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Unit outline_

LATN3601: Ovid's Metamorphoses

Semester 2, 2022 [Normal day] - Remote

Ovid's Metamorphoses is the most sophisticated and playful poem from antiquity. This unit will examine its stylistic, literary and narrative technique through the reading of either an entire book or selected passages from the whole epic. It is particularly suitable for students who are in their second or third year of Latin, but will be of interest, profit and enjoyment to anyone interested in Latin poetry.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Classics and Ancient History
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
LATN2601
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Robert Cowan, bob.cowan@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Final exam (Take-home short release) Type D final exam Final exam
Four commentaries (80%) One scansion (20%)
30% Formal exam period 2 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO7 LO8
Presentation Oral presentation
Oral presentation. Details are given on the Canvas site.
10% Multiple weeks 500wds equiv
Outcomes assessed: LO1
Participation Participation
Participation. Details are given on the Canvas site.
10% Ongoing n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO7 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Small test Set text translation test 1
Translate passage of 10–12 lines from first half of set text: Met. 8.1–419
5% Week 08
Due date: 23 Sep 2022 at 13:00
30 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO8
Assignment Essay
Essay. Details are given on the Canvas site.
40% Week 11
Due date: 21 Oct 2022 at 23:59
2000wd
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO3 LO4 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9
Small test Set text translation test 2
Translate 10–12 lines from most of second half of set text: Met. 8.420–813
5% Week 13
Due date: 02 Nov 2022 at 10:58
30 mins
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO8
Type D final exam = Type D final exam ?

Assessment summary

  • Participation: readiness to translate and discuss set and presentation passages
  • Presentation: 20-min. presentation on episode from the poem
  • Essay: 2000wd essay on the set text; four topics suggested or student may devise own
  • Exam: one translation, three commentaries, one scansion

Assessment criteria

Fail (Below 50%)

Work not of an acceptable standard.

  • demonstrates very limited ability to translate parts of the Classical Greek or Latin of the prescribed texts
  • shows little or no understanding of the content of the prescribed texts
  • demonstrates little awareness of literary features of the literature being studied
  • recognises few grammatical forms
  • recognises only a few words in unprepared passages of Classical Greek or Latin prose and verse and a very limited capacity to identify their syntactic relations

 

Low Pass (50-54%)

Work of an acceptable standard.

  • demonstrates a limited ability to translate parts of the Classical Greek or Latin of the prescribed texts
  • shows some understanding of the content of the prescribed texts
  • demonstrates a partial awareness of literary features of the literature being studied
  • recognises some grammatical forms
  • demonstrates knowledge of a number of words in an unprepared passages of Classical Greek or Latin prose and verse and some awareness of their syntactic relations

 

Medium Pass (55-59%)

Work of a satisfactory standard.

  • demonstrates the ability to translate parts of the Classical Greek or Latin of the prescribed texts
  • shows understanding of much of the content of the prescribed texts
  • recognises and comments at a basic level on some literary and stylistic features of the literature being studied
  • recognises many grammatical forms and demonstrates a basic understanding of their function
  • presents a translation into English of unprepared passages of Classical Greek or Latin prose and verse which manages to make sense of some contents even if it shows little understanding of the passage as a whole,.

 

High Pass (60-64%)

Competent work, though Honours is not recommended.

  • demonstrates an ability to translate much of the Classical Greek or Latin of the prescribed texts with some accuracy reflecting a basic understanding of the context and intention of the original
  • shows a basic understanding of the content of the prescribed texts
  • demonstrates some general knowledge of literary forms and an awareness of the stylistic features of the literature being studied
  • recognises most grammatical forms and demonstrates a sound understanding of their function
  • presents a translation into English of unprepared passages of Classical Greek or Latin prose and verse, which shows an understanding of much of the passage being read, but not the passage as a whole

 

Low Credit (65-69%)

Competent work of considerable merit, demonstrating potential to complete Honours work, though further development needed to do so successfully.

  • demonstrates an ability to translate most of the Classical Greek or Latin of the prescribed texts with reasonable accuracy reflecting a general understanding of the context and intention of the original
  • shows a reasonable knowledge and understanding of the content and the cultural and historical background of the prescribed texts
  • demonstrates a reasonably sound knowledge of literary forms and an awareness of the stylistic features of the literature being studied
  • recognises grammatical forms and demonstrates a good understanding of their function
  • presents a translation into English of unprepared passages of Classical Greek or Latin prose and verse, which reveals an understanding of their main ideas

 

 

High Credit (70-74%)

Highly competent work, demonstrating clear capacity to complete Honours successfully.

