WEEK 1: INTRODUCTION: RESEARCHING THE CLASSICAL WORLD (Mondya, 24 January 2022)
24 Janeiro 2022, 14:00 • William Dominik
- WEEK 1: INTRODUCTION: RESEARCHING THE CLASSICAL WORLD
Discussão:
PROBLEMÁTICA DOS ESTUDOS ÇLÁSSICOS II (CLASSICS RESEARCH METHODS) (Master’s Level)
"O ACADEMÍCO ACIDENTAL: PESQUISANDO O MUNDO CLÁSSICO" (Prof. William J. Dominik)
TEACHING ARRANGEMENTS
SUMMARY: An overview of the areas, themes, and resources required to undertake research and of modern approaches to primary source material. The main objective is to guide students through the steps of engaging in research at the Master’s level through the completion of a series of assignments concerned with the writing of a research article and making a seminar presentation.
COURSE ID: CLAS4.920287
CREDITS: 6
LEVEL: Master’s
SEMESTER AND YEAR: Second semester, 2022
INSTRUCTOR: William J. Dominik (WJD)
e-mail: williamjdominik@campus.ul.pt / williamjdominik@hotmail.com
GUEST CLASSICS
RESEARCHERS: Professor Nereida Villagra Hidalgo
Professor
Paula Farmhouse Alberto
Professor
Maria Cristina Pimentel
Professor
Bernardo Mota
Professor Ana
Lóio (possible)
LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION: English. The instructor and guest researchers may speak in either English or Portuguese (or even in both languages). Assignments can be submitted in English or Portuguese and class discussion may occur in either language. This practice reflects the importance of both languages in the Portuguese scholarly community.
DAY AND HOURS: Monday, 14:00–15:30
DATES OF CLASSES (MONDAYS):
24, 31 January; 7, 14, 21 February; 7, 14, 21, 28 March; 4, 18 April; 2, 9 May
ROOM: C017.A
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course consists of an overview of the areas, themes, and resources
available to students of Classical Studies; the steps, strategies, skills, and
methodologies required to undertake research; the various academic styles used
by scholars; and the methods of argumentation appropriate to the discipline. A
number of sessions (4) will be presented by invited researchers dealing with
current topics relevant to research in Classical Studies in both the Portuguese
and international contexts.
The main focus of this course is on preparing students for the writing of their Master’s theses and includes discussion of various methodological issues and possible topics for development in a thesis. There will be some practical exercises concerned directly not only with the stages of research for and writing of an article but also with the presentation of a seminar based upon the results of the research undertaken.
SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY
Schaps, David M. Handbook for Classical Research. London 2010.
Beard, Mary and John Henderson. 1995. Classics: A Very Short Introduction.
Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Thornton, Bruce S. A Student’s Guide to Classics. Wilmington 2003.
ASSESSMENT PROCEDURES
WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS
35 per cent
Three written assignments
(10 + 10 + 15) to be completed at home and to be presented orally in class
SEMINAR PRESENTATION
20 per cent
FINAL WRITTEN WORK
25 per cent
ATTENDANCE, CLASS PREPARATION, AND ORAL PARTICIPATION
20 per cent
PLAGIARISM
The topic of academic plagiarism will be one of the issues discussed in this course. As a researcher you should make that all work submitted is entirely your own or is suitably referenced.
COURSE SCHEDULE
WEEK 1: INTRODUCTION: RESEARCHING THE CLASSICAL WORLD
Date: Monday, 24 January 2022
WEEK 2: SUBDISCIPLINES AND AREAS OF RESEARCH
Date: Monday, 31 January 2022
WEEK 3: CHOOSING A RESEARCH TOPIC / PRIMARY AND SECONDARY RESOURCES AND TOOLS
Date: Monday, 7 February 2022
WEEK 4: GREEK MYTHOGRAPHY AND MYTHOLOGY
Date: Monday, 14 February 2022
Guest Researcher: Professor Nereida
Villagra Hidalgo
WEEK 5: ASSIGNMENT 1 DUE—ABSTRACT AND RESEARCH PROPOSAL
Abstract and outline of research
proposal for a possible thesis, article, chapter, or dictionary article on a
selected topic.
