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Module

CAG3001 : Level 3 Greek: Interpretation of Texts

  • Offered for Year: 2020/21
  • Module Leader(s): Professor Athanassios Vergados
  • Owning School: History, Classics and Archaeology
  • Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Semester 1 Credit Value: 20
ECTS Credits: 10.0

Aims

This module aims:
1. To further develop students' skills in reading, interpreting and analysing original literary texts in Greek;
2. To further develop students' knowledge and understanding of the nature of specific Greek literary texts, and of problems and issues involved in the study of those texts.

Outline Of Syllabus

Students taking this module will undertake work on literary texts in the original Greek. The particular texts will be determined on a yearly basis, taking into account the need to avoid overlap between a student's Stages 2 and 3 (and, where relevant, their Master's stage).

Teaching Methods

Please note that module leaders are reviewing the module teaching and assessment methods for Semester 2 modules, in light of the Covid-19 restrictions. There may also be a few further changes to Semester 1 modules. Final information will be available by the end of August 2020 in for Semester 1 modules and the end of October 2020 for Semester 2 modules.

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture181:0018:00Small group language class (synchronous teaching via zoom/teams)
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion601:0060:0039% of guided independent study
Guided Independent StudyDirected research and reading781:0078:0050% of guided independent study
Structured Guided LearningStructured research and reading activities271:0027:00Engagement with scholarship and its application on the set text. Training in philological skills.
Guided Independent StudyIndependent study171:0017:0011% of guided independent study
Total200:00
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Language classes fulfill several functions: continuous monitoring of students' translation of the set text by round-the-class translation; practice in unseen translation; practice in critical analysis and appreciation of the set texts; return of exercises done in students' own time.

Classes will also cover important subject-specific skills including use of scholarly resources such as commentaries, apparatus criticus etc.

Structured learning activities will hone the students' ability to engage critically with scholarship on the set text and to discuss it in a constructive manner (e.g. through answering questions on the module's VLE page).

Assessment Methods

Please note that module leaders are reviewing the module teaching and assessment methods for Semester 2 modules, in light of the Covid-19 restrictions. There may also be a few further changes to Semester 1 modules. Final information will be available by the end of August 2020 in for Semester 1 modules and the end of October 2020 for Semester 2 modules.

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

Exams
Description Length Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Written Examination991A6048 hr take-home exam. This format is the most suitable for assessing students' ability to translate/interpret seen and unseen texts.
Other Assessment
Description Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Essay1M402,000 words, essay on set text
Formative Assessments
Description Semester When Set Comment
Written exercise1MShort exercises on canvas, testing students' understanding of the material taught.
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The submitted work (essay 1) assesses students' knowledge and interpretative understanding of the texts studied, with particular reference to the application of their linguistic knowledge, engagement with scholarship, and their skills in presenting in a structured written discussion their views and analyses of key issues regarding the texts.

The alternative assessment (take-home exam) assesses students' understanding Greek texts studied in the module in the original; they may additionally test other related linguistic skills as applied to those texts (e.g. textual criticism), including the translation of (and questions on) unseens.


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

Reading Lists

Timetable