- Docente: Beatrice Sboro
- Credits: 2
- Language: Italian
- Teaching Mode: In-person learning (entirely or partially)
- Campus: Ravenna
- Corso: Single cycle degree programme (LMCU) in Law (cod. 5903)
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from Sep 22, 2026 to Oct 14, 2026
Learning outcomes
The course enables students to: (a) acquire the skills and tools necessary to conduct legal research, including an understanding of the main methodological approaches used in this field; (b) develop the ability to critically analyze existing legal literature and synthesize the main arguments clearly and concisely; (c) learn the techniques for writing a thesis; (d) acquire the skills necessary to present their research effectively and persuasively.
Course contents
The course is structured to guide students in planning and writing their thesis, addressing:
1) the types, characteristics, and requirements of theses;
2) the choice and delimitation of the topic;
3) the research of sources and the study of the bibliography;
4) defining research questions;
5) structuring the thesis;
6) the use of statutory, doctrinal, and case law sources in the text and footnotes;
7) drafting and finalizing the thesis;
8) compiling the final bibliography;
9) summarizing the thesis and writing the abstract;
10) the final review and formal editing of the thesis;
11) the potential and limitations of using AI in thesis work.
Please note that the course will be carried out in Italian.
Readings/Bibliography
The teaching materials will be uploaded on Virtuale.
For further references, it is recommended to read the following books:
T.F. Giupponi, A. Morrone, D. Tega, La tesi di laurea in scienze giuridiche, Bologna, Libreria Bonomo, 2002.
A. Meloncelli, Come scrivere un libro giuridico. Tesi di laurea, monografie, articoli di riviste (ricerca dei dati, stesura del dattiloscritto, stampa), Rimini, Maggioli, 1987.
U. Eco, Come si fa una tesi di laurea. Le materie umanistiche, Milano, Bompiani, 1977.
You may also refer to:
https://www.phrasebank.manchester.ac.uk/
Teaching methods
The workshop program combines lectures — dedicated to explaining the main methods and tools of legal research — with practical exercises (both individual and group) and group discussions, in which students are guided in applying the knowledge acquired during the sessions.
Practical activities include using databases to research and consult legal literature and case law, developing bibliographic research strategies, critically analyzing and creating thesis indexes, and reviewing academic texts to identify formal errors and critical issues, thereby familiarizing students with the factors that affect the quality of a thesis.
Assessment methods
Assessment of student performance varies depending on the student’s attendance.
Attending students will be evaluated based on the work produced during the workshop, as well as their participation in instructional activities and discussions.
Students who have attended at least 5 of the 7 scheduled sessions are considered attending students.
Students who have not met the required attendance will be evaluated based on the submission of a short paper (maximum 30.000 characters, including notes and spaces), accompanied by the main preparatory activities for the writing of the paper, including a selected bibliography, a table of contents, an abstract and a final bibliography.
Office hours
See the website of Beatrice Sboro