73097 - Writing Lab (1) (LM) (G. B)

Course contents

In order to provide the students with the necessary tools for the mastery of philosophical writing and, if they so wish, for the internationalisation of their training, the contents of the Writing Lab will consist of (i) a theoretical thematization of academic writing, in the light of the relationship between the general idea of a philosophical text, its articulation and its realisation; (ii) a consequent thematization of the complementary moment of reading and textual analysis; (iii) the practice of writing at various levels of university life, both in relation to the student’s personal works and to the institutional exchanges that the student may be called upon to undertake in an international context along his/her future path. The Writing Lab will therefore focus on: a) the conception and argumentative articulation of a philosophical text with reference to various types of academic texts; b) practical exercises, both written and oral, individual and in group session, starting from the reading of philosophical texts of various kinds. The final paper will consist of a short essay structured according to the theoretical content covered during the course, the theme of which will essentially focus on a philosophically fundamental question, namely "what is philosophy?".

The language level of reference for the workshop is European B2.

The course will be held in the fourth period: Wednesdays, Thursday and Friday.

Readings/Bibliography

The teaching materials will be fully available on Virtuale and will essentially consist of: (a) manuals for academic writing (in English); (b) monographs of both a practical and theoretical nature on the subject of academic and philosophical writing; (c) texts drawn from the sphere of ancient (Plato, Aristotle), modern (Kant) and contemporary philosophy (Nagel, Russell, Deleuze and Guattari, Brentano, Husserl, Heidegger) starting from the eminently philosophical question that philosophy, or rather philosophers, ask themselves, namely "what is philosophy? ".

Bibliographical indications to support non-attending students:

- Lewis Vaughn, Writing Philosophy. A Student's Guide to Writing Philosophy Essays, Oxford University Press, New York - Oxford, 2006.

- Andrea Iacona, L'argomentazione, Einaudi, Turin 2005.

Teaching methods

Working under the supervision of the lecturer, students will produce various types of texts in English. The workshop is intended to be interactive: in addition to lectures on the theoretical aspects of the subject concerned –including the introduction and explanation of the philosophical content on which the practical exercises will then focus– students will be asked to be willing to express themselves and to argue in classroom as well as work in group sessions. During the workshop, students will make an oral presentation (possibly with slides) on texts agreed upon with the lecturer. The theme of the oral presentation will then be developed into a short essay that the student will present and discuss during the final exam. The short essay must be delivered approximately two weeks before the exam.

Assessment methods

For attending students

In addition to (informal) ongoing assessment, the exam will consist of the presentation and discussion of a written short essay on a topic agreed upon with the lecturer during the workshop (the essay must be handed in approximately two weeks before the date of the exam).

The exam is conceived as to assess the student's achievement of the learning objectives, by verifying that he/she is able to produce and present an argumentative text in English, mastering the basic tools of philosophical writing.

The exam is considered passed if the written text presents the basic characteristics of a philosophical argumentative text.

The exam is considered failed if it contains serious conceptual errors and does not have the characteristics of an argumentative philosophical text.

For non-attending students

The exam consists of the presentation and discussion of a written text in English on a topic agreed in advance with the lecturer and handed in at least two weeks before the exam. To this must be added the reading of texts (chosen from the bibliography) of theoretical and practical nature on the subject of academic and philosophical writing.

The exam is conceived as to assess the student’s achievement of the learning objectives, by verifying that he/she is able to produce an argumentative text in English, mastering the basic tools of philosophical writing.

The exam is considered passed if the written text has the basic characteristics of a philosophical argumentative text.

The exam is considered failed if the text contains serious conceptual errors and does not have the characteristics of an argumentative philosophical text.

Teaching tools

During the workshop, the lecturer may use PowerPoint slides, as well as photocopies and computer facilities for exercises.

Office hours

See the website of Emanuele Mariani