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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "CL 278"
COURSE NAME: "Literature and Society in Ancient Rome"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Summer Session I 2020
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Massimo Betello
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: Remote Learning
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS:
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisite: EN 110 with a grade of C or above *This class can substitute for one of the two EN LIT general distribution required courses. The other EN LIT course must have the EN prefix*
OFFICE HOURS:

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course focuses on the literature of Ancient Rome and its role in shaping modern notions about the customs, social practices, and ideas of its citizens. Emphasis will be placed on using Roman literature as a means of studying Roman civilization, while simultaneously examining stylistics and literary techniques particular to the genres of comedy, rhetoric, epic and lyric poetry, satire and history. Texts, which vary, are chosen from Terence, Plautus, Cicero, Catullus, Virgil, Horace, Ovid, Tacitus, and Juvenal. All texts are studied in translation.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
This reading-intensive and writing-intensive course will present a general history of Latin Literature from its Republican beginning to its late imperial phase.
The course will analyze and discuss authors and topics in a chronological order: a selection of the most representatives Latin authors will be read in translation, and modern scholarly literature will be used to follow the evolution and to comment on the different literary genres.
In particular, students taking this course will study:
* the nature of the different types of literature (history, epic, elegy, satire, etc.)
* the most representative authors for each literary genre
* origins and evolution, establishment and expansion, innovations and contraction in Latin literature through time
* the Romans’ attitude towards Greek literature and their development of a self- conscious national literature
* the complex interaction between literature and politics
* the influence of Latin literature and its themes in the modern age
* how literature is the production of the society of its time
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
At the end of this course, students are expected to be able to:
* trace the evolution of the history of Latin literature (authors, works, genres, trends, developments).
* discuss the different literary genres
* describe the life and literary production of the most representative authors per genre
* evaluate differences, similarities and influences among the genres and authors studied
* relate each literary work with the historical, social, political and cultural context in which it  was produced
In addition the students will:
* have increased the ability to read and comprehend complicated texts
* have broadened the terminology necessary to discuss literature
* have improved writing skills
* have improved the ability to summarize complex concepts in a simple and meaningful way
* have the ability to discuss the relevance (or lack thereof) of Latin literature in the modern age, either as a source of inspiration or as an empty pursuit.
TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
The Roman search for wisdomKellogg, M.KPrometheus Books, 2014978-1-61614-926-0  to be purchased from Persall.com ONLY   
The Oxford Anthology of Roman LiteratureKnox, Peter E., and J. C. McKeown, edsOxford University Press USA, 2013. 9780199875320 to be purchased from Persall.com ONLY   
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Readings and Classroom participationPerusall readings (5%): all the readings can be accessed using Moodle links that will take the students to the online platform Perusall.com where the readings are to be done. No other ways are accepted for this class. Perusall will evaluate the amount of time spent doing active reading, and if the readings are done on time. The first two classes are excluded from this assignment (add/drop period). Perusall discussions (5%): upon reading the texts on Perusall, the students are expected to post their own meaningful notes and observations. At the very minimum, the most basic note will clearly and fully explain one interesting passage per text. indicate one most interesting passage at the their choosing, and will especially explain why it is interesting: a clear and comprehensive explanation is expected. A higher grade will be give to student who reply to other student’s note. The first two classes are excluded from this assignment (add/drop period). Moodle weekly forum discussions (10%): every week the professor will post between two and three questions on the Moodle forum of the week. The students are expected to reply to all the questions by Friday morning at 9:00 am (week 01 is an exception as we have a make-up instruction on Friday, thus the deadline for week 01 is Saturday at 9:00 am) All the posts will be evaluated according to content and appropriateness. 20
Midterm examDate: see schedule. The topics tested will be those of the first half of the semester. It will be made up by two parts: • one testing the student’s factual knowledge (events, date, people etc) using identifications, multiple choices, true-false, etc.; • the other testing the student’s understanding and knowledge of the concepts explained in class using open questions, essays etc. The late submission policy does not apply. 25
Final examDate: see schedule The topics tested will be those of the second half of the semester only. The final exam is not cumulative. It will be made up by two parts: • one testing the student’s factual knowledge (events, date, people etc) using identifications, multiple choices, true-false, etc.; • the other testing the student’s understanding and knowledge of the concepts explained in class using open questions, essays etc. The late submission policy does not apply.25
Final Analytical paperSubmission Deadline: see schedule. Each student will select a topic NOT part of the course program and will write an analytic paper on it. The topic needs to be pre-approved by the professor. The paper topic needs to be submitted though Moodle to the professor by the deadline indicated in the schedule: failure to do so will result in a zero for this whole portion of your final grade. For the final submission deadline see the schedule. The late submission policy applies. Guidelines: on Moodle 20
Weekly summariesFrom week 02, by Friday morning at 9:00 am, randomly selected students are expected to submit through Moodle a summary describing the main literary points of the assigned topic (no less than 500 words). The entry will be visible to all the other participants who can comment on it. Please, do not submit a summary of the book(s) plot or simply a biography of the author. The professor will assign the topics to the students: the list will become available on Moodle by the end of week 01. 10

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.

-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:

ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY
You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed. The final exam period runs until ____________
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.

SCHEDULE

Week and day

Topic

 

01 week

Monday

 

Review of syllabus, expectations, deadlines.

Review of Roman History.

 

01 week

Tuesday

Introduction to Latin Literature.

Important points on Roman writers and Roman books.

 

 

01 week

Wednesday

Roman comedy: Plautus and Terence

 

01 week

Thursday

Lucretius

 

01 week

MAKE UP Friday (for Tuesday June 2)

Cicero and

Sallust

 

02 week

Monday

Caesar

 

 

02 week

Tuesday

NO CLASS

 

02 week

Wednesday

Catullus

 

02 week

Thursday

Vergil (Eclogues and Georgic)

 

03 week

Monday

Vergil (Aeneid)

 

03 week

Tuesday

Horace

 

03 week

Wednesday

MIDTERM

03 week

Thursday

Ovid

 

04 week

Monday

 

Seneca

 

04 week

Tuesday

Pliny the Elder

 

04 week

Wednesday

Livy and Tacitus

 

04 week

Thursday

Suetonius and Plutarch

 

05 Week

Monday

Martial and Juvenal

 

05 week

Tuesday

Petronius

 

05 week

Wednesday

Apuleius

 

05 week

Thursday


Marcus Aurelius

 

 
FINAL EXAM : Friday