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Unit of study_

ANHS3602: Law and Disorder at Rome

Semester 1, 2021 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

We live in an era in which the interests of national security are balanced against the rule of law In Rome too crisis and emergency whether genuine or the product of partisan rhetoric could threaten the rule of law This unit explores the idea that the collapse of the rule of law engendered the collapse of the Republic whilst also seeking to promote stimulating and topical discussion about the rule of law in democratic societies like our own

Unit details and rules

Unit code ANHS3602
Academic unit Classics and Ancient History
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
12 credit points at 2000 level in Ancient History History Philosophy Ancient Greek or Latin
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Eleanor Cowan, eleanor.cowan@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Participation Participation
n/a
10% -
Outcomes assessed: LO6 LO8
Assignment Research essay
n/a
40% - 2000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO7 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Criminal case study
n/a
30% - 1500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO7 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Take-home exam
Take-home exam
20% - 1000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7

Assessment summary

  • Criminal case study: you are required to produce a criminal case-study for one of the cases which we will be examining this semester.
  • Research paper: you must select your essay topic from the list on our canvas site. Each essay must include close examination of ancient sources relevant to the topic of the essay. An indicative bibliography will be circulated via the course canvas site. You should not change your chosen topic without good reason or more than once. Documentation is required. Indicate clearly where you have found your information and supply a bibliography of works used.
  • Participation: marks for participation may be gained by sharing your thoughts on the reading at the weekly tutorials, by asking questions and offering comments and by offering an occasional concise summary of something you have read for the tutorial. Marks are not reserved for brilliance or originality. Students should expect to be asked at the start of a tutorial what they have read and prepared for that session.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a High distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a Distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

 

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website  provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.  

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 A world full of laws Lecture (1 hr)  
Week 02 Law at Rome - an introduction Lecture (1 hr)  
Cicero, Pro Archia Seminar (2 hr)  
Week 03 Making the law and performing justice Lecture (1 hr)  
Cicero, Pro Roscio Seminar (2 hr)  
Week 04 Crime and community Lecture (1 hr)  
Cicero, Pro Caelio Seminar (2 hr)  
Week 05 Law and land Lecture (1 hr)  
Law, land and politics Seminar (2 hr)  
Week 06 Crowds and violence Lecture (1 hr)  
Cicero, Pro Cluentio Seminar (2 hr)  
Week 07 Law and empire Lecture (1 hr)  
Cicero, In Verrem Seminar (2 hr)  
Week 08 Emergency Lecture (1 hr)  
The Catilinarian conspiracy Seminar (2 hr)  
Week 09 Terror Lecture (1 hr)  
Cicero, Pro Milone Seminar (2 hr)  
Week 10 Electoral bribery Lecture (1 hr)  
Cicero, Pro Murena and Comm.Pet. Seminar (2 hr)  
Week 11 The rule of law Lecture (1 hr)  
Week 12 Law and the principate Lecture (1 hr)  
Maiestas Seminar (2 hr)  
Week 13 Law and the emperor Lecture (1 hr)  
Codification Seminar (2 hr)  

Attendance and class requirements

  • Attendance: According to Faculty Board Resolutions, students in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences are expected to attend 90% of their classes. If you attend less than 50% of classes, regardless of the reasons, you may be referred to the Examiner’s Board. The Examiner’s Board will decide whether you should pass or fail the unit of study if your attendance falls below this threshold.
  • Lecture recording: Most lectures (in recording-equipped venues) will be recorded and may be made available to students on the LMS. However, you should not rely on lecture recording to substitute your classroom learning experience.
  • Preparation: Students should commit to spend approximately three hours’ preparation time (reading, studying, homework, essays, etc.) for every hour of scheduled instruction.

 

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed on the Library eReserve link available on Canvas.

  • Required textbook: D.H. Berry, Cicero’s Defence Speeches. Oxford’s World’s Classics, Oxford, 2000.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. demonstrate advanced understanding of the cultures and history of the ancient world with a focus on the Greco-Roman world and of the methods used by historians to study them
  • LO2. demonstrate an ability to identify and analyse historical data
  • LO3. demonstrate an understanding of the cultures, literatures, peoples and ideas of the ancient past with a particular focus on Rome
  • LO4. demonstrate an ability to work with a wide range of primary materials from the ancient world
  • LO5. demonstrate an ability to ask and investigate the answers to appropriate historical and historiographical questions
  • LO6. effectively apply the skills and knowledge of an ancient historian to issues encountered in an interdisciplinary context
  • LO7. demonstrate high-level skills in inventive and ethical research, critical thinking and the analysis of complex historical problems
  • LO8. exhibit interpersonal and communication skills, professional ethics, cultural competence and the ability to work effectively in collaborative contexts.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Student feedback on all topics and readings has been considered.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

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