Module manager: Dr Bev Back
Email: B.Back@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2026/27
| CLAS3100 | Researching the Ancient World |
This module is not approved as a discovery module
This module requires students to design their own major research project on a topic relating to classical antiquity or its reception, subject to approval from a potential supervisor and the module coordinator. By taking the Dissertation, students will develop valuable skills that go far beyond a single assignment. They will learn how to design and manage an independent project and to conduct in-depth research, as well as thinking critically and communicating complex ideas with clarity and confidence. These skills are highly valued by employers and are excellent preparation for postgraduate study, professional practice, and research-focused careers. Within the wider context of the degree, the dissertation is an opportunity to bring everything learned across the degree programme together into one focused, meaningful project. It allows students to apply the theories, methods, and perspectives encountered in earlier modules to a real research question, demonstrating their growth as an independent learner. Completing the dissertation shows that students can take ownership of their learning and produce work that reflects both their academic interests and their intellectual development across the whole programme.
By the end of the Undergraduate Dissertation module, students will have developed the knowledge, skills, and confidence to design, conduct, and present an independent piece of academic research. The initial stages of the final project are supported through a range of structured learning activities in the core Level 2 module Evidence & Enquiry, which includes research design workshops, object handling, literature review exercises, assistance with proposal development, and guided methodology sessions. These activities are designed to help students progressively refine their project ideas throughout Level 2, in good time for the research and writing phases of their Dissertation at Level 3.
During the module itself, students will develop advanced critical thinking, analytical, and academic writing skills. Through scaffolded ‘milestone’ tasks set throughout the module, such as submission of a working bibliography, a dissertation plan, and a sample of writing (all receiving formative feedback), students are supported in evaluating sources, constructing coherent arguments, and communicating their findings effectively.
Regular supervision meetings and peer discussion activities are designed to foster reflective practice, problem-solving, and independent decision-making. Collectively, these learning activities ensure that students achieve the module’s objectives while integrating and applying the knowledge and skills gained throughout their degree programme.
On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
1. Plan, design, and execute a sustained independent research project on an aspect of the ancient world.
2. Critically evaluate and apply appropriate methodological frameworks and research approaches to gather and critically analyse evidence.
3. Analyse critically and synthesise ideas, theories, and points of view from a wide range of secondary sources.
4. Develop and evidence-based and valid arguments drawing meaningful conclusions from a range of sources
5. Present and communicate effectively research findings, complying with the principles of academic integrity
On successful completion of this module, students are expected to be able to:
- demonstrate a range of subject-specific skills, including an ability to analyse critically various forms of primary evidence.
- demonstrate a range of transferable skills, including written expression, the organisation of personal study, and use of printed and online information sources.
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supervision | 8 | 0.5 | 4 |
| Lectures | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Practicals | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Private study hours | 394 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 6 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 400 | ||
· Supervision meetings are the main mechanism for formative feedback. For example, students can use supervision meetings to raise and discuss aspects of their work and gain feedback from their supervisor.
· The Supervision Log offers a separate mechanism for formative feedback and constitutes a written record upon which both the student and supervisor can reflect.
· Individual module milestones offer clearly signposted opportunities for formative feedback on work carried out to date, including (for example):
1. Submission of a project plan, to include a working bibliography;
2. Submission of a draft chapter, to include a working bibliography.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Project | 100 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated.
Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list
Last updated: 30/04/2026
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