UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE …...To fulfil the above requirement, you should start...

66
1 UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE Department of Italian Student Handbook 2009/2010 www.tcd.ie/italian

Transcript of UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE …...To fulfil the above requirement, you should start...

Page 1: UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE …...To fulfil the above requirement, you should start planning a visit to Italy in the summer after your Junior Freshman course. Later in this

1

UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE

Department of Italian Student Handbook

2009/2010

www.tcd.ie/italian

Page 2: UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE …...To fulfil the above requirement, you should start planning a visit to Italy in the summer after your Junior Freshman course. Later in this

2

Contents SECTION I – GENERAL I.1 Introduction 3 I.2 The Two-Subject Moderatorship & European Studies Degrees 3 I.3 The Two-Subject Moderatorship in Italian 3 I.4 Obligatory residence abroad (TSM) 3 I.5 European Studies 3 I.6 Postgraduate research and taught postgraduate courses 4 I.7 Where to find us 4 I.8 First steps 5 I.9 Teaching and learning in the Department (Aims of the 5

undergraduate course; Computers; Transferable skills; Some of the things you should expect from us; Some of the things we expect from you, including commitment, deadlines for assigned work, attendance)

I.10 If you have a problem or wish to make a suggestion 7 I.11 Guidelines on essay & commentary writing, and work presentation 7 I.12 How we mark your work 8 I.13 General Examinations and Assessment Rules 9 I.14 Regulations on language and non-language components 10 I.15 Regulations on the submission of essays and other projects 11 I.16 Cheating and plagiarism 11 I.17 ECTS 12 I.18 Textbooks 12 I.19 The library 12 I.20 Audio-visual 13 I.21 Internet 13 1.22 College experience 13 SECTION II - TWO-SUBJECT MODERATORSHIP COURSES TSM Junior Freshman year 14 TSM Senior Freshman year 20 Dante: guidelines on answering; and the Dante Prize. 27 Major/Minor choice for the TSM degree 29 TSM Junior Sophister year 30 TSM Senior Sophister year 37 A new TSM regulation affecting Sophister results 45 SECTION III - EUROPEAN STUDIES COURSES ES Junior Freshman year 46 ES Senior Freshman year 49 ES Senior Sophister year 52 SECTION IV - ERASMUS EXCHANGES AND VISITING STUDENTS 58 SECTION V - PRIZES AND BURSARIES 63 FINALLY: WHAT TO DO IF YOU FAIL AN EXAMINATION 64 Note: The Department of Italian is not bound by errors in, or omissions from, this handout. All the rules of this handbook are subject to those of the University, as expressed in Trinity College’s current Calendar. ECTS values are indicative. "How we mark your work", and some other elements in this Handbook, were adapted from the Italian Handbook of the University of Exeter, by kind permission.

Page 3: UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE …...To fulfil the above requirement, you should start planning a visit to Italy in the summer after your Junior Freshman course. Later in this

3

SECTION I – GENERAL Please note: The semesterized academic year is made up of two twelve-week teaching terms called Michaelmas and Hilary terms. Week 7 of each term will be a ‘Study Week’. This is a week when classes are not held. The third term, Trinity Term, is for examinations only. I. 1 INTRODUCTION. Welcome to the Department of Italian in Trinity College Dublin. We have one of the oldest traditions in Italian studies; Italian has been taught here since 1776. Among the notable people associated with Italian in Trinity are Douglas Hyde, who won the prize in Italian in 1884 (later he became the first President of Ireland); Samuel Beckett, who took his degree in Italian and French in the 1920s (later he won the Nobel Prize for Literature), and Walter Starkie, who became Professor of Spanish and Italian and wrote many books on subjects ranging from Pirandello to the Gypsies of Hungary.

The Handbook contains information about administrative and academic arrangements. Further information, including reading lists, will be provided in separate Departmental materials or by individual administrative and teaching staff.

Our website is http://www.tcd.ie/italian/. Please familiarize yourself with it. I. 2 THE TWO-SUBJECT MODERATORSHIP AND EUROPEAN STUDIES

DEGREES. At undergraduate level, the Italian Department teaches two four-year degree courses: the Two-Subject Moderatorship course (language and literature) (TSM) and the European Studies course (ES). In both of these courses we welcome beginners as well as non-beginners. There are four years of course: Junior Freshman (1st year, abbreviated JF), Senior Freshman (2nd year, abbreviated SF), Junior Sophister (3st year, or JS), and Senior Sophister (4th

year, or SS). I. 3 THE TWO-SUBJECT MODERATORSHIP IN ITALIAN. Italian is combined

with one other subject, as part of a four-year degree. If you take Moderatorship part II (Mod II) in Italian, you take three years of the other subject and four years of Italian; if you opt for Mod II in the other subject, you take your final Italian examination (Moderatorship part I, abbreviated Mod I) after three years. The language course is designed to help you reach a high level of fluency and accuracy in written and spoken Italian. In the first three years of literature (core course and options) we cover Dante's Commedia and a number of authors: classics such as Petrarch, Machiavelli, Leopardi; modern novels, poetry and drama; some aspects of Italian history and society. Fourth-year students make a special study of Dante's works, read other core authors, learn more about the varieties of contemporary Italian, take options, and write a substantial dissertation on a topic of their own choice agreed with the Department. More detailed descriptions of TSM courses and examinations are further on in this Handbook.

I.4 OBLIGATORY RESIDENCE ABROAD (TSM). One of the special requirements

in modern languages is that YOU MUST SPEND AT LEAST TWO MONTHS IN ITALY. PLEASE REMEMBER THIS. The rule is as follows (Calendar 2008-09, p. K3/15): "Students taking one or two modern languages other than English must spend not less than two months in the country of each language in order to fulfil the requirements of their course; students of Irish must spend at least the same amount of time in the Gaeltacht. The residence required for each language must be completed before the moderatorship examination in that language".

To fulfil the above requirement, you should start planning a visit to Italy in the summer after your Junior Freshman course. Later in this Handbook you will read about the possibilities of studying abroad under the Erasmus programme. Think seriously about this during your Junior Freshman year, as the Senior Freshman year is the best time to take up an Erasmus opportunity.

I.5 EUROPEAN STUDIES. The four-year European Studies degree combines the study

of European history, society, politics and ideas with the study of two languages from the following list: French, German, Italian, Russian, Polish, Spanish. The Italian course has been devised to combine language skills with coverage of topics relevant to modern Italian life and society. Attention is paid to reading, writing, listening and speaking skills. The EUROPEAN

Page 4: UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE …...To fulfil the above requirement, you should start planning a visit to Italy in the summer after your Junior Freshman course. Later in this

4

STUDIES OBLIGATORY TIME ABROAD is the third year of the course, which is spent on the Continent, studying the 4 core disciplines of European Studies through the foreign language. Students who choose Italian as their major language will go to the Universities of Pavia or Siena. Some places may also be available at the University of Florence. Descriptions of Italian ES courses and examinations are further on in this Handbook.

