• Class Number 5754
  • Term Code 3160
  • Class Info
  • Unit Value 6 units
  • Topic ANU Online
  • Mode of Delivery Online
  • COURSE CONVENER
    • Dr Stephanie Majcher
  • Class Dates
  • Class Start Date 26/07/2021
  • Class End Date 29/10/2021
  • Census Date 14/09/2021
  • Last Date to Enrol 02/08/2021
SELT Survey Results

Sanskrit 4 is an Intermediate-level course that introduces students to Sanskrit’s role as a major literary vehicle in the expression of diverse cultural developments in ancient South Asia. The texts studied in this course illuminate themes, concepts, and narratives whose popularity endures to the present day. This course has been designed to consolidate students’ knowledge of Sanskrit grammar, refine students’ independent skills in translation, and highlight the complementary roles of grammatical and literary contexts in textual analysis. In this course, students will progress from translating prose and verse texts with the assistance of a reader to developing their own independent translations of primary texts using dictionaries and grammatical reference tools. Students are encouraged to question the ways that core themes and ideas in the texts have been reinterpreted over time and to apply these understandings to textual analysis.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

  1. Read Intermediate-level prose and verse texts smoothly and accurately and recognize the impacts of metrical structure on textual composition.
  2. Translate the vocabulary of the text in hand through confident use of a Sanskrit-English dictionary.
  3. Identify less-common grammatical structures through the appropriate independent use of reference materials.
  4. Identify, discuss, and compare the compositional features and literary characteristics of primary texts in relation to social and historical contexts.
  5. Demonstrate an understanding and discuss the possibility of alternative translations, evaluate the grammatical and literary considerations that bear on the appropriateness of a translation, and reflect this through the independent production of appropriate English translations.

Required Resources

Lanman, C. R. A Sanskrit Reader

Macdonell, A. A Sanskrit Grammar for Students

Taylor, M. The Little Red Book of Sanskrit Paradigms

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:
  • Written comments
  • Verbal comments
  • Feedback to the whole class, to groups, to individuals, focus groups

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.

Class Schedule

Week/Session Summary of Activities Assessment
1 Weeks 1-3 In Weeks 1-3 we will be reading through a sample from the Classical Sanskrit story collection Kathasaritsagara. We will be doing this in both the 2-hr and 1-hr 'sandpit' session scheduled for each week. Students are expected to prepare translations independently prior to each class. The major focus of these first weeks' will be building upon the stamina and confidence that students developed by the end of Sanskrit 3 by returning to Lanman's Sanskrit Reader but with a text of increased difficulty. In addition to the translations prepared prior to class, students are required to prepare short reviews of specified grammatical points and submit via Wattle by the end of each week during Weeks 1-5.
2 Weeks 4-6 In Weeks 4-6 we will be reading through a sample from the renowned Buddhist Sanskrit collection of short stories Jatakamala ('Garland of the Buddha's Prior Births'). These readings will introduce students to intermediate-level Sanskrit narrative prose and verse without the support of a Reader and will also encourage students to develop some basic understanding of the ancient tradition of Buddhist Sanskrit literature. Students will be challenged by encountering Buddhist reinterpretations of familiar Sanskrit vocabulary, and will be encouraged to reflect upon the power of storytelling in different South Asian religious traditions. Students will be given two weeks in which to complete the first translation assessment for the semester. The assessment will require the translation and analysis of a sample of previously unseen Sanskrit text and is due for submission in Week 6.
3 Exam Period Students will be required to complete a take-home translation assessment during the exam period. This assessment will contain unseen samples of Sanskrit text relating to the materials studied over the course of the semester.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task Value Learning Outcomes
Weekly Activities 20 % 1,2,3,5
Short Translation Assessments 35 % 1,2,3,4,5
Take-home Translation Assessment 40 % 2,3,4,5
Contribution and Participation 5 % 1,4,5

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website Students may choose not to submit assessment items through Turnitin. In this instance you will be required to submit, alongside the assessment item itself, hard copies of all references included in the assessment item.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Assessment Task 1

Value: 20 %
Learning Outcomes: 1,2,3,5

Weekly Activities

This task involves the completion of grammatical readings and summaries on a weekly basis. These activities are intended to consolidate and refresh students' recollection of fundamental grammatical points studied in the Introductory courses. The readings will also expand upon the knowledge gained in the Introductory courses by taking a more comprehensive approach to the topics reviewed. There are no weekly activities in Weeks 6 and 12, i.e., when the translation assessments are due.


Assessment Task 2

Value: 35 %
Learning Outcomes: 1,2,3,4,5

Short Translation Assessments

This course requires the completion of two short translation assessments. These translation assessments provide opportunities for students to demonstrate the learning and proficiency developed at significant intervals over the semester. Students will be expected to prepare full grammatical analyses and translations of unseen samples of Sanskrit text that are closely related to the materials being read in class.

Assessment Task 3

Value: 40 %
Learning Outcomes: 2,3,4,5

Take-home Translation Assessment

Students will have one week in which to complete a take-home assessment requiring Sanskrit-English translation of previously unseen Sanskrit materials relating to the texts studied during the semester. A complete grammatical analysis must be included. The assessment will consist of samples of unseen Sanskrit text reflecting the different materials studied throughout the semester. The dates of the assessment will be set in Week 1 via in-class discussion.

Assessment Task 4

Value: 5 %
Learning Outcomes: 1,4,5

Contribution and Participation

At the end of semester, each student will be assigned a mark out of 5 reflecting their contribution to and participation in the class activities. These can include class discussions and activities, engagement with Wattle forums, and willingness to support other student's learning (e.g., by volunteering to respond to questions asked in class).

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of our culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically. This means that all members of the community commit to honest and responsible scholarly practice and to upholding these values with respect and fairness. The Australian National University commits to embedding the values of academic integrity in our teaching and learning. We ensure that all members of our community understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with. The University has policies and procedures in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Visit the following Academic honesty & plagiarism website for more information about academic integrity and what the ANU considers academic misconduct. The ANU offers a number of services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. The Academic Skills and Learning Centre offers a number of workshops and seminars that you may find useful for your studies.

Online Submission

The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Referencing Requirements

Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure The Course Convener may grant extensions for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information. In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service — including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy. If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes. Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).
Dr Stephanie Majcher
02 6125 3207
U4461137@anu.edu.au

Research Interests


Dr Stephanie Majcher

By Appointment

Responsible Officer: Registrar, Student Administration / Page Contact: Website Administrator / Frequently Asked Questions