A Level Classic Civilisation

Guaranteed exam place: venues in Bristol, Harrogate, Birmingham & London.

Specification
A-level – OCR 2009

Course Overview
The OCR A-level in classical Civilisation aims to give the student the opportunity to study a wide range of subject areas including: archaeology, literature, poetry, art, architecture and history. The period studied is the classical Greek and Roman worlds. The aims of the course are to give a knowledge and understanding of the classical world through direct study of original sources and to encourage and develop an enthusiasm for the classical world. It is also intended that students develop an awareness of the relationship between the modern and the classical world, and the effect that the latter has had on shaping and making the former. Whilst studying the course students will also be given the chance to form their own personal responses to the set texts chosen for study and to further and enhance their analytical and evaluative skills.

Course Contents
Unit 1: Homer’s Odyssey and Society (F382)
Unit 1 allows students to investigate Homer’s epic poem the Odyssey and the values and societies that it represents. This unit focuses on literature and poetry, with a lesser emphasis on history and archaeology. The examination will only be set from books 4-12 and 18-22.

Unit 2: Greek Tragedy in its Context (F384)
In this unit students will study the tragic plays of Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides; they will be studied primarily as works of literature and as social documents representing their society’s views and beliefs. The primary focus of the module is literature with a lesser emphasis on philosophy, religion and history. From June 2009-2011 inclusive, the examination questions will be set on: Aeschylus’ Agamemnon; Sophocles’ Oedipus the King and Euripides’ Medea and Bacchae.

Unit 3: Art and Architecture in the Greek world (F388)
In unit 3, students will study the sculpture, architecture and vase painting of the classical Greek world with a principal focus on art, architecture and religion. Students will be given the opportunity to become familiar with a range of statues, temples and vases.

Unit 4: Virgil and the World of the Hero (F390)
In the final unit students will return to the subject of literature and epic poetry by studying Virgil’s epic poem the Aeneid. The primary focus of this unit is literature, but a lesser emphasis will also be placed on philosophy, society and religion.

Suggested reading
E. V. Rieu (tr.), Homer Odyssey (Penguin)

R. F. Fagles (tr.), Aeschylus Agamemnon (Penguin)

R. F. Fagles (tr.), Sophocles Oedipus the King (Penguin)

P. Vallacott (tr.), Euripides Medea (Penguin)

J. Davie (tr.), Euripides Bacchae (Penguin)

D. West (tr.), Virgil Aeneid (Penguin)

M. Hammond (tr.), Homer Iliad (Penguin)

The above are the set texts that you should expect to need access to, within each unit you will be provided with a reading list of secondary sources that you may also find useful but will need less frequently.

Study Time
To complete a full A level it will take in the region of 200 study hours.

Pre-requisites
To take an you should have a GCSE grade C or above, or the equivalent and preferably in your chosen subject.

Support
You will have access to tutor via email who will mark your work and guide you through the course to ensure you are ready for your examinations.

Examination Centres
The examination board can provide you with a list of examination centres but it is entirely your responsibility to find a centre which will accept you as an external candidate.

Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Do your courses meet the latest syllabus changes?
A. yes, all our course materials meet any changes and will be updated free of charge if further changes are made.

Q. Why do I have to find a centre myself?
A. We have students all over the UK and Europe and it is impossible for us to arrange dates and times for individual students.

Q. What if I cannot find an examination centre in my home town?
A. If you wish to gain the qualification then be prepared to travel it is worth it!

Q. How much are exam fees?
A. These vary from centre to centre so please check with your local centre.

Q. Are the courses paper based or on-line?
A. All our courses are paper based and come in attractive sturdy folders.

Q. How do I contact my tutor?
A. Tutors are all working Teachers or Lecturers so contact is by email only.

Q. Why can I not take my exams when I have completed the course and why do I have to wait?
A. Exams are taken at the same times as schools and colleges and are not flexible.

Q. I want to take my exams but there are only a few months to study, is this possible?
A. Depending on the time of year, it is sometimes impossible to complete your studies in a short space of time as your work has to be marked and checked. More importantly the examination boards have cut off times which are not flexible. See our web site for further information.

Q. Will I receive UCAS points on completion of this course?
A. Yes all of our A Levels carry UCAS points. The number of points awarded will depend on the grade you achieve.