Textbooks

Stifler, Bill, editor. Mythology: Reading Myth by the River. McGraw-Hill Create, 2018.

This is our main textbook for the class. Most of the Course Content and our discussions will focus on the material in this text. Students will also be tested on the material in this text and parallel Course Content.

Hamilton, Edith. Mythology. Little, Brown, 1942.

This is a reading text. Students will be responsible to read the text carefully and be prepared for examinations even over material we have not discussed.

Course Content

Our course content will be divided into five units of study:

Module 1: Introduction to World Mythology

Module 2: Cosmic Myths

Module 3: Fertility and Gender Myths

Module 4: Hero Myths

Module 5: Tricksters/Sacred Space

In each module, students will be responsible for the online content and all textbook readings, exams, papers, and discussions assigned. In some cases, the Course Content supplements the textbooks. For instance, since the Leonard & MCClure text is a more difficult text, there are a variety of resources in the Course Content to assist students in studying that text, including some review games. In other cases, the Course Content serves as the primary text for the course. For instance, the Leonard & McClure textbook does not have a section on Heroes, so the exam for that material will focus on Module 4, rather than the text. In other words, the Course Content is a third (free) textbook for this course.

Modules are organized into the following sections:

Overview: This is a brief introduction to the main ideas covered in the module.

Student Learning Outcomes: This is a general education course designed to meet the TBR requirements for Humanities. This page identifies the specific learning outcomes for the module.

Key Words & Concepts: Students are introduced to the key vocabulary necessary to understanding the content of the module.

Content, Lectures, Readings: This section identifies the textbook reading assignments for the module and contains additional information supplementing and supporting students' study.

Summary & Reflection: Each module ends with a brief conclusion summing up or highlighting main points from the module.

Assessments, Assignments, & Evaluations: This section includes instructions for assignments, study guides for exams, and links to discussions, exams, and the dropbox.

Assessment

For Modules 1-4, there will be an exam over the assigned readings from the textbook and the course content for the modules. Students should read carefully, take notes, and study for each exam. In class instruction/discussions will focus on expanding and explaining concepts from the Leonard & McClure text. The Hamilton text is primarily a reader.

Students must complete the exam before the exam closes. Answers which have not been saved before the exam period ends will not be saved. Students who do not complete an exam before the exam period expires will receive a zero for the exam, no exceptions, no make-up exam.

Work Ethic Credit: Students who complete the exam by Thursday of the week the exam is available will receive extra credit.

Dropbox

There will be three written assignments over the course of the semester, including the final. All will be submitted via the dropbox (campus classes will write the final exam in class during the scheduled final exam period and submit it to the instructor). More information about these will be given in the dropbox and in class/in the Course Content as the assignments are made available. Because the campus uses an originality checker, do not put any personally identifiable information on your paper (such as your name or ID number). See the syllabus for details. Due dates for Dropbox papers are posted in the Dropbox (click on Dropbox from the dropdown list for Activities on the Course menu). All times listed are Chattanooga local time. A copy of the instructions for each Dropbox assignment can also be found in the Assessments, Assignments, & Evaluations section of the module associated with the paper.

Students must submit papers to the Dropbox before the Dropbox closes. Once the Dropbox has closed, it will not be reopened. Students who have not submitted papers at least a half hour before the Dropbox closes run the risk of not getting their papers submitted before the Dropbox closes. It is each student's responsibility to submit papers to the Dropbox before it closes and to verify that their paper has been properly submitted (see How to use the Dropbox). Students who fail to submit their paper to the Dropbox before the deadline or students who submit the wrong paper to the Dropbox and do not submit the correct paper before the deadline will receive a zero for the assignment. However, if the student does not submit his or her assignment before the deadline, the student will be required to e-mail the late assignment to the instructor within one week of the Dropbox closing. No credit will be given for the late paper. Students who do not submit papers are ineligible to pass. All written work is required in order for a student to be eligible to pass even when the student does not receive credit for the assignment.

Work Ethic Credit: Students who submit papers to the Dropbox a minimum of three hours early will be eligible for the Work Ethic credit points. To earn the Work Ethic credit, the paper must be submitted at least three hours in advance of the due date and time.

Discussions

Online Sections only: Students will have weekly discussions over the Course Content and assigned readings in Leonard & McClure. It is crucial that students participate in these discussions. Discussions open each week beginning Sunday at 8 a.m. and close each week on Saturday at 11 p.m. The dates for each discussion can be found on the Discussions Forum page.

Work Ethic Credit: To be eligible for the Work Ethic Credit, students must complete the required discussion assignment by Thursday of the week of the discussion. Postings after Thursday will still earn discussion points but will not earn Work Ethic points. The instructor will not post individual feedback to discussions posted on Friday evening/Saturday.

Campus Sections only: Students are expected to engage in discussions around the course materials as presented in class, responding to questions from the instructor, asking questions for clarification, sharing insights as appropriate, and otherwise interacting within the class to the materials. Students also can post questions, observations, insights, connections to other classes, personal life, or culture to the discussion forum. Students may, if they prefer, post anonymously.

Syllabus

Students must read the syllabus carefully. The syllabus outlines the expectations, requirements, and policies for this course. Students are responsible to read and understand the syllabus, and to follow its guidelines. The schedule listed in the syllabus, however, is approximate. Students should follow the specific instructions online for all deadlines.

E-Mail

All communication with the instructor should be via the eLearn e-mail account. To e-mail the instructor, click on Classlist (on the Course Menu-red bar). On the Classlist page, click on the Instructor tab. To send an e-mail to the instructor, click on the instructor's name. An e-mail window will open and will automatically insert the instructor's e-mail address. Online Classes: Each week the instructor will send out an e-mail Progress Report to the class, reminding students of approaching due dates and responsibilities for the week. It is the responsibility of each student to read the e-mails sent by the instructor. A copy of these e-mails will also be posted on the Course Home page under Please Check Daily.

Adult Content

Mythology concerns itself with all aspects of human consciousness and behavior. As a consequence, some of the material we will be reading will contain graphic sexuality or other references to bodily functions. It is important that, at all times, the class maintain a responsible, tolerant, and sensitive attitude toward these discussions. Our frank discussions of these topics must avoid coarse or crude language, any element of sexual harrassment, or other inappropriate language or behavior while, at the same time, honestly and responsibly addressing the issues and material. While some of the material in this class may make us uncomfortable, we must learn to move past that discomfort. We must also all be sensitive to how members of the class are affected while still addressing the discussions in an adult and responsible manner.