1. GREEK & ROMAN HUMANITIES
HUM2220 · Professor Will Adams · Wadams5@valenciacollege.edu
Office hours by appointment · Osceola Campus – Building 1, Room 109
Class Meeting: Wednesdays, 3:00 – 5:45 PM
Hum2220-1500-fa.blogspot.com
“Wise men talk because they have something to say, fools because
they have to say something.” - Plato
Course Description
 Greek & Roman Humanities offers the student integrated examinations of dominant
developments in the Classical civilizations as expressed in art, architecture, politics,
literature, music, philosophy and religion.
 The course will cover the period from the Paleolithic era through the birth of Russia,
and will emphasize the development and influence of classical thoughts and ideals.
 This course is a Gordon Rule course, in which the student is required to demonstrate
college-level writing skills through multiple writing assignments. A minimum grade of
C required if used to satisfy Gordon Rule requirement.
Course Objectives
 To
understand
the
continuation
and
evolution
of
the
human
experience
by
thinking
critically
about
humanity’s
artistic,
cultural,
and
intellectual
development.
 To
broaden
the
student’s
knowledge
of
the
ideas
and
personalities
associated
with
the
Greek
and
Roman
civilizations.
 To
learn,
internalize,
and
utilize
vocabulary
specific
to
the
period
covered
by
this
course.
 To
appreciate
the
legacy
left
behind
by
both
the
Greek
and
Roman
civilizations.
 To
learn
skills
essential
to
critical
thinking
and
synthesis
of
thought
by
carrying
out
scholarly
research
and
authoring
thoughtful
essays.
 To
attend
cultural
events
in
order
to
recognize
the
continued
relevance
of
the
sometimes-­‐ancient
ideas
being
discussed
throughout
the
class’s
duration.
Required Textbook
Gloria K. Fiero, The Humanistic Tradition, Book 1.
Additional readings as assigned throughout the semester

2. Evaluation Formula
1. Attendance & Class Participation 25%
 Attendance will be taken at the beginning of each class meeting, and count as part
of the attendance & participation grade.
 The professor should hear each student’s voice at least once per class meeting.
 Please be aware that, under Valencia’s Attendance Policy, there is no such thing as
an “excused absence”.
2. Cultural Event with Written Evaluation 10%
 You will be required to attend one cultural event throughout the class’s duration.
 The instructor throughout the class’s duration may suggest various events to you,
but it is ultimately your own responsibility to find and attend an approved cultural
event.
 Proof of attendance at said event must be furnished (i.e. ticket stub, program,
souvenir, etc).
 A two-page “reaction” (i.e. non-research) paper is required. Be sure to answer the
following questions: What did I do? What did I think of it? What did I
learn?
3. Research Project 25%
 One five page written research project is required.
 Proper MLA style citation should be used for all written assignments.
 One draft may be turned in for the professor’s perusal two weeks prior to the due
date.
 Plagiarism = A grade of zero. No exceptions.
 Wikipedia = A grade of zero. No exceptions.
 All research projects should be stapled or bound by the student
 A detailed research project description will be distributed at a later date.
4. Quizzes 10%
 Four short-form quizzes will be administered throughout the course of the class.
 The administration of quizzes will not be announced beforehand.
 The format that the quizzes appear in may vary.
5. Examinations 30%
 Four long-form examinations will be administered, once at week 4, once at
midterm, once at week 12, and once during finals week.
 Examinations will not be cumulative in their subject matter.
 You will be given a study guide for exams, at the instructor’s discretion.
Grading Scale
100 – 90% = A
89 – 80% = B
79 – 70% = C
69 – 60% = D
59 – 0% = F

3. Class Meeting Schedule
Date Task
Wednesday, August
28th
Introduce class, distribute and discuss syllabus. Student
introduction activity.
Read for next class: Pages 1 – 15 (Paleolithic Culture
through The Birth of Civilization through Creation Tales).
Wednesday,
September 4th
The earliest ancient written languages & religion.
The epic, Gilgamesh & modern epics.
Translation in-class activity.
Read for next class: Pages 28 – 61 (Arts in Mesopotamia
through Africa: Gods, Rulers, and the Social Order through
Western Sudan: Nok Culture).
Wednesday,
September 11th
Embalming & Egyptian funerary architecture
Sarcophagus lid in-class activity
Read for next class: Pages 76 – 89 (Greece: Humanism
& the Speculative Leap through Reading from Thucydides’
Peloponnesian Wars).
Wednesday,
September 18th
EXAM #1
RESEARCH PROJECTS ASSIGNED & LIBRARY VISIT
Wednesday,
September 25th
The Art & Culture of the Ancient Aegean Civilizations
lecture
Greek mythology & heroes
Read for next class: Pages 89 – 99 (The Olympic Games
through Reading from Aristotle’s Poetics).
Wednesday, October
2nd
Dionysus & Ancient Greek Theatre
Watching Medea in class
Wednesday, October
9th
Ancient Greek Philosophy
Aristotle’s Nichomachean Ethics Deconstructed
Read for next class: Pages 100 – 122 (Greek Philosophy:
The Speculative Leap through The Classical Ideal: Male and
Female).
Wednesday, October
16th
EXAM #2
The Persian Wars
Watch 300
Read for next class: Pages 122 – 127 (Greek Architecture:
The Parthenon through The Gold of Greece).
Wednesday, October
23rd
The Classical orders & the great temples of ancient Greece.
Classical architecture homework.
Read for next class: Pages 127 – 135 (The Classical Style
in Poetry through The Diffusion of the Classical Style: The
Hellenistic Age).

