• Offered for Year: 2025/26

• Module Leader(s): Dr Susanna Phillippo
• Lecturer: Dr Sally Waite

• 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.

Aims

To allow students to build on skills and knowledge acquired in CLA2099 and work at a more advanced level to
•       develop their insight into and ability to analyse the interrelationship between the literature and/or other cultural products of the classical world, and texts in English literature, drama and/or film.
•       develop an in-depth interdisciplinary study that reflects their own particular interests and intellectual strengths.
•       demonstrate an ability to plan, conceptualise, research and execute an extended piece of work.
•       synthesise their subject-specific skills in critical thinking, writing and presentation in a piece of independent and interdisciplinary research.

Outline Of Syllabus

This module allows students to write at length on a self-directed topic which uses conceptual and methodological approaches and primary source materials from Classics and English Literature and is thus interdisciplinary in character. The project must focus on examining the relationships of influence, adaptation, and/or appropriation between their chosen classical and English texts, but (subject to the availability of suitable supervisors) students have considerable freedom to select from ancient material culture as well as literature, and to explore their reception in film or theatre as well as literary genres.

Students will be asked to identify their likely area of interest at the end of their second year and be required to produce a research plan in the first half of semester 1 of their third year. In this process they will be supported by the module leaders and provided with a series of guided learning activities to support them in their initial planning. They will be assigned a supervisory team with representation from both Schools and be expected to work with that team over the course of the dissertation module. In regular meetings, they will discuss the overall design of their dissertation and have the opportunity to receive feedback on a submitted plan and annotated bibliography, as well as written feedback on up to 1500 words of draft writing. Further guided learning activities throughout the year will support student reflection on academic skills, independent research, approaches to argument, and scholarly presentation.

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities

Jointly Taught With

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Students will be guided initially by the module leader and then directed to consult with assigned members of staff about their topic and approach.

There will be regular consultation with the supervisors over the 2 semesters to check progress and to support reading, study and conceptual approach. Students are given more formal support with the series of guided learning activities.

These methods support the student in achieving the main aims of the dissertation, to develop skills of independent working and to plan and complete an extended piece of research.

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Other Assessment

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.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The plan for the essay allows students to demonstrate their skills of planning and organisation, and their initiative and adaptability in selecting and defining an appropriate question and sources for the project within their chosen topic field, and in outlining the approach to be taken.

The extended submitted project assesses student’s knowledge and understanding of their chosen topic in relation to the general field of classical influence and the issues this involves; their ability to apply skills of literary analysis and interpretative tools, and/or of analysis of material and pictorial culture, to a comparative/‘source-study’ topic; and their skills of initiative, planning, organisation and adaptability in selecting and defining an appropriate question for the essay within their chosen topic field, 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. One chapter can be submitted as formative work for comment and guidance by the supervisor.

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

• CLA3090's Reading List

Timetable

• Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
• CLA3090's Timetable