This professor is the biggest fucking control freak. Check this out.
We began the study of Classical Greece in Askra, a village described by one of its residents as “bad in winter, grievous in summer, good at no time.” But he calls his community a polis:
“those who render their rights to strangers and their deserts to inhabitants and do not depart
from that which is just, the polis flourishes for them and the people flourish in the polis.”
It is a safe conclusion that Hesiod lived in a polis-community as it was taking shape. That type of community would assume its final form only two and a half centuries later.
To draw together this process of development, return to your discussion of Hesiod’s world where you examined its basic features. Now transport Hesiod to Periclean Athens in order to gauge similarities and/or differences between Askra ca. 700 and Athens in the second half of the 5th century BC. Do not spend too much time in the mode of transportation forward in time. It is safe to assume that any visitor to Athens at this time would be drawn to the center of the polis. It is here that Hesiod would encounter many striking individuals, including Socrates. Please discuss the following:
1) Hesiod will have the opportunity to experience Socrates’ unofficial occupation. What is his reaction to Socrates’ questioning?
2) Learning that Socrates has been accused of corrupting the youth and discarding traditional gods, he will have an opportunity to witness the trial of Socrates. Has Hesiod’s demand for implementation of justice been fulfilled?
3) While in the agora, he will hear Herodotus recounting his work (remembered Herodotus was paid by the boule to do so). Does he comprehend the account of the cause of the war between Greece and Persia?
4) His visit occurs at the time of the Panathenaic festival in which he will be a participant. What are his emotions?
5) By good fortune, he is present at the performance of Oedipus Tyrannus in the Theatre of Dionysios. Does he applaud?
6) By a fluke of luck, he attends a meeting of the assembly and hears Pericles speak to the assembled citizens? How does he react to the meeting and to Pericles?
After putting Hesiod into these situations, consider the two following questions:
A. In which aspect of life has the greatest change occurred and in which would Hesiod recognize the most similarity with his own world?
B. What development would be most welcome to the poet-farmer and what development would most displease him?
A full discussion will require approximately 10-12 pages, double-spaced. There is no single correct answer; consequently, it is essential to develop a clear, convincing argument explaining why you have reached your conclusions on the six encounters. That is, the discussion should be more than impressionistic. Be complete. Conclude with the larger comparisons between Hesiod’s world and that of 5th century Athens.
OMG, she takes what might have been a cool assignment (Greek AU Time Travel!) and destroys it through micro-managing.
Exactly. And I can't tell you how grateful I am to hear that.
Sometimes I look at these prompts and think, "Am I the only one who sees how she's playing the 'tell me what I want to hear' game?"
*boggles* That is the worst written question I have had the displeasure of encountering.
The whole quarter has been like this. Every essay assignment has been just this awful.
I'm completely rebelling against this at the moment.
Instead of describing Hesiod's reaction to Socrates, I've written a Socratic debate between the two. It would be off the deep end for most professors. She is guaranteed to hate it. Yet... my middle finger... it keeps turning upward....
Well, pfft. Having a Socratic style debate between the two will sort of give Hesiod's reaction to Socrates, even if mediated by Socrates' view of Hesiod. It will answer the question no matter that it is not the one she so very carefully set.
That sort of micromanaging of a question... it leaves me speechless because basically it means she wants to hear her own arguments, no other, and that she would prefer to be writing the essay rather than you guys. Certainly does nothing for your understanding or development.
I think I'll be smart about this, include the Socratic debate as an appendix and summarize it in my Awful EssayTM.
Her micromanaging combined with her emphasis on lecture indicates a pedagogical style that's 20 years out of date.
Aaah! It sounds like it was written for junior high social studies. "Let me baby-step you through everything you've learned this year and 'encourage' you to write something 'creative' based Only On My Specific Guidelines." How are you supposed to respond to that?
Exactly!
And my essay is seven types of godawful.
Not to mention: how is Hesiod supposed to understand Classical Attic Greek? As if there would've no difference in vocabulary, dialect, pronunciation...
Oh, we can't get into the logic of this assignment. Therein lies madness.
I'm writing my Indian history assignment now:
Compare the history of the Mauryan, Kushana, and Gupta dynasties, summarizing as far as possible their geographic purview, length of rule, patterns of origin and expansion, and possible factors in their successes and their declines. In what ways are the histories of these three dynasties similar, and in what ways are they different? To what extent are the patterns of their history typical (or untypical) of those of Indian dynasties generally?
Ahhh. A sensible question that demands actual thought, rather than psychic abilities.
It's like a balm for the soul.
It is! *breathes deeply the sanity of my Indian history professor*
PS: my Classics professors would've bitchslapped yours, I think.
I'm getting a headache from just reading this question. It screams, "Echo everything I already think! Don't demonstrate any independent thought at all!"
This essay has been painful. I have never encountered anything like this assignment. To cap it off, she grades like a cement mixer.
Do you at least get to review this teacher at the end of the year? Because I would give it to her with both barrels.
I've missed my opportunity to do that. But I may seek a way to do so anyway. Her prompts have been that bad.
*blinks*
Is it just me, or would it be a lot simpler to write:
"Transport Hesiod to Periclean Athens in order to compare and contrast these times/places. In Athens, Hesiod encounters Socrates's teaching and trial, Herodotus's account of the war, a Panathenaic festival, a perfornance of Oedipus Tyrranus, and an address to Pericles.
Which aspects of life have changed the most? The least? Which will Hesiod appreciate most and least?"
I mean, I just... seriously.
I can understand wanting to have specific numeric points from a grading perspective (it's probably a lot easier to just read essays and tick off a check-mark for "okay, points 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 9 are addressed, that's 7/10"), but egad. Reading that assignment I wondered why the prof wanted the students to write the time travel; she practically wrote it herself! Insane levels of detail for an actual essay that boils down to two "pick the good and bad points" of two aspects.
Wow. Could you ghost write my professor's prompts? That makes a lot more sense.
That's not only the worst essay question I have ever read, but it's also pretty much impossible to develop a single overarching argument that will tie this all together. How in the world can anyone create a non-fiction narrative that can gracefully combine ALL of that? It would work much better as a short story. I think your professor needs to go play the Athens game in ReActing to the Past, and get it out of his/her system. Then this person might be able to come up with some sensible essay questions. | 
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