27276 - Laboratory (1) (Med.)

Learning outcomes

By the end of the workshop students will be able to plan a research path, collecting, selecting and organizing data and documentary information thanks to the specific tools acquired during the course unit; they will be able to analyse documentary, material and iconographic sources in a critical light and from a diachronic perspective. They will able to write a short text without assistance. They will have learned to be methodologically rigorous and precise. Attuned to group work, they will have learned judgment on a professional, human and ethical plane.

Course contents

The course envisions a first part, which is common to all the students undertaking an undergraduate degree in history. It will consist in a general survey of all the books and tools (digitised and on paper) which can be employed in order to write a dissertation in history. The first part is 12h long.

The first part is divided into three shifts. It is mandatory to sign up for one of them, from the 1st of September to the 10th of October 2024, by sending an e-mail to Prof. Maria Pia Casalena.

1st shift: 14-15, 21-22, 28-29 October, 1pm-3pm, aula Seminari 2, S. Giovanni in Monte;

2nd shift: 2-3, 9-10, 16-17 December, 1pm-3pm, aula Seminari 2 (Monday) and aula Fumagalli (Tuesday), S. Giovanni in Monte;

3rd shift: 20-21, 27-28 January, 3-4 February 2025, 1pm-3pm, aula Fumagalli, S. Giovanni in Monte.

The second part of the course consists of lectures tailored to one of the four historical periods into which the undergraduate degree in history is divided. The second part is 18h long.

NB It is mandatory to sign up to one of the three general shifts and, at the same time, to the Laboratorio relative to one of the four historical periods (in this case, medieval history).

This can be done by sending an e-mail to Prof. Maria Pia Casalena from the 1st of September to the 10th of October 2024, subject to availability.

Programme of the second part (medieval history)

Not dissimilarly from the first part, the second part of the course will be devoted to the preparation of a dissertation and, more in general, of scientific papers.

The first hours of the second part of the course will be dedicated to the in-depth analysis of some of the problems covered in part one, like – how do I choose a supervisor and a topic for my dissertation? How can I find all the relevant bibliography?

After that, we shall explore the written evidence of the Middle Ages, mainly through critical editions and – if possible – by looking at original manuscripts.

The course is structured as a seminar. Students will be encouraged to participate actively in the examination of the documents provided by the teacher. A visit to the state archives (archivio di Stato) of Bologna may be organised.

NB IN ORDER TO PASS THE EXAM (IDONEITÀ), IT IS MANDATORY TO ATTEND AT LEAST 25H OUT OF 30H – 8 OF WHICH IN THE FIRST PART OF THE COURSE.

Readings/Bibliography

In order to study the primary sources, the teacher will employ: 

• Fonti medievali. Un'antologia, ed. by T. Di Carpegna Falconieri, A. Feniello, C. Grasso (Roma, 2017);
• The sources whose content will be discussed by the teacher during the course.
  

The following books are not part of the exam per se. However, it is highly recommended to anyone with an interest in writing a dissertation in medieval history to read at least two of them: 

• M. Bloch, Apologia della storia o Mestiere di storico (Torino, 2009);
• P. Cammarosano, Guida allo studio della storia medievale (Bari, 2004);
• P. Delogu, Introduzione alla storia medievale (Bologna, 2003);
• A. Petrucci, Prima lezione di paleografia (Bari, 2002).
  

If one is not familiar with the Italian language, alternative choices can be discussed with the teacher.

Teaching methods

Students are encouraged to participate actively in the course, and to take part in the visit to the archivio di Stato of Bologna which will be hopefully organised.

Assessment methods

Requirements:

• Students are required to write a paper 5-7 pages long (10,000-14,000 characters, including spaces). The paper will be devoted to the discussion of one specific primary source, which may be related to the topic of the final dissertation;
• The papers must be handed in at least three days before the date of the exam, which will consist in an oral presentation (10-15 minutes long), accompanied with PowerPoint slides. The presentation will take place during the final class of the Laboratorio, or else on another day that needs to be agreed with the teacher.
  

  The grading will be based on:

• the students' familiarity with the topics covered during the course;
• the students' newly-acquired set of skills, which will help them to shape a dissertation in medieval history.
  

If these two conditions are met, the student will be recognised as idoneo.

NB IN ORDER TO PASS THE EXAM (IDONEITÀ), IT IS MANDATORY TO ATTEND AT LEAST 25H OUT OF 30H – 8 OF WHICH IN THE FIRST PART OF THE COURSE.

Teaching tools

Students will be provided with the text of all the sources examined throughout the course.

Students with disabilities are advised to visit the website of the Servizio per gli Studenti con Disabilità e DSA, drop them an e-mail or either write directly to the teacher.

Servizio per gli Studenti con Disabilità e con DSA:

https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/it

 

Office hours

See the website of Lorenzo Tabarrini