Witchcraft course: - Faculty of Humanities - McMaster University

Required Texts:
Mark T Gilderhus, History and Historians: A Historiographical introduction
The Hammer of the Witches: A Complete Translation of the Malleus Maleficarum
(Cambridge, 2009).
Lyndal Roper, Oedipus and the Devil: Witchcraft Religion and Sexuality in Early Modern
Europe (1994).
*all other materials are available either as e-books through the McMaster library website or as
pdfs on Avenue to Learn
Grading
25% participation
40% two short essays (1000 each) (2 x 20%)
35% historiographical essay (3000 words)
Submission of Course Work
Students are advised to retain a photocopy of each essay they submit, and to keep all research
notes for their essays. History essays will be marked for clarity of writing, grammar, and
organization, in addition to content and analysis. Work should be submitted on time.
Permission to submit a late assignment is at the discretion of the instructor and, except in
exceptional instances, a penalty will be imposed for late submission without prior discussion
with me (3% per day).
Extensions and Accommodations (MSAF)
Extensions or other accommodations will be determined by the instructor and will only be
considered if supported by appropriate documentation. Absences of less than 5 days may be
reported using the McMaster Student Absence Form (MSAF) at www.mcmaster.ca/msaf/. If
you are unable to use the MSAF, you should document the absence with your faculty office.
In all cases, it is YOUR responsibility to follow up with the instructor immediately to see if an
extension or other accommodation will be granted, and what form it will take. There are NO
automatic extensions or accommodations.
Academic Integrity Language:
You are expected to exhibit honesty and use ethical behaviour in all aspects of the learning
process. Academic credentials you earn are rooted in principles of honesty and academic
integrity.
Academic dishonesty is to knowingly act or fail to act in a way that results or could result in
unearned academic credit or advantage. This behaviour can result in serious consequences,
e.g. the grade of zero on an assignment, loss of credit with a notation on the transcript
(notation reads: “Grade of F assigned for academic dishonesty”), and/or suspension or
expulsion from the university.
It is your responsibility to understand what constitutes academic dishonesty. For information
on the various types of academic dishonesty please refer to the Academic Integrity Policy,
located at http://www.mcmaster.ca/academicintegrity
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