Medieval History – (M.Phil.)

Contents

The course covers two full semesters, 1st or Michaelmas, and 2nd or Hilary semester. In each students are required to attend regularly in the following elements
(i) Medieval Latin - Beginners', Intermediate and Reading Level. (Ms. Emily Lefebvre)

Students will be assigned to an appropriate level after an initial interview with Ms Lefebvre. Students are expected to attend regularly and do the necessary preparation and exercises. The course will concentrate on the recognition, understanding and usage of noun endings, verb endings and on basic medieval vocabulary.

(ii) Palaeography (Dr Gráinne McLaughlin)

Taken in Hilary semester. All students are assumed to be beginners. Teaching materials will be provided and students are expected to attend regularly and do the necessary preparation and exercises.
(iii) Supervised Reading

Each student will be allocated to a member of staff as supervisor, who should be a specialist in an area covering or related to the student´s proposed thesis topic. Staff members´ areas of specialisation will be seen from the list of sophister lecture courses given below, and the supervisor would normally advise the student to audit the course closest to their research topic. A list naming the supervisor for each student will be posted early in Michaelmas semester. The topic of the student's dissertation will be chosen in consultation with the supervisor who will also direct the student's work generally. Regular contact with the supervisor is essential and it is the student's responsibility to ensure that he/she sees his/her supervisor regularly i.e. once a week.

Assessment

Marks will be awarded (in percentage form) for the first two essays in Michaelmas and Hilary semesters and for the final Hilary semester essay in both its written form and as a seminar presentation.

Marks will be awarded (in percentage form) for the tests in Latin and Palaeography (the mark for the Latin test at the end of Michaelmas term will be for information only and will not be taken into account for assessment purposes).

Students will be assessed for the coursework element of the M.Phil. on the basis of an aggregate of these marks (except for the first Latin test). These marks do not count towards the award of the M.Phil. degree, but students are required to obtain at least a pass overall in order to be allowed to submit a dissertation on the basis of which the M.Phil. is awarded.
Students who are judged not to have fulfilled the conditions detailed above or to have failed to reach a sufficient standard in their assessment will not be allowed to proceed to the preparation of the dissertation and thus will not be eligible for the award of the M.Phil., but will be given a letter detailing their attendance and performance in the course.
The M. Phil. Dissertation

The M.Phil. is awarded on the basis of a minor dissertation arising out of the special course selected under A (iii) and involving substantial use of primary source material. The selection of a subject and preparation for the dissertation should begin no later than the beginning of the Hilary semester, and this should be carried out in consultation with the supervisor.

The subject of the dissertation should have been agreed with the supervisor concerned not later than the first week of Hilary semester. Students will be offered guidance on sources, bibliography, the form and scope of their dissertation and on formal aspects such as footnoting and presentation of bibliography, but are advised to ensure that their dissertations are well underway by the end of June, since they cannot expect their supervisors to be readily available for consultation during the Long Vacation period (mid July to mid September). Supervisors will read and comment on material in draft form at the final stages of preparation.

The dissertation should be approximately 20,000 words in length, and two copies typed or computer printed, bound (initially soft-bound), and lettered in accordance with the requirements of the Graduate Studies Office, must be presented to the Course Coordinator by 30 September. In emergencies, students may apply to the course coordinator (with the support of their dissertation supervisor) to avail of the `Dean´s Grace´, or permission to extend deadline to 31st October.