Microtheme, Paper Topics

Topics for Microthemes

Microtheme #1 topic
Due Thursday, January 18

Directions:

post a copy in "submit papers to this folder" in the Roman Civilization discussion folder
bring a paper copy to class on Thursday, Jan. 18
length: 500-800
for more information about the format and about the writing intensive requirements, click here

Based on what you have learned about the city of Rome and life in it, would you have wanted to live in it then? Make sure you give pertinent examples from the primary* sources in our readings.

*Primary sources are the passages that are by Roman sources (the things in quotes or indented in Kebric and the indented passages in Shelton) and are not commentary by Shelton or Kebric.

Microtheme #2 topic
Due Thursday, January 25

Directions:

post a copy in "submit papers to this folder" in the Roman Civilization discussion folder
bring a paper copy to class on Thursday, Jan. 25
length: 500-800
for more information about the format and about the writing intensive requirements, click here

Topics: Based on what you have learned in Shelton about Roman religion, write on one of the two topics given below:

1. Evaluate your daily (or weekly/monthly) routine--how and in what ways would it be different if you lived in the Roman world with respect to Roman religion? Make sure you give pertinent examples with citations from the primary* sources in our readings.
2. Take three of the festivals listed in Shelton, (#421-425) and three modern parallels. How are they the same and different and why? Make sure you give pertinent examples with citations from the primary* sources in our readings.

*Primary sources are the passages that are by Roman sources (the things in quotes or indented in Kebric and the indented passages in Shelton) and are not commentary by Shelton or Kebric.

Microtheme #3 topic
Due Thursday, February 15 Directions:

post a copy in "submit papers to this folder" in the Roman Civilization discussion folder
bring a paper copy to class on Thursday, Feb. 15
length: 500-800
for more information about the format and about the writing intensive requirements, click here

Topics: Based on what you have learned in Shelton about Roman families, write on one of the two topics given below:

1. How are Roman fathers and mothers and children similar to and different from fathers and mothers and children today (Shelton #15-24,43-49)? What can we learn from this?
2. How are the issues regarding producing a family and birth control similar to and different from today (Shelton, #27-37)? What can we learn from this?

Microtheme #4 topic
Due Tuesday, March 27

Directions:

post a copy in "submit papers to this folder" in the Roman Civilization discussion folder
bring a paper copy to class on Tuesday, March 27
length: 500-800
for more information about the format and about the writing intensive requirements, click here

Topic: Was growing old the "best of times" or the "worst of times" during the Golden Age of the Roman Empire? Come to a reasoned conclusion based on the passages from Cicero, Lucian, Juvenal and Pliny [i.e. the letters about Verginius Rufus, Ummidia Quadratilla, etc] and the other information provided in Kebric, Chapter 7. Make sure you also consider and comment on the possible biases in the evidence--both the evidence in favor of and opposed to your conclusion.

Microtheme #5 topic
Due Tuesday, April 3

Directions:

post a copy in "submit papers to this folder" in the Roman Civilization discussion folder
bring a paper copy to class on Tuesday, April 3
length: 500-800
for more information about the format and about the writing intensive requirements, click here

Topic: Why did Vibia Perpetua do what she did? In your paper make sure you also evaluate the possible answers noted by Kebric on page 253.

Microtheme #6 topic
Due Thursday, April 19

Directions:

post a copy in "submit papers to this folder" in the Roman Civilization discussion folder
bring a paper copy to class on Thursday, April 19
length: 500-800
for more information about the format and about the writing intensive requirements, click here

Topic: Evaluate one of the following aspects of the movie Gladiator 1) the character of Lucilla; 2) the Senate; or 3) the arena (i.e. the gladiatorial games) with respect to what you have learned to date. In your answer address whether the aim of the movie was veritas (the truth) or veri similitudo (close to the truth or verisimilitude).