Senior Seminar - Alexander the Great
I. Final Project Description and Directions
In the place of a final exam, Senior Seminar students are expected to fulfill a project requirement which comprises 50% of their fourth-term grade.
In the “Alexander the Great” seminar, each student will choose from a variety of topics. Topics may range from a particular quality of Alexander’s character, a detailed analysis of a battle, or an aspect of Alexander’s career we haven’t covered in our readings, to research and write about in depth. (List of possible topics attached.)Each seminar member will formally present their project in class in the last week of school in a formal oral presentation before turning a written paper on senior review day.
II. The Project
Depending on the topic you choose, your approach to the project will be slightly different, but all projects should share the same features.
1. A solid argumentative format. What important point do you want to make about Alexander and his “true nature” in this project? What evidence are you going to use to support your claim? What final conclusions can you draw from your analysis? (How does your work on Alexander fit into the field of study on Alexander?)
2. Your paper must pay close attention to proper citation of sources, both in direct quotation and citation in paraphrase. All works consulted and cited must be cited properly in a formal bibliography. (See attached sheet for methods of citation.)
3. You are expected to consult a minimum of four sources, both primary and secondary. A minimum of two of these sources should be in book form (If accessed electronically through Vitalsource or other E-books, they still count as book sources. Web pages and online encyclopedias do not.)
III. Dates and Expectations:
1. Topics are to be selected by Friday, Feb 29. There will be no duplications, so topics are awarded on a first-come, first served basis. I must approve them in advance.
2. Oral presentations will begin on Wednesday, April 26. (The Wednesday BEFORE you leave for Spring Break.)
- All students must be ready to present on this day; the order will not be announced ahead of time.
- at the time of the report, the presenter will also submit five quiz questions (with correct answers on a separate sheet.) The class will have regular quizzes on the presentations.
3. Papers are due on Wednesday, April 16, our last class. No extensions.
IV.Grading Criteria
A. Oral Presentation: 20% of Final Project
Length: Approximately 15-20 minutes, including time for questions.
1 clarity of argument and presentation
2.clear organization
3. depth of analysis
4. meets all requirements listed above under “the Project’
- argumentative format
5. Ability to answer class’s questions on the presentation and its content
6. Quality of quiz questions.
- should require class to listen and take notes carefully.
B. Paper 80% of Final Project
1. Length: 5-7 pages typed, double-spaced.
2.clarity of argument and presentation
3.clear organization
4. depth of analysis
5. meets all requirements listed above under “the Project’
- argumentative format
- proper citation of sources
- minimum of sources
6.proper grammar, spelling (Should be error-free)
7. Reflects corrections, additions, and elaboration of issues brought up by oral presentation.
8. Proper citation of sources (in footnote form) and bibliographic format.
Possible topics for Senior Projects - Senior Seminar - - “Alexander the Great”
Thematic (research-based) Topics (See list of secondary Source titles from following pages for sources for your research)
Alexander
Alexander’s “Orientalism”
Alexander’s sense of destiny - through his entire career
Alexander the Religious man - religiosity or hubris?
Alexander’s character - what is his “essential’ or ‘true” nature?
Alexander the Scholar - influence of Alexander’s education on his life & career
Alexander the Explorer - how much of this exploration is a result of his explorer’s curiosity?
Alexander the General - his degree of control over his men, etc.
Alexander the Administrator: How did he administer his empire?
Alexander the King: what was his sense of stewardship towards his kingdom?
Alexander’s attitude towards/treatment of women
Alexander and Darius - comparison of culture, kingship, military techniques
Alexander’s contradictions: Intellectual vs. Impulsive
Other related topics
Macedonia during Alexander’s absence
Alexander from the perspective of the conquered peoples
Alexander’s Empire after his death
Alexander’s lasting legacy or influence in the Mediterranean world
“ ” East
Alexander’s role in Islam
Alexander in Art History: How do images of Alexander portray him through the ages and across cultures?
