CAH3000 : Portfolio in Ancient History II: Dissertation
- Offered for Year: 2024/25
- Module Leader(s): Dr Don Miller
- Lecturer: Dr Susanna Phillippo, Dr Simon Corcoran, Professor Federico Santangelo
- Other Staff: Dr Joseph Skinner, Dr John Holton, Dr Micaela Langellotti
- Owning School: History, Classics and Archaeology
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 20 |
| Semester 2 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 20.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
CAH3000 portfolio II is an independent study module assessed by a dissertation submitted in semester 2.
The aims of this module are to foster research skills and to provide an opportunity to investigate in some depth, with appraisal of selected source material and critical examination of current historiography, an issue selected by the student (and approved by a member of staff) for a dissertation’
Outline Of Syllabus
Portfolio II is a research-focussed module based principally on private study (devised to be taken in conjunction with the pre-requisite module Portfolio I.
Students write a dissertation on a topic of their choice (but approved by a
staff member).
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 192 | 1:00 | 192:00 | N/A |
| Guided Independent Study | Directed research and reading | 77 | 1:00 | 77:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Workshops | 3 | 1:00 | 3:00 | Skills workshop sessions |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Workshops | 9 | 1:00 | 9:00 | Introductory sessions, skills and library sessions, shared with CAC3000, CAC3020, CLA3090 |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Dissertation/project related supervision | 5 | 1:00 | 5:00 | Individual Dissertation tutorials |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 114 | 1:00 | 114:00 | N/A |
| Total | 400:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
The scheduled contact sessions are used to (1) emphasize and clarify the arrangements, to ensure that students have all the information needed to do their work independently; (2) summarize and discuss, and thereby reinforce, the skills needed for independent writing and researching as taught in the previous years (particularly in the Stage-2 skills modules): study skills, writing skills, and awareness of research methods and tools.
Workshop sessions are used to reinforce skills training and give students the opportunity to practise specific skills on evidence relevant to their dissertation.
The supervision tutorials are used to support students individually in formulating their research questions, in structuring their writing, in finding their way in the scholarly literature, and in analyzing the texts (and other materials) used in their project; and to encourage them in further developing their skills at independent work.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dissertation | 2 | M | 95 | Dissertation of 12,000 words (the word count includes footnotes and appendices, but not bibliography) |
| Research proposal | 1 | M | 5 | Students must submit a detailed essay plan worth 5% of the dissertation module. 700-900 words |
Formative Assessments
Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.
| Description | Semester | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Written exercise | 2 | M | 1 chapter section of c. 1,500 words submitted for comment to supervisor |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
Students must submit an essay plan, due in the course of Semester 1. This plan ensures that students come to grips with their topic at an early stage, so that they have enough time to write the dissertation itself, and a firm basis on which to do so.
The dissertation assesses students’ knowledge and understanding of their chosen topic and of the issues involved in it; their ability independently to apply skills of analysis and interpretative tools to a topic beyond the taught syllabus; and their skills of initiative, planning, organisation and adaptability in selecting and defining an appropriate topic, assembling relevant primary and secondary material, outlining the approach to be taken, and organising a schedule for completing the various stages of the project. It also assesses their skills in written communication.
Submitted work tests intended knowledge and skills outcomes, develops key skills in research, reading and writing.
This module cannot be made available to exchange students under any circumstances. This applies to Erasmus, study-abroad, exchange proper and Loyola students equally.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- CAH3000's Timetable