The JACT syllabus in Classical Civilisation has been re-written to meet the requirements
of the post-Dearing modular world in which A Level syllabuses need to be delivered
in 6 modules with three modules at AS level and three modules at a differentiated
(i.e.
more demanding) A2 level. It is also a requirement that new syllabuses include synoptic
assessment at A2: this involves analysis which brings together learning from various
parts of the syllabus and is applied to examinations at the A2 level. Students may
be assessed on the new specification in either a linear mode (all modules at the
end of year 13) or in a modular way, taking some or all of the AS modules in year
12.
In re-drafting the specification great care was taken to ensure that the new version
did not depart from the long-established principle that students should work, as
far as possible, with primary material (as either translation or illustrations of
material culture) and that, even in a broad multi-disciplinary subject such as Classical
Civilisation, breadth of subject matter should not be such as to preclude study of
particular topics in depth. Nevertheless the demands imposed by the modular structure
and the inclusion of synoptic assessment did lead to the necessity for major changes
from the old structure which was based on the study of four topics.
In order to conform to agreed limits on the number of optional routes through a specification
and also to provide appropriate material for synoptic assessment there are prescribed
combinations of topic. These also serve to ensure depth of study, since candidates
are obliged to study prescribed linked combinations (e.g.
two modules on Greek Tragedy) in order to be assessed at A2.
Major changes from the old syllabus include the re-introduction of the possibility
of a substantial optional coursework element on a topic chosen by the student; the
removal of Plato and the Pagans and Christians (though these could still be studied
as coursework), and the introduction of Roman Britain and Archaeology modules. Minor
changes of content include the appearance for the first time of Menander and Pliny.
The following tables set out the modules which are available in the new specification
and the routes which must be followed. In practice a student wishing to acquire the
full A Level must sit a module from each of groups 1 to 6 on the second table.
1 Greek Epic: Homer
2 Roman Epic: Vergil
3 Greek Historians: Herodotus and Thucydides
4 Roman Historians: Tacitus and Suetonius
5 Greek Tragedy 1: Aeschylus and Sophocles
6 Greek Tragedy 2: Euripides
7 Roman Satire and Society 1: Horace and Petronius
8 Roman Satire and Society 2: Juvenal and Pliny
9 Archaeology 1: Approaches to Classical Archaeology
10 Archaeology 2: Case Study -the Myceneans
11 Greek Comedy 1: Early Aristophanes
12 Greek Art and Architecture 1: Archaic and Early Classical
13 Roman Britain 1: Historical sources and the army
14 Greek and Roman Epic Synoptic
15 Greek and Roman Historians Synoptic
16 Greek Tragedy Synoptic
17 Roman Satire and Society Synoptic
18 Archaeology Synoptic
19 Greek Comedy 2: Later Aristophanes and Menander Non-synoptic
20 Greek Art and Architecture 2: High Classical and Hellenistic Non-synoptic
21 Roman Britain 2: Artefacts and civilian sites Non-synoptic
22 Coursework Non-synoptic
AS
Module Unit Title Unit Title Module
2 Roman Epic Synoptic
3 Greek Historians 15 Greek and Roman Historians
4 Roman Historians
6 Greek Tragedy 2 Synoptic
7 Roman Satire & Society 1 17 Roman Satire & Society
8 Roman Satire & Society 2
9 Archaeology 1 18 Archaeology
10 Archaeology 2
Non-
12 Greek Art & Architecture 1 20 Greek Art & Architecture 2 or
22
Coursework synoptic
13 Roman Britain 1 21 Roman Britain 2
Stephen Hill
University of WaRwick