Humanities and Religious Studies California State University, Sacramento HRS 151. World Mythology. HRS 151 sec. 02 Mondays and Wednesdays 1:30-2:45PM, 1010 Del Norte Hall Fall 2015 Syllabus Part 1: Course Information Instructor Information Instructor: Wendy R. Terry, PhD Office: 2020 Mendocino Hall Office Hours: Mondays 12-1:30PM, Wednesdays 4:30-6PM, and by appt Office Telephone: 916-278-5335 (This phone is only good during my office hours. Do not leave voicemails at this number. Send emails instead.) E-mail: wendy.r.terry@saclink.csus.edu Course Description HRS 151. World Mythology. Introduction to the nature and function of myth. The specific literature studied will be exclusive of classical mythology and because of the breadth of subject matter will vary in content. The mythology of at least four cultures will be covered each term. Graded: Graded Student. Units: 3.0 Textbook & Course Materials NO Required Text for purchase. All course reading material will be uploaded to SacCT. Course Requirements I would like our time together to be participative. All the pedagogical studies have shown that interactive learning works better than passive learning. Consequently, I want to encourage you to be as active as possible. As a student in this course, you will Do readings in preparation for class. This means that you must have access to SacCT. Attend class and participate in class discussions and activities. This means that you must have access to your readings in class. You may accomplish this electronically or by printing and bringing the readings with you. Students without access to the week s readings in class will not receive credit for participation. Write five weekly responses (two pages long). Write a final response (four pages long). Complete an individual 3-5 page analytical paper. Course Structure Since this class meets only twice a week, we will intentionally divide each of our meetings between lecture, small group work, and discussion. Students should come to class having completed the reading assigned for that meeting. Online Resources CSUS HRS 151 fall 2015 syllabus Page 1
Students must have access to SacCT to complete this course Part 2: Course Objectives Students who complete HRS 151 will understand the most ubiquitous general academic theories and approaches to the study of myth and be able to construct their own definition on myth in light of these theories and approaches. Students will be introduced to a variety of myths from several cultures: therefore, students will be able to make cross-cultural comparisons even as they test the theories and approaches given. In the end, students will hopefully come to recognize and appreciate the value of myth and its continuing influence in all societies. Additionally, students will hone their analytical skills by examining complex historical situations, expand their abilities to reason logically and write clearly in prose by making regular arguments in response to essay prompts, enhance their research and argumentation skills via the paper, and refine their organizational skills. You will meet the objectives listed above through a combination of the following activities in this course: Do readings in preparation for class. This means that you must have access to SacCT. Attend class and participate in class discussions and activities. This means that you must have access to your readings in class. You may accomplish this electronically or by printing and bringing the readings with you. Students without access to the week s readings in class will not receive credit for participation. Write five weekly responses (two pages long). Write a final response (four pages long). Write an individual paper. Part 3: Topic Outline/Schedule Week Date Unit Readings Logistics 1 M 31 Aug W 2 Introductions and Definitions Jensen, General Introduction. Honko, The Problem of Defining Myth. Kirk, On Defining Myths. 2 M 7 W 9 3 M 14 W 16 4 M 21 W 23 5 M 28 W 30 6 M 5 W 7 Philosophical Psychological History of Religions/ Comparative Cassirer, The Place of Language and Myth in the Pattern of Human Culture. Myths for Week 2. Langer, Life-Symbols: The Roots of Myth. Myths for Week 3. Jung, The Psychology of the Child Archetype. Myths for Week 4. Segal, Joseph Campbell s Theory of Myth. Myths for Week 5. Levi-Strauss, The Story of Asdiwall. Myths for Week 6. M 21 : 1 due. M 5 : 2 due. W 7 : California State University, Sacramento Page 2
