This is what I call a
"control" take-home exam: you and I will be able to build on
your performance of the first take-home exam. Those of you who
demonstrated good
writing skills and a good grasp on the concepts of the course should
be able to repeat their performance, and I, on my part, confirm that you are
reading the textbook, your notes, and reviewing the power-point
modules on a periodical basis.
For those who had problems in
the first take-home (some of you mentioned the time problems, and
indeed it shows when a take-home question is written in a speedy
manner) you will be able to make progress on your previous
performance. Where do the problems lie? Two aspects: structure of
the answer and use of adjectives and "grand" or colloquial wording.
First, answers should have a three-part structure: introduction,
body (where the will be one paragraph for each idea, stage, concept
described) and conclusion. This structure makes for a clearer reading,
but mostly, it allows you the writer to organize better and restrict
the writing to the idea developed in the answer. Second, the
clarity, precision and adequacy of the words is essential. Here is a
sample of weak sentences (in no particular order of, say, barbarism)
obtained from the first exams (authorship withheld by request of the
authors).
"The transition from
‘barbarism’ to civilization is usually seen as a linear transition
with hunter gather societies at the beginning of the line and a
state and empire at the end of the line."
"The near east, during the year 1500 B.C.E, was a region where
humanity flourished."
"In the Sumerian civilization religion encompassed all way of life."
"The Persian Empire emerged out of a period where the near east was
ruled by the incredibly cruel Assyrian and Chaldean empires."
"The transition from the chiefdoms to states was inevitable..."
"I think many societies can shift through time because of
knowledge."
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"Why did it take so long for complex states to emerge? Mostly
because of food, resources, the lack of communication and
technology..."
"It could be argued that the western culture (in particular, that of
the United States of America) seems to be currently transitioning
from a monotheistic culture to a polytheistic culture."
"The Persian Wars started from the Persians wanting to take over
Italy and France
"In all strata of the world, in each individual ethnic group, few
defining features can be labeled. Civilization, as it pertains the
government, is one such feature."
"...religion played little to no role in the ancient Mesopotamian
world."
"Nevertheless, religion did impact every aspect of early society, a
fact that will be proven below."
"The Mediterranean during the 1500 B.C. was a particularly busy
place..."
As with the first exam, I do not expect “right” answers to these
questions. Instead, I want you to exercise the concepts, the historical evidence, and some
critical
thinking regarding politics and economics of prehistoric societies. Please try to be as specific, complete, clear, and concise as possible. Decide on definite
positions or answers, then convince me that they are correct by laying out arguments and specific
evidence that support them.
I do not expect you to do
additional research for this essay, although you are welcome to do
so if you wish. Using evidence from the readings, class notes, and
slides is sufficient. Online sources are OK if they are reliable,
academic sources like the article databases available through the
library website or websites of most domains that end in “.edu”.
Completing the exam
For administrative reasons, the exam will handed
back, completed, BOTH on paper, AND as a file attached to an email
message to me. I will
return the paper copy with short comments and a grade written on it. The
paper copy is due in class on the 10/20. The computer file OF THE
IDENTICAL PAPER should reach me before the class starts. I must have BOTH versions to give you
credit. Name the file in this
format: SWC1-08-TH1-LastnameFirstname.
Replace “LastnameFirstname” with your name, last name first,
capitalizing the first letter of each
name. Your word processor may add a 3-letter file extension like
“.doc” or “.wks”.
Format and citations: Computer print your essay in
12 point type, double spaced or space-and-a-half. Five pages should
be sufficient to complete all the questions (Reserve 11/4
page for each answer). Your writing should be grammatically correct,
properly spelled, and in clearly written.
Please do not waste your
limited space by quoting or summarizing definitions except as needed
to refer to them.
In this case of this exam, unlike the research
paper, full citations of references are not needed, proper
identification of authors, places, theories and necessary
details of facts and ideas is needed to support your argument. All
information and ideas, including the definitions, must be properly
cited in the text.
How many stages can you establish in the management
strategies of the Roman empire? You could mention the events that
lead to each period of restructuration, whether they are positive or
negative for the subsistence of the Roman Empire (as we know
it from its inception in 27 BC). You may also mention, to further
strengthen your answer, those political decisions that, on the
contrary, worked against the integrity of that imperial polity (and
that led to the formation of other polities).
Question 2
Christianity will we essential in the
evolution of Mediterranean societies from the earliest decades of
our era. Describe its process of formation amidst the political
social structure of the Roman empire. What is essential here is the
relationship of Christianity and its followers in a polytheistic
world, how it finds itself with the Roman world, how it expands its
flocks in the regions, and how it eventually becomes the official
religion of the empire. You will mainly rely on your reading of the
textbook, but also use the table and map that we reviewed in session
10 (Wednesday 10 Oct.) and the information obtained by your brief
(and strategic) reading of the paper by Sanders (reading for Monday
8 Oct.).