I.6 POSTGRADUATE RESEARCH AND TAUGHT POSTGRADUATE

COURSES. Students who have completed a first degree either in Trinity or elsewhere may undertake individual research under the supervision of a member of staff, leading to the degree of M.Litt. or Ph.D. The Italian Department welcomes postgraduate applications. Our web pages offer guidelines to help you decide whether postgraduate research in Italian is for you, and to help you prepare and submit the sort of documentation which would help us decide whether we can offer you a place as a research student. We have tried to keep this information objective, looking at the costs as well as the benefits of postgraduate work. See: http://www.tcd.ie/Italian/08.Postgraduate.Italian.html

The Department also participates in five taught Master's programmes: an MPhil in Medieval Language, Literature, and Culture, an MPhil in Literary Translation, an MPhil in Comparative Literature, an MPhil in Textual and Visual Studies, and the MPhil. in European Studies. Students from those and other postgraduate taught programmes may sometimes follow a final-year undergraduate course as part of their programme. For further details see:

http://www.tcd.ie/langs-lits-cultures/postgraduate/medieval_language/ http://www.tcd.ie/langs-lits-cultures/postgraduate/literary_translation/

http://www.tcd.ie/langs-lits-cultures/postgraduate/comparative_literature/ http://www.tcd.ie/langs-lits-cultures/postgraduate/textual_visual_studies/

http://www.tcd.ie/langs-lits-cultures/postgraduate/European_Studies/

I.7 WHERE TO FIND US. The Department office, notice boards, and staff members' rooms are on the second floor (Level 4) of the Arts Building. The office is at Room 4087 in the Arts Building (Tel. 8962062; e-mail: [email protected]). The Departmental Executive Officer in this office and at this e-mail address is Mary Keating (who performs administrative tasks, co-ordinates timetabling, enrols students in the Department, sends students reading lists and other information, and looks after foreign grants provided by schools and other institutions). Office hours are displayed on the door.

The full-time academic staff this year are as follows in alphabetical order together with some of the activities they co-ordinate within the Department:

• Giuliana Adamo, Room 4080, [email protected]: co-ordinating TSM SF course, liaison on disability problems.

• Roberto Bertoni, Room 4040, [email protected]: ES JF, SF, JS and SS courses, TSM SS course, ES Italian Erasmus, Department publications.

• Cormac Ó Cuilleanáin, Room 4088 (through 4087), [email protected]: head of Department, co-ordinating TSM JS course, mature students and access programmes, residence abroad requirements, computer courses, transferable skills, open day, taught Master's programmes, liaison with student representatives, student handbook, research seminars Fox.

• Gabriella Grassi, Italian Government Sponsored Lecturer, Room 4081, [email protected]: co-ordinating TSM JF course, TSM Erasmus and Visiting Students.

• Elena Mullins, Language Instructor, Room 4078, [email protected] • Silvia Geremia, Language Assistant, Room 4078, [email protected] Very substantial amounts of teaching are also provided by Prof. Corinna Salvadori Lonergan

([email protected]) who teaches at undergraduate and postgraduate levels and coordinates the Department’s library acquisitions.

We are always willing to see you without an appointment in an emergency. However, all full-time lecturing staff keep office hours which are shown on the doors of our rooms, and for routine queries this is the best time to find us.

Check the noticeboards regularly. The Italian Department has two TSM and general notice boards near the office. One is an open board including student messages, books for sale, employment and accommodation offers, etc. The glass-fronted noticeboard is the official one for courses, timetables, notices from staff, etc. You should look at this board regularly because it is

Page 5: UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE …...To fulfil the above requirement, you should start planning a visit to Italy in the summer after your Junior Freshman course. Later in this

5

one of the ways for us to communicate with you quickly. ES students should look in particular at the ES noticeboards where all ES lectures are pinned, but consult also the TSM notice board for Italian lecture times and general notices.

Your lecture timetables are also available on the web: For TSM see: http://www.tcd.ie/TSM/current/timetabling/ For ES see:

Student examination timetables are only available on the web, at the appropriate time see: http://www.tcd.ie/Examinations/Timetables/vpexamtimetable.php

However, Oral examinations are arranged at departmental level, so they will be communicated to students directly via email and will be posted on the noticeboard. Please find out your Oral exam time before booking flights, as the dates may differ substantially from the written exam schedule you see on the web.

All ES, TSM, Erasmus and Visiting students are required to check their College e-mail at least once a week. Many important pieces of information are given via e-mail.

I.8 FIRST STEPS. Please make sure that we can contact you quickly, by giving the

Departmental Executive Officer your home address and term address, together with a mobile number. This and other important information can be filled in on your ‘Italian Department Registration Form’ and handed into the departmental office after the Junior Freshman orientation meeting. Inform her promptly of any changes of address, tutor or Moderatorship subject. (You should separately inform Student Records, as data are not shared between that office and the Department.) This is all in your own interest.

You will also need to inform the Departmental Executive Officer of any absence from class, and if such absences are for a week or more, you must submit a medical certificate.

I.9 TEACHING AND LEARNING IN THE DEPARTMENT

Aims of the Undergraduate Course. The Italian course sets out to provide students with proficiency in spoken and written Italian, a sound training in critical analysis and writing and, for those taking TSM, a wide knowledge of Italian literature and Italy's contribution to European civilisation. Our graduates should be well equipped to embark on worthwhile careers both at home and abroad, while also possessing an academic training which would enable them to pursue postgraduate study in the humanities. (Many of our graduates do in fact opt for postgraduate study, in fields as diverse as Italian literature, History, European Studies, Education, Translation Studies, and various business and professional subjects.)

We pursue our aims by trying to provide expert teaching, varied and stimulating in its content, and up-to-date in its methodology (teaching methods vary, depending on the topic, the size of the group, and the approach of the member of staff). We want you to be able to think clearly and critically, to assimilate and evaluate literary or documentary evidence, to present your point of view cogently and effectively, to appreciate the power of language and to use it well.

Computers. Applications for computing range from basic word-processing to databases,

computer-aided publishing and the ever-increasing use of the Internet. Word-processing is a skill which makes it much easier to write and revise your essays and other work; it is also a skill that you will need during your working life. A computer terminal with Internet access also allows you to use the vast range of language material available on the Web. All students are automatically registered in the e-mail system.

Transferable Skills. We want to help students develop a range of transferable skills,

especially communicative and analytical skills. Among the specific skills that our courses naturally develop are: speaking a foreign language, making presentations, interacting with people from a different culture, being able to write and rewrite texts in a foreign language, paying attention to several different factors simultaneously ("multi-tasking"), and the ability to manage one's time and deliver assignments to Departments according to a demanding schedule. We are working to make these "transferable skills" more explicit, but they have always been part of our courses. Every Modern Language graduate will have developed many skills in College, and will be able to adapt and develop these skills further in the course of a working career.

Page 6: UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE …...To fulfil the above requirement, you should start planning a visit to Italy in the summer after your Junior Freshman course. Later in this

6

In addition to basic skills such as keyboard and word-processing competence, we aim to enable students to acquire: habits of accuracy, sensitivity to nuance and attention to detail in their use of language, both written and spoken; the ability to read long and complex texts and assimilate their essential points; the ability to read different critical views and discriminate between them, articulating their own point of view; and to argue a case logically and coherently. Studying for a degree also involves working to deadlines and collaborating with others in a team. These are all skills which are valued by employers and which should stand you in good stead in later life.

Some of the things you should expect from us. a. Course information: Course descriptions are provided, including such information as

the aims and structure of the course, teaching methods, total number of teaching hours, required course work, set texts and recommended reading.

b. Corrected work: Lecturers will do their utmost to return corrected work (marked, with written comment) within a reasonable time - normally within a week from delivery for language work, and within a month for essays on literary or cultural topics. Opportunities are given for individual discussion of marked work.

c. Students' progress: We keep records of marks and contact students and/or Tutors if progress is unsatisfactory.

d. Availability of staff: As stated above, staff are available to advise students and discuss any difficulties which may arise.

e. Opportunity for student feedback. Course questionnaires can be used to evaluate courses. Completed questionnaires are analysed by the teaching staff. Students' constructive suggestions are welcome.

