Classical Studies Dossier
Beginning in AY 08/09 all majors will be required to create and maintain a Classical Studies Portfolio in which they archive documents from their course of study--to be evaluated annually by a rotating committee. The Portfolio may include assigned papers and projects; extended, polished translations of Greek or Latin literature, or extended translation exercises into Latin or Greek; catalog entries about artifacts; annotated scholarly description of a "new" epigraphic or papyrological text; description of an early manuscript; labeled documentary photographs or drawings of material objects and archaeological sites; or the like.
At the minimum, it must include the following.
Classical Languages - to be evaluated for command of grammar, coherence, attention to social, cultural, historical context, nuance
- Translation from a class (goals 1, 2); majors will be required to submit at least one written translation--may derive from coursework--of a short selection (ca. 20 lines) of Latin or Greek, which should demonstrate advanced knowledge of the grammatical structure and rhetorical conventions of the Latin/Greek and the ways in which the Greek/Latin language and literature shaped and was shaped by social, cultural, and historical contexts.
- Sight Translation Competition (goal 1); majors will undertake a brief sight-translation in their language of chosen focus, which should allow them to demonstrate basic command of grammar, morphology, and vocabulary. This competition will provide a prize for the best translation.
- Capstone research paper (goals 2, 3, 4); all majors will be required to write a research paper as part of the Capstone experience, which should allow them to show broad, synthetic, evidence-based, command of ancient material within the scope of the course's focus.
- Other research paper (goals 2, 3, 4); all majors will be required to write at least one other research paper, which should allow them to show in-depth, evidence-based command of a specialized subject of their own framing.
- Written report of at least one Outside Experience (goals 3, 5); upon completion, students will be required to write a brief (two-page) essay assessing the program's impact on their development as classicists, specifically attending to the stated Mission and Goals of the department (to be submitted along with Questionnaire);
- Senior Thesis, if applicable (goals 2, 3, 4); all majors will be encouraged to write a senior thesis, which will allow them to show in-depth knowledge of a particular subject within the displine, mastery of disciplinary methods of critical analysis, synthesis, evidence-based written argumentation.
Classical Civilizations - to be evaluated for command of historial, cultural, institutional, geographic, etc. context
- Short Essay / Descriptive catalogue entry vel sim. (goals 1, 2); majors will be required to submit at least one brief essay--may derive from coursework--on a subject in the area of their chosen focus, which should allow them to demonstrate nuanced knowledge of the full richness of the material, social, literary, and cultural experience of the ancient world and the ways in which these cultural indices shaped and were shaped by their contexts.
- Classical Knowledge Contest (goal 1); majors will enter a brief competition testing for general knowledge in their chosen area of focus, which should allow them to demonstrate basic command of important persons, events, trends, and phenomena. This contest will provide a prize for the widest and most accurate general knowledge.
- Capstone Research Paper (goals 2, 3, 4); all majors will be required to write a research paper as part of the Capstone experience, which should allow them to show broad, synthetic, evidence-based, command of ancient material within the scope of the course's focus.
- Other Research Paper (goals 2, 3, 4); all majors will be required to write at least one other research paper, which should allow them to show in-depth, evidence-based command of a specialized subject of their own framing.
- Written report of at least one Outside Experience (goals 3, 5); upon completion, students will be required to write a brief (two-page) essay assessing the program's impact on their development as classicists, specifically attending to the stated Mission and Goals of the department (to be submitted along with Questionnaire);
- Senior Thesis, if applicable (goals 2, 3, 4); all majors will be encouraged to write a senior thesis, which will allow them to show in-depth knowledge of a particular subject within the displine, mastery of disciplinary methods of critical analysis, synthesis, evidence-based written argumentation.
Assessing the Classical Studies Dossier
Classical Languages, Translations:
- Prepared: To be evaluated on established departmental guidelines for an acceptable (i.e. middle of the road) in-class translation by a first-semester graduate student in CLST.
- Sight Translation Competition: To be evaluated on established departmental guidelines for an acceptable (i.e. middle of the road) diagnostic exam of an incoming first-year graduate student in CLST.
Classical Civilizations, Short essay and quiz:
- Short Essay: To be evaluated on established departmental guidelines for attention to evidence and cogency of argument typical of a writing sample submitted as part of the application to the graduate program.
- Classical Knowledge Contest: To be evaluated on established departmental guidelines for first-semester graduate students' command of general information.
- Research Papers (Capstone, Other Research Paper, Senior Thesis); To be evaluated on established departmental guidelines for undergraduate research papers: (a) Fluency of grammar and style; (b) coherence of argument, with sound structure and development of thought; (c) cogency of argument, with close critical attention to primary evidence, solid grasp of secondary scholarship, and engaged participation in critical dialogue with and argumentation from both.
- Outside Experience: In consultation with the Study Abroad office we shall draft and circulate a questionnaire, to be submitted with Report on Outside Experience, which will prompt students to reflect on specific ways in which the outside experience contributed to their education with regard to departmental goals.
Findings and Feedback
All evaluations of dossiers, which are reviewed in the Spring semester, will be discussed at the Department's annual late summer retreat so as to help shape content and approaches of courses.
Timeline
- All graduating majors will be required to submit the following to their dossiers
- CLLA: prepared translation
- CLLA: Translation Competition
- CLCIV: Short Essay
- CLCIV: Classical Knowledge Contest
- Capstone Research Paper
- Other Research Paper
- 'Outside experience' report, if relevant
- Senior Thesis, if relevant
Benchmarks
We hope to meet the following benchmarks by S12.
- Translations: 20% in highest category, Excellent; 50% Good; 20% Poor; 10% Marginal
- Quizzes: 20% in highest category, Excellent; 50% Good; 20% Poor; 10% Marginal
- Essays: 20% in highest category, Excellent; 50% Good; 20% Poor; 10% Marginal
- Capstone Paper, Other Research Paper, Senior Thesis: 20% in highest category, Excellent; 50% Good; 20% Poor; 10% Marginal
- 'Outside' Experience: 30% of students participating in class of 09, 60% by class of 12
- Senior Thesis: 10% of students participating in class of 09, 50% by class of 12
Feedback
- Languages: Annual report by Dossier Review Committee to department on state of Sight and Prepared translations; other feedback to be given by judges of the Sight Translation Competition. Action where necessary to be discussed and formulated by department in conjunction with Curriculum Committee and Latin and Greek instructors.
- Essay / Basic info: Annual report by Dossier Review Committee to department on state of Short Essays and Brief Quizzes, with supplemental information provided by judges of Classical Knowledge Contest. Action where necessary to be discussed and formulated by department in conjunction with Curriculum Committee and CLST survey instructors.
- Research: Annual report by Dossier Review Committee to department on state of capstone paper and other research papers. Action where necessary to be discussed and formulated by department in conjunction with Curriculum Committee and Capstone instructor(s), and fed into design of Senior Thesis Course, which we aim to have sufficient critical mass to roll out in 2012.
- Outside Experience: Annual report by Dossier Review Committee to department on state of Outside Experiences. DUS and Asst to create web page highlighting students' 'outside experiences', to foster increased participation; students' input encouraged as much as possible. Student accomplishments will also be listed in the departmental newsletter Pheme.