27276 - Laboratory (1) (Ant.)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the workshop students will able to formulate a research path by collecting, selecting and organizing data and document information thanks to the specific tools acquired during the learning activity; they will be able to analyse in critical way documentary, material, iconographic sources in a diachronic perspective. They will able to write a short text autonomously. They will have achieved methodological rigour, and they will be accurate and precise.

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 in the following dates and timetable:

AULA MORANDI
mercoledì 16, 23, 30 ottobre h. 13-15
venerdì 11, 18, 25 ottobre h. 13-15

mercoledì 13, 20, 27 novembre h. 13-15
venerdì 15, 22, 29 novembre h. 13-15

lunedì 10, 17, 24 febbraio 2020 h. 13-15
martedì 11, 18, 25 febbraio 2020 h. 13-15

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 3 hours).

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.

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

Teaching tools

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

The 'problem based' asseignments and work groups can be carried out in the same 'IOL' platform. 

Office hours

See the website of Carla Salvaterra