MES4110 – Readings of Middle Eastern Texts
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
Consisting of a series of guided reading seminars, this course introduces students to a selection of original language source material in Arabic, Persian, or Turkish. The main goal is to introduce students to excerpts from major texts of cultural, historical, literary, and/or political significance, but the precise selection of texts may vary from semester to semester. Students will be divided into subgroups according to their choice of language. They are expected to read, interpret and discuss source material in context, and demonstrate their ability to present and analyse the source material in written form.
Learning outcome
This course has two key learning outcomes:
- familiarizing participants with primary source material from the Middle East and
- improving their proficiency in reading source material in a Middle Eastern language
Admission to the course
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.
This course is only available for students admitted to the programme option Middle East Studies.
Each student must choose one language seminar group according to his or her language specialization (Arabic, Persian or Turkish). This is done in StudentWeb when signing up for the course in August.
Teaching
The teaching is given as 2 hour seminars over 10 weeks.
Class meetings will be dedicated to reading, analysing, and discussing texts. The course requires active participation in class and to be well prepared for each seminar. Both English and the focus language may be used for oral communication in class.
Compulsory activities
- At least 7 of 10 mandatory submissions approved.
Information about the submissions will be given in the teaching and in Canvas. In order to be approved, the submissions need to be satisfactory according to given criteria specified by the instructor at the outset of the semester.
Approved compulsory activities is only valid for one semester.
Absence from compulsory activities
It is important that you familiarize yourself with the rules regarding absence from compulsory activities, to prevent being excluded from teaching and losing your eligibility to take the exam.
Access to teaching
A student who has completed compulsory instruction and coursework and has had these approved, is not entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework. A student who has been admitted to a course, but who has not completed compulsory instruction and coursework or had these approved, is entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, depending on available capacity.
Examination
The exam is a portfolio consisting of at least seven of the approved mandatory submissions that students hand inn over the course of the semester.
You must fulfil the requirement of the compulsory activities in order to qualify for taking the exam.
Language of examination
Assignment specifications are given in English. Students may write their submissions in English, Norwegian, Danish or Swedish.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a pass/fail scale. Read more about?the grading system.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.