Instructor: Kathy Payne, Ph.D.
office:  145 Stewart Library
phone:  626-6511
email:   KLPayne@weber.edu
website: http://faculty.weber.edu/klpayne/Honors
class blog:  http://legioilynx.wordpress.com
 

Class meets:  Tuesday/Thursday 10:30am - 11:45pm,  Library 138 (Middle level, north)

Office hours: I’m usually around the Reference area or in my office, but if you want a guaranteed time, catch me after class, call or email to set up an appointment.

Students with Disabilities: Any student requiring accommodations or services due to a disability must contact Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) in room 181 of the Student Service Center. SSD can also arrange to provide course materials (including this syllabus) in alternative formats if necessary.

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Description:  We'll take a multidisciplinary and slightly irreverent approach to warfare -  and all that goes with it -  in the classical and medieval eras.

• Students will become familiar with the historical context of warfare in the ancient and medieval eras.
• Students will approach the study of warfare in the classical and medieval eras from multiple perspectives.
• Students will explore the types of tools and resources needed to study warfare in the classical and medieval eras.
• Students will use social media to share their understanding of warfare in the classical and medieval eras.
• Students will learn how to find primary and secondary resources.

Class etiquette:   I am intolerant of students who act in a manner that disturbs me or other students.

You may eat and drink in class IF:  you don't bother anyone AND you don't make a mess.

Cell phones are a pet peeve of mine. Consider yourself warned.

Attendance:   Class participation is expected. Students will receive points based on regular class participation. Unexcused absences will have a negative effect on your grade.  While I do not plan on giving quizzes, I reserve the right to give pop quizzes.

I give extensions on assignments only for medical and similarly urgent problems.   I define what's "urgent". 

• Acceptable reasons may include illness, family emergencies, deployments, and business trips. 
• Reasons that are usually unacceptable:  Marriages, alien abductions, vacations, skiing/snowboarding/hunting season etc.

You may need to provide documentation such as a letter from your health care provider or deployment orders.

Group work: Group work is acceptable when I give specific permission. Otherwise, group work is considered cheating and dealt with accordingly.

Academic Integrity: It is assumed that students will act in an ethical manner. Students engaging in unethical conduct will be subject to academic discipline, including the imposition of University sanctions, as described in the WSU Student Code of Conduct. Examples of unethical conduct include, but are not limited to: willful damage of materials, theft, hiding of library materials, plagiarism, cheating, unauthorized use of computers and computer accounts, and intentionally spreading viruses.

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Texts:

Required:  A copy of each book will be on reserve in the library.

Matyszak, Philip.  (2009).  Legionary.  The Roman Soldier's Unofficial Manual.  New York:  Thames & Hudson.  ISBN:  0500251517

Prestwich, Michael.  (2010).   Knight.  The Medieval Warrior's Unofficial Manual.  New York:  Thames & Hudson.  ISBN:  0500251606

There will also be readings from primary sources.  These will be available online and/or on reserve in the library.

Not familiar with Roman numerals?  Check out this chart from the Cincinnati City Schools:
http://literacy.kent.edu/Minigrants/Cinci/romanchart.htm

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Assignments:

In-class assignments:  25 pts each

Epigraphy

  Midterm:  Fact vs. Fiction Report  Cancelled  Points moved to final project

Blogging:  

You will be required to blog on class readings and other topics either assigned by me or chosen by you.  You will also be required to comment on the posts of others.   We will negotiate the total number of required & graded blog posts in class.  In the event of any dissent, I win. 

Blog:  http://legioilynx.wordpress.com

Blogging instructions

Blogs

• Greeks vs. Persians
  • Marathon, Thermopylae & Salamis
  • Alexander the Great and the march to (and from) India
• Romans vs. the World
  • Cannae & Zama
  • The Legionary Life
  • Trajan's Dacian campaigns  - Using art as historical evidence - Trajan's Column
• Knights & Castles
• Final project blog

Assignment instructions. 

Each cohort will divide blogging responsibilities among its members.

You need to do a total of 6 (six) blog posts of at least 250 words each.   Also, each person will need to do a blog on their final project
Each post is worth 25 points.

• Each post should include at least one image - a picture of an object, a map, etc.  Be sure to explain how the image relates to your post.
• Each post should use one primary source.  The source can be from a text, it can be an object, etc. 
• You have at least one scholarly reference  on the subject of your post (no Wikipedia, no general websites)
• You should include at least two other references (good quality Wikipedia articles and good quality general websites are okay for this.)
• Be sure to give credit for all references and images that you use in a bibliography.  Use notes where appropriate.  Use MLA or APA style. 

Possible topics:

Final Project - 150 pts

In consultation with Professor Payne, pick a topic related to warfare from the time period we covered.

You may do a project, a paper, a series of blog posts, etc.

You may work as groups, but each person must have a clearly defined area of responsibility that they will be graded on.

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                                                            Schedule

To paraphrase Captain Barbossa, this schedule is more what you'd call "guidelines,"  then an actual set-in-stone schedule.

I've purposefully kept the schedule vague to allow for changes based on class interests.

Links to specific excerpts will be added later.  N.B.  Excerpts will range in length from a paragraph to several pages.