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Unit outline_

RLST3604: Ancient Egyptian Religion and Magic

Semester 2, 2021 [Normal day] - Remote

Students will learn about the cosmologies, gods and religious structures of Pharaonic Egypt from the imperial cult to the domestic; its legacy including the Roman cult of Isis, Hermeticism, magical handbooks from the Greek to the Islamic era; the popular and scientific rediscovery of ancient Egypt and its influence on modern esotericism and popular culture.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Studies in Religion
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
12 credit points at 2000 level in Studies in Religion or 12 credit points at 2000 level in Ancient History
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
RLST2636
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Jay Johnston, jay.johnston@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Jay Johnston, jay.johnston@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s) Giselle Bader, giselle.bader@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Presentation Seminar Presentation
Seminar Presentation
20% Multiple weeks 1000wd
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2
Participation Participation
Participation
10% Ongoing n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1
Assignment Take-home paper
Take-home paper
30% Week 06
Due date: 13 Sep 2021 at 23:59
1500wd
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO4
Assignment Essay
Essay
40% Week 12
Due date: 01 Nov 2021 at 23:59
2000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4

Assessment summary

Seminar Presentation: Students are required to deliver a short (10 min) presentation on a selected topic, corresponds to weekly lecture topic and its assigned tutorial readings. Further instructions will be delivered in Week 1.

Participation: Students are required to read and critically reflect on tutorial set readings, participating in class activities and discussion as appropriate.

Take-Home Paper: Students are required to provide short essay-style answers (500 words each) to three set questions. The paper wil be released on Canvas one week prior to the due date. Academic referencing and bibliographic practice required.

Essay: Students are to respond to one essay question following academic wiriting and referencing conventions. Essay questions will be distributed via Canvas. 

Assessment criteria

As per Coursework Policy, 2014, Schedule 1: (summary below):

Fail: 0 < 50

To be awarded to students who, in their performance in assessment tasks, fail to demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard established by the faculty.

Pass 50–64

To be awarded to students who, in their performance in assessment tasks, demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard.

Credit 65–74

To be awarded to students who, in their performance in assessment tasks, demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard.

Distinction 75– 84

To be awarded to students who, in their performance in assessment tasks, demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard.

High-Distinction 85–100

To be awarded to students who, in their performance in assessment tasks, demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard.

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.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

As per Faculty policy

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

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

Please see the Canvas site for the list of weekly prescribed readings

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 a broad understanding of Ancient Egyptian Religion and Magic
  • LO2. Exercise critical analysis of given written material relating to the topic
  • LO3. Evaluate a body of data and write it up in a formal essay
  • LO4. Undertake a directed research project and present its outcomes

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.

Some change to content has been developed since unit last offered.

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.