Oaktoncommunity College

Generic Course SyllabusPage 1

HUM 210

OAKTONCOMMUNITY COLLEGE

GENERIC COURSE SYLLABUS

I.Course Course Course

Prefix Number NameCreditLectureLab

HUM 210 World Mythologies 3 3 0

II.Prerequisites

None

III.Course (Catalog) Description

Course explores the nature of mythology. Content includes themes, archetypal figures and situations, symbolism and figurative language found in selected folklore and legendary narratives.Comparative studies of two or more traditions are undertaken. IAI H9 901

IV.Learning Objectives

After completing this course, students will be able to

Critically distinguish between mythology and other forms of cultural discourse, such as religion, philosophy or science.
Identify mythological motifs from three or more traditions and explain their connection to the historical, social, religious and ethical context of the particular culture in which the tradition develops.
Identify universal themes which may be seen as common to mythologies of different cultures.
Develop an account of the contributions mythological heritages have made to the self-understandings of cultures in the present, through sayings, stories, moral lessons and folklore.
Critically discuss and evaluate the philosophical and ethical content of these mythological traditions and their contemporary relevance.
Express respect for different cultures through the exploration of their mythologies.
Exhibit values related to teamwork and collaboration, fostered by the pedagogy of shared-inquiry and critical dialogue appropriate to the humanities and philosophy.

V.Academic Integrity and Student Conduct

Students and employees at OaktonCommunity College are required to demonstrate academic integrity and follow Oakton’s Code of Academic Conduct. This code prohibits:

cheating,
plagiarism (turning in work not written by you, or lacking proper citation),
falsification and fabrication (lying or distorting the truth),
helping others to cheat,
unauthorized changes on official documents,
pretending to be someone else or having someone else pretend to be you,
making or accepting bribes, special favors, or threats, and
any other behavior that violates academic integrity.

There are serious consequences to violations of the academic integrity policy. Oakton’s policies and procedures provide students a fair hearing if a complaint is made against you. If you are found to have violated the policy, the minimum penalty is failure on the assignment and, a disciplinary record will be established and kept on file in the office of the Vice President for Student Affairs for a period of 3 years.

Please review the Code of Academic Conduct and the Code of Student Conduct, both located online at .

VI.Outline of Topics

(This is a sample outline of topics. In your outline of topics please specify the dates on which you will cover specific topics as well as other important dates, such as exams and paper deadlines. The instructor may decide to take a thematic approach or a survey approach. Below is an example of the survey approach. A thematic approach might, for example, have a section on Myths of Creation, a section on Myths of the Fall, one on Women in Mythology, etc.)

Introduction to Concept of Myth and Theories of Mythological Dissemination
Mythologies of the Middle East and Africa
Ancient Mesopotamian Myth and the Gilgamesh Epic
Ancient Egyptian Myth and the Book of the Dead
Tribal and Islamic Mythologies of Africa
The relation between Mesopotamian and Biblical Mythologies
Mythologies of Ancient and Medieval Europe
The Epics of Greco-Roman Literature
Greco-Roman State, Popular and Hermetic Cults
Myths and Legends of Northern Europe
The Legends of Central European Romances
Mythologies of the PacificIslands and the Americas
The Polynesian Myths: The Goddess Hina Cycle
Middles American Myths: Religions of the Aztecs and Mayans
Native American Myths: Blackfoot Hunting Cycles
Native America and Europeans: Chief Seattle and Black Elk
Mythologies of Asia
The Hindu Epics: The Ramayana and Mahabharata
Gods and Goddesses of Bhakti Hinduism
Myths of Ancient China and Japan
Myths in the Modern World
Mythology in Hero Literature and Science Fiction
Mythology in Modern Cinema

VII.Methods of Instruction

Lectures and discussion
Small group work
Films
Student presentations and debates
Guest speakers
Field trips may be required

VIII.Course Practices Required

Course may be taught as a face-to-face, hybrid or online course.

(Please include information here about all expectations you have for your students regarding behavior, work, etc. The following are sample topics you may wish to cover. Please be aware that you must require students in this course to produce at least 15 pages of critical written assignments over the course of the semester. These may be assigned in a variety of ways including journals, response papers, field trip projects, etc.)

Attendance
Standards for written work
Quizzes/Exams
Participation
Essays
Final Project
Special policies about make-up exams, late papers, or other matters of concern

IX.Instructional Materials

Note: Current textbook information for each course and section is available on Oakton’s Schedule of Classes.

Texts such as:

The Legendary Past. University of Texas Press, 1990, 4 volume servies: Mesopotamian Myths. (Henrietta McCall), Egyptian Myths. (George Hart), Greek Myths.(Lucilla Burn) and Norse Myths. (R.I. Paige).

