Unit Outline

Taking 'erotic text' in a broad sense, this unit explores the many functions - but especially the malfunctions - of desire in ancient literature. We will read some of Ovid's Heroides, fictional verse-letters written by heroines of Greek myth to their unfaithful lovers; a selection of love poetry ranging from Sappho to Roman elegy, in which erotic desire is represented as physical distress, as madness and disease; and Longus' second-century novel, Daphnis and Chloe, an ironic and playful study of human maturation and sexuality. We will also look at Plato's influential writings on the philosophical uses of desire, and some responses of later writers.

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1.	Describe and explain the key features of different types of ancient Greek and Latin texts concerning love and desire and situate them in their historical contexts.
2.	Distinguish between primary and secondary sources of evidence for ancient life and thought, and explain how these sources are used in the study of ancient culture.
3.	Critically evaluate a range of primary sources for ancient Greek and Roman love and desire (e.g. literary and philosophical texts).
4.	Use primary and secondary sources to support an independent argument about the changes in ancient thinking about love, gender and sexuality.

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Pre-requisite	25 credit points at Introductory level or higher

Alterations as a result of student feedback

The assessment weightings of in-semester activities has been increased to reflect the continual process of student learning.

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	Reading & Reflection Activities	Refer to Assessment Description	20 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 2:	Primary text analyses (x2)	Refer to Assessment Description	20 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 3:	Assignment: Final Project	Refer to Assessment Description	25 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 4:	Essay	Refer to Assessment Description	35 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Reading & Reflection Activities

Task Description:

Each week in the unit contains short activities which provide opportunity to prepare the weekly seminar ('Reading') and to reflect on the whole of the week's content ('Reflection').

Task Length:

Due Date:

Refer to Assessment Description

Weight:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Responses demonstrate valid interpretation of the provided sources	LO1, LO2, LO3
2	Responses demonstrate awareness of the historical and cultural context of the source	LO3

Assessment Task 2: Primary text analyses (x2)

Task Description:

This activity occurs twice during semester. Each activity provides opportunity for personal response to an extract or extracts from the unit materials, informed by class discussion and associated learning materials. Refer to MyLO for due dates.

Task Length:

Due Date:

Refer to Assessment Description

Weight:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Analysis effectively interprets and analyses the content of the source	LO2, LO3
2	Analysis demonstrates awareness of the historical/cultural context of the source	LO1
3	Analysis is clearly expressed in writing	LO4

Assessment Task 3: Assignment: Final Project

Task Description:

The Final Project is a reflective exercise at the end of semester which seeks to draw together the themes and significances of the unit's materials. A selection of prompts will be provided towards the end of semester (refer to MyLO).

Task Length:

Due Date:

Refer to Assessment Description

Weight:

25 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Responses demonstrate knowledge of ancient attitudes to love, desire and sexuality, and their historical and social contexts	LO1
2	Analysis of primary sources demonstrates awareness of the nature of the source	LO2
3	Demonstrated awareness of interpretive issues in source analysis	LO3, LO4
4	Responses are clearly expressed	LO4

Assessment Task 4: Essay

Task Description:

A selection of essay topics will be provided in MyLO.

Task Length:

2,250 words

Due Date:

Refer to Assessment Description

Weight:

35 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Essay demonstrates awareness of features of ancient thinking on love, desire and sexuality, and their historical contexts	LO1
2	Essay makes effective use of sources to support its argument	LO2, LO4
3	Essay demonstrates ability to use appropriate methodologies to evaluate primary sources	LO3
4	Essay is clearly written	LO4

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.

Review of results and appeals

You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.