Prospectus

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Advanced Readings in Sanskrit Literature

Course
2018-2019

Admission requirements

Successul completion of 5482K2SA Sanskrit 4 or equivalent. Please, contact Prof. Dr. P.C. Bisschop, if you are interested in taking this course, but do NOT fulfill the above mentioned requirement.

Description

The course consists of weekly intensive readings of advanced Sanskrit literature, selected in consultation with the instructor, and reading and discussion of recent scholarship in the field. The course aims at instilling a text-critical attitude in reading advanced Sanskrit literature, and makes use of various tools and sources available for establishing and interpreting the texts. Students write a 3,000 word paper about a subject related to the text studied during the course, which should include analysis and translation of original Sanskrit sources.

Course objectives

  • Advanced comprehension of Sanskrit literature and recent scholarship in the field.

  • Expanding vocabulary, grammar and reading skills.

  • Making use of commentaries and other primary sources.

  • Developing a text-critical attitude.

  • Writing an analytic paper, which makes use of primary Sanskrit source materials and integrates perspectives from scholarly literature.

Timetable

Timetable

Mode of instruction

  • Seminar

Attendance and active participation are obligatory for seminars. Students are required to prepare for and attend all sessions. The convenors need to be informed without delay of any classes missed for a good reason (i.e. due to unforeseen circumstances such as illness, family issues, problems with residence permits, the Dutch railways in winter, etc.). In these cases it is up to the discretion of the convener(s) of the course whether or not the missed class will have to be made up with an extra assignment. The maximum of such absences during a semester is two. Being absent without notification and/or more than two times can result in exclusion from the term end exams and a failing grade for the course.

Course Load

  • Classes (13×2) and exams (2×2): 30 hours

  • Preparation and revision of set texts and additional literature: 110 hours

  • Reading for and writing 3,000 word analytic paper: 140 hours

  • Total: 280 hours (10 EC x 28 hours)

Assessment method

Assessment

Translations in class and final paper.

Weighing

  • Translation in class (tr) : 20%

  • Translation in class (tr) : 20%

  • Paper (wp), 3,000 words: 60%

Resit

The final paper is written in two stages: a first version which will be commented on and a final version. Students who do not meet the deadline for the first version (14 December 2018) will lose the right to get comments and will only be graded based on their final version (due on 18 January 2019).

In order to pass the course, students must obtain an overall mark of 5.50 (=6) or higher.

The course is an integrated whole. The final examination and the assignments must be completed in the same academic year. No partial marks can be carried over into following years.

Exam review

If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the exam results, an exam review will be organized.

Blackboard

Blackboard is used as the main means for communication and for distribution of additional course materials.
Students are requested to register on Blackboard for this course.

Reading list

The texts to be read are announced at an introductory meeting. Students are requested to contact the instructor beforehand.

Registration

Students are required to register through uSis. To avoid mistakes and problems, students are strongly advised to register in uSis through the activity number which can be found in the timetable in the column under the heading “Act.nbr.”.

Interested students from the MA Asian Studies need to contact the secretariat by e-mail clearly giving the course code and their student ID number to get registered for this course.

Not being registered, means no permission to attend this course. See also the ‘Registration procedures for classes and examinations’ for registration deadlines and more information on how to register.

Registration Studeren à la carte and Contractonderwijs

Contractonderwijs.

Studeren à la carte is not possible for this course

Contact

Prof.dr. P.C. Bisschop

Remarks

Students with disabilities

The university is committed to supporting and accommodating students with disabilities as stated in the university protocol (especially pages 3-5). Students should contact Fenestra Disability Centre at least four weeks before the start of their courses to ensure that all necessary academic accommodations can be made in time conform the abovementioned protocol.

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to be familiar with Leiden University policies on plagiarism and academic integrity. Plagiarism will not be tolerated. If you submit any work with your name affixed to it, it is assumed to be your own work with all sources used properly indicated and documented in the text (with quotations and/or citations).