Module Catalogue 2024/25

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

The aims of this module are:

To provide you with the intellectual tools to engage critically with both the ancient
sources and modern scholarship, a crucial part of your professional training as an
ancient historian.

To demonstrate the extent to which the study of the Graeco-Roman past can be
illuminated by theories, models and concepts drawn from other disciplines.

To equip you with the necessary skills and experience to be able to communicate
complex material to a non-specialist audience via the medium of powerpoint.

Outline Of Syllabus

The course is roughly divided into two 6 week blocks in which you will be introduced to a number of key approaches/topics relating to the research interests and areas of expertise of the course tutors. This will usually take the form of an introductory session followed by a graduate seminar based on set reading.

The course also comprises of a series of seminar workshops on 'Approaches to Ancient History Research’ which run throughout the semester. The latter have been chosen in order to enable you to engage critically with both the ancient sources and modern scholarship, a crucial part of your professional training as an ancient historian. Topics vary from year to year but a typical offering might include the Culture theory, identity-construction (imagined communities), performatives and gender, Marxist approaches to the ancient world and Mediterranean networks and mobility.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this module, you will be accustomed to using a variety of
primary and secondary materials to answer (and formulate) historical questions relating to
the study of the Ancient world.

Intended Skill Outcomes

The module will foster a variety of transferable skills (not all directly assessed), including:
oral discussion and presentation; the effective use of powerpoint and other supporting
materials to communicate complex material effectively and succinctly, listening and notetaking
skills; analytical reading of set texts; identification and deployment of material
relevant to a particular question; engagement with and analysis of a wide variety of primary
evidence; written exposition; effective time-management.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Lectures/seminars will introduce you to key topics in the study of Ancient History. The purpose of these sessions is to provide you with the knowledge and skills that will enable you to better formulate and answer your own research questions by deepening your knowledge and understanding of the subject area.

The Graduate seminars are an opportunity for you to develop your understanding dynamically, e.g. by engaging in discussion of how you should go about addressing historical questions, the relative merits of different types of evidence or approach to the sources or by gaining clarification of any points that you do not yet fully understand. Your oral communication and presentation skills will be further developed as you will each during the course of the semester deliver two short research papers, each 15 minutes long plus questions.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

At the end of each 6 week block you will be required to give a short paper of 15 minutes’duration followed by questions. Both of these presentations will be assessed but only the highest mark will count towards your overall grade (10%). At the end of the semester you will be required to submit a 4000 word paper relating to one of the research approaches encountered during the course (90% of the overall grade). You should consult with a member of staff when selecting a research area / question.

Submitted work tests intended knowledge and skills outcomes, develops key skills in research, reading and writing.
This module can be made available to Erasmus students only with the agreement of the Head of Subject and of the Module Leader. This option must be discussed in person at the beginning of your exchange period. No restrictions apply to study-abroad, exchange and Loyola students.
All Erasmus students at Newcastle University are expected to do the same assessment as students registered for a degree.
Study-abroad, non-Erasmus exchange and Loyola students spending semester 1 only are required to finish their assessment while in Newcastle. This will take the form of an alternative assessment, as outlined in the formats below:

Modules assessed by Coursework and Exam:
The normal alternative form of assessment for all semester 1 non-EU study abroad students will be one essay in addition to the other coursework assessment (the length of the essay should be adjusted in order to comply with the assessment tariff); to be submitted no later than 12pm Friday of week 12. The essays should be set so as to assure coverage of the course content to date.

Modules assessed by Exam only:
The normal alternative form of assessment for all semester 1 non-EU study abroad students will be two 2,000 word written exercises; to be submitted no later than 12pm Friday of week 12. The essays should be set so as to assure coverage of the course content to date.

Modules assessed by Coursework only:
All semester 1 non-EU study abroad students will be expected to complete the standard assessment for the module; to be submitted no later than 12pm Friday of week 12. The essays should be set so as to assure coverage of the course content to date.

Study-abroad, non-Erasmus exchange and Loyola students spending the whole academic year or semester 2 are required to complete the standard assessment as set out in the MOF under all circumstances.

General Notes

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