Comparisons - Some compared people who themselves to Alexander
King Pyrrhus of Epirus (from Plutarch)
Alexander and Augustus
Alexander and Caesar
Book Reviews - Review a secondary source (biography) or novel (s) on Alexander
Requirements for this review: this is not to be a summary of Alexander’s life, but rather a critique of the author’s argument about Alexander. You must:
1 identify the author’s argument or point of view as it refers to Alexander’s character,
2. analyze the way in which the author uses his/her evidence to prove that argument, and
3. conclude whether or not this argument and its supporting evidence is convincing, explaining why you think so.
Since you have read two of the main “primary” sources on Alexander, you should be able to judge objectively whether or not you “buy” what this author has to say. Use quotations from Plutarch, Arrian and Curtius to back up your own points, when necessary.
Secondary Sources: (Note: all of these are available through Amazon.com, but may are in your local library, and some are in the Sayre Library, too. Investigate before you choose.)
Bose, Partha, History's Greatest Empire
Bosworth, A.B., Conquest and Empire: the Reign of Alexander the Great.
Cartledge, Paul Alexander the Great
Doherty, Paul, The Death of Alexander the Great: What-or Who-Really Killed the Young
Donald Engels, Alexander the Great and the Logistics of the Macedonian Army
Fildes, Alan and Fletcher, Ann , Alexander the Great: Son of the Gods
Dodge, Theodore Ayrault. Alexander.
Green, Peter, Alexander of Macedon, 356-323 BC. A Historical Biography.
Hammond, The Genius of Alexander the Great
Karbasfrooshen, Ashkan, The Confessions of Alexander the Great: 33 Lessons in Greatness (
- A self-help book based on the “wisdom” of Alexander)
Kurke, Lance B. The Wisdom of Alexander The Great: Enduring Leadership Lessons From The Man Who Created An Empire
Renault, Mary, The Nature of Alexander.
Fox, Robin Lane, Alexander the Great
Ian Worthington, Alexander the Great's Art of Strategy: The Timeless Leadership Lessons of Alexander the Great: Man and God
Novels inspired by Alexander
Anna Apostolou’s mystery series about Alexander from the death of Philip to his consolidation of the League of Corinth (read both – they are light and fit together)
A Murder in Macedon: A Mystery of Alexander the Great
A Murder in Thebes: A Mystery of Alexander the Great
Paul Doherty’s Mystery Series about Alexander: (read all three, they are light)
The Gates of Hell: A Mystery of Alexander the Great
The Godless Man: A Mystery of Alexander the Great
The House of Death: A Mystery of Alexander the Great
Graham Philips, Alexander the Great: Murder In Babylon
Mary Renault’s very famous and popular series on Alexander: (read 1, they are dense)
The Persian Boy
Fire from Heaven
Funeral Games
Senior History Seminar - Alexander the Great
Grading sheet for final paper
Name: Topic:
Grading Requirements (As per “Grading Criteria” section of project assignment.)
1. Length: 5-7 pages typed, double-spaced.
2.clarity of argument and presentation
3.clear organization
4. depth of analysis
5. meets all requirements listed above under “the Project”(listed below)
Thematic (research) Topic:
A. A solid argumentative format. What important point do you want to make about Alexander and his “true nature” in this project? What evidence are you going to use to support your claim? What final conclusions can you draw from your analysis? (How does your work on Alexander fit into the field of study on Alexander?)
B. Your paper must pay close attention to proper citation of sources, both in direct quotation and citation in paraphrase. All works consulted and cited must be cited properly in a formal bibliography. (Format according to “Citing Sources,” which was distributed at the time of topic choice.)
C You are expected to consult a minimum of four sources, both primary and secondary. If you use only four, you may use no more than one online source. (If you choose to consult more than four sources, you may use more online sources.)
Review of a Non-fiction book or Novel:
Requirements for this review: this is not to be a summary of Alexander’s life, but rather a critique of the author’s argument or point of view about Alexander. You must:
1. identify the author’s argument or point of view as it refers to Alexander’s character,
2. analyze the way in which the author uses his/her evidence to prove that argument, and
3. conclude whether or not this argument and its supporting evidence is accurate and convincing, explaining why you think so.
6. Proper grammar, spelling (Should be error-free)
7. Reflects corrections, additions, and elaboration of issues brought up by oral presentation.
8. Proper citation of sources and bibliographic format.
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