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

Module code: CL3FCC

Module provider: Classics; School of Humanities

Credits: 20

Level: 6

When you’ll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Dr Christa Gray , email: c.m.gray@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

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

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2025/6

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 3 April 2025

Overview

Module aims and purpose

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. 

This module aims to: 

• Provide an overview of ancient rhetorical education and the practical application of an orator’s skills. 
• Explore ancient rhetoric in the context of students’ existing knowledge of ancient history, literature, and/or languages.  
• Reflect on the influence of ancient rhetorical theory on modern education and presentation skills.  

Module learning outcomes

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

1. Discuss a range of key ancient sources dealing with the topic of rhetoric and oratory and to analyse them with the help of up-to-date modern scholarship;  
2. Evaluate the usefulness of ancient rhetorical concepts in practice by developing a group presentation;  
3. Reflect on the underlying assumptions and ideologies conveyed in ancient rhetorical teaching. 

Module 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. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

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

Study hours

At least 21 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.

Knowledge of rhetorical devices can be tested via an electronic quiz. Student discussions in class and with the lecturer during office hours will generate feed-forward. 

Reassessment

Additional costs