Research Skills in Classics, Ancient History and Theology
| Module title | Research Skills in Classics, Ancient History and Theology |
|---|---|
| Module code | CTHM007 |
| Academic year | 2019/0 |
| Credits | 30 |
| Module staff | Professor Martin Pitts (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 25 |
|---|
Module description
This module focuses on developing research skills which will support you in formulating, planning and disseminating your ideas for the MA dissertation in Classics, Ancient History and Theology. The module is designed to offer you the opportunity to tailor a research skills menu which is uniquely suited to your own needs and requirements. The module is comprised of a menu of components. You will select four of these components to fulfil their 30 credits of research skills training. Please note that some of these components require specialist prior knowledge (usually in the ancient languages) to ensure that you have sufficient skills to be able to participate in the training. Where this is the case, it is clearly indicated in the description of the component below; you will also be advised about this on an individual basis by the module convenor.
Module aims - intentions of the module
The module is designed to offer you maximum flexibility and optionality, by providing you with the opportunity to tailor a research skills menu which is uniquely suited to your own needs and requirements. The module will provide you with the opportunity to develop, under the guidance of subject specialists in a series of interactive, research-led workshops, a range of specialist skills to prepare them for more advanced research (e.g. PhD) as well as more generic and transferable skills which will enhance your profile for other employment opportunities as well as research. All of these research skills will directly support your preparation for writing the MA dissertation.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Demonstrate advanced ability to formulate and write a cogent research proposal (for either an MA or PhD dissertation), including the ability to articulate the objectives, aims and scholarly context of a research project, to construct a viable work schedule and to formulate a structure for the proposed dissertation
- 2. Demonstrate advanced ability to understand, analyse and interpret quantitative and statistical data
- 3. Demonstrate advanced ability to understand, analyse and interpret theory and methods relating to literary theory and/or textual criticism and/or ancient scholarship
- 4. Demonstrate advanced ability to locate, record and evaluate critically scholarship that is relevant to the core module
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 5. Develop advanced skills in project-planning and writing of a research proposal
- 6. Develop advanced research-presentation skills
- 7. Develop advanced ability to understand and apply specialist analytical approaches which are relevant to the study of ancient texts or culture
- 8. Demonstrate advanced critical reading skills, specifically the ability to extrapolate methodologies that are implicit in secondary scholarship and evaluate their usefulness in relation to the core module
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 9. Demonstrate the ability to communicate clearly and creatively in oral and in written form
- 10. Demonstrate advanced ability to plan an extended independent research project
- 11. Demonstrate ability to interpret and use statistical and quantitative data
- 12. Demonstrate advanced ability to select and organise relevant material, to work independently and write succinct judgements on academic issues
Syllabus plan
The module will comprise a range of research skills components which will be taught as 2-4 week ‘short courses’. A typical list of the skills short courses on offer is provided below. You select four of these skills short-courses in order to complete the requirements for the module.
- Classical receptions and translations
- Handling and interpreting quantitative data
- Interpreting material culture
- Interpreting the visual
- Introduction to Digital Classics
- Introduction to Greek and Latin metre
- Introduction to textual criticism
- Literary interactions
- Reading papyri
- Working with epigraphy
- Working with fragments
- Writing a research proposal
For Theology research training, please see provision under THEM109 https://intranet.exeter.ac.uk/humanities/studying/postgraduatetaught/modules/THEM109/2018-9/
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 32 | 268 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled learning and teaching | 32 | Each skills-component will be taught in a series of 2-hour interactive workshops. For each skills-component, between 2-4 such workshops will be scheduled, depending on the complexity of the subject and the requirements of the class. During these workshops, you will be involved in class-discussion and problem-solving tasks designed to develop skills relating to the component |
| Guided independent study | 268 | Independent study |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-class discussion and practical workshops | On-going throughout the module | 1-12 | Oral feedback |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 x coursework exercises, to be decided by tutors of individual components. The nature of these exercises may vary, depending on the skill which is being assessed: typically, they will take the form of an essay, research proposal, analysis of text or quantitative data-set, or critical reviews. | 100 | 3000 words. There is scope for fluctuation in the word-length of coursework assessment across individual options, depending on the nature of the skill being assessed. Typically, discursive essay-style exercises will be 3000 words, whereas exercises in hard data-analysis and interpretation may be shorter, e.g. 1500 words. | 1-12 | Written feedback, with opportunity to discuss with individual tutor. |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coursework exercises | Coursework exercises | 1-12 | Referral/Deferral period |
Re-assessment notes
Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.
Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 50%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of referral will be capped at 50%.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
- R. Burns Introduction to Research Methods. London, 2000.
- K.E. Rudestam, et al.. Surviving your Dissertation , Thousand Oaks, Calif., 2001
- S. Hornblower and A. Spawforth, eds., Oxford Classical Dictionary 3rd ed., Oxford, 1996.
- Paulys Real-encyclopdie der classischen Altertumswissenschaft. Neue Bearbeitung.unter Mitwirkung zahlreicher
- Fachgenossen hrsg. von G. Wissowa. Stuttgart, 1894-1972.
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
- ELE – https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=2114
- L’Année Philologique (for Classics and Ancient History)
- Thesaurus Linguae Graecae
- Thesaurus Linguae Latinae
Indicative learning resources - Other resources
- To be recommended by tutors of individual skills components.
| Credit value | 30 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 15 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 7 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 01/09/2012 |
| Last revision date | 03/12/2018 |
