CL3FCC-From Classroom to Courtroom: Mastering the Art of Persuasion in the Ancient World

Module Provider: Classics
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:6
Terms in which taught: Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Dr Christa Gray
Email: c.m.gray@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

In a world without mass media, public speech (i.e. oratory) was the main way for politicians and other ambitious individuals to reach a large audience. This means that the skills required for public speech – the techniques of rhetoric – were indispensable for the development of a public profile. This module studies the relationship between the theory of rhetoric and the practice of oratory in antiquity. It caters for students interested in history, literature, and ancient languages (or all three) as it looks in depth at the construction of ancient speeches, at the skills required for composing and delivering them, and at the methods by which they were taught.

Aims:

• To provide an overview of ancient rhetorical education and the practical application of an orator’s skills.


• To explore ancient rhetoric in the context of students’ existing knowledge of ancient history, literature, and/or languages.


• To reflect on the influence of ancient rhetorical theory on modern education and presentation skills.

Assessable learning outcomes:

• To show knowledge of the main characteristics and functions of ancient oratory and rhetorical education.


• To acquire familiarity with a range of key ancient sources dealing with the topic of rhetoric.


• To assess the ancient evidence in the light of up-to-date modern scholarship.


• To evaluate the usefulness of ancient rhetorical concepts in practice by developing a group presentation.


• To reflect on the underlying assumptions and ideologies conveyed in ancient rhetorical teaching.

Additional outcomes:

The module develops students’ skills in oral communication and team work, through discussions and presentations in seminars. It also encourages critical thinking in the assessment of ancient and modern texts, and the logical and persuasive construction of arguments. It provides training in key research skills such as using web databases to locate ancient evidence and modern scholarly works. In addition, the rhetorical techniques studied in this module will inform students’ own development of writing and presentation skills.

Outline content:

This module explores both the theory and the practice of ancient oratory, with a strong focus on its significance in ancient education. We will consider three main types of evidence: a) manuals for teaching and learning rhetoric; b) ancient speeches given in real life; and c) practice speeches devised for training purposes. The module shows that, far from being a niche specialism, rhetoric is at the heart of ancient history and literature and can be used as a lens to understand many other aspects of ancient culture. 

Global context:

In a large part of the world, and for many centuries, Classical subjects were taught to an elite in order to equip them with the tools for ruling others. This tradition reaches back to the teaching of rhetoric in Greek and Roman antiquity. Studying ancient rhetoric therefore simultaneously reflects on the place of Classics in society, at least up to the first half of the 20th century, and arguably to the current day (at the time of writing, the UK’s Prime Minister is a man who studied Classics). In this module we will ask why rhetoric is so central to our experience of ancient history and literature, and how this importance can be traced in various genres and contexts. 

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

The module will be taught in a mixture of lectures and seminars over two hours per week.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures		10
Seminars		12
Guided independent study:
Wider reading (independent)		40
Wider reading (directed)		20
Advance preparation for classes		20
Preparation for presentations		20
Revision and preparation		10
Group study tasks		20
Essay preparation		38
Reflection		10
Total hours by term	0	200	0
Total hours for module	200

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written assignment including essay	75
Oral assessment and presentation	20
Class test administered by School	5

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

1. One in-class test of knowledge and recognition of rhetorical figures, such as e.g. rhetorical questions.

•  Date: Tuesday Week 7 of Spring term


• Time taken: 15 minutes


• Weight: 5% of overall mark

2. 
   

   One group presentation utilising ancient rhetorical techniques.

   
   
   

   Date: Week 9 of Spring term

   
   
   

   Time taken: 20 minutes

   
   
   

   Weight: 20% of overall mark

   
   

3. One scholarly essay on a research question set by the module convenor.

• Date: Thursday of Week 3 in Summer term


• Word count: 3,000


• Weight: 70% of overall mark

4. One written piece of critical reflection on the student’s experience of the group project and the module as a whole, appended to assessment 3.

• Date: Thursday of Week 3 in Summer term


• Length: 500


• Weight: 5% of overall mark

Formative assessment methods:

1. Practice tests to prepare for Summative Assessment 1


2. Opportunities for discussing the group presentation topic and approaches (Summative Assessment 2) with the module convenor.


3. Development of an essay plan for feedback from the module convenor.

Penalties for late submission:

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:

40% overall

Reassessment arrangements:

Resit of test; resubmission of coursework

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1) Required text books:  

2) Specialist equipment or materials:  

3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear:  

4) Printing and binding:  

5) Computers and devices with a particular specification:  

6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence:  

Last updated: 30 March 2023