WEEK 6: HOLIDAY (NO CLASS)—CARNIVAL
Date: Monday, 28 February 2022
WEEK 7: VISIGOTHIC LITERATURE / TEXTUAL CRITICISM AND HISTORY OF THE TRANSMISSION OF TEXTS
Date: Monday, 7 March 2022
Guest Researcher: Professor Paulo
Farmhouse Alberto
WEEK 8: ASSIGNMENT 2 DUE—PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SOURCES
Date: Monday, 14 March 2022
Lists
of primary sources (as edited texts) and secondary sources relevant to your
selected topic
WEEK 9: LATIN LITERATURE / RECEPTION OF CLASSICAL AUTHORS IN PORTUGUESE LITERATURE
Date: Monday, 21 March 2022
Guest Researcher: Professor Maria Cristina Pimentel
WEEK 10: ASSIGNMENT 3 DUE—LITERATURE REVIEW AND ARGUMENT
Date:
Monday, 28 March
2022
Literature review, revised abstract, and outline of
argument
WEEK 11: CLASSICAL CULTURE / HISTORY OF SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS
Date: Monday, 4 April 2022
Guest Researcher: Professor Bernardo
Mota
WEEK 12: HOLIDAY (NO CLASS)—EASTER
Date:
Monday, 11 April
2022
WEEK 13: SEMINAR PRESENTATIONS DUE
Date:
Monday, 18 April
2022
Oral presentations
WEEK 14: HOLIDAY (NO CLASS)—FREEDOM DAY
Date:
Monday, 25 April
2022
WEEK 15: SEMINAR PRESENTATIONS (CONTINUED) AND/OR LATIN POETRY OF THE FLAVIAN PERIOD
Date: Monday, 2 May 2022
Oral
presentations
Possible Guest
Researcher: Professor Ana
Lóio
WEEK 16: FINAL WRITTEN WORK DUE (WJD)
Date: Monday, 9 May 2022
Final draft
of article on selected topic
SUMMARY OF ASSIGNMENTS
ASSIGNMENT 1
Abstract and outline of research proposal for a possible thesis, article, chapter, or dictionary article on a selected topic.
You should suggest a general topic of investigation or ask a research question, then follow up by citing a few key primary and secondary sources that will enable you to discuss your topic or lead to an answer of the research question.
The abstract should be about 1 page (300-350 words).
A printed copy of Assignment 1 should be presented in class and an electronic copy should be sent to the instructor.
ASSIGNMENT 2
Lists of primary sources (as edited texts) and secondary sources relevant to your selected topic
You should compile a list of relevant primary secondary sources in the form of edited texts (and translations) and a list of possible secondary sources for your suggested topic.
These lists should be presented in the form of an actual bibliography at the end of an article or thesis/book. You should include the necessary edited texts and a minimum of 20 relevant books, chapters, or articles on your topic.
A printed copy of Assignment 2 should be presented in class and an electronic copy should be sent to the instructor.
ASSIGNMENT 3
Literature review, revised abstract, and outline of argument
Based upon your list of relevant secondary sources, you should write a review of the scholarly literature on the topic, which will form the basis of the literature review in the introduction of your article.
When you have completed your literature review, you should then go back and revise your abstract and outline of your research proposal to include a more specific thesis and outline of your argument. You should submit an updated abstract, the literature review, and a list of the relevant primary and secondary sources.
The minimum length is about 5 pages (1,500 words), excluding the revised abstract and appended lists of primary and secondary sources.
A printed copy of Assignment 3 should be presented in class and an electronic copy should be sent to the instructor.
SEMINAR PRESENTATION
The oral presentation will take the form of a research seminar in which you will present an overview of your topic or research question, outline the scholarly context and issues at stake, cite the various scholarly opinions based upon your literature review, and indicating what your approach is to the topic or question. Your presentation should be concerned with the primary material relevant to your topic and what the views of previous scholars are.
Consistent with standard scholarly practice, you should supply a handout or use a visual aid such as Powerpoint. You may mention issues that a larger investigation should explore but for which you do not have the time or space. Your conclusion should suggest what further avenues of exploration there could be on the topic.
Your presentation should take around 10 minutes (about 1,500 words) and, if time permits, will be followed by a very short discussion and question session.
A printed copy of the seminar presentation should be presented in class and an electronic copy should be sent to the instructor.
FINAL WRITTEN WORK
Your seminar presentation should be reshaped in the form of a short article consisting of an introduction, literature review, discussion and analysis of your selected topic, and a conclusion. You may want to think about including headings and subheadings. You should include relevant footnotes and use the author-date citation system of referencing.
The length of the final written draft should be around 10 pages (3,000 words), excluding the abstract, the lists of primary and secondary references at the end of the article, and footnotes.
A printed copy of the final written work should be presented in class and an electronic copy should be sent to the instructor.