This biannual learning unit is being organized in 2025-2026
Teacher(s)
Language
French
Prerequisites
The prerequisite(s) for this Teaching Unit (Unité d’enseignement – UE) for the programmes/courses that offer this Teaching Unit are specified at the end of this sheet.
Learning outcomes
At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to : | |
| The seminar introduces bachelor students with the methodology of academic research and writing. A different topic is chosen every year that allows the students to undertake an assisted research in Classical Antiquity. | |
Content
| The research seminar is conceived as an initiation course in scientific research in Ancient history. It involves the writing of an scientific essay and the oral communication of scientific results to an audience. Given the fragmentary state of ancient sources, special emphasis will be placed on pluridisciplinary research techniques, through a presentation of the methods and sources used in philology, archaeology, numismatics, and epigraphy. The students are expected to conduct research under the assistance of the professor, on a theme that is defined on a yearly basis. They are expected to become familiar with every step of scientific research in Ancient history (that is, the definition of a research question, heuristics, bibliographic research and the critical use of published works, scientific argumentation, critical assessment of the ancient sources and published works, development of skills in writing publication reviews and state of art) |
Teaching methods
Theoretical courses by the professor as well as classroom discussion on the annual research topic. Moreover, a scientific meeting with young researcher active in the field of the chosen topic will be held during the Fall Session. Attendance is mandatory and will be part of the continuous assessment for the course.
Group exercises involving the analysis of ancient sources and various documents.
Individual exercises assisted by the professor, and intended to train the students to the various methods of the ancient historian. At various occurrences throughout the academic year, the students will be required to present to the group their current state of research. These various activities are designed so as to contribute research toward the production of the final essay that will be submitted at the end of the Spring session. This essay should be 20 to 30 pages in length, and use various types of sources to the extent possible. A final presentation to the group will be part of the assessment for the course.
Group exercises involving the analysis of ancient sources and various documents.
Individual exercises assisted by the professor, and intended to train the students to the various methods of the ancient historian. At various occurrences throughout the academic year, the students will be required to present to the group their current state of research. These various activities are designed so as to contribute research toward the production of the final essay that will be submitted at the end of the Spring session. This essay should be 20 to 30 pages in length, and use various types of sources to the extent possible. A final presentation to the group will be part of the assessment for the course.
Evaluation methods
Continuous assessment : active participation in the classroom throughout the year, and handling of the various exercises (15% of the final grade)
Scientific communication of the research results to the group, at the end of the Spring session (15% of the final grade)
The redaction and handling of a scientific essay of 20 to 30 pages in length (70% of the final grade)
Spelling and syntax errors will result in a penalty of up to 5 points from the final grade. It is essential that all assignments are submitted by the deadline: no extensions will be granted, and any delay will result in a grade of 0/20. Only duly justified cases of major emergency (Art. 103) will be taken into consideration. The use of artificial intelligence for content creation and writing style improvement is prohibited. For the preparation of written assignments or visual contents for oral presentations, any use of generative AI, other than those explicitly authorized in the course instructions, is prohibited and will be considered as a fraud under the terms of the RGEE.
The final assessment for the course is based on the oral presentation and the written presentation of the results of the work. Failure in either of the two assessments is decisive (failure in the written or oral assessment results in failure of the entire assessment). In addition, in cases of suspected fraud, the instructor may summon the student. The student must be able to demonstrate orally a convincing and detailed knowledge of the content developed in their written work (in this case, the rule on failure mentioned above also applies).
Scientific communication of the research results to the group, at the end of the Spring session (15% of the final grade)
The redaction and handling of a scientific essay of 20 to 30 pages in length (70% of the final grade)
Spelling and syntax errors will result in a penalty of up to 5 points from the final grade. It is essential that all assignments are submitted by the deadline: no extensions will be granted, and any delay will result in a grade of 0/20. Only duly justified cases of major emergency (Art. 103) will be taken into consideration. The use of artificial intelligence for content creation and writing style improvement is prohibited. For the preparation of written assignments or visual contents for oral presentations, any use of generative AI, other than those explicitly authorized in the course instructions, is prohibited and will be considered as a fraud under the terms of the RGEE.
The final assessment for the course is based on the oral presentation and the written presentation of the results of the work. Failure in either of the two assessments is decisive (failure in the written or oral assessment results in failure of the entire assessment). In addition, in cases of suspected fraud, the instructor may summon the student. The student must be able to demonstrate orally a convincing and detailed knowledge of the content developed in their written work (in this case, the rule on failure mentioned above also applies).
Other information
Powerpoint presentations presented in class, methodological summaries pertaining to different steps of the scientific research, general bibliography pertaining to the annual topic of the seminar.
The course is taught in French; however, students who are registered in the bilingual bachelor program and would wish to handle written exercises and the final essay in English are allowed to do so (and should inform the professor about it at the beginning of the academic year).
The course is taught in French; however, students who are registered in the bilingual bachelor program and would wish to handle written exercises and the final essay in English are allowed to do so (and should inform the professor about it at the beginning of the academic year).
Bibliography
Les étudiants disposent d’une bibliographie de référence sur la thématique retenue ; la constitution d'une bibliographie spécifiquement liée au sujet de travail individuel fait partie du travail attendu dans le cadre du séminaire.
Faculty or entity
