CLAS44730: Independent Research Topic

• Advanced subject knowledge/skills in the proposed topic area (usually at Level 3).

• None.

• None.

• To provide students with an opportunity to undertake in-depth research into a topic which matches Departmental expertise but is not otherwise available in the Departments taught provision in any given year.
• To provide students with advanced, in-depth knowledge of the key literature, theories, concepts, arguments and debates that comprise the relevant topic.
• To provide students with the knowledge and skills required to pursue self-directed research on a specific topic, under the direction of a member of staff with relevant expertise.
• To equip students with extended research training in the form of one-to-one supervisions suitable to enhance their research preparation for PhD study.

• Content will reflect the teaching and research expertise of members of staff as demonstrated in our current module provision, staff research interests and Departmental research activities. Students should propose a topic and potential supervisor, and demonstrate that at the point of entry to the programme they have the necessary skills and knowledge to complete the project successfully.

Subject-specific Knowledge:

• Advanced, in-depth knowledge of research in the students chosen topic, including comprehensive understanding of previous scholarship and a sense of the current state of the field.
• Deep familiarity with all relevant source material for the chosen topic, including, as relevant, epigraphic, archaeological, numismatic, visual and literary sources.
• Knowledge of research methodologies appropriate to the material and topic.

Subject-specific Skills:

• The ability to plan and pursue effectively independent research in the students chosen topic area of Classics or Ancient History.
• The ability to engage in a theoretically sophisticated way with unmediated primary evidence, including, where relevant, ancient texts in the original languages.
• The ability to locate, access and evaluate relevant secondary literature, including, where relevant, secondary literature written in other modern languages and theoretical or methodological work.
• The ability to use libraries, online databases and other subject-specific resources necessary for graduate-level research in the students chosen field.

Key Skills:

• Critical assessment of different approaches, source types and methodologies.
• Self-discipline, responsibility and autonomy in pursuing a research project.
• The ability to produce independent research and to communicate its results with sophistication in both written and oral format.
• Effective use of IT resources, including word processing software and bibliographic databases.

• The module will involve 5 one-to-one supervision sessions. After initially agreeing a research topic, subsequent supervisions will further develop a students understanding and offer detailed feedback and guidance both in verbal form and in writing.
• A formative essay of 2000 words will be submitted as preparation for the summative.
• Summative assessment will usually be by a 5000-word extended essay or commentary; alternative assessment may be accepted if appropriate for the topic.

One 2,000 word essay or commentary (or other formative task agreed with the supervisor) which builds towards the summative assessment.

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