AHIS370 Egypt in the Pre- and Early Dynastic Periods 3 Credit points Unit Guide Semester 2, 2011 Department of Ancient History 1 Undergraduate Unit Guide Department of Ancient History AHIS370: Egypt in the Pre- and Early Dynastic Periods Semester 2, 2011 Credit Point Value: 3 Students in this unit should read this unit guide carefully at the start of semester. It contains important information about the unit. If anything in it is unclear, please consult one of the teaching staff in the unit. TEACHING STAFF Unit Convenor Name: Dr. Yann Tristant Phone: 02-9850-8851 Email: [email protected] Office: W6A 525 Consultation hours: Thursday 4-5.30pm General enquiries Name: Mrs Raina Kim Phone: 02-9850-8833 Email: [email protected] Office: W6A 540 1 CLASSES For lecture times and classrooms please consult the MQ Timetable website: http://www.timetables.mq.edu.au. This website will display up-to-date information on your classes and classroom locations. ABOUT THIS UNIT The cultures of Pre‐and Early Dynastic Egypt represent the foundations of Ancient Egyptian civilisation. This unit examines and discusses the social organisation, material culture, art and earliest historical evidence starting with early prehistory (c. 500,000 BCE) until the end of Dynasty 2 (c. 2750 BCE). In the unit, particular attention is paid to the processes involved in the formation of the early Egyptian state. LEARNING OUTCOMES All academic programmes at Macquarie seek to develop graduate capabilities. These are: 1. Unit-specific knowledge and skills; 2. Critical, analytical and integrative thinking; 3. Problem-solving and research capability 4. Creative and innovative ; 5. Effective communication ; 6. Engaged and ethical local and global citizens; 7. Socially and environmentally active and responsible; 8. Capable of professional and personal judgement and initiative; 9. Commitment to continuous learning. Note: The numbers listed at the end of each Learning Outcome indicate how it is aligned with the Graduate Capabilities. The learning outcomes of this unit are (link to graduate capabilities in brackets): A. Knowledge and skills specific to the discipline of Egyptology (1, 2, 3 and 4). B. The ability to think critically and analytically (2, 5, 6, 7 and 8). C. The capability of problem solving and research skills (2, 3 and 8). D. The ability to think creatively and in an innovative way (2, 4, ( and 8). E. The ability to communicate effectively (5). F. An ability to digest ambiguous and complex data, and a commitment to continuous learning (1, 2, 4, 7, 8 and 9). 2 UNIT REQUIREMENTS AND EXPECTATIONS This unit comprises three key elements: a 2-hour lecture; a 1-hour tutorial; and individual study and participation. The topics outlined in this unit are best explored through active participation and experiential learning, so that participating in this unit will be an interesting, challenging and fun experience. Classes, therefore, will involve tutorial activities, which include discussion groups, debates, presentations and analyses of case studies. Core topics will be discussed in an integrated lecture environment, where you are encouraged to question and comment on aspects of each topic. A student must achieve an overall mark of 50% or above to complete the unit satisfactorily. Student Workload According to Academic Senate Guidelines, student workload should be three hours per credit point per week, including the two week semester break. This means a three credit point unit should have a student work load of 135 hours. Students vary in their study patterns but as a guide, this unit’s intended approximate workload is: Activity Duration Per semester Semester Per Week Total Lectures 2 hours13 26 1.8 Tutorials 1 hour10 10 0.6 Private study 3 hours 15 45 3 Assignments preparation 27 hours 1 27 1.8 Class test preparation 26 hours 1 27 1.8 TOTAL HOURS 135 9 Attendance Students are expected to attend all classes (lectures and tutorials). Students must attend 80% of all tutorials to complete the unit unless there are extenuating circumstances such as illness, etc. A log will be taken to record attendance. Medical certificates are required for medical absences and should be given to your convenor. 3 Assessment tasks Linked graduate Task Weight Due date Linked unit outcomes capabilities Research Essay 40% 13 Sep. 2011 1,2,3,5 1,2,3,4,5,7 Brief description: For the essay question, see below. Word limit: 3,500 words. Linked graduate Task Weight Due date Linked unit outcomes capabilities Tutorial Paper 30% From Week 3 1,3,4,6 1,2,3,4,5,7 onwards Brief description: Short paper (20 min.) on a topic from a list of topic choices. Note: A bibliography must be submitted to the convenor 1 week prior to your presentation. Linked graduate Task Weight Due date Linked unit outcomes capabilities Class Test 20% 8 Nov. 2011 1,2,3,4,5,6 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 Brief description: The Class Test is a brief examination of all major concepts covered in class. Length is one hour. Linked graduate Task Weight Due date Linked unit outcomes capabilities Preparation and 10% Every week 1,2,3,4,5,6 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 Participation Brief description: Students are required to attend all classes (lectures and tutorials), prepare the set of readings and participate in class. 