The external examiner comments on all aspects of the Departmental teaching and assessment in his or her annual written report, and this is discussed at a subsequent staff meeting.

Some of the things we expect from you. a. A programme of study requires active co-operation between staff and students if it is to

achieve its educational objectives. Staff are responsible for effective teaching, but students are responsible for their own learning. b. Students should regard enrolment on a course as a commitment which they are expected to take to its conclusion. They should ensure that they are prepared for the course by undertaking any required preliminary study. In language courses, they are expected to submit written language work each week, as well as preparing topics for oral classes. In other courses they may be expected to write essays and/or to give seminar presentations; staff are always willing to discuss these with them individually. People's methods and speed of working vary greatly, so it is not practicable to prescribe exactly how many hours a week a student should devote to the course. However, a full-time student should bear in mind that full-time jobs normally involve a 40-hour working week. Furthermore, the degree courses require regular study outside lecture term, and a committed student will find it essential to cover text-books and to practice speaking and reading Italian in vacation periods.

c. Students are expected to meet agreed deadlines for assigned work (see below, section I.15, "Regulations on the submission of essays and other projects", p. 11).

d. Attendance. Students are expected to attend classes. You are expected to give advance information to teaching staff if you are unable to attend, or have to be late. If you are prevented by illness from attending, you should inform the Department as soon as practicable, and provide medical certification for prolonged absences as specified on the Departmental notice board. Lecturers send individual and class notes to alert you towards attendance, but attendance is your responsibility. If you experience problems in this respect, contact individual lecturers and the Head of Department, as well as your Tutor. The Italian Department requires attendance of at least two-thirds of classes each term, and insufficient attendance may result in a "non-satisfactory" report. This can mean exclusion from the annual examination. College regulations on attendance are as follows:

- Calendar, p. H5/16: "Students must attend College during the teaching term. They must take part fully in the academic work of their class throughout the period of their course."

- Calendar, p. H6/24: "At the end of the teaching term, students who have not satisfied the Department or school requirements [... ] may be reported as non-satisfactory for

Page 7: UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE …...To fulfil the above requirement, you should start planning a visit to Italy in the summer after your Junior Freshman course. Later in this

7

that term. Students reported as non-satisfactory for the Michaelmas and Hilary terms of a given year may be refused permission to take their annual examinations and may be required by the Senior Lecturer to repeat their year."

The implications of this policy are obviously serious, and you are urged to ensure that you

engage fully with the course. If you’re having problems, don’t drop out – come and talk.

I.10 WHAT TO DO IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM OR WISH TO MAKE A SUGGESTION?

In the Department. Italian is a small Department, with close contact between students and

staff; you will receive individual attention and you are encouraged to discuss any questions of concern with the Head of Department, course co-ordinators, or other individual staff members. Contact them about your progress, examinations, suggestions you wish to make, problems you may encounter, and any topics you wish to discuss in relation to the course. The procedure that the Italian Department considers appropriate, both ideally and practically, is that the students discuss problems with the Italian staff as soon as they arise so that solutions can be found quickly and effectively.

Keep in touch with your Tutor and let her / him know how you are getting on. If you have a problem that is preventing you from keeping up with your work, it is essential that your Tutor is informed in good time, thereby placing the problem on the record.

Student rep system. There is a system of class representatives, organised through the Students' Union. If your particular class has elected a representative, the Department will be available to talk to him/her as well. Consult the head of Department re. liaison meetings of staff with one general rep of the Italian TSM course or one rep of the Italian ES course. There may not always be a perfect solution to every problem, but rational dialogue usually helps.

Outside the Department. Trinity has a vast array of skilled people willing and able to help

with the problems which can affect any student. The Student Health Centre, Counselling Service, Students' Union, Chaplains, the Disability Services and most of all your personal Tutor, are there whenever you need them - and all students need some of these services during their progress through College. If you need help with study skills, or have difficulty with writing, your Tutor can refer you for expert advice from Learning Support.

I.11 GUIDELINES ON ESSAY AND COMMENTARY WRITING, AND WORK PRESENTATION

When you prepare written work please pay attention to whether you are writing a

commentary or an essay. This applies both to annual assessment work and to the end- of-year exam. The two exercises are different and should not be confused

A commentary is a sequential textual analysis of a given passage. The relevance of the extract to the book to which it belongs must emerge from your analysis and the latter must be enriched by reference to the text as a whole.

An essay is a discussion on a set topic, enriched by references to the author’s book or books, and to the author’s poetics, ideology, philosophy, and the cultural aims and achievements of the work, and enriched also by extensive secondary reading (published criticism, scholarship etc.).

An essay, or a translation/paraphrase of a given passage is not acceptable in lieu of a commentary. When writing an essay, students are strongly advised not to write on topics other than those set. Points made in essays must be supported at all times by textual references to the work of the author. Here is some more advice on how to proceed:

Literary / Cultural Essays

a. Read the essay title carefully. Make sure you understand the particular meaning of the terms it uses. "Critical quotations" in essay titles may be half true and half false, they may be internally contradictory, or they may make unjustified assumptions about the text. If you're asked to describe the struggle between individual and society in a certain book, for instance, ask yourself first whether the book presents such a struggle. On the other hand, if the title contains some particularly good critical insight, try and think out exactly why it is good.

Page 8: UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE …...To fulfil the above requirement, you should start planning a visit to Italy in the summer after your Junior Freshman course. Later in this

8

b. Read the text carefully. Take it in on many levels: literal meaning, symbolic structure, literary technique, relation to the historical world, organisation and significance of ideas or hidden argument, characterisation and balance of human factors. Try to determine what it is, how its content and its form are related, what it tells you about the author, his/her literary intentions and traditions, and yourself.

c. Apply the title to the text. Try to answer the questions inherent in the title, by picking out those aspects of the text which explain, illuminate, confirm or deny the title's assumptions or stated critical judgements. How do you react to the title now?

d. Plan your essay by the following steps: i) Analyse your own reactions. ii) Build up your reactions into ideas. iii) Build your ideas into a coherent progression, which is then the "argument" of your essay.

("Argument" here means not controversy but the reasonable development of your point of view. If ideas clash, try to sort out their contradictions, or else reformulate them. Sometimes the clash of ideas can tell you more than would a simple, straightforward theory.)

e. Use the primary texts. Support your ideas by making appropriate reference to primary texts. Mention in brackets the abbreviated titles and page numbers from these texts each time you quote from them. An initial footnote should indicate what edition you are using, or refer to the bibliography of your essay.

f. Use the critics. Scan the scholarly books and articles on your title-subject and text, looking for facts and arguments to throw light on your subject. Use them to help you define your terms, and to come to grips with the text itself. Quote where it really helps your argument (even by contrast or disagreement). Acknowledge each critical borrowing by author, work and page in the footnotes of your essay.

g. As you write, check that each section is really part of your argument. Always point out exactly where you are going.

Commentaries. In a number of cases we will ask you to write commentaries rather than essays in order to test and develop your knowledge of literary texts. A commentary is different from an essay: its structure is not dictated by formal arguments but by close and sequential analysis of the text. You do not paraphrase it, nor translate it, but you try to answer the following questions: Who wrote it?, Where does it come from?, What does it say?, How does it say it? The last of those questions should clinch everything you say about the earlier three, and requires a progressive "walk through" the text in order to see exactly how it produces its effects. A commentary should also situate the passage you are working on within the book to which it belongs and inside the relevant historical and intellectual contexts. Your commentary should be impartial, thorough and objective, but also contain reference to critics, and express your own viewpoint during the analysis or at the end. Further detailed instructions on the writing of commentaries will be given to you as part of your Dante course and in other courses.

