CMS 231/ History 231

Litigation in Ancient Athens

You will write one 8-10 page (2400-3000 word) paper. Your paper will be graded according to the criteria set forth in the paper content and paper form page. I urge you to read these pages before you submit your papers. I will assume that you have read them when I grade your papers.

You must choose between one of the two options below when picking a paper topic.

Option 1:

You will choose and analyze one Athenian forensic oration. In the case of an oration that is linked to other orations that exist in the corpus, it is appropriate and necessary to read and consider these orations as well. Technically speaking, Plato's Apology is not in the forensic corpus. You may, however, choose to analyze this work as well. If you do choose the Apology, it will be necessary to read the other Platonic dialogues and the portion of Xenephon's socratic material that relate to Socrates' trial and execution as well.

Your analysis should

• explain the historical context of the speech
• explain the substantive and procedural issues of the speech
• consider how speech can be explained in terms of one of the theoretical models of Athenian litigation we are studying in class. Alternatively, use the speech to critique one of these models.

Option 2:

You will choose either an Athenian legal institution, procedure or law (or set of related laws) or orator to write about (e.g., Demosthenes, the Boule, Pericles' citizenship law, homicide laws, laws relating to the legal status of metics, women or slaves). For this option, you will probably have to study a number of forensic orations in addition to your secondary research.

Your analysis should

• define the topic your are studying and explain its historical context
• explain (if appropriate) legal substantive, historical and procedural issues the topic raises
• explain how the topic illuminates larger aspects of Athenian cultural history (e.g., laws and orations about metics don't simply treat the legal status of the metic - they reveal much about Athenian civic ideology and the inconsistencies within that ideology).
• consider how topic can be explained in terms of one of the theoretical models of Athenian litigation we are studying in class. Alternatively, use your analysis of the topic to critique one of these models.

Each paper should refer to at least 10 (ten) pieces of secondary scholarship, which you must properly cite in your bibliography (see the paper form page for information on citation).

Due Dates and drafts:

• The following deadlines apply to assignments connected with your paper. If you fail to hand in any of the assignments on a timely basis without benefit of a dean's excuse, that assignment will be docked 10% for each calendar day that it is late. If you choose this option, you must submit a final paper in order to receive a passing grade in this course. Note, these are deadlines. If you choose to hand these assignments in early, I will accept them. Depending on your course load, you may find another schedule with earlier dates for some assignments more helpful.
  
  
• Week 9, Class 2 [3/08/01]: Pick your topic and preliminary bibliography:
  • Hand in a one paragraph description of the topic you have chosen and why you want to write on it. Hand in a bibliography describing the primary sources and books and articles you believe you will use for the paper.

   

• Week 11 Class 2 [3/22/01]: Annotations due today
  • In order to complete this assignment, you will have to prepare a bibliography of all primary and secondary material you have considered or will consider in preparing your web site. For material you have read, write an annotation, describing the source. You must have read and annotated at least eight (8) items (in addition to the contemporary accounts) by the time you hand in your bibliography. You will continue to read and prepare annotations during the course of the semester.
    
    
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• Week 13 Class 2 [4/05/01]: Updated Bibliography and Outline due today
  • In order to complete this assignment, you must choose a theoretical model on which you will rely to analyze the trial you have chosen. You may choose some of the theoretical works we are reading in class, or you may choose another model (e.g., you may wish to do an Althusserian reading of your trial, or you may be influence in your analysis by the works of Foucault or Pierre Bourdieu).
    
    
  • Your updated bibliography should include annotations for 20 (twenty) sources (total; twelve (12) more than the first annotated bibliography).
    
    
  • My expectations for your outline are set forth on the outline page.
    
• Paper due [4/18/00] - Wednesday of exam week
  
  
  • I have certain criteria I use when grading the form and content of a paper. You should read these criteria carefully before submitting your paper. I will assume that you have when I grade your paper.
    
    
  • One of the best resources Bates has for students is the Writing Workshop . I have seen the advice and services provided by the Writing Workshop improve the work of students at all levels. I encourage you to seek the advice of the writing workshop early in the process of writing your paper