27276 - Laboratory (1) (Ant.)

Learning outcomes

By the end of the workshop students will be able to plan a research path, collecting, selecting and organizing data and documentary information thanks to the specific tools acquired during the course unit; they will be able to analyse documentary, material and iconographic sources in a critical light and from a diachronic perspective. They will able to write a short text without assistance. They will have learned to be methodologically rigorous and precise. Attuned to group work, they will have learned judgment on a professional, human and ethical plane.

Course contents

In the first part of the Laboratory, common to all the students of the degree corurse in History, will be examined the bibliographic tools of general interest, also in their digital versions, useful for the preparation of a thesis in the historical disciplines, for a total of 12 hours

The teaching activity includes a first part, common to all students of the Degree Course in History, in which general-interest bibliographic tools will be examined, including their digital versions, useful for writing a thesis in historical disciplines, for a total of 12 hours.

The first part is held in shifts/sessions: it is mandatory to enroll in both the common part and the specific part.

Registrations are open from September 1 to October 20, 2026.

To register, you must send an email to Prof. Maria Pia Casalena: mariapia.casalena@unibo.it [mailto:mariapia.casalena@unibo.it], specifying which session of the common part you intend to attend and which one you choose among the Workshops (Laboratori) Ancient, Medieval, Modern, or Contemporary (Ant, Med, Mod, or Con). Registrations will be accepted until available spots are filled.

Each Workshop can have up to 25 enrolled students.

First session, common part (8 hours):
Monday, September 28: Aula Gambi, 1–3 PM
Monday, October 5: Aula Pascoli (Zamboni 32), 1–3 PM
Monday, October 12: Aula Gambi, 1–3 PM
Monday, October 19: Aula Gambi, 1–3 PM

Second session, common part (8 hours):
Monday, January 18: Aula Gambi, 1–3 PM
Tuesday, January 19: Aula Gambi, 1–3 PM
Monday, January 25: Aula Gambi, 1–3 PM
Tuesday, January 26: Aula Gambi, 1–3 PM

The second part of the Workshop activity includes specific lessons on the four chronological areas into which the Degree Course in History is divided, for a total of 18 hours, for which see the class schedule above.

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IMPORTANT ! it is necessary to sign up for one of the  options for the general parts and at the same time for the specific Workshop of chronological area (in our case Ancient History) until the places available for each lab are fully booked.

The second part of the activity of the Laboratory includes specific lessons on the four chronological areas in which the degree course in History is divided, for a total of 18 hours.

Regarding the lectures on the area of the Ancient History, we will cover the following issues:

1. The nature of a first cycle dissertation on the Ancient World and the choice of the subject (about 1 hour).
2. The specific reference tools: reference works, study guides, specialized encyclopedias (about 2 hours).
3. Specific tools for the research of modern bibliography (about 3 hours)
4. The creation of a bibliographic archive (about 1 hour).
5. The retrieval of ancient evidence: literary sources (about 2 hours).
6. The retrieval of ancient evidence: documentary sources (inscriptions, papyri, coins) and archaeological sources (about 3 hours).
7. Analysis of the modern bibliography (about 1 hour).
8. Analysis of ancient evidence (about 2 hours).
9. Writing the dissertation (about 1 hour).
10. The use of genAI tools and the University policy

The classes will be complemented by 'problem based' activities , in which students, working in small groups, will be required to use the tools and methods described in the lessons, in constant contact with the teache and the tutor of the course. This practical exercise will be aimed at producing a short essay (15,000 – 30,000 characters) on a theme concerning Ancient History, which must be delivered to the teacher at least one week before the examination.

Students with Specific Learning Difficulties and/or temporary or permanent disabilities: it is recommended to contact the responsible university office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students ) well in advance. The office will propose appropriate accommodations to interested students. Any accommodations must be submitted for approval to the lecturer at least 15 days before the exam date, who will evaluate their appropriateness in relation to the course learning outcomes.

Readings/Bibliography

Students will rely mainly on the lecture notes and slides discussed in the classroom, which will be available through the course website on the platform Insegnamenti on line (https://iol.unibo.it/).

A good general reference book for the preparation of a thesis: M. Centanni – C. Daniotti – A. Pedersoli, Istruzioni per scrivere una tesi, un paper, un saggio, Milano, Bruno Mondadori, 2004, also available at the Library of the Department of Storia Culture Civiltà – sezione di Archeologia, under the signature VARIA 276; at the Library of the Department of Classical and Italian Philology, under the signature DID 0284; at the University Library, under the signature BIBL.PROF. 808.02 CEN.

Also useful: P. Italia, Scrivere all'Università, Firenze, Le Monnier, 2014, also available at the Library of the Department of Filologia Classica e Italianistica, under the signature DID 0444 ESAMI; and in the Library of Discipline Umanistiche, under the placement ESAMI OO00 09488.

Specific for the writing of an essay in the historical disciplines R. Marius - M.E. Page, A Short Guide to Writing about History, New York, Longman, 2002⁴ or later edition, available at the teacher's office.

Teaching methods

Lectures introducing to the specific tools and methods of research in Ancient History. Activities in small groups, in which 2-4 students will be asked to use the tools and methods described in the lectures, in constant contact with the teacher and the tutor of the course. This practical activity will be aimed at writing a short essay (15,000 – 30,000 characters) on a theme concerning Ancient History.

Assessment methods

The assessment will take place in the form of an oral discussion of a short essay.

Starting from the results of short written essay (which must be delivered at least one week before the exam), the assessment will verify:

1. A good mastery in the use of general tools for historical studies and specific tools for Ancient History.
2. A good command of the methods of research in Ancient History.
3. A good mastery of written expression of a research in Ancient History, accuracy and precision in gathering and organizing data and information.
   

In order to achieve a grade of pass the student will need to achieve a positive assessment of all the three dimensions listed above.

The conscious and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence tools for writing the essay is permitted and encouraged, and requires knowledge of and compliance with the University's policy [https://www.unibo.it/it/ateneo/statuto-norme-strategie-bilanci/intelligenza-artificiale ] . If such tools are used, a mandatory section of critical analysis and reflection is required, on which detailed instructions will be provided during the seminar and on Virtuale.

The course unit will not give grades but a final pass/not pass assessment.

 

Students with Specific Learning Difficulties and/or temporary or permanent disabilities: it is recommended to contact the responsible university office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students ) well in advance. The office will propose appropriate accommodations to interested students. Any accommodations must be submitted for approval to the lecturer at least 15 days before the exam date, who will evaluate their appropriateness in relation to the course learning outcomes.

Exam sessions are scheduled for the following months of the academic year: january, March, May, June, July, October Please alwas check my website page > Teaching > Exam Sessions or in the Almaesami app. 

Teaching tools

In the lectures we will use PowerPoint slide shows, which will be published on the website of the course, on the platform Virtuale (https://virtuale.unibo.it/).

The 'problem based' asseignments and work groups should be carried out in the Library and using electorinic resources as explained in the same platform. 

Students who require specific services and adaptations to teaching activities due to a disability or specific learning disorders (SLD), must first contact the appropriate office: https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students .

Office hours

See the website of Carla Salvaterra