Presentation of your work. The organisation and presentation of your work are very important. The proper use and acknowledgement of critical material are essential. Quotations must be accurately cited. A full description of the conventions of presentation is in the MHRA Style Book, available from the Italian Department, and online at http://www.mhra.org.uk/Publications/Books/StyleGuide/index.html. These conventions must be followed. They include rules on how to present a bibliography. The basic rules in this respect are to indicate name and surname of author, title of work, name of journal, number of issue, year of publication, and, in case of books, place of edition and name of publisher. Titles of articles in journals and chapters from books are in inverted commas, whereas titles of books are in italics. Proof-reading must be precise. Bad punctuation or grammar are unacceptable. You can drop as much as an entire class in your result (eg from II.2 to III) for poor presentation.

I.12 HOW WE MARK YOUR WORK. University examinations, and most written coursework, are marked according to four 'classes',

one of which is subdivided into 'upper' and 'lower'. The qualities we look for when grading your work, and the resulting classes, are as follows:

First class (I: 70% and above): This grade indicates work of exceptional quality. A first-

class essay will demonstrate some, though not necessarily all, of the following: excellent knowledge of the primary texts and good knowledge of criticism; a comprehensive treatment of

Page 9: UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE …...To fulfil the above requirement, you should start planning a visit to Italy in the summer after your Junior Freshman course. Later in this

9

the question, presenting a well-argued viewpoint supported by evidence; the capacity to evaluate evidence, and to cite relevant evidence from other fields; knowledge of the subject which goes beyond the content of lectures and set reading; independent thought of high quality.

First-class language work will show a very high degree of fluency and grammatical precision. Vocabulary should be varied and correctly used. Some command on register variation, or thorough comprehension of implied points may contribute to this mark. A translation from Italian will render the original with a high degree of accuracy in stylistically appropriate English.

Upper Second Class (II 1: 60-69%): This grade indicates a very competent standard of

work. An essay in this range will demonstrate some, though not necessarily all, of the following: good knowledge of the primary texts and some reference to criticism; an answer dealing with all the points raised by the question; a coherent, well-organised essay focused on relevant material from lectures and set reading; an ability to evaluate evidence. A good II 1 essay will also show evidence of wider reading and independent thought.

Language work in this class will be grammatically accurate and will convey the writer's or speaker's intention clearly. Translation into Italian will use sensible vocabulary and avoid misunderstanding of the original text. Translation from Italian will be substantially precise and written in clear, correct English.

Lower Second Class (II 2: 50-59%): This grade indicates work of acceptable

competence. Work will demonstrate all of the following: knowledge of the primary texts and reference to at least one critical text; an accurate summary of relevant material from lectures and some of the set reading; a clear presentation of relevant material; discussion of some of the points raised by the question. It may omit some relevant material or contain some which is irrelevant.

Language work in this class will succeed in expressing the writer's or speaker's intention in comprehensible and largely accurate Italian. A translation from Italian will convey the main gist of the original in coherent English.

Third Class (III: 40-49%): Work in this grade will demonstrate some knowledge and

understanding, but will contain weaknesses such as discussion which is too simplistic or brief, or shows limited though acceptable knowledge of the subject.

Language work in this class may contain some errors and misunderstandings, but will convey understandable, though not always accurate, meaning in Italian. In translation from Italian, parts of the text will fail to convey clearly the meaning of the original.

Fail (39% and below: F1 30 to 39; F2 below 30): This grade indicates insufficient

evidence of serious academic study. Work may fail because of failure to demonstrate an understanding of the question or knowledge of the subject, or because the material presented is incoherent or irrelevant to the question.

A fail mark in language work indicates that the text or presentation fails to achieve an acceptable level of correct Italian; a translation from Italian fails to produce a coherent passage of English based on an Italian original.

I. 13 GENERAL EXAMINATIONS AND ASSESSMENT RULES Descriptions of specific types of assessments and examinations are given in the following pages

under each year's TSM and ES course description. In this section only some general rules applying to all cases are enlisted.

General. Each year the taught courses are assessed by a combination of end-of-year

examinations and coursework. All examinations are 'clean desk': no dictionaries, grammars, set texts or any other reference

aids may be consulted. All candidates' scripts for Degree Examinations are double marked within the Department, and most are also marked by the external examiner (a senior academic from outside Trinity who has neither taught nor had any previous contact with our candidates). Examination scripts are marked anonymously, the candidate being identified only by a number.

All Freshman examinations are qualifying examinations which must be passed before the candidate can proceed to the next stage of the Degree Programme, but they do not contribute to the final class of degree.

Page 10: UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE …...To fulfil the above requirement, you should start planning a visit to Italy in the summer after your Junior Freshman course. Later in this

10

In every year, students must pass in both language overall and literature overall, independently of each other.

For literature examinations, the following general guidelines apply: ESSAYS: Deal explicitly with the question or problem posed, with adequate reference to the text. COMMENTARIES: Give a sequential analysis of the passage, place it in the context of the wider text, and illustrate any other aspects which you deem relevant.

Option examinations will be held in the summer examination session. Students are reminded to be careful not to repeat in the exam substantial amounts of material already used in the assessment essays for their options.

Disclosure of grades. In accordance with University policy, examination grades can be

disclosed to students after they have been confirmed by the Court of Examiners. Marks for coursework which count towards final assessment are disclosed on the basis that they are only indicative, and have no formal standing until moderated by the external examiner and/or confirmed by the Board of Examiners.

Oral examinations. Each year there is an oral examination designed to test candidates'

comprehension of, and competence in, spoken Italian at an appropriate level. Consult descriptions for TSM and ES language examinations further on in this handbook. The examiners may recognise outstanding first-class performance in the oral at degree level by recommending that a result be awarded 'with distinction in spoken Italian'. Aural tests are also held in some years.

Figures. Percentage figures are indicative and the examiners may modify the result at their

discretion. Italian Department fail rule. Please note that a majority of failed elements

overall in language (written and aural) leads to an overall fail independently of the mathematical average of the marks involved. The oral language has to be passed separately, following the Calendar rule (see below, paragraph I.14).

Italian Department assessment percentage. A percentage of 15% will be assigned to

TSM and ES students’ language assessment. Students are required to do language exercises regularly during the year in all components of

the course. Tests and exercises on structures, reading, writing and oral are considered for formal assessment. In particular, language tests, vacation work and weekly homework are counted as part of the overall language mark for the year.

Unanswered questions. Mark assigned to questions not done at examinations: 0%. Dante guidelines and exam format. The requirements for answering on Dante are

specified in greater detail (see separate pages 27 – 28 TBA). The Dante paper has been divided into two 2-hour papers to allow more time for answering.

I.14 REGULATIONS ON LANGUAGE AND NON-LANGUAGE

COMPONENTS Please note that to pass any of the Italian examinations you have to satisfy the examiners on

the language and the non-language side. On the language side, please note the following rule of the University as stated in the Calendar

on p. K3/14: "In each year, candidates in modern languages must provide evidence of their proficiency in writing and speaking the language concerned. Proficiency will be assessed by performance in the annual examination and, in some courses, by assessment work set during the year. A student who fails to satisfy the examiners in the language component will be deemed to have failed the examination overall."

