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Module

CAC2001 : Researching the Classics

  • Offered for Year: 2025/26
  • Module Leader(s): Dr Richard Marshall
  • Lecturer: Dr Susanna Phillippo, Professor Athanassios Vergados
  • Owning School: History, Classics and Archaeology
  • Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters

Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.

Semester 1 Credit Value: 10
Semester 2 Credit Value: 10
ECTS Credits: 10.0
European Credit Transfer System

Aims

This module is designed both as a ‘training module’ to prepare students for independent study and research on aspects of the classical world, and as an opportunity to be introduced to, and to read and study for themselves, some key literary texts from the classical Greek and Roman world which they may not otherwise have the opportunity to study in depth within the taught syllabus.

This module aims to:
• Provide training for students in the skills necessary for undertaking independent study/research in Classical literature and culture, particularly as required for the dissertation/special study Classics modules;
• Introduce students to, and give them the opportunity to study, a range of key literary texts from the classical world.

Outline Of Syllabus

The module involves studying a selection of texts from classical Greek and Latin literature with a view to developing skills associated with independent study and research. Lectures will use the texts to focus on skills and approaches; in the workshops, students can practise these skills in a discussion environment. A series of written assignments will allow students to practise the skills that they have learnt.

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion501:0050:00N/A
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture181:0018:00n/a
Guided Independent StudyDirected research and reading411:0041:00N/A
Guided Independent StudySkills practice401:0040:00N/A
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesWorkshops41:004:00n/a
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesWorkshops21:002:00Jointly taught with Careers Service.
Guided Independent StudyIndependent study451:0045:00N/A
Total200:00
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Lectures will introduce the texts to be studied, some of the research problems they involve, and possible lines of approach to these. They also introduce and demonstrate a range of the most important skills for independent study and research. Workshops provide the students with the opportunity to practise one or more of those skills.

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Other Assessment
Description Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Written exercise1A402000 words, assesses sem. 1 learning
Written exercise2A602000 words, assesses sem. 2 learning
Formative Assessments

Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.

Description Semester When Set Comment
Written exercise2MDraft thesis title. Maximum 75 words.
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The two summative assignments are designed for students to apply cumulatively the relevant research skills taught throughout the module. This enables them gradually to develop and hone the requisite skills while applying them to specific classical evidence.

The formative written exercise in semester 2 is part of the research training, specifically with regard to the formulation of an appropriate research question; it will feed-forward into an aspect of written exercise two.

Because the skills taught in this module develop cumulatively, written exercise 1 has a formative as well as a summative purpose, and greater wight is therefore given to the second written exercise, by which time students will have had more time to develop the relevant skills.

Reading Lists

Timetable