4 Assignment submission Bar-coded Arts Coversheet Written work must be submitted through the Arts Student Centre (via the appropriate assignment box) on Level 1, W6A (for internal students) or via COE (for external students). Internal students must print and attach a completed coversheet to all submitted work. A personalised assignment coversheet is generated from the student section of the Faculty of Arts website at: http://www.arts.mq.edu.au/current_students/undergraduate/admin_central/coversheet. Please provide your student details and click the Get my assignment coversheet button to generate your personalised assignment cover sheet. No other coversheets will be provided by the Faculty. Return of marked work Marked work will be returned to students via tutorials or lectures. Residuals will be available for collection from the Arts Student Centre (W6A Foyer). Examination There is no formal examination in this unit. A Class Test is set for the last week of classes. Extensions and special consideration Extensions can only be granted in exceptional cases and may only be sought in consultation with the unit convenor and with support of documentary evidence. Essays submitted after the due date without good reasons will be penalised by a deduction of 2% a day (including weekends) of the mark gained. After five days, a mark of 0% will be assigned. Special Consideration Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/special_consideration/policy.html Applying for Special Consideration Students applying for Special Consideration circumstances of three (3) consecutive days duration, within a study period, and/or prevent completion of a formal examination must submit an on-line application with the Faculty of Arts. For an application to be valid, it must include a completed Application for Special Consideration form and all supporting documentation. The on-line Special Consideration application is found at: http://www.arts.mq.edu.au/current_students/undergraduate/admin_central/special_consider ation. 5 REQUIRED AND RECOMMENDED TEXTS AND/OR MATERIALS The following textbooks are required: Midant‐Reynes, B., The Prehistory of Egypt (Oxford, 2000; Engl. Transl. by Ian Shaw). Teeter, E. (ed.), Before the pyramids: the origins of Egyptian civilization (Chicago, 2011). Wilkinson, T.A.H., Early Dynastic Egypt (London/New York, 1999). Recommended: Adams, B., Predynastic Egypt (Aylesbury, 1988). Adams, B. and Cialowicz, K.M., Protodynastic Egypt (Buckinghamshire, 1997). Spencer, A.J., Early Egypt: the Rise of Civilization in the Nile Valley (London, 1993). For a detailed bibliography refer to the syllabus. UNIT WEBPAGE AND TECHNOLOGY USED AND REQUIRED This unit will use Blackboard and i-lectures. UNIVERSITY POLICY ON GRADING University Grading Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html The grade a student receives will signify their overall performance in meeting the learning outcomes of a unit of study. Grades will not be awarded by reference to the achievement of other students nor allocated to fit a predetermined distribution. In determining a grade, due weight will be given to the learning outcomes and level of a unit (ie 100, 200, 300, 800 etc). Graded units will use the following grades: HD High Distinction 85-100 D Distinction 75-84 Cr Credit 65-74 P Pass 50-64 F Fail 0-49 6 ACADEMIC HONESTY Academic honesty is an integral part of the core values and principles contained in the Macquarie University Ethics Statement (http://www.mq.edu.au/ethics/ethic- statement-final.html). Its fundamental principle is that all staff and students act with integrity in the creation, development, application and use of ideas and information. This means that: • All academic work claimed as original is the work of the author making the claim. • All academic collaborations are acknowledged. • Academic work is not falsified in any way • When the ideas of others are used, these ideas are acknowledged appropriately. The link below has more details about the policy, procedure and schedule of penalties that will apply to breaches of the Academic Honesty policy. Academic Honesty Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES Macquarie University provides a range of Student Support Services. Details of these services can accessed at: http://www.deanofstudents.mq.edu.au/ or http://www.campuslife.mq.edu.au/campuswellbeing Arts Student Centre Phone: +61 2 9850 6783 Email: [email protected] Office: W6A/Foyer Centre staff are there to smooth the way into university life; answer questions; give informed advice; provide a sympathetic ear; de-mystify uni ways and procedures.