S03-RmCiv Paper Topics

Topics for Papers

Paper #1 topic

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. 30
length: 600-900
for more information about the format and about the writing intensive requirements, click here

Topic: 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).

Paper #2 topic

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. 13

length: 600-900

for more information about the format and about the writing intensive requirements, click here

Write on one of the following topics:

You just got back to school from having about a month off--Dec. 13 to Jan. 15. Assuming that you have been studying abroad in ancient Rome, examine the impact Roman religion would have made on your "winter" break. Make sure you give pertinent examples with citations from the primary sources in our readings (including the web site on the Roman calendar).

Assuming that you have been studying abroad in ancient Rome, examine the impact Roman religion (apart from festivals) would have made on your daily schedule, focusing on the four key elements to Roman cultus deorum: sacrifice, prayer, vow, and divination. Make sure you give pertinent examples with citations from the primary sources in our readings.

Paper #3 topic Directions:

post a copy in "submit papers to this folder" in the Roman Civilization discussion folder
bring a paper copy to class
length: 600-900
for more information about the format and about the writing intensive requirements, click here

Write on one of the topics below:

Compare and contrast childhood during the Roman Empire and with that of today. Make sure you use good examples from the primary evidence in Shelton in Chapters 2 and 13.

Examine the Roman views on "Birth Control" and "Producing a Family" (#27-37) with those of today. Make sure you use good examples from the primary evidence in Shelton.

Paper #4 topic Directions:

post a copy in "submit papers to this folder" in the Roman Civilization discussion folder
bring a paper copy to class
length: 600-900
for more information about the format and about the writing intensive requirements, click here

Write on one of the topics below:

To what extent does Vibia Perpetua fit the model for a daughter and/or a wife which we have seen in the previous readings on women in Shelton? In your conclusion address why. Make sure you give good examples from Shelton and Kebric (both quotations and paraphrases) to back up your conclusions.

To what extent does Vibia Perpetua's father fit the model for a father which we have seen in the previous readings in Shelton? In your conclusion address why. Make sure you give good examples from Shelton and Kebric (both quotations and paraphrases) to back up your conclusions.

Paper #5 topic Directions:

post a copy in "submit papers to this folder" in the Roman Civilization discussion folder
bring a paper copy to class
length: 600-900
for more information about the format and about the writing intensive requirements, click here

Write on one of the topics below:

1. Compare and contrast Lucilla, from the movie Gladiator, with Vibia Perpetua. While doing that, also answer what the significance of the similarities and differences are. As always, make sure you give specific examples, especially from the primary evidence, to back up your conclusions.
2. Compare and contrast the "gladiator" Maximus, from the movie Gladiator, with the gladiators discussed in Shelton (pp 348-358). While doing that, also answer what the significance of the similarities and differences are. As always, make sure you give specific examples, especially from the primary evidence, to back up your conclusions.