Unit Guide

General Information

Unit convenor and teaching staff	Unit convenor and teaching staff Professor Ray Laurence ray.laurence@mq.edu.au Contact via 98501430 Australian Hearing Hub 2.674 By email/email to arrange appointment
Credit points	Credit points 3
Prerequisites	Prerequisites 39cp at 100 level or above or (6cp in AHIS or AHST units at 200 level)
Corequisites	Corequisites
Co-badged status	Co-badged status
Unit description	Unit description "The city of Rome was the first preindustrial metropolis in Europe with a population of about 1 million people by the end of the first century BCE. This unit will provide students with both an overview of the key issues of living in Rome, governing the city, as well as understanding the roles of migration and disease. Alongside this overview of life in Rome, students will also investigate key skills for the study of the city, whether evaluating our knowledge of antiquity from texts or from archaeological evidence. Particular attention will be paid to the use of maps, including the Severan Marble Plan of Rome from antiquity. The work undertaken each week will build into a picture of ancient Rome, in which students will develop knowledge of the city. A characteristic of the unit is that there is an emphasis placed on the need to research specific monuments or a topic in depth and to develop the skills to communicate those findings to a wider public. Part of the assessment is in the form of a blogpost (rather than a traditional essay), in which students develop high quality text (alongside weblinks to key ancient sources) with a target audience defined as teachers and students of HSC Ancient History. "

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

To consolidate knowledge in relation to the historical processes and fundamental historical developments in the study of the city of Rome.
To develop sophisticated research skills with which to analyse ancient sources (texts, coins, excavated remains etc.) with reference to the city of Rome.
To critically use evaluate modern scholarship that has been influential in shaping our understanding of aspects of the city of Rome, including the use of evidence.
To make decisions in relation to planning, organizing and prioritizing work, including decision making and problem-solving.
To develop an understanding of how research in Ancient History may be presented to a wider public through the development of virtual content.

General Assessment Information

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply – two (2) marks out of 100 will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be accepted more than seven (7) days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline. No late submissions will be accepted for timed assessments – e.g. quizzes, online tests.

IMPORTANT NOTE ON FINAL MARKS: Please note with respect to the marks you receive for work during the session: that the marks given are indicative only; final marks will be determined after moderation. See further the note on Results in the Policies and Procedures section below.

Assessment Tasks

Name	Weighting	Hurdle	Due
Participation	20%	Yes	Friday of weeks 2-6, 8-12
Short Report 1: Ancient Source	20%	Yes	End of Week 7
Short Report 2	20%	Yes	End of Week 7
Blog	40%	Yes	End of Week 13

Participation

Due: Friday of weeks 2-6, 8-12
Weighting: 20%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)

Each week you will prepare topics for discussion in a tutorial. Following the Tutorial you will need to write up a single topic as a post to an on-line forum. The post needs to be referenced to the reading that you have undertaken and should also refer to ancient sources, whether coins, archaeological plans/maps, prints from Rome, or texts. By posting to the forum, you will be able to develop and consolidate your knowledge gained from the tutorial and also from the lectures in terms of your knowledge in relation to the historical processes and fundamental historical developments in the study of the city of Rome.

The Tutorial and the Forum provide you with an opportunity to test ideas and to practice your writing.

The Forum accounts for 20% of the marks in the final assessment, hence it is essential that you complete this task each week.

Each post should be no more than 700 words (excluding bibliography/references)

This piece of assessment maps onto the following learning outcomes, in particular numbers 1-4

1. To consolidate knowledge in relation to the historical processes and fundamental historical developments in the study of the city of Rome. 2. To develop sophisticated research skills with which to analyse ancient sources (texts, coins, excavated remains etc.) with reference to the city of Rome. 3. To critically use evaluate modern scholarship that has been influential in shaping our understanding of aspects of the city of Rome, including the use of evidence. 4. To make decisions in relation to planning, organizing and prioritizing work, including decision making and problem-solving.

On successful completion you will be able to:

To consolidate knowledge in relation to the historical processes and fundamental historical developments in the study of the city of Rome.
To develop sophisticated research skills with which to analyse ancient sources (texts, coins, excavated remains etc.) with reference to the city of Rome.
To critically use evaluate modern scholarship that has been influential in shaping our understanding of aspects of the city of Rome, including the use of evidence.
To make decisions in relation to planning, organizing and prioritizing work, including decision making and problem-solving.
To develop an understanding of how research in Ancient History may be presented to a wider public through the development of virtual content.

Short Report 1: Ancient Source

Due: End of Week 7
Weighting: 20%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)

During the first 6 weeks of the unit, we will examine ancient sources and discuss how we approach them and what information they provide us with about the city of Rome in antiquity. Your report will need to include references to what you have read, but the key part of this assessment is to explain how this piece of source material provides us with information and how that information can be interpreted. It is also important to identify where in Rome places mentioned in the text can be found (annotated maps may help to communicate this aspect). Some buildings in ancient Rome, there is still uncertainty over their position in antiquity.

Your short report should be no more than 1000 words. The deadline for the report is 11pm on the Friday of week 7.