The Masks of God. Joseph Campbell, Viking Press, 1976, 4 volume series: Primitive Mythology. Oriental Mythology. Occidental Mythology. Creative Mythology.

(Second) Middle Eastern Mythology: From the Assyrians to the Hebrews. S.H. Hooke, Penguin, 1988.

(Source) Gilgamesh. John Gardiner and John Maier, trans., Vintage Books, 1985.

(Second) Ancient Egyptian Religion. Stephen Quirke, BritishMuseum Press, 1990.

(Source) The Egyptian Book of the Dead. Raymond G. Faulkner, trans., University of Texas Press, 1990.

(Second) African Religions. Benjamin C. Ray, Prentice Hall, 1999.

(Source) Sunjata: The Gamian Version of the Mande Epic. Gordon Innes, Trans., Penguin Classics, 2000.

((Second) Classical Mythology. Mark P.O. Morford and Robert J. Lenardon, Longman, 1991.

(Source) The Iliad, The Odyssey. Aescylus, Sophocles, Euripides, or Ovid.

(Second) The Mythology of Native North America. David Adams Leeming and Jake Page, University of Oklahoma Press, 1998.

(Source) American Indian Myths and Legends. Richard Erodoes and Alfonso Ortiz, eds., Pantheon, 1985.

(Second) The Myths and Gods of India. Alain Danleou, Inner Traditions, 1991.

(Source) Hindu Myths. Wendy O’Flaherty, ed., Penguin Classics, 1975.

(Source) Tian Wen: AChinese Book of Origins. Yuan Qu and Stephen Field, trans., New Directions, 1986.

(Source) Chinese Mythology: An Introduction. Anne M. Birrell, JohnsHopkinsUniversity Press, 1999.

(Second) Myths and Legends of Japan. F. Hakland Davis, Dover, 1992.

(Source) Nihongi: Chronicles of Japan. Shoi Nihon and W.J. Aston, trans., Charles E. Tuttle, 1972.

X.Methods of Evaluating Student Progress

(In this section, please present the percentages or point breakdown of their final grade. The writing assignments should count for at least 40% of the final grade. An example follows.)

A. Quizzes/Exams……40 points

B. Essays……40 points

C. Final project with oral presentation……10 points

D. Attendance and participation………10 points

E. Grading scale: 90-100, A…….80-89, B………70-79, C……….60-69……..D

XI.Other Course Information

A.Disabilities

If you have a documented learning, psychological, or physical disability you may be entitled to reasonable academic accommodations or services. To request accommodations or services contact the Access and Disability Resource Centerat the Des Plaines or Skokie campus. All students are expected to fulfill essential course requirements. The College will not waive any essential skill or requirement of a course or degree program.

Oakton Community College is committed to maintaining a campus environment emphasizing the dignity and worth of all members of the community, and complies with all federal and state Title IX requirements.

Resources and support for

pregnancy-related and parenting accommodations; and
victims of sexual misconduct can be found at .

Resources and support for LGBTQ+ students can be found at .

Electronic video and/or audio recording is not permitted during class unless the student obtains written permission from the instructor. In cases where recordings are allowed, such content is restricted to personal use only. Any distribution of such recordingsis strictly prohibited. Personal use is defined as use by an individual student for the purpose of studying or completing course assignments.

For students who have been approved for audio and/or video recording of lectures and other classroom activities as a reasonable accommodation by Oakton’s Access Disabilities Resource Center (ADRC), applicable federal law requires instructors to permit those recordings. Such recordings are also limited to personal use. Any distribution of such recordingsis strictly prohibited.

Violation of this policy will result in disciplinary action through the Code of Student Conduct.

B.Discrimination

The Oakton Community College Catalog states:

OaktonCommunity College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, disability, age, sex, sexual orientation, or marital status in admission to and participation in its educational programs, activities and services, or employment practices. The College does not tolerate sexual harassment or sexual assault by or of its students or employees.
In keeping with this policy of tolerance and non-discrimination, in this class all of us (myself included) should strive to listen and give careful consideration to all ideas expressed in class, especially those that are different from our own, without attacking or demeaning the people who have those views. We should also strive to avoid using insulting terms or telling offensive jokes when talking to or about individuals or groups.

C.Instructor information

Office number and office hours:

Phone number:

Email and website:

Approval Dates:
(Faculty: Do not include the following information on your individual syllabi created for class distribution.)

Effective beginning term: Fall 2013Ending term:

Syllabus prepared by:Hollace GraffDate:March 2006

Revised by:Mohamed MehdiDate:June 2010

Reviewed by Chair:Hollace GraffDate:June 2013

Approval by Dean:Linda KorbelDate August 2010

Generic syllabus format revised 02/18

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