7 M 12 W 14 8 M 18 W 21 9 M 26 W 28 10 M 2 W 4 11 M 9 W 11 12 M 16 W 18 13 M 23 W 25 14 M 30 W 2 Dec 15 M 7 Dec W 9 Dec Cultural Studies/ Anthropological Sociological Semiological Cognitivist Conclusions Eliade, Cosmogenic Myth and Sacred History. Myths for Week 7. Malinowski, The Role of Myth in Life. Myths for Week 8. Frazer, The Fall of Man. Myths for Week 9. Durkheim and Mauss, Primitive Classifications: Conclusions. Myths for Week 10. Douglas, Primitive Worlds. Myths for Week 11. Levi-Strauss, Overture. Myths for Week 12. Barthes, Introduction to the Structural Analysis of Narratives. Myths for Week 13. Hutchins, Myth and Experience in the Trobriand Islands. Myths for Week 14. Clark, Language: The Ultimate Artifact. Myths for Week 15. Jensen, Conclusion: Modern Myths and Mythologies. Myth Journal entries due. M 18 : 3 due. M 2 : 4 due. W 4 : Paper due. W 11 : HOLIDAY M 16 : 5 due. M 30 : 6 due. W 9 Dec: 7 due; Paper rewrite due. Part 4: Grading Policy Graded Course Activities Paper 20% s 50% Final 20% Participation 10% California State University, Sacramento Page 3
Paper You will be required to write one 3-5 page paper. The paper topic will be handed out in the second full week of class. The completed paper will be due at the beginning of class on Wednesday 4 ember. I will return graded papers to you in class. At that point, if you are happy with your paper grade, you need do nothing more. If, however, you would like to improve your writing, students may submit a re-write. Rewrites will be due at the beginning of the last class meeting, Wednesday 9 December. You must re-submit your graded original with your re-write. Your paper score will be an average of the two grades. Your paper will constitute 20% of your course grade. Please note that I do not take late work. s To encourage careful reading and continued and consistent participation in the course, instead of exams, I have chosen to give you weekly responses. These will be approximately two-pages (600 words maximum) in length and answer a prompt concerning that week s reading. You may submit ALL seven responses. Your top FIVE scores will constitute 50% of your course grade. Please plan your responses carefully. I will handout or email the question at the beginning of each Unit to be due at the beginning of the Monday class meeting after the Unit ends (see Topic Outline/Schedule above). You must be present to submit a. Final After our last lecture, I will handout or email the prompt for the Final. The Final will be worth 20% of your course grade. Unlike the other responses, everyone MUST complete this response or receive a zero for 20% of the course grade. It is twice as long (four pages or 1200 words maximum) and will replace a final exam for the course. The Final will be due to my mailbox (2011 Mendocino Hall) by 5PM on Wednesday 16 December. Participation All research indicates that participatory learning, particularly that done in small groups, greatly improves the learning process. Making participation 10% of your grade is designed to encourage you. My hope being that if you are in the room for section, you will participate. Each section meeting I will send around an attendance sheet. Your signature on that sheet constitutes your participation for that section meeting. To facilitate real participation in class, we will do small group work as well as general discussion. You should arrive at class having completed the reading assigned for the week. Preparedness for class is essential for good participation. All reading material is available online via the course site. If you fail to bring the assigned primary source reading for the week to section with you, your signature will not count, and you cannot receive credit for participation. Because I know that things happen which are not technically excusable absences, you will have two 'free' absences before your grade will start to suffer. Use these carefully. Extra credit Building a class Myth Journal. To encourage you to do independent research, I am giving you the opportunity to receive extra credit for finding and submitting full texts of myths. You will be allowed to find two myths only one per culture allowed. Each myth submitted will be worth a total of 1% maximum for your course grade. You must find a full version of a myth not an abridged online version simplified for children, etc. You must then produce a nice copy of the myth for digital submission to me via email you may either retype the myth, cut-and-paste if from a digital source, or scan a photocopy. You must provide a cover sheet for each myth which clearly outlines its textual source (bibliographically) and its cultural source (chronologically, geographically and/or tribally, etc.). The email is due to me before the beginning of class on Wednesday 7 ober. If students find more interesting myths than those I have selected for us to read together, I may add to or replace my choices with student submissions. Late Work Policy Please note that I do NOT take late work. California State University, Sacramento Page 4