This assessment task relates to the following learning outcomes, but especially to numbers 2 and 4.

On successful completion you will be able to:

To consolidate knowledge in relation to the historical processes and fundamental historical developments in the study of the city of Rome.
To develop sophisticated research skills with which to analyse ancient sources (texts, coins, excavated remains etc.) with reference to the city of Rome.
To critically use evaluate modern scholarship that has been influential in shaping our understanding of aspects of the city of Rome, including the use of evidence.
To make decisions in relation to planning, organizing and prioritizing work, including decision making and problem-solving.
To develop an understanding of how research in Ancient History may be presented to a wider public through the development of virtual content.

Short Report 2

Due: End of Week 7
Weighting: 20%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)

Alongside your report on ancient source/s, you need to write a report in which you create a summary of the argument of a modern author in a journal article. A list of suitable articles will be provided. Your report should be written under the following headings:-

1) Summary of the Argument in the Article 2) Why was this article written 3) Why is this article important for how we understand/interpret source material? 3) Evaluate the argument set out by the author/s, is there a counter-argument to be made? 4) How does the author/s use ancient sources to make key points? Evaluate an example/s to make your argument stronger. Your short report should be no more than 1000 words. The deadline for this piece of assessment is 11pm on Friday of week 7.

This assessment relates to the following learning outcomes, but especially to numbers 1 and 3.

On successful completion you will be able to:

To consolidate knowledge in relation to the historical processes and fundamental historical developments in the study of the city of Rome.
To develop sophisticated research skills with which to analyse ancient sources (texts, coins, excavated remains etc.) with reference to the city of Rome.
To critically use evaluate modern scholarship that has been influential in shaping our understanding of aspects of the city of Rome, including the use of evidence.
To make decisions in relation to planning, organizing and prioritizing work, including decision making and problem-solving.
To develop an understanding of how research in Ancient History may be presented to a wider public through the development of virtual content.

Blog

Due: End of Week 13
Weighting: 40%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)

The second half of the unit, weeks 8-12, will focus attention on your ability to undertake research on the city of Rome. This culminates in a piece of assessment that involves you in using the skills you have developed over the course of the unit. The assessment is in the form of a blog that is written to make research on a particular aspect or building in Rome accessible to the public. We will examine through lectures and tutorials the role of blogs in Ancient History, and consider how you as a student can contribute to discussion pages (e.g. on LinkedIn) and posts (for example on twitter).

The blog needs to be referenced, but you should put in hyperlinks to other websites so that your reader (the public) can access these in translation (Perseus or Lacus Curtius websites have translations of major authors). You should include pictures to make your blog more attractive and to ensure that what your blog describes is understood. In using images, you will need to identify whether they can be reproduced in a blog or whether copyright prevents the use of some images.

The maximum length of the blog should be 1500 words, not including references and bibliography.

This assessment fulfills the following Learning Outcomes, but especially number 5.

On successful completion you will be able to:

To consolidate knowledge in relation to the historical processes and fundamental historical developments in the study of the city of Rome.
To develop sophisticated research skills with which to analyse ancient sources (texts, coins, excavated remains etc.) with reference to the city of Rome.
To critically use evaluate modern scholarship that has been influential in shaping our understanding of aspects of the city of Rome, including the use of evidence.
To make decisions in relation to planning, organizing and prioritizing work, including decision making and problem-solving.
To develop an understanding of how research in Ancient History may be presented to a wider public through the development of virtual content.

Delivery and Resources

Technology used and skills required: PC and Internet access are required. Basic computer skills (e.g., internet browsing) and skills in word-processing are also a requirement. For on campus lectures and tutorials, you will need to have access to an internet enabled device: phone, tablet or laptop.

Times and Locations for Lectures and Tutorials:

Lectures (weeks 1-12) Mondays 10-12 25a Wally’s Walk Room 114

Tutorials (weeks 1-6 & 8-12) 25a Wally’s Walk Room G08 NB there are 2 groups Monday 2-3 and 3-4.

All students must participate in tutorials (Weeks 1-6 and 8-12).

Lectures will be recorded.

Required and recommended resources

Prescribed text(s): see iLearn for weekly readings to support tutorials, plus also in lectures key on-line resources will be introduced and utilized in class.

Prescribed unit materials: F. Coarelli Rome and its Environs: An Archaeological Guide, University of California Press.

Recommended texts: P. Erdkamp The Cambridge Companion to the City of Rome, Cambridge University Press

Unit Schedule

The Lecture will introduce you to our knowledge of Ancient Rome in two ways, firstly to explain what we know about the city taking key examples week by week, and second to introduce you to accessing on-line resources for the study of ancient maps of Rome, coins, and the use of sourcebooks. You will need to bring to the lecture an internet enabled device: phone, tablet or laptop. Thus, although these sessions are called lectures, they are effectively workshops in which you need to participate and utilize the every growing number of resources opening available to students and to the public.

