Syllabus

1. MythologyinArt&Literature
Professor Will Adams · Wadams5@valenciacollege.edu · Valencia College
East Campus – Building 1, Room 370 · Tuesdays & Thursdays, 10:00 – 11:15 AM
Course Description
§ Examines world mythology in comparative perspective, analyzes myths with a variety of methods,
and considers the application of mythological ideas and symbols in the humanities.
§ This 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 is required if used to satisfy the Gordon Rule requirement.
§ A minimum grade of C in ENC 1101 or ENC 1101H or IDH 1110 is required to enroll in this
course.
Course Objectives
§ Analyze and demonstrate how mythology is used by various cultures to explain the world
§ Articulate the similarities and differences between ancient mythologies and contemporary culture
§ Interpret what we can learn about a culture by studying its myths, rituals and religions
§ Articulate connections between world mythologies and contemporary culture such as film,
literature, music, or personal life where relevant.
§ Assume an active, questioning, critical stance in working within the classroom community, thus
developing confidence as critical readers and thinkers
§ Demonstrate college level writing skills on all of these through various oral and writing
assignments
Required Text
None.
Student Evaluation Formula
1. Attendance & Class Participation 10%
§ 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.
§ Tardiness of more than 15 minutes after the scheduled beginning of class constitutes an
absence.

2. § Please be aware that, under Valencia’s Attendance Policy, there is no such thing as an
“excused absence”.
§ In-class activities, homework assignments, and in-class assignments also count toward this
portion of your final grade.
§ Pop, short-form pop quizzes may be administered throughout the course of the class.
§ The format that the quizzes come in may vary from quiz to quiz.
2. In-Class Assignments, Activities, and Homework 20%
§ Throughout the term, we will have various in-class assignments and activities.
§ Additionally, homework will be assigned to deepen understanding of in-class discussions.
3. Cultural Event & Written Evaluation 20%
§ You will be required to attend one cultural event during the class’s duration.
§ 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?
§ Proof of attendance at said event must be furnished (i.e., ticket stub, program, etc.).
§ Throughout the class’s duration the instructor may suggest various events to you, but it is
ultimately your own responsibility to find and attend an approved cultural event.
4. Research Project 25%
§ One 4-page written research project is required.
§ Proper MLA style citation should be used for all written assignments.
§ Plagiarism = A grade of zero. No exceptions.
§ Wikipedia use = A grade of zero. No exceptions.
§ All research projects should be stapled by the student.
§ A detailed research project description will be distributed later.
5. Examinations 25%
§ Four long-form examinations will be administered.
§ The format of the exam may vary in each instance.
§ Examinations will not be cumulative in their subject matter.
§ You will be given a study guide for most exams, at the instructor’s discretion.
Grading Scale
100 – 90% = A
89 – 80% = B
79 – 70% = C
69 – 60% = D
59 – 0% = F
Schedule of Class Meetings
CLASS MEETING DATE CLASS MEETING TASKS
Tuesday, August 23
Activity: Introduce class
Activity: Distribute & discuss syllabus
Thursday, August 25 Lecture: Joseph Campbell’s Four Functions of Myth lecture
Tuesday, August 30 Lecture: Symbols in Mythology: Part I
Thursday, September 1 Lecture: Symbols in Mythology: Part II

3. Tuesday, September 6 EXAM #1
Thursday, September 8 Lecture: The Hero’s Journey & Monomyth lecture
Tuesday, September 13
Film: Atlantis: The Lost Empire
In-Class Assignment: Atlantis: The Lost Empire film response
Thursday, September 15
Film: Atlantis: The Lost Empire (Cont’d)
In-Class Assignment: Atlantis: The Lost Empire film response
(Cont’d)
Tuesday, September 20
Lecture: Mesopotamian Mythology & The Epic of Gilgamesh
Activity: Cuneiform translation contest
Thursday, September 22 Lecture: Egyptian Mythology
Tuesday, September 27 Lecture: Egyptian Funerary Practices & Embalming
Thursday, September 29 Activity: RESEARCH PROJECT ASSIGNED & LIBRARY VISIT
Tuesday, October 4 Lecture: Greek Mythology
Thursday, October 6 Lecture: Homer’s The Odyssey
Tuesday, October 11 EXAM #2
Thursday, October 13
Film: O, Brother! Where Art Thou?
In-Class Assignment: O, Brother! Where Art Thou? film
response
Tuesday, October 18
Film: O, Brother! Where Art Thou? (Cont’d)
In-Class Assignment: O, Brother! Where Art Thou? film
response (Cont’d)
Thursday, October 20 Lecture: Norse Mythology
Tuesday, October 25 Lecture: African Mythology
Thursday, October 27
Lecture: Hawaiian Mythology
Activity: Tiki mask building
Tuesday, November 1 Lecture: The Three Major World Religions: Judaism
Thursday, November 3 Lecture: The Three Major World Religions: Christianity
Tuesday, November 8 Lecture: The Three Major World Religions: Islam
Thursday, November 10 Exam #3
Tuesday, November 15 Lecture: Hinduism
Thursday, November 17 Lecture: Buddhism
Tuesday, November 22 Lecture: Daoism
Thursday, November 24 THANKSGIVING – NO CLASS
Tuesday, November 29
IMPORTANT: RESEARCH PROJECTS DUE &
PRESENTATIONS
Thursday, December 1
IMPORTANT: RESEARCH PROJECTS DUE &
PRESENTATIONS
Tuesday, December 6
IMPORTANT: CULTURAL EVENT DUE
IMPORTANT: FINAL EXAM – 10:00 AM
Guidelines for Written Work
§ All written work should be set in Arial 12-
point font, with double spacing and standard
1” page margins.
§ 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

4. student will not earn all possible points for
the assignment.
Extra Credit Policy
! Extra credit may be earned by writing more
than the required number of pages for any
written assignment. Extra credit for additional
written content will be given up to 15% of
the assignment’s total point value (i.e. 15
points for a 100-point assignment).
Late Work Policy
No late work will be accepted – in class,
through email, or through Canvas.
Class Conduct
Be polite and respect both your fellow
classmates and the instructor.
Attendance Policy
§ Students are expected to attend every class,
and attendance will be taken and will count
as a portion of the final grade. After the third
absence, 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 Canvas or fellow
students.
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.
§ 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.
§ Plagiarism in any work will result in a grade
of zero for that assignment.
Technology 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.
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

5. 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.