Viewing Grades in SacCT Points you receive for graded activities will be posted to the SacCT Grade Center. Click on the My Grades link (if available) on the left navigation to view your points. There will be a minimum one-week turn over for grading of assignments. Letter Grade Assignment I will use a standard grade breakdown for this class. Final grades assigned for this course will be based on the percentage of total points earned and are assigned as follows: Letter Grade Percentage Performance A 93-100% Excellent Work A- 90-92% Nearly Excellent Work B+ 87-89% Very Good Work B 83-86% Good Work B- 80-82% Mostly Good Work C+ 77-79% Above Average Work C 73-76% Average Work C- 70-72% Mostly Average Work D+ 67-69% Below Average Work D 60-66% Poor Work F 0-59% Failing Work Please note here that average work earns a C range grade. Important note: For more information about grading at Sac State, visit the academic policies and grading section of the university catalog. California State University, Sacramento Page 5
Part 5: Course Policies Attend Class Participate Students are expected to attend all class sessions as listed on the course calendar. The best way to learn is to participate in class. I will do my best to make it impossible for students not to participate. However, in order for you to glean the most out of this course, you must come prepared to participate. Build Rapport If you find that you have any trouble keeping up with assignments or other aspects of the course, make sure you let your instructor know as early as possible. As you will find, building rapport and effective relationships are key to becoming an effective professional. Make sure that you are proactive in informing your instructor when difficulties arise during the semester so that they can help you find a solution. Complete Assignments All discussion assignments must be completed by the assignment due date and time. Missing assignments will effect the student s grade. Understand When You May Drop This Course It is the student s responsibility to understand when they need to consider disenrolling from a course. Refer to the Sac State Course Schedule for dates and deadlines for registration. After this period, a serious and compelling reason is required to drop from the course. Serious and compelling reasons includes: (1) documented and significant change in work hours, leaving student unable to attend class, or (2) documented and severe physical/mental illness/injury to the student or student s family. Incomplete Policy Under emergency/special circumstances, students may petition for an incomplete grade. All incomplete course assignments must be completed within one year. Inform Your Instructor of Any Accommodations Needed If you have a documented disability and verification from the Office of Services to Students with Disabilities (SSWD), and wish to discuss academic accommodations, please contact your instructor as soon as possible. It is the student s responsibility to provide documentation of disability to SSWD and meet with a SSWD counselor to request special accommodation before classes start. SSWD is located in Lassen Hall 1008 and can be contacted by phone at (916) 278-6955 (Voice) (916) 278-7239 (TDD only) or via email at sswd@csus.edu. Commit to Integrity As a student in this course (and at this university) you are expected to maintain high degrees of professionalism, commitment to active learning and participation in this class and also integrity in your behavior in and out of the classroom. Sac State's Academic Honesty Policy & Procedures California State University, Sacramento Page 6
The principles of truth and honesty are recognized as fundamental to a community of scholars and teachers. California State University, Sacramento expects that both faculty and students will honor these principles, and in so doing, will protect the integrity of academic work and student grades. Read more about Sac State's Academic Honesty Policy & Procedures Definitions At Sac State, cheating is the act of obtaining or attempting to obtain credit for academic work through the use of any dishonest, deceptive, or fraudulent means. Plagiarism is a form of cheating. At Sac State, plagiarism is the use of distinctive ideas or works belonging to another person without providing adequate acknowledgement of that person s contribution. Source: Sacramento State University Library Important Note: Any form of academic dishonesty, including cheating and plagiarism, may be reported to the office of student affairs. Course policies are subject to change. It is the student s responsibility to check SacCT for corrections or updates to the syllabus. Any changes will be posted in SacCT. California State University, Sacramento Page 7