4. Wednesday, October
30th
The Roman Republic & What Is Satire?
Rome In Peril: The Punic Wars
Wednesday, November
6th
Rome’s Best & Craziest Emperors
The Coliseum’s Bloody History & Its Legacy
Read for next class: Pages 159 – 161 (Roman Sculpture)
Wednesday, November
13th
EXAM #3
Watch Ancient Rome, The Modern Stadium
Pompeii: Roman Time Capsule
Mosaic in-class activity.
Read for next class: Pages 162 – 164 (Roman Painting
through The Fall of Rome).
Wednesday, November
20th
CULTURAL EVENT DUE
RESEARCH PROJECT PRESENTATIONS
The Emergence of Christianity in Ancient Rome
Wednesday, November
27th
THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY
Wednesday, December
4th
The Byzantine Era: An Empire Evolves
The Slavs, The Mongols, and The Birth of Russia lecture
Wednesday, December
13th
FINAL EXAM – 3:00 PM
Guidelines for Written Work
 All written work should be set in Times New Roman 12 point font, with double spacing
and standard 1” page margins.
 Additionally, each written assignment (with the exception of the research project)
should begin with the following header, placed at the top, left corner of the first page:
Your First & Last Name
HUM2220 – 3:00 PM
Prof. Will Adams
Assignment Due Date (MM/DD/YYYY)
 The student must staple assignments of more than one page; the instructor will not
provide a stapler for your use.
 Finally, minimum page totals for any written assignment require that the written page
be filled in its entirety to count as one page.
 In other words, if a written assignment requires 2 pages, but the student only writes
1.5, the student will not earn all possible points for the assignment.

5. Extra Credit Policy
 Each quiz or test throughout the class’s duration will include one extra credit question
equal to 10% of the quiz or test’s total point value (i.e. A five point extra credit
question for a fifty point test).
 In addition, extra credit may be earned by writing more than the required number of
pages for any written assignment.
 Extra credit for extra written work will be given up to a maximum of 15% of the
assignment’s total point value.
 No other extra credit opportunities will be available.
Late & Make-Up Policy
 No late work will be accepted.
 No work will be accepted via e-mail.
 Quizzes or exams must be taken on, or before, the date assigned – and only with the
instructor’s explicit consent.
 The final exam must be taken on the date published for final exams.
Attendance
 Students are expected to attend every class. Attendance will be taken and will count
as a portion of the final grade. After the SECOND absence, a student has missed two
full weeks of class. A notice of Excessive Absences may be issued and the student may
be withdrawn at the professor’s discretion.
 It is always the student’s responsibility to contact the professor about issues that may
lead to excessive absences. It is also the student’s responsibility to arrange to receive
class notes or handouts from missed classes from his or her fellow students.
 Do not contact the instructor for this information without contacting
your classmates or checking the blog first!
 Please note that there is no such thing as an “Excused Absence” (even with a doctor’s
note, death in the family, etc.) under Valencia’s Attendance Policy.
Academic Honesty
Plagiarism is intellectual theft and will not be tolerated. Presentation of the ideas and
words of others as if they are your own work constitutes plagiarism. This includes use of
material from books, the Internet or any other source. The student is expected to perform
his or her own research and present his or her own thoughts. Direct use of another
author’s words or ideas, as well as paraphrasing must be cited. Each student is
expected to be in complete compliance with the college policy on academic honesty as
set forth in the college catalog and the student handbook.
Plagiarism in any work will result in a grade of zero for that assignment.

6. Class Conduct
Conduct yourself with courtesy, consideration, and respect for others.
Computer & Equipment use Policy
 Use of computers in the Business, IT, and Public Service classrooms at Valencia
 College is restricted to those activities designated by the instructor to enhance the
class materials. Any other use is strictly forbidden. Inappropriate use includes, but is
not limited to:
 Use of computer to send E-mail or access Internet sites not specifically assigned
in class.
 Use of computer for job, internship, homework or other activities not assigned
in class.
 Modifying any hardware or software system configuration or setting.
 Activities not in accordance with the Valencia Student Code of Conduct
 Use of computers in the departmental open lab is limited to those activities
involved with preparing homework or coursework in this department and is
subject to the same restriction as listed above.
 Computer use is remotely monitored; any student using computers
inappropriately may be subject to dismissal from class or banishment from the
lab. Subsequent offense may be sent to the campus administration for further
disciplinary action.
Students with Disabilities
Students with disabilities who qualify for academic accommodations must provide a
notification from the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) and discuss specific needs
with the professor, preferably during the first two weeks of class. The Office for Students
with Disabilities determines accommodations based on appropriate documentation of
disabilities.
Disclaimer
This outline may be altered, at the instructor’s discretion, during the course of the term. It
is the responsibility of the student to make any adjustments as announced.

7. GREEK & ROMAN HUMANITIES
I, ____________________________________, have read the course syllabus for
Fall/Spring/Summer semester 20_____, understand my responsibilities as a student in
this course, and agree to abide by the policies and deadlines outlined herein.
_______________________________________
Signature
_______________________________________
Date