World Mythology: Online Syllabus J. Alsup Room: F120 Phone: 582­5901 ext. 3109 Email: JeremyAlsup@ga.ozark.k12.mo.us OFFICIAL COURSE START DATE: Course Philosophy (from Rosenberg): Myths, which span all recorded history in one form or another, are symbols and pictures of the human experience and the values of various people groups and cultures from around the world. While these cultures are worlds apart from our own, myth fundamentally connects, and paradoxically separates, us from one another. In exploring stories from around the world we will necessarily begin to understand ourselves all the more. Course Description: World Mythology will explore major cultural myths and epics from around the world through the exploration of mythologies from the Middle East, Greece and Rome, the Far East and the Pacific Islands, the British Isles, Northern Europe, Africa, and the Americas. These many mythologies will be analyzed both academically and as entertainment. This will be accomplished using multiple methods of textual analysis. Course Objectives: By the end of the course the student will be able to: ●
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Articulate, in writing, key mythologies from seven different geographical areas. Make connections between the text, society as a whole, and his/her personal experience. Consistently apply and evaluate various modes of textual analysis to explore the literary richness these myths have to offer. ●
Identify and apply knowledge of key literary elements as they are presented through various genres and in student writing. ●
Articulate what it means to be human and the fundamental qualities that unite and separate different cultures and different periods in recorded history. Texts: World Mythology: An Anthology of the Great Myths and Epics, 3rd Ed. Donna Rosenberg Grading Policy: The vast majority (over 95%) of student grades are based on accuracy, not participation. The instructor reserves the right to return assignments that are deemed to be unsatisfactory in spelling, grammar, punctuation, or content. Plagiarism Policy: Plagiarism is self­defeating and will not be tolerated. Any student caught cheating on any and all assigned work will receive an automatic zero for that particular assignment. This includes both copying another student’s work as well as allowing someone to copy your work. Blackboard and Online Expectations: Two of your assessments will take place on campus at the end of the first and second quarter. As with all online courses, it is imperative that you complete all work by the submission date indicated on the assignment. Work completed after this time will not receive credit. With few exceptions, all work will be due Tuesday by 11:00 PM and/or Friday by 11:00 PM. Online Course Content: This course contains these modules, each consisting of some or all of the following components: ● Reading: You will find instructions for reading from the textbook or other course content in Blackboard. ● Quizzes: You will take quizzes related to the course content in Blackboard. ● Online Discussions: You will participate in online discussions with your peers in Blackboard on topics related to the course content. ● Individual Assignments: You will find instructions for assignments you will complete individually and submit to the Dropbox in Blackboard. ● Group Assignments: You will be assigned to small groups in Blackboard, and you will collaborate with your classmates to complete group assignments. ● Final Exam: You will take an exam in the presence of an approved proctor, at Ozark High School, or another approved place and time convenient for the student. More information about proctoring is provided later in this syllabus. Course Navigation: The buttons in the course menu provide access to these content areas: ● Announcements: Includes updates and reminders for the course. ● Faculty: Describes the instructor’s background and includes contact information. ● Syllabus: Explains the course objectives, grading criteria, online student responsibilities, and final exam information for proctoring. ● Lessons: Provides notes and assignment information to prepare students for assignments. ● Discussions: Involves students in responding to questions and replying to classmates. ● Groups: Includes work and discussion area for group collaboration. ● Dropbox: Provides a submission area for course assignments. ● Grades: Displays instructor feedback and grades. If you see an exclamation mark for an assignment, it means the assignment has been submitted and will be reviewed by the instructor. If you see a score for an assignment, you can click on it to read feedback from your instructor. ● Resources: Offers online resources and other information for online learning and this course. ● Tools: Includes email and Wimba interactive features. Working Ahead: You may work ahead on assignments as the lessons are made available in Blackboard except for group projects and discussions. Those must be completed during the lesson in which they are assigned. Submitting Work: Make sure you submit coursework according to the directions provided in the course. Here are general guidelines for assignment submission: ● Post discussions threads and replies to the appropriate forum in the Discussions area. ● Submit written assignments and other project deliverables in the Dropbox, using file formats readable using Microsoft Office 2007 (.pdf, .rtf, .doc, .docx, .ppt, .pptx, etc.). ● Complete quizzes and exams in the Dropbox. Do not email coursework unless you have received prior approval from your instructor. Receiving Grades and Instructor Feedback: Assignment grades and feedback are provided generally one week (seven days) after the assignment is due and always before an assignment of the same type is due. Unless otherwise stated, grades and feedback will be available via the Grades area of the Blackboard course site. Communicating with Your Instructor: You have numerous ways of communicating with your instructor: phone, email, the Question and Answer discussion forum, and individual consultations by appointment. If you have a question about an assignment or class procedure, consider posting it in the Question and Answer discussion forum so that other members of the class can benefit from it, too. A lot of learning can happen in this forum if you use it. If you have a personal concern (such as a question about a grade), send a private message to your instructor through the Email button inside the Blackboard course site or through your OHS gmail account. If you would like an individual consultation with your instructor, try to reach me at the high school before or after school. Learning: What matters most in any course is what you actually learn. Online learning allows you many different ways to learn, such as reading your textbook, following the hands­on practice in your assignments, communicating with your classmates and your instructor, and discovering other resources across the Internet. If you actively participate in your course, you will get good feedback to help you with your learning. Stay active in your course and focused on your learning to get the most out of it. Changes: Occasionally, circumstances require the instructor to change the syllabus. Should the instructor find a change necessary, you will be notified as soon as possible. You might print and hole­punch this syllabus and put it in a binder for ready referral. Agreement: If you disagree with any of the policies or procedures spelled out above or cannot accept the demands of the course (i.e., the amount of time and work required), you need to drop the course as soon as possible. By staying in the course, you agree to comply with all the policies and procedures described in this syllabus. Reminder: Your instructor should be your first point of contact and support for any questions or concerns you have about this online course. If you cannot resolve your questions or concerns through your instructor, you should then contact the OHS help desk in Room A154 at the high school. Standards of Online Student Conduct: Appropriate academic conduct includes doing assigned work, meeting deadlines, participating in online discussions, and completing all the required elements of the course. It also means following these basic rules of etiquette: ● Using proper capitalization, spelling, and grammar. ● Signing your name to all email messages and discussion postings. ● Providing descriptive but concise subject lines. Furthermore, appropriate academic conduct means maintaining a safe learning environment based on mutual respect and civility. All participants in OHS online courses are expected to behave professionally by adhering to these standards of conduct in the online environment: ● Never transmit or promote content known to be illegal. ● Respect other people's privacy as well as your own. ● Forgive other people's mistakes. ● Never use harassing, threatening, embarrassing, or otherwise abusive language or actions. Online communication that fails to meet these standards of conduct will be removed from the course. Repeated misconduct may result in being blocked from online discussions, receiving a grade penalty, or being dismissed from the course. Such misconduct in the online environment may also be reported to your Assistant Principal for appropriate action in accordance with the Student Handbook. If you ever feel as though our online classroom is inappropriate or uncomfortable, please first contact your instructor with your concerns. Dropping the Class: You are responsible for understanding OHS's procedures for dropping a class. If you stop participating in this class but do not follow proper procedures for dropping the class, you will receive a failing grade. To drop a class, you must schedule a meeting with your Counselor within two weeks of the beginning of the semester. Failure to withdraw properly from classes has a detrimental effect on your grade point average and your future educational goals. Administrative Withdrawal from an Online Course: An instructor will contact the appropriate administrator or counselor if that student meets either of the following criteria in an online course: ● Does not access (as designated in online grade book) the course for 14 consecutive days without contacting the instructor in a 16­week course, 7 consecutive days in an 8­week course, etc. ● Does not submit total assignments equating to 20% of total semester assignments (e.g., assignments, discussions, exam, homework, etc.) Copyright Notice: The materials found in this online course are strictly for the use of students enrolled in this course and for purposes associated with this course; they may not be retained or further disseminated. OHS students, faculty, and staff are expected to comply fully with institutional copyright policy as well as all other copyright laws. Email Communication Because of privacy regulations, High School faculty and staff can communicate with students only through OHS gmail. Therefore, you must use your OHS gmail account in this course. Check your OHS gmail account at least three times per week for important messages. (Some online instructors may use Blackboard’s messaging. Check with the instructor’s policy.)