The tutorials are set up to practice and advance your knowledge in the analysis of ancient sources and their interpretation. Reading is set each week with key questions for you to address. After the tutorial, you will need to develop a Forum post to be uploaded on iLearn by Friday (11pm) weeks 2-6 and 8-12. Note there are no tutorials in weeks 7 and 13, when deadlines for written assessment are due.

Learning and Teaching Activities

Lectures

The lectures set out To consolidate knowledge in relation to the historical processes and fundamental historical developments in the study of the city of Rome through a detailed presentation of recent research on key topics and areas of the city. The second hour of the lecture will be focused on the development of the ability of students to undertake research on Rome, evaluating the utility of internet resources for the study of numismatics, epigraphy, the marble plan of Rome and so on. It will also be via the lectures that students will be introduced to the role of the public interacting with the academic subject of Ancient History via the web, and how students can make accessible the research that lies at the heart of the city of Rome.

Tutorials

The tutorials set out to consolidate knowledge in relation to the historical processes and fundamental historical developments in the study of the city of Rome through the analysis of specific ancient sources and discussion of specific journal articles to develop students' critical ability and research skills. The tutorials will also be the venue for the development of their own research project that will build into the format of an on-line blog. In making the blog, students will need to plan, carry out and prioritize their work including making decisions about problem solving and how to communicate with the public in order to make Ancient History more accessible. Discussion and interaction with others will be promoted in tutorials

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Academic Appeals Policy
Academic Integrity Policy
Academic Progression Policy
Assessment Policy
Fitness to Practice Procedure
Grade Appeal Policy
Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public
Special Consideration Policy (Note: The Special Consideration Policy is effective from 4 December 2017 and replaces the Disruption to Studies Policy.)

Undergraduate students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central).

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/getting-started/student-conduct

Results

Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/.

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Graduate Capabilities

Creative and Innovative

Our graduates will also be capable of creative thinking and of creating knowledge. They will be imaginative and open to experience and capable of innovation at work and in the community. We want them to be engaged in applying their critical, creative thinking.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

To develop an understanding of how research in Ancient History may be presented to a wider public through the development of virtual content.

Assessment tasks

Short Report 1: Ancient Source
Short Report 2
Blog

Capable of Professional and Personal Judgement and Initiative

We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

To develop an understanding of how research in Ancient History may be presented to a wider public through the development of virtual content.

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Our graduates will have enquiring minds and a literate curiosity which will lead them to pursue knowledge for its own sake. They will continue to pursue learning in their careers and as they participate in the world. They will be capable of reflecting on their experiences and relationships with others and the environment, learning from them, and growing - personally, professionally and socially.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

To develop an understanding of how research in Ancient History may be presented to a wider public through the development of virtual content.

Assessment task

Blog

Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills

Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

To consolidate knowledge in relation to the historical processes and fundamental historical developments in the study of the city of Rome.
To develop sophisticated research skills with which to analyse ancient sources (texts, coins, excavated remains etc.) with reference to the city of Rome.
To critically use evaluate modern scholarship that has been influential in shaping our understanding of aspects of the city of Rome, including the use of evidence.
To make decisions in relation to planning, organizing and prioritizing work, including decision making and problem-solving.
To develop an understanding of how research in Ancient History may be presented to a wider public through the development of virtual content.

Assessment tasks

Participation
Short Report 1: Ancient Source
Short Report 2
Blog

Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

To consolidate knowledge in relation to the historical processes and fundamental historical developments in the study of the city of Rome.
To develop sophisticated research skills with which to analyse ancient sources (texts, coins, excavated remains etc.) with reference to the city of Rome.
To critically use evaluate modern scholarship that has been influential in shaping our understanding of aspects of the city of Rome, including the use of evidence.
To make decisions in relation to planning, organizing and prioritizing work, including decision making and problem-solving.
To develop an understanding of how research in Ancient History may be presented to a wider public through the development of virtual content.

Assessment tasks

Participation
Short Report 1: Ancient Source
Short Report 2
Blog

Problem Solving and Research Capability

Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

To consolidate knowledge in relation to the historical processes and fundamental historical developments in the study of the city of Rome.
To develop sophisticated research skills with which to analyse ancient sources (texts, coins, excavated remains etc.) with reference to the city of Rome.
To make decisions in relation to planning, organizing and prioritizing work, including decision making and problem-solving.
To develop an understanding of how research in Ancient History may be presented to a wider public through the development of virtual content.

Assessment tasks

Participation
Short Report 1: Ancient Source
Short Report 2
Blog

Effective Communication

We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

To critically use evaluate modern scholarship that has been influential in shaping our understanding of aspects of the city of Rome, including the use of evidence.
To make decisions in relation to planning, organizing and prioritizing work, including decision making and problem-solving.
To develop an understanding of how research in Ancient History may be presented to a wider public through the development of virtual content.

Assessment tasks

Participation
Short Report 1: Ancient Source
Short Report 2
Blog

Engaged and Ethical Local and Global citizens

As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nation's historical context. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded, sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates should be aware of disadvantage and social justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

To develop an understanding of how research in Ancient History may be presented to a wider public through the development of virtual content.

Assessment task

Blog