Learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
Edited: When you complete your studies for this specialism, you will have knowledge and understanding of:
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the different cultural issues involved in study of ancient traditions, and the skills necessary for evaluation of their sources
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the different disciplines, sources, debates, methodologies, and concepts involved in any study of the ancient world
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particular key periods of the ancient world, their reception in post-classical cultures and modern scholarship
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basic Greek and/or Latin, including a basic vocabulary (and understanding of inflection) and grammatical and syntactical structures, and of Greek and Latin at a higher level, if you have studied our language modules.
Cognitive skills
Edited: When you complete your studies for this specialism, you will be able to:
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understand and evaluate ancient sources, written (in original languages and/or in translation) and material, bearing in mind historical context and issues of interpretation and translation
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apply an interdisciplinary understanding to the study of the ancient world
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evaluate secondary scholarship and present-day presentations of the ancient world
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think and argue logically, and develop, apply, and test hypotheses and assumptions
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design, organise and complete work on a self-selected topic
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in Greek and/or Latin language, if you study these modules, recognise via the structure of words a range of grammatical types; perceive the structure of words in Greek/Latin and operate rules of inflection; and analyse the structure of simple sentences and prose.
Practical and/or professional skills
Edited: When you complete your studies for this specialism, you will be able to:
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use various kinds of scholarly resource/apparatus to find out more about the classical world
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use appropriate conventions for referencing (such as printed materials, audio-visual material, websites)
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use skills appropriate for reading ancient literary texts (in the original if you study the language modules, or in translation), plans and maps, inscriptions
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understand that historical interpretations must be made on the basis of evidence and that judgements about the present may not be appropriate to the past
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approach the study of classical languages.
Key skills
Edited: When you complete your studies for this specialism, you will be able to demonstrate that you can:
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study a complex subject, read and synthesize substantial amounts of material, discuss a complex subject in writing, and contribute competently to group discussions about a complex subject
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learn from a variety of media and teaching methods, seek and use feedback from the tutor, work with self-assessment, and reflect on the learning process and on the evidence of learning
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study and plan independently
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(if you study the language modules) read, write and memorize vocabulary from Latin or Greek and translate out of/into Greek or Latin, seen and unseen, showing appreciation of linguistic issues
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use computers to access data including web-based sites
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know where number skills are relevant in these subjects and how to approach statistical tables.
Teaching, learning and assessment methods
Edited: The skills and knowledge and understanding you will be developing during your study of this specialism are promoted through published written and audio-visual study materials. You may also like to know that an introduction to some of the elements of knowledge and understanding are provided in the Classical Studies component of AA100 and other interdisciplinary modules. Particular key periods and their reception, such as the Homeric World, the fifth century BCE, and the Roman Empire, are dealt with in the specified modules for the specialism. You will find that the complexity of work increases within each module and also from second to third levels. As you progress, you will be helped by a variety of materials and support which include in-text questions, assignment guides, specimen exam papers, the availability of face-to-face tutorials, and detailed tutor feedback on your assignments. Some modules also offer electronic resources.
Assessment methods include short-answer questions, essays, extended essays and projects, self-assessment in-text questions, as well as examination. A330 contains extended essay/project work.
The opportunity to develop knowledge of basic Greek and/or Latin and of higher level Latin is offered in the language modules. Initial help is provided in English grammatical structures in relation to ancient language; guided reading of Greek/Latin in set text readers; and basic vocabulary lists. You will be assessed in this area through short exercises in text, through TMAs and through exam (which provides the ‘unseen’ context). Your skills development will be assessed through exercises involving progressive learning and memorization of syntax, vocabulary, and grammar.