Undergraduate Course: Classics Dissertation (combined degree with MEL)Part 1: preparation (CLGE10004)
Course Outline
| School | School of History, Classics and Archaeology |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
| Course type | Dissertation |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | Students on the combined degree of Modern European Languages and Classics may choose to write a dissertation on a classical topic. For Classics, a dissertation (in English) of 12,000 - 14,000 words is to be submitted in March of Year 4. The period of study abroad will include preparatory work on the dissertation: researching and defining a suitable topic, compiling bibliography, and initial drafting of a portion of the dissertation. |
| Course description |
The dissertation is an extended piece of work that investigates independently a topic or problem, body of evidence or text. It counts as the equivalent of two courses and has a credit weighting of 40 points. It is a freestanding project that is not connected to a particular course. It is not a postgraduate thesis, in which an original contribution is required, but it should represent an investigation of a chosen topic, carried out with a critical analysis and reasoned treatment of evidence and issues. The most distinctive feature and test of the dissertation is that it is up to the student to organise and see the project through to completion. While the supervisor will be an important resource for the student, the student, not the supervisor is in charge of the project. Success hinges on regular work and discipline.
The procedure of preparing, researching and writing-up the dissertation is as follows:
By the end of Year 3, students are required to propose a specific question for investigation, after consultation with a relevant member of staff. Over the summer each student will be assigned a supervisor for Year 4 and, as far as possible, should do most of the reading required for their project. In Sem 1 of Year 4 the student will meet with their supervisor and attend a number of seminars (e.g. on the planning and structure and on constructing an argument). Later that semester, students will be required to take part in presentations, that is, to present their topic to a small group of your fellow students and a member of staff. Students should be in regular contact with their supervisor throughout Year 4. It is not possible to change supervisors except in extreme circumstances The supervisor will give guidance, and may comment on a draft of part of the work, but never reads the whole work before submission.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2017/18, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Full Year |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
196 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Please contact the School directly for a breakdown of Assessment Methods
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Assessed by dissertation, submitted in Year 4. There is no separate form of assessment in Year 3. |
| Feedback |
Students correspond with their dissertation supervisor whilst abroad to discuss potential topics and receive feedback. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- demonstrate skills in studying and researching independently and working to a schedule on their own;
- demonstrate the ability to identify and define a research problem in an area of classical studies;
- demonstrate the ability to analyse that problem, to understand and evaluate its relation to primary source material;
- demonstrate the ability to reflect critically upon relevant scholarship, and distinguish primary evidence from secondary sources and interpretations;
- demonstrate the ability to present their findings in an intelligible form, containing a sustained, coherent argument supported by appropriate primary evidence, and engaged with the contributions of others, i.e. modern scholars.
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Reading List
| There is no standard reading list, because the students¿ reading will depend on their chosen dissertation topic. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Special Arrangements |
Students will be studying abroad in their third year. Contact will be maintained with relevant Edinburgh staff, normally by email. |
| Keywords | Classics Dissertation Preparation |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Simon Trepanier
Tel: (0131 6)50 3589
Email: |
Course secretary | Ms Amanda Campbell
Tel: (0131 6)50 2501
Email: |
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