5
Paraphrasing someone else’s line of thinking in the development of a topic as if it
were your own.
6
Receiving excessive help from a friend or elsewhere, or using another project as
if it were your own.
Note that word-for-word copying is not the only form of plagiarism. The penalties for
plagiarism may be severe, ranging from failure on the particular piece of work, failure in the
course or expulsion from school in extreme cases. [Adapted from the Modem Language
Association’s MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. New York: MLA, 1995: 26]
Support Services:
Heartland Library Information--The Library, located in the Students Commons Buildings at the Raab Road campus,
provides Heartland students with a full range of resources including books, online journal databases, videos,
newspapers, periodicals, reserves, and interlibrary loan. Librarians are available to assist in locating information.
For more information please call the Library (309) 268-8200 or (309) 268-8292
Tutoring Center Heartland Community College offers tutoring in various forms at no cost to
Heartland students at the Academic Support Center (ASC) in Normal and at the Pontiac
and Lincoln Centers. Tutors are available at convenient times throughout the week.
Study groups, group tutoring facilitated by a specially-trained tutor, are also available by
request. For more information about services available at each location, please call the
ASC in Normal (309) 268-8231; the Pontiac Center (815) 842-6777; the Lincoln Center
(217) 735-1731.
Testing Center The Testing Center provides a quiet environment for students to complete make-up exams, online
exams, and exams for students with special accommodations. Students may be able to complete exams in the
Testing Center if arrangements are made with their instructor. For more information, contact the Testing Center at
(309) 268-8231.
Open Computing Lab http://www.hcc.cc.il.us/asc/computerlab.html
The Open Computing Lab provides free computing for HCC students at convenient times throughout the week. The
computer lab is staffed by trained Lab Assistants and offers the use of approximately 70 computers, a scanner, a
laser printer, and an electric typewriter.
Specifications for written materials: Students will need to put the course number (HUMA
250) and their name on all papers turned into me. All papers will be in 12 point type Times
Roman font, double-spaced, and with a 1 inch margin on all sides. Multiple pages should be
numbered and stapled together. Page length requirements refer to a whole page; two lines on
page 8 do not a page make. Papers that do not meet the page length requirements will receive a
lower grade. The writing is expected to be free from errors in spelling (including those errors
Spell-check does not recognize as errors) and basic punctuation and grammar.
Syllabi disclaimer: The class will be notified if changes are needed due to College closings,
severe weather, class progress, incorrect statements in this document, and unexpected demands
on the instructor.
Course Calendar (subject to change): Reading assignments for each class are in parentheses
and are to be completed before the classes covering the material.
January 18-Syllabus
January 20-Chapter 1 (read pp. 1-15)
January 23-Chapter 2 (read pp. 16-49)
January 25-Chapter 3 (read pp. 50-74)
January 27-Chapter 4 (read pp. 75-95)
January 30-Chapter 4 (read pp. 96-108)
February 1-Chapter 5 (read pp. 109-138)
February 3-TEST #1
February 6-Chapter 6 (read pp. 138-154)
February 8-Chapter 7 (read pp. 155-195)
February 10-Chapter 8 (read pp. 196-220)
February 13-Chapter 9 (read pp. 221-253)
February 15-Chapter 10 (read pp. 254-287)
February 17-Chapter 11 (read pp. 288-317)
February 20-TEST #2
February 22-Chapter 12 (read pp. 318-327)
February 27-Chapter 13 (read 328-350)
March 1-Chapter 13
March 3-Chapter 14-15 (read pp. 351-388)
March 6-8-Chapter 14-15
March 6-PROSPECTUS DUE
March 10-TEST #3
March 20-Chapter 15 (read pp. 388-420)
March 22-Chapter 16 (read pp. 421-446)
March 24-27-Chapter 16
March 29-Chapter 17 (read pp. 447-474)
March 31-Chapter 18 (read 475-510)
April 3-Chapter 18
April 5-TEST #4
April 7-Chapter 19 (read 511-546)
April 10-Chapter 19
April 12-Chapter 20 (read pp. 547-568)
April 14-Chapter 20
April 17-Chapter 21(read pp. 568-597)
April 19-21-Chapter 21
April 21-PAPER #1 (8-10 pages) DUE
April 24-28 –O Brother, Where Art Thou?
May 1-Chapter 22 (read pp. 598-632)
May 3-5-Chapter 22
May 8-Chapter 23 (read pp. 633-658)
May 10-PAPER #2 DUE
May 15-FINAL EXAM (8:00-9:50)