  • demonstrates an ability to translate the Classical Greek or Latin of the prescribed texts into English in a manner which reflects the meaning and tone of the original with accuracy
  • shows knowledge and understanding of the content and the cultural and historical background of the prescribed texts
  • demonstrates a good understanding of the literary qualities and stylistic features of the literature being studied
  • recognises all grammatical forms and demonstrates a thorough understanding of their function
  • presents a generally accurate translation into English of unprepared passages of Classical Greek or Latin prose and verse conveying the overall sense of the original

 

Distinction (75-84%)

Work of a superior standard.

  • demonstrates a superior ability to translate the Classical Greek or Latin of the prescribed texts into English in a manner which closely reflects the meaning and tone of the original
  • shows extensive knowledge and understanding of the content and the cultural and historical background of the prescribed texts
  • demonstrates a thorough understanding and an appreciation of the literary qualities and stylistic features of the literature being studied
  • shows a thorough control of grammatical forms and demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of their functions
  • presents an accurate translation into English of unprepared passages of Classical Greek or Latin prose and verse, reflecting the meaning and tone of the original

 

High Distinction (85%+)

Work of exceptional standard.

  • demonstrates exceptional proficiency in the translation of the Classical Greek or Latin of the prescribed texts into English with unfailing precision and accuracy
  • shows a profound knowledge and understanding of the content and the cultural and historical background of the prescribed texts
  • demonstrates an exceptionally deep understanding and appreciation of the literary qualities and stylistic features of the literature being studied
  • shows a complete mastery of grammatical forms and demonstrates a precise understanding of their functions
  • presents a precise and accurate translation into English of unprepared passages of Classical Greek or Latin prose and verse, perfectly reproducing the meaning and tone of the original

 

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.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

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 Introductory lectures Seminar (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO7
Week 08 In-class small test Seminar (1 hr) LO1 LO8
Week 13 In-class small test Seminar (1 hr) LO1 LO8
Revision Seminar (1 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO6 LO7
Weekly Translation and discussion of the set text, Ovid Metamorphoses 8. Detailed schedule available on Canvas. Seminar (23 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO7
Presentation on and discussion of selected episodes from elsewhere in the Metamorphoses. Seminar (9 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9

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

The set text is Ovid Metamorphoses book 8 and this will be read in Latin.

The set edition is A.S. Hollis’ edition, with commentary, of Metamorphoses Book VIII, available online at Oxford Scholarly Editions Online, with a link in Leganto Reading List via Canvas.

A handout containing the other episodes for presentation and discussion is available on Canvas.

Students are encouraged to read as much of the Metamorphoses as possible (it’s a great read anyway!) A.D. Melville’s Oxford World’s Classics translation (also on OSEO) is recommended, as is David Raeburn’s Penguin (despite the infuriating line-breaks).

A full bibliography of scholarship is available on Canvas.

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. Increased knowledge of the Latin language, its structure, vocabulary, and modes of expression.
  • LO2. Increased knowledge of the history and influence of the literature of Rome, including an understanding of genre and of interpretative work ranging from traditional criticism to contemporary approaches
  • LO3. Increased knowledge of the culture, religion, ideas and history of the Romans leading to a critical understanding of one of the bases of Western culture.
  • LO4. Sharpened analytical skills in investigating the ways texts use language to construct meaning and assert imaginative power, communication skills fostered by the writing of critical analyses and by discussion in class where one must clearly express and account for one’s own view and objectively judge the views of others
  • LO5. Practice at skills in working as part of a team, sharing information and exchanging approaches in ways which promote realistic self-evaluation, critical judgement, tolerance and skills in creative listening
  • LO6. Practice at skills in ordering and inter-relating a large body of facts and differing opinions within a limited space
  • LO7. An increased understanding of cultural difference
  • LO8. Practice at skills in time-management, in prioritising and in working to definite goals and dead-lines
  • LO9. Practice at skills in the use of IT for the accessing of information and generating one’s own material

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.

Small adjustments to the set text and presentation format have been made, partly on pedagogical grounds, partly in response to student feedback.

Disclaimer

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

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.