Students
AHIS313 – The City of Rome
2019 – S1 Online
General Information
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| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Convenor
Ray Laurence
Contact via 9850 1430
Australian Hearing Hub
2-3pm Friday or by email
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| Credit points |
Credit points
3
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| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
39cp at 100 level or above or (6cp in AHIS or AHST units at 200 level)
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| Corequisites |
Corequisites
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| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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| 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. "
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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 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
This external unit involves a weekly Forum (the equivalent of an on-campus tutorial), in which you engage with other students and test your ideas. It is vital that you engage with the Forum each week.
There are two short papers to be written, one in week 4 on source material and a second in week 7 to review a journal article.
The major piece of assessment is that of a blog on a topic of your choice. Your writing of the blog should be aimed at a wider public audience interested in Ancient History. Examples of blogs from 2018 will be placed on-line during the teaching of the unit, so that you can see how other students have addressed the issue of presenting their research on Rome to the public.
Late Assessment Penalty
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: the marks given are indicative only; final marks will be determined after moderation.
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participation in on-line Forum | 15% | No | Weekly |
| Short Paper on Source Material | 20% | No | End of Week 4 |
| Review of a Journal Article | 20% | No | End of Week 7 |
| Blog | 45% | No | End of Week 12 |
Participation in on-line Forum
Due: Weekly
Weighting: 15%
Each week you will prepare a topic for submission to an on-line Forum, which will provide a means of discussion in what is effectively an on-line tutorial. This 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 Forum and your Review of the Forum provide you with an opportunity to test ideas and to practice your writing. The weekly Review of Forum accounts for 15% of the marks in the final assessment, hence it is essential that you complete this task each week.
Each review post should be no more than 700 words (excluding bibliography/references)
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 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 Paper on Source Material
Due: End of Week 4
Weighting: 20%
During the first 4 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). For 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 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 make decisions in relation to planning, organizing and prioritizing work, including decision making and problem-solving.
Review of a Journal Article
Due: End of Week 7
Weighting: 20%
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? 4) Evaluate the argument set out by the author/s, is there a counter-argument to be made? 5) 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 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.
Blog
Due: End of Week 12
Weighting: 45%
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.
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 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
Teaching is comprised of 2 hours of lectures per week (recorded on Friday) and students will contribute to a weekly Forum by uploading comments and discussion pieces based on the lectures and reading by the Thursday evening of the following week.
Key Books for this unit are as follows:
Coarelli, F. 2014. Rome and Environs. An Archaeological Guide, University of California Press. To be used to provide you with detailed knowledge of the sites in Rome itself. Thus, if the Forum is discussed in a lecture - you should follow up be examing the relevant section of the book on the Forum etc.
Erdkamp, P. 2013. The Cambridge Companion to the City of Rome, Cambridge University Press. To be used as key reading on all aspects of the city.
Laurence, R. and Newsome, D. 2011. Rome, Ostia, Pompeii: Movement and Space, Oxford University Press Part III chapters 10-15 on movement in the metropolis
Students are expected to develop their own bibliographies (training provided) to research topics themselves, particularly for the final piece of assessment - a blog on a topic of their choice.
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 published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) 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 or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@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
If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@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 outcomes
- 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 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 in on-line Forum
- Short Paper on Source Material
- Review of a Journal Article
- 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 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 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 in on-line Forum
- Short Paper on Source Material
- Blog
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 tasks
- Participation in on-line Forum
- 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 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 in on-line Forum
- Short Paper on Source Material
- Review of a Journal Article
- 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 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 in on-line Forum
- Short Paper on Source Material
- Review of a Journal Article
- 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 develop sophisticated research skills with which to analyse ancient sources (texts, coins, excavated remains, etc.) with reference to the city of Rome.
- To critically 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 in on-line Forum
- Short Paper on Source Material
- Review of a Journal Article
- 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 develop sophisticated research skills with which to analyse ancient sources (texts, coins, excavated remains, etc.) with reference to the city of Rome.
- To critically evaluate modern scholarship that has been influential in shaping our understanding of aspects of the city of Rome, including the use of evidence.
- 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 in on-line Forum
- Short Paper on Source Material
- Review of a Journal Article
- 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:
Assessment tasks
- Participation in on-line Forum
- Blog
Changes from Previous Offering
Some adjustments made in the light of evaluations and a better understanding of the external mode of delivery - see section on Reflections.