You must pass on the WRITTEN and the SPOKEN language components, separately and together. The aural examination (taken by ES JF, ES SF and ES SS major, and by TSM JF and SF) counts towards your aggregate language mark.

Page 11: UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE …...To fulfil the above requirement, you should start planning a visit to Italy in the summer after your Junior Freshman course. Later in this

11

I.15 REGULATIONS ON THE SUBMISSION OF ESSAYS AND OTHER

PROJECTS a. Whenever essays and projects are assigned, a delivery date is stated. It is the student's

responsibility to be aware of the deadline for handing in the work. Work must be handed in by the date indicated.

LATE DELIVERY. If work is handed in late without specific permission having been granted, except in cases of well-documented incapacity to get work in on time, the following scale of deducted marks may be applied for late submission: 2 points for one week late, 5 for two weeks late, 10 for three weeks late. Lecturers may refuse to accept essays submitted later than three weeks after deadline.

UNDELIVERED WORK. Mark for assignment not done during the year: 0%. b. All work (other than weekly language assignments) must be handed personally to the Italian

Department executive officer, at room 4087, during her normal hours of attendance, or as otherwise stated by your lecturers. When a deadline falls on a day when the office is unattended, the work must be handed in by the next day on which the executive officer is in attendance.

c. When work is handed in, the date of delivery is to be recorded in the Departmental register, countersigned by both the student and the Department executive officer.

d. If unable to meet an agreed deadline students should inform staff in advance. Extensions for submission of work on Italian courses must be sought in advance of the deadline. In exceptional circumstances, extensions of deadlines may be granted by the Department, or by the staff member responsible for the work. It is the student's responsibility to obtain from the staff member involved a written note specifying the new delivery deadline. This note must immediately be handed to the Departmental executive officer and recorded in the Departmental register.

e. While the Department takes all reasonable care of submitted materials, it is the student's responsibility to keep a copy of all work submitted, and to produce this copy if required. This applies particularly to work done in the third and fourth years, as major projects such as term and option essays form part of the materials available to the Department and the external examiner in assessing the student's final degree result.

I.16 CHEATING AND PLAGIARISM. Your attention is drawn to the following policy statement, which appeared on

p. H16 of the College Calendar 2008-09: "Plagiarism is interpreted by the University as the act of presenting the work of others as one's own work, without acknowledgement.

[…] Plagiarism is considered as academically fraudulent, and an offence against University discipline. The University considers plagiarism to be a major offence, and subject to the disciplinary procedures of the University.

[…] Plagiarism can arise from deliberate actions and also through careless thinking and/or methodology. The offence lies not in the attitude or intention of the perpetrator, but in the action and in its consequences.

Plagiarism can arise from actions such as: (a) copying another student's work; (b) enlisting another person or persons to complete an assignment on the student's

behalf. (c) quoting directly, without acknowledgement, from books, articles or other sources,

either in printed, recorded or electronic format; (d) paraphrasing, without acknowledgement, the writings of other authors;

Examples (c) and (d) in particular can arise through careless thinking and/or methodology where students:

(i) fail to distinguish between their own ideas and those of others. (ii) fail to take proper notes during preliminary research and therefore lose track of the

sources from which the notes were drawn; (iii) fail to distinguish between information which needs no acknowledgement because it

is firmly in the public domain, and information which might be widely known, but which nevertheless requires some sort of acknowledgement;

(iv) come across a distinctive methodology or idea and fail to record its source. All the above serve only as examples and are not exhaustive.

Page 12: UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE …...To fulfil the above requirement, you should start planning a visit to Italy in the summer after your Junior Freshman course. Later in this

12

Students should submit work done in co-operation with other students only when it is done with the full knowledge and permission of the lecturer concerned. Without this, work submitted which is the product of collusion with other students may be considered to be plagiarism.

[…] It is clearly understood that all members of the academic community use and build on the work of others. It is commonly accepted also, however, that we build on the work of others in an open and explicit manner, and with due acknowledgement. Many cases of plagiarism that arise could be avoided by following some simple guidelines:

(i) Any material used in a piece of work, of any form, that is not the original thought of the author should be fully referenced in the work and attributed to its source. The material should either be quoted directly or paraphrased. Either way, an explicit citation of the work referred to should be provided, in the text, in a footnote, or both. Not to do so is to commit plagiarism.

(ii) When taking notes from any source it is very important to record the precise words or ideas that are being used and their precise sources.

(iii) While the Internet often offers a wider range of possibilities for researching particular themes, it also requires particular attention to be paid to the distinction between one's own work and the work of others. Particular care should be taken to keep track of the source of the electronic information obtained from the Internet or other electronic sources and ensure that it is explicitly and correctly acknowledged.

[…] It is the responsibility of the author of any work to ensure that he/she does not commit plagiarism.

[…] Students should ensure the integrity of their work by seeking advice from their lecturers, tutor or supervisor on avoiding plagiarism. All Departments should include, in their handbooks or other literature given to students, advice on the appropriate methodology for the kind of work that students will be expected to undertake.

[…] If plagiarism […] is suspected, the Head of Department will arrange an informal meeting with the student, the student's tutor, and the lecturer concerned, to put their suspicions to the student and give the student the opportunity to respond.

[…] If the Head of Department forms the view that plagiarism has taken place, he/she must notify the Senior Lecturer in writing of the facts of the case. The Senior Lecturer will then advise the Junior Dean. The Head of Department may recommend that the work in question receives a reduced mark, or a mark of zero. If satisfactory completion of the piece of work is deemed essential for the student to rise with his/her year or to proceed to the award of a degree, the student may be required to re-submit the work. However the student may not receive more than the minimum pass mark applicable to the piece of work on satisfactory re-submission.

[…] The Junior Dean will interview the student if the facts of the case are in dispute. Whether or not the facts of the case are in dispute, the Junior Dean may implement the procedures set out in 'Conduct and College Regulations §2'."

I.17 ECTS. The European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) indicates values for each of your

courses so that they can be recognised within the EU. The total ECTS for each TSM subject in each of the first three years of the undergraduate

course is 30; in the fourth year the total for the one subject studied is 60. Both TSM and ES Italian ECTS figures are given in the detailed description of courses further

on in this handbook. I.18 TEXTBOOKS. A number of prescribed textbooks, among those indicated below in

the various book-lists, have been ordered and will be stocked at: International Books, South Frederick Street, Dublin 2.

It is your responsibility to acquire these books. Some handouts and other texts, but also some second-hand books, are available from room 4087. Please consult Ms Mary Keating about these.

I.19 THE LIBRARY. The Library is probably the most important physical resource for

your course. There are induction sessions for new students at the beginning of the academic year, and it is important that you should attend one of these. Ehenever you need further help from Library staff, you should not hesitate to ask them. Some books which are essential reading for particular courses are held in multiple copies; however, there are unlikely to be enough copies for everyone, so please be considerate and don't keep a book out on loan for longer than you need it. The Italian Language and Literature sections are located in the Ussher Library. Italian dictionaries are to be found in the "Italian Dictionary 850" area, which is at the beginning of the Italian

Page 13: UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE …...To fulfil the above requirement, you should start planning a visit to Italy in the summer after your Junior Freshman course. Later in this

13

Literature books. Italian literature covers the classmarks 850-858.9. In the basement of the Library you will find periodicals that regularly carry items of Italian cultural interest. It will be worth getting to know these journals and following up any reading suggestions that lead you to them.

I.20 AUDIO-VISUAL. The Centre for language and Communication Studies (CLCS) has

an audio-visual collection, with cassettes and DVDs (for viewing in the Language Laboratory). You can watch Italian television in Room 4074 between classes. This will help you to develop comprehension skills independently.

I.21 INTERNET. The internet offers a very useful range of language materials. These

include: Audio-visual – YouTube, radio and television news, films, ads, posters, etc. Text – books, articles, web sites, newspapers, chat, e-mail, etc.

Use the Web as a source when researching essays, presentations, dossiers for oral exams etc. But don’t uncritically copy materials into your submitted work. That isn’t learning, it’s

plagiarism (see 1.16 above). I.22 COLLEGE EXPERIENCE. With all the details given about hard work, it may seem a

little strange to say that we would like you to enjoy your years at Trinity College. This is a lively College, with opportunities for expanding your cultural and personal horizons, making friends, and developing new interests. Of course examination results are important, but a real education includes also elements of enjoyment, friendship, voluntary activity, and contact with people as well as ideas. Strike a healthy balance.

Page 14: UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE …...To fulfil the above requirement, you should start planning a visit to Italy in the summer after your Junior Freshman course. Later in this

14

SECTION II - TWO-SUBJECT MODERATORSHIP

COURSES

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF TSM JUNIOR FRESHMAN ITALIAN COURSES AND EXAMINATIONS

The TSM JF course has a language component, and a literary and historical component, both

decribed below. Through your course in the Italian language you should learn how to express yourself orally and in writing, simply but accurately; and understand reading passages and listening tapes at an appropriate language level. The literary course introduces you to some poetry and metrics and genres, theatrical texts by Dario Fo and a prose text by Rosetta Loy. At the end of the academic year you are expected to know the literary texts studied and to use suitable critical methods. An introduction to Italian history goes from the 19th century onwards.

You must buy the following prescribed texts (for stockist see paragraph I.18): 1. Federici & Riga, Ciao!; 2. Chambers Italian Verbs; 3. Olga Ragusa, Essential Italian Grammar; 4. Rosetta Loy, La parola ebreo; 5. Dario Fo, Morte accidentale di un anarchico and Mistero buffo; 6. Selected Poems of Eugenio Montale; 7. History handout (the latter is available from the Dept. office, room 4087). There is also an annual photocopying charge to cover additional handouts, (please enquire at the Dept. Office). Other course books should be owned by students – these will be specified in course booklists or lecturers' indications. You should buy a good bilingual dictionary, and consider buying a good monolingual dictionary (see inside Handbook front cover for details).

TSM JF, ECTS TOTAL: 30, subdivided into Italian language course, 20; and Italian

literary/cultural course, 10. ITALIAN LANGUAGE COURSE - IT1099 The language course is intensive and requires a systematic daily work schedule to be successful.

Try never to miss class, preparation, written work and revision. Remember to talk to your lecturers immediately if you have problems; it is vital not to get left behind, so seek help at once. If you have a personal problem, see your Tutor.

The language course includes the following modules:

Code IT1099 Course Name Term/Semester Hours per week

ECTS

IT1001 Italian language: Structures Michaelmas/ I 4

IT1001 Italian language: Structures Hilary/ II 3

IT1002 Italian language: Reading Hilary/ II 1

IT1004 Italian language: Computer assignments

Michaelmas/ I 1

IT1016 IT1005

Italian language: Active Italian Italian language: Exam Prep.

Hilary/ II 2

IT1009 Italian language: Oral All year 1

20

Page 15: UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE …...To fulfil the above requirement, you should start planning a visit to Italy in the summer after your Junior Freshman course. Later in this

15

IT1001 Italian language: Structures Basic language structures are taught in four classes every week in Michaelmas term/semester 1,

and then three hours per week in Hilary term/semester 2; new grammar material is explained and practised, and written work is corrected. For home study, you will find that many points covered in your main textbook, Ciao!, are explained in a different way in Olga Ragusa’s Essential Italian Grammar, or in Adorni & Primorac, English Grammar for Students of Italian — a book which you may find helpful for understanding grammatical terminology. A copy is available for consultation in room 4087. For revising your verbs we recommend Harrap's Italian Verbs.

The regular completion of written work is essential. It is particularly important that you submit the test exercises which are set from time to time; these count as part of your formal assessment. You can help by presenting written work in the following format: your name and the exercise (or worksheet) number at top of page; a wide right-hand margin (2 inches); please write on every second line, to leave room for comments.

For progression of grammar topics see the Language Guidelines handed at the beginning of the year. For the schedule of delivery of written work see the notice board and consult your lecturers. Lecturers may refuse to correct work which has already been corrected in class.

IT1002 Italian language: Reading

The reading class consists in a close readings of passages from the texts on which JF TSM Literature courses are based (Fo’s Morte accidentale di un anarchico and Mistero buffo; Loy’s La parola ebreo; some extracts from past examination papers). Students are required to attend regularly and will be involved, with the lecturer’s help, in detailed reading exercises. The aim of the course is to help JF students with the basic comprehension of written Italian texts, to enrich their vocabulary, to help them become increasingly familiar with how Italian grammar works. Tests on materials will be recorded as part of the assessment mark for the year.

IT1004 Italian language: Computer assignments Computer exercises will reinforce your grammar, vocabulary and comprehension skills. CALL

(Computer-Assisted Language Learning) started some years ago with Italian grammar and comprehension exercises, known by the acronym LUISA (Leeds University Italian SoftwAre, from the University of Leeds where it was developed). LUISA includes grammar drills (intended primarily for beginners, but useful for revision as well) and comprehension exercises at elementary and advanced levels. Over the years, the suite of language programs in rooms 4073 and 4074 has grown to include many other useful resources.

IT1009 Italian language: Oral This course aims at gradually building oral competence at an elementary level. Functional

elements are used in Michaelmas term/semester 1. Your conversation group, led by the Language Assistant, will meet for one hour each week, and cover a range of everyday communicative activities. Together with conversation, some debate is developed in Hilary term/semester 2.

Included in Hilary term/semester 2 are also some aural comprehension classes based on previous examinations, and some oral examination rehearsals.

The course is assessed by an oral examination and by testing during the year. IT1016 Italian language: Active Italian You will practise listening comprehension exercises to complement what you are learning in

the Language Structures section. The language laboratory also provides an opportunity to learn correct Italian pronunciation, and to develop comprehension using visual materials. Some short dictations may be included in this or other JF classes.

IT1005 Italian language: Exam preparation

This module will run for about five weeks at the end of the Hilary Term / 2nd Semester and will follow on from the IT1016 Active Italian hour when the class is united as one group. The aim is to prepare you for the Junior Freshman examinations and familiarize you with their format. Classroom sessions will work through some sample language papers, and possibly some literature papers as well. There will be hints on exam technique, including time management, and advice on topics for revision. It will be assumed that you have been attending your Italian course regularly during the year and covering its content, so this revision module is not designed to teach essential elements of the JF course for the first time; instead, its aim is to help you

Page 16: UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE …...To fulfil the above requirement, you should start planning a visit to Italy in the summer after your Junior Freshman course. Later in this

16

capitalize on what you already know, and focus your knowledge with a view to producing accurate and coherent answers under the constraints of the exam situation.

CLCS The Centre for Language and Communication Studies (CLCS) - Italian students can find advice

on autonomous language learning from a booklet co-ordinated by Dr Breffni O'Rourke of the CLCS. A special language-learning guide has been prepared, and self-access assignments will help you to make the most of the resources available in College.

ITALIAN LITERARY/CULTURAL COURSE – IT1098 The literature and history course includes the following modules:

Code IT1098 Course Name Term/Semester Hours per week

ECTS

IT1011 Italian literature: Theatre Hilary/ II 1

IT1012 IT1013

Italian literature: Poetry (weeks 1 - 6) Italian Lit.: Metrics and genres (wks 8 - 12)

Hilary/ II 1

IT1014 IT1015

Italian literature: Modern novel (wks 1 – 6) Italian Literature: Revision/Introduction (weeks 8 - 12)

Hilary/ II 1

IT1021 Italian history Michaelmas/I 1

10

IT1011 Italian literature: Theatre Dario Fo, Italian performer, playwright, writer, director and activist, was born in 1926 in the

North of Italy. His works belong to the popular tradition of theatre and are rooted both in the medieval tradition of the 'giullare' (a kind of street jester or busker) and in the 16th and 17th century Italian 'commedia dell'arte' based mainly on improvisation by actors. Fo's ideology is strongly Marxist, and in pursuing the idea of an anti-naturalistic theatre, he follows Bertold Brecht's strategies of estrangement, abolition of the traditional stage and costumes, emphasis on the didactic function of theatre. In his works Fo uses various techniques, amongst which: irony, parody, farce, and the grotesque.

After an introductory class on Fo's life, education, ideology, cultural work, political activities, sources, works, the course will focus on two major works: Mistero buffo (Turin, Einaudi, I ed. 1974) and Morte accidentale di un anarchico (Turin, Einaudi, I ed. 1974). Some classes will be devoted to reading and commenting on at least three plays from Mistero buffo (probably 'Bonifacio VIII', 'Nozze di Cana', 'Maria alla croce'). Some classes will concentrate on reading and commenting on the most poignant passages from Morte accidentale di un anarchico. This is a work of political theatre based on the paradoxical carnevalesque technique of the 'world upside down': and its protagonist (a madman, a maniac) will prove to be the wisest of men! The final class will be devoted to revision.

To prepare for this course, start by reading a translation of Accidental Death of an Anarchist (available in the Library). Look through the World Wide Web for the Dario Fo web sites (put in a query for "Dario Fo" on www.altavista.com or www.google.com, or click from Giuliana Adamo's entry in the Staff page of the Italian Departmental pages (http://www.tcd.ie/Italian). For some critical material in Italian see Poma and Riccardi, Letteratura Italiana, vol. 3 ('Dal dopoguerra a oggi'), Florence: Le Monnier 1999, pp. 1547-55.

Assessment is by end-of-term essay (deliver by Tuesday of last week in Hilary term/semester 2), and examination (a commentary question and an essay question, see Examination section below).

IT1012 Italian literature: Poetry The Modern Poetry course will give you a chance to experience the power and beauty of the

Italian language when used for expressive purposes by some of the finest writers from the mid-19th century to the mid-20th century: Carducci, Pascoli, D'Annunzio, Gozzano, Palazzeschi, Ungaretti and Montale. You will learn a little about artistic movements such as Futurism, the "Crepuscolari" and the "Hermetic" school. Just as importantly, the course provides an opportunity

Page 17: UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE …...To fulfil the above requirement, you should start planning a visit to Italy in the summer after your Junior Freshman course. Later in this

17

for you to reassess some of the issues connected with poetry: what form of communication is taking place? how does the poet express personal feelings? what are the wider implications of those feelings? how do imagery and metaphor work? how are the roles of the author and the reader to be inferred from the text? how do poems relate to their genre and tradition? what part of the poem's impact comes from the mysterious, the anomalous, the fragmentary, the unsaid? In short, what is poetry? You have already had years of experience in dealing with poetic texts of various kinds, whether by studying them at school, by listening to them in songs, or even by reading or writing poetry when you could have been doing something else. As you move into a new language, this is an opportunity to re-focus your ideas and skills.

Literal translations of many poems will be provided, as well as reading lists. For some advance reading, try looking at anthologies in the Library such as The Poem Itself, edited by Stanley Burnshaw, or The Green Flame, edited by Catherine O'Brien and Alessandro Gentili, or The Penguin Book of Italian Verse, edited by George Kay.

Assessment is by end-of-term essay (deliver by Tuesday of last week in Hilary term/semester 2), and the Junior Freshman annual examination will contain a commentary question and an essay question. (See Examination section below).

IT1013 Italian literature: Metrics and genres This five-hour course is aimed to provide students with a basic knowledge of Italian metrics

and rhetoric. Classes will include the identification, definition, description and use of the most important

concepts and elements of classic Italian versification: metrics, poetry, metre, verse, rhythm, rhyme, assonance, consonance; the relationship between certain metrical forms and certain types of content within the classic Italian tradition of poetry and the contemporary free verse; recognition and description of some of the most popular 'figure retoriche' (metaphor, synecdoche, etc.) stressing their particularly meaningful and expressive use in poetry; aspects of the analysis of genres will also be examined.

At the end of each class students will be asked to work on the daily topics, both in written and oral form, using the handout provided. The course handout contains most of the requisite reading materials, but to prepare for the course you might consult English-language encyclopaedias, or a Dictionary of Literary Terms, and see what they have to say about 'metrics; 'rhythm', 'verse', etc.

No assessment or examination. Exercises may be requested. IT1014 Italian literature: Modern novel As your first introduction to extended Italian prose writing, we have chosen Rosetta Loy's text

La parola ebreo, an autobiographical book by one of Italy's leading novelists, based on the author's memory of her childhood. The text is narrated through the little girl's eyes, intertwined continuously with the adult writer's point of view. Making skillful use of narrative shifts and flashbacks, Rosetta Loy combines the candid perception of terrible events by a young girl, with an adult awareness of the atrocities committed against Italy's Jews during the Second World War. In order to follow the development of the story, students should have at least a very general idea of the most important historical events in Italy and in Europe between 1920 and 1945, such as the rise of Fascism (Italy, Spain) and Nazism (Germany and its alliance with Italy); the persecution of the Jews and the Holocaust; the Second World War.

Assessment is by the Junior Freshman annual examination which will contain a commentary question on a passage of the novel. (See Examination section below).

Please see section I.11 (on pages 7-8) for important advice about how to write a Commentary or an Essay– two very different categories…

Page 18: UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE …...To fulfil the above requirement, you should start planning a visit to Italy in the summer after your Junior Freshman course. Later in this

18

IT1015 Italian literature: Revision/Introduction The intention of this course, running in the last five weeks of Hilary Term/semester 2, is to

help you to prepare effectively for your annual examination, and to read during the summer in preparation for your Senior Freshman literary course, especially the medieval section. You will find authors like Dante as rewarding as they are challenging and our purpose is to give you guidelines to facilitate your studying. The underlying principle of this course is to help you to study throughout the year, as the period September to April is not sufficient to do all the required reading.

You will learn how you can progress linguistically in the five months from your last Junior Freshman language class in early April, to your first one in September, when we shall expect you to know considerably more language and to read literary texts with some speed. Other lectures will introduce some literature from the Senior Freshman course. If you return in September without having read your required authors, no matter how superficially, you may find it difficult to follow lectures as your teachers will be assuming a knowledge of the texts.

No assessment or examination. IT1021 Italian history The history course covers the development of modern Italy from 1815 to the present day. Italy

only became a unified country in 1861, and the first part of the course traces the national movement, the Risorgimento, in the aftermath of the Napoleonic wars. The first Italian united state built many of the structures of modern Italy, before collapsing into Fascism in 1922, following the First World War and the rise of Mussolini. The fall of the authoritarian Fascist regime and the end of the Second World War ushered in a new parliamentary democracy, abolishing the monarchy and setting up the Italian Republic. The "economic miracle" of the 1950s and 1960s radically transformed Italian society, and was followed by new movements for social change, especially after 1968. This part of the course considers the issues of national solidarity, civil rights and feminism, contrasted with the rise of terrorism and corruption. The emergence of new political groupings following the scandals of "Tangentopoli" and developments since the early 1990s lead to considerations on where Italy stands today.

The set texts for this course include: (i) a Students’ handout (which contains course outlines, essential notes, and indications on further reading - available from room 4087); (ii) G. Procacci, History of the Italian People, Penguin, 1973 (read pp. 255-463); (iii) P. Ginsborg, A History of Italy: Society and Politics 1943-1988, Penguin, 1990 (read chapters 7-11, pp. 210-425); and (iv) S. Gundle and S. Parker (ed.), The New Italian Republic from the Fall of the Berlin Wall to Berlusconi. London, Routledge, 1996 (read pages 1-55). Other suitable manuals are acceptable, such as H. Hearder, Italy: A Short History, completed by J. Morris, Cambridge University Press, 2001.

Assessment through examination (see Examination section below).

TSM JUNIOR FRESHMAN YEAR EXAMINATIONS Written examinations on the year's work (language, literature and history) are held during the

weeks following the end of teaching. There are also oral and aural examinations. 50% is allocated to Language, and 50% to Literature and history.

LANGUAGE

WITHIN LANGUAGE: 85% goes to the examination, and 15% to year’s work. Within the Language examination: paper 70%; aural + oral 30%, organised as

follows: (i) Language paper (3 hours). The language paper includes four components (each equally

weighted): a. comprehension of a passage with questions on its content, and translation of a pargaraph of

that same passage;

Page 19: UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE …...To fulfil the above requirement, you should start planning a visit to Italy in the summer after your Junior Freshman course. Later in this

19

b. grammar exercise (cloze test: fill in the blanks, in a dialogue, conjugate verbs and complete the dialogue);

c. exercises working from English into Italian; d. essay in Italian (write short composition) (ii) Aural [questions on the contents of a recording, and transcription of missing words from a

transcript] (20 minutes). (iii) Oral (10 minutes). Language assessment Students are required to do language exercises regularly during the year in all components of

the course. Tests and exercises on structures, reading, writing and oral are considered for formal assessment. In particular, language tests, vacation work and weekly homework are counted as part of the overall language mark for the year.

LITERATURE AND HISTORY Within Literature and History: - examinations 70% (each of the literature

examination questions and the total of history are equally weighted); - literature assessment 30%. Organised as follows:

Literature paper (3 hours). Candidates are required to answer four questions in all: i. one commentary on the modern

novel; ii. one commentary on either poetry or theatre; iii. two essays, one on poetry and one on theatre. Candidates should not write theatre essays on the same play that they have selected for commentary.

Commentaries should reveal an ability to analyse a passage in detail with appropriate critical methodology. Essays should reveal a detailed knowledge of the text, as well as an awareness of literary techniques.

Literature assessment Term essays submitted during the year count towards the final grade awarded. You are

required to write two essays during the year, 1. on poetry, and 2. on theatre (deliver both by the last Monday in Hilary term/semester 2, or as otherwise stated by your lecturers).

History paper (2 hours). A two-hour examination divided into two sections: section A (15 questions on facts and dates -

answer all questions), and section B (essay questions - answer two questions out of six). Weighting: 1/3 to section A, and 1/3 to each of the two answers in section B. Answers should reveal knowledge of facts and dates as well as an ability to outline and understand events and developments and their importance.

In the summer of your Junior Freshman year: Are you going to Italy next year on an Erasmus exchange? (See Section IV) If not, how are you going to fulfil your two-month residence requirement? Why not start with an Italian summer job, or a holiday visit to Italy? Start planning now …. http://www.comune.fi.it http://www.unistrapg.it/english/ http://www.enit.it/ etc.

Page 20: UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE …...To fulfil the above requirement, you should start planning a visit to Italy in the summer after your Junior Freshman course. Later in this

20

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF TSM SENIOR FRESHMAN ITALIAN COURSES AND EXAMINATIONS

The TSM SF course has a a language component, and a literary and more generally cultural

component, both described below. Through your course in the Italian language in the Senior Freshman year you should be able

to express yourself orally and in writing, accurately, fluently and with a sufficiently developed vocabulary; have accurate grammar; improve your comprehension; and translate from and into Italian at an intermediate level.

The literary core course starts your work on Dante with the Inferno, and you will carry forward the Commedia in the 3rd year and other works by Dante in the 4th year. Other major classics examined in the Senior Freshman year are Medieval short stories, Petrarch, Machiavelli, Pirandello. A module on history and society entitled Society, Emotions and Modernity completes the course.

In addition to the core course the Department offers options. You are requested to choose two from the list. If you wish, you may choose ONE option from those offered by the Centre for Language and Communications Studies or the Broad Curriculum programme. Numbers admitted to each departmental option are limited and places are offered on a first-come-first-served basis as far as is practicable. You are asked to give second preferences in case your first one cannot be given to you. Students who will be away on Erasmus exchanges for a year will replace their two options with courses abroad. It is your responsibility to plan the timing of your options.

You must buy the following prescribed text: Handout on Machiavelli. You are also strongly advised to buy an Italian monolingual dictionary. Other course books should be owned by students as stated in course booklists or as advised by lecturers. A photocopying levy will be collected by the Department.

TSM SF, ECTS TOTAL: 30, subdivided into Italian language course, 10; Italian literary course,

10; Options, 10. ITALIAN LANGUAGE COURSE – IT2099 The language course includes the following modules:

Code IT2099 Course Name Term/Semester Hours per week

ECTS

IT2001 Italian language: Structures Michaelmas/I 2 IT2002 Italian language: Writing skills -

Essay Hilary/ II 1

IT2002 Italian language: Writing skills - Grammar

Hilary/ II 1

IT2003 Italian language: Translation into Italian

Hilary/ II 1

IT2004 Italian language: Computerised Translation into English

Hilary/ II 1

IT2009 Italian language: Oral All year 1

10

IT2001 Italian language: Structures After revising and reinforcing a number of grammar topics, the course on language structures

will move to new language topics from Ciao! (e.g. the subjunctive, if clauses, the passive voice and passato remoto), and from Grammatica in Contesto. A progression of grammar topics will be handed out in class.

Exercises for this course are included in for the year’s assessment (see examination section). Lecturers may refuse to mark work which has already been corrected in class.

For grammar revision classes, please note that you will be expected to prepare the set grammar topic independently before coming to class; the lecturer will then focus on the topic, with the aid of PowerPoint or other teaching resources, engaging the group in active and intensive work on examples and exercises.

Page 21: UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE …...To fulfil the above requirement, you should start planning a visit to Italy in the summer after your Junior Freshman course. Later in this

21

IT2002 Italian language: Writing skills and Grammar The course focuses on essay writing and the writing of other types of texts. Assessment: mainly

by examination but exercises, participation in class activities, and some tests included in the annual assessment (see examination section). The course will be partly based on Grammatica in Contesto and materials handed out