Modules
Research Skills in Classics, Ancient History and Theology (CTHM007)
| Staff | Dr Claire Holleran - Convenor Professor Morwenna Ludlow - Convenor |
|---|---|
| Credit Value | 30 |
| ECTS Value | 15 |
| NQF Level | 7 |
| Pre-requisites | None |
| Co-requisites | None |
| Duration of Module | Term 1: 11 weeks; Term 2: 11 weeks; Term 3: 6 weeks; |
Module aims
The module aims to:
- Deepen your understanding of the place of the disciplines of Classics and Ancient History and Theology and Religion in the modern world
- Develop your subject-specific research skills by introducing you to a range of methodological approaches and conceptual frameworks
- Provide training in formulating and developing a major research project
- Improve your ability to critically evaluate the methodology, arguments, and communication skills of others working within your discipline
- Develop your own skills in the practice of research communication, both written and oral
ILO: Module-specific skills
- 1. Demonstrate advanced ability to formulate and write a cogent research proposal for your MA dissertation, including the ability to articulate the objectives, aims and scholarly context, to construct a viable work schedule, and to formulate a structure for the proposed dissertation
- 2. Demonstrate advanced ability to understand, analyse and interpret relevant theoretical and methodological approaches
- 3. Demonstrate advanced ability to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of researchers use of evidence, interpretation, and argument
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
- 4. Demonstrate advanced ability to understand and interpret source material and data using specialist approaches
- 5. Demonstrate advanced research-presentation skills
- 6. Demonstrate advanced critical reading skills, specifically the ability to extrapolate methodologies that are implicit in secondary scholarship and evaluate their usefulness
ILO: Personal and key skills
- 7. Demonstrate the ability to communicate clearly and creatively in oral and in written form
- 8. Demonstrate advanced ability to plan and undertake an extended independent project
- 9. Demonstrate capacity for independent critical analysis
Syllabus plan
The module will focus on developing your understanding of the disciplines and your methodological skills. This may include the following sessions over the two terms:
- What is methodology?
- Disciplines and decolonisation
- Writing a research proposal
- Translation
- Digital Humanities
- Social-scientific approaches
- Reception Studies
- Writing skills
You will also attend a number of discipline-specific research seminars in order to develop your skills of critical analysis further, as well as deepen your knowledge of your chosen discipline, and take part in a dissertation symposium in Term Three.
Throughout the three terms, you will be expected to work on your dissertation, discussing ideas with the module convenors and your supervisor, compiling a bibliography, working on your proposal, and researching and writing the dissertation itself.
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 34 | 266 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled learning and teaching | 24 | Seminars (12 x 2 hours) |
| Scheduled learning and teaching | 6 | Attendance at discipline-specific research seminars (4 x 1.5 hours) |
| Scheduled learning and teaching | 4 | Dissertation symposium (1 x 4 hours) |
| Guided independent study | 266 | Independent study |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Book review | 750 words | 2, 3, 6, 7, 9 | Written and oral feedback from module convenors |
| Draft of research proposal | 1000 words | 1-9 | Oral feedback from peers and module convenors |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Research proposal | 40 | 1500 words | 1-9 | Written feedback, with opportunity to discuss with individual tutor. |
| Presentation at dissertation symposium | 20 | 20-minute individual presentation | 2-9 | Written feedback, with opportunity to discuss with individual tutor. |
| Book review of two books OR Critical assessment of two research papers OR one of each | 40 | 2500 words in total (1250 per assignment) | 2, 3, 6, 7, 9 | Written feedback, with opportunity to discuss with individual tutor. |
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research proposal | Research proposal (1500 words) | 1-9 | Referral/Deferral period |
| Presentation at dissertation symposium | Script of presentation and handout (2000 words) | 2-9 | Referral/Deferral period |
| Book review of two books OR Critical assessment of two research papers OR one of each | Book review of two books OR Critical assessment of two research papers OR one of each (2500 words in total, 1250 per assignment) | 2, 3, 6, 7, 9 | 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. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 50%.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Basic reading:
- R. Burns, Introduction to Research Methods. London, 2000.
- F. Cotrell, The Study Skills Handbook. London, 2003.
- K.E. Rudestam, et al. Surviving your Dissertation. Thousand Oaks, Calif., 2001
Module has an active ELE page?
Yes
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
Indicative learning resources - Other resources
- To be recommended by tutors of individual sessions.
Available as distance learning?
No
Origin date
01/09/2012
Last revision date
25/04/2023
Key words search
Classics, Ancient History, Theology, Religion, methodology, research