73097 - Writing Lab (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

Three main objectives: (1) to acquire a thorough knowledge of the structure of a philosophical essay as a preparatory work for the dissertation; (2) to know and be able to apply the standard editing rules for a scientific publication; (3) to be able to carry out an exhaustive bibliographical research on paper and digital directories, and to know how to correctly set up an essay of annotated bibliography.

Course contents

The Writing Laboratory introduces students to philosophical, critical, and academic writing through three core areas: (a) a theoretical section exploring the structural elements of philosophical argumentation, grounded in the analysis and discussion of foundational texts (e.g., Plato’s Phaedrus); (b) a hands-on practical section focusing on the structural analysis of various philosophical genres, standard academic formatting rules, and the essential tools for bibliographic research and compiling an annotated bibliography; (c) in-class writing sessions dedicated to drafting short essays based on selected texts.

By the end of the course, students will have gained a solid grasp of the structure and techniques of philosophical writing. They will be able to apply editorial standards consistently, conduct effective bibliographic research, and successfully organize their sources.

Readings/Bibliography

(i) Theoretical-conceptual section:

- Platone, Fedro, a cura di M. Bonazzi, Einaudi, Torino 2011 (or any other edition).

- R. Barthes, Variazioni sulla scrittura-Il piacere del testo [1971-1973], a cura di C. Ossola, Einaudi, Torino 1999. 

- P. Hadot, Che cos’è la filosofia antica [1995], Einaudi, Torino 1998 (Part Two, in particular Chapter IX: Filosofia e discorso filosofico, pp. 167-223). 

- P. D'Angelo (a cura di), Forme letterarie della filosofia, Carocci, Roma 2012.

(ii) Practical-operational section:

- C. Dell'Aversano, A. Grilli (a cura di), La scrittura argomentativa. Dal saggio breve alla tesi di dottorato, Le Monnier, Firenze 2005.

- A. Iacona, L'argomentazione, Einaudi, Torino 2010.

- M. Santambrogio, Manuale di scrittura (non creativa), Laterza, Roma-Bari 2006.

- U. Eco, Come si fa una tesi di laurea: le materie umanistiche, Bompiani 2013.

 

Teaching methods

The first part of the course – section (a) – will consist of lectures delivered by the professor.

The second part – sections (b) and (c) – will consist of lectures and in-class practical exercises, during which students will analyze philosophical essays and produce short written texts under the professor's guidance.

Assessment methods

For Attending Students

The final assessment is based on a written essay (approx. 20,000 characters, including spaces and footnotes) on a topic previously agreed upon with the professor. The essay must be sent in PDF format to the professor's email address at least two weeks before the exam date. 

The exam is assessed on a pass/fail basis to verify the achievement of the learning outcomes. To secure a passing grade, the essay must be grammatically and syntactically flawless, while successfully meeting the following three criteria: (1) it must display the core structural features of a philosophical argumentative essay; (2) it must comply with standard editorial guidelines for academic publications; and (3) it must demonstrate a coherent bibliographic framework alongside a critical, well-structured use of sources.

Students will not receive a passing grade if the essay does not satisfy all three of the aforementioned criteria.

 

For Non-Attending Students

The examination consists of a written essay and an oral discussion. Students are required to draft a paper (approximately 20,000 characters, including spaces and footnotes) on a topic agreed upon with the professor during the course. The essay must be sent in PDF format to the professor's email address at least two weeks before the exam date. 

The oral component will then focus on the discussion of the essay itself, alongside an examination of one of the texts listed in the practical-operational section (ii).

 

Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI)

The use of GenAI tools (such as ChatGPT, Claude, etc.) is permitted exclusively as a methodological and revision aid. The following are allowed: summarizing, brainstorming, linguistic clarification, syntactic suggestions, and bibliography formatting.

It is strictly forbidden to use AI to generate entire sections of text. The paper must remain the product of the student's own original intellectual work.

If GenAI tools have been used, the student is required to include a brief statement at the end of the paper, specifying which tools were used, for which activities, and explicitly indicating which parts of the work were completed with their assistance. A template for this statement is available on the University Policy webpage (https://www.unibo.it/it/ateneo/statuto-norme-strategie-bilanci/intelligenza-artificiale/citazione-GenAI).

 

Exam sessions

For the 2026/2027 academic year, exams will be held in the following months: January, February, June, July, September, and October 2027.

 

Students with disabilities and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students with disabilities or Specific Learning Disorders have the right to special adjustments according to their condition, following an assessment by the Service for Students with Disabilities and SLD. Please do not contact the instructor but get in touch with the Service directly to schedule an appointment. It will be the responsibility of the Service to determine the appropriate adjustments.

For more information, visit the page: https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students.

It is recommended that students contact the University office in advance. Any proposed adjustments must be submitted at least 15 days in advance for the instructor’s approval, who will evaluate their appropriateness in relation to the learning objectives of the course.

 

 

Teaching tools

PowerPoint slides will be used throughout the course. The slides will then be made available for download on Virtuale.

Office hours

See the website of Manuel Fiori