CL3IPR: Independent project in Classics

Module code: CL3IPR

Module provider: Classics; School of Humanities

Credits: 40

Level: Level 3 (Honours)

When you'll be taught: Summer / Semester 1 / Semester 2

Module convenor: Dr Tim Penn, email: tim.penn@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded: IN TAKING THIS MODULE YOU CANNOT TAKE CL3DIS (Compulsory)

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 11 November 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This project allows for in-depth research, explication, and documentation of a topic which can be best presented in a format or formats different from the traditional dissertation. Students will prepare for their project by completing a series of workshops, an assessed proposal, which will include an annotated bibliography, and a presentation. Admission to this module will be at the discretion of the Programme Director. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to: 

1. Design a viable research proposal with an annotated bibliography;
2. Choose, explore and develop a topic of their own devising;
3. Show that they have acquired the tools necessary to research their topic adequately and to document that research;
4. Present the results of their research in appropriate formats.

Module content

In Semester 2 of Part 2, students will attend a series of workshops on research skills. They will produce formative assignments throughout the project, as follows:

• A project proposal of 500 words, and an annotated bibliography of 5 items (200 words on each item), during the assessment period for Semester 2 of Part 2. This is a formative assessment, on which feedback will be received from the supervisor, and it will be incorporated into a ‘patchwork text’, in which students will ‘stitch’ them together through a reflective account which demonstrates the progress of their learning. This patchwork text is submitted as a summative assessment in week 9 of the teaching period of Semester of Part 3.
• A 10-minute oral presentation on an aspect of their project, in week 3 of Semester 1 of Part 3.
• Working independently and meeting regularly with their supervisors, students will produce two presentations for summary assessment. Between them the two presentations should include two of the following: PowerPoint slides; a handout; a poster; a film with voice-over. One of these presentations will be given in the assessment period of Semester 1 of Part 3 and the other in Week 6 of the teaching period of Semester 2 of Part 3.
• A patchwork text which will include: the project proposal with its feedback and reflection on its impact on the whole Independent Project; a reading log, outlining the primary and secondary reading that has been done over the year, including critical reflections on the matters covered in those publications and a write-up summarising the main outcomes of the project along with some reflection on the impact of the project on the student’s skills and the ways in which they engaged with the feedback they received. This will be submitted in week 9 of the teaching period of Semester 2 of Part 3.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The independent project begins in Semester 2 of Part 2 when Dissertation and Project Workshops are held. These workshops introduce Part 2 students to the principles of the dissertation and independent project exercise. Students are asked to propose a project topic to the Classics Department. Following approval of their proposed topic, students meet their allocated supervisor at the end of Semester 2 of Part 2 in order to prepare for initial research over the summer vacation. A proposal is submitted at the start of Semester 1 of Part 3 as a formative assessment which will inform the content of the patchwork text to be submitted in week 9 of the teaching period of Semester 2 of Part 3. An oral presentation is given as in week 3 of Semester 1 of Part 3, worth 5% of the module mark. Over Semesters 1 and 2, in Part 3, students meet regularly with their supervisor to discuss the progress of their research. Two presentations will be given in Semester 2 of Part 3. In week 9 of the teaching period of Semester 2 of Part 3, students will submit a patchwork text, the content of which is outlined under ‘Module content’.  

The hours listed in practical classes and workshops under Semester 2 take place in the second half of Semester 2 of Part 2, i.e., after the Easter holidays. The hours listed in practical classes and workshops under Semester 1 take place in Semester 1 of Part 3. The hours in project supervision under Semester 1 take place in Part 3. One of the hours of project supervision in Semester 2 will take place in Semester 2 of Part 2 for students to consult colleagues on their proposals, and the rest in Semester 2 of Part 3 for guidance before submission of their patchwork text. 

Study hours

At least 18 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

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

Assessments with numerical marks

• 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 three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/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.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

A Proposal of 500 words and an annotated bibliography of 5 items (200 words on each item), with 1,500 words as the total word count of the whole assignment, to be submitted at the end of Semester 2 of Part 2 (or in week 11 of summer term of Part 2 for students who are entering the semesters system in 2024-2025 as Part 3 students). The proposal will be a prerequisite for students to proceed with their oral presentation in week 3 of Semester 1 of Part 3 and will inform the content of the patchwork text to be submitted in week 9 of the teaching period of Semester 2 of Part 3. 

Formative feedback will also be given on drafts of the two presentations in Semester 2 of Part 3. 

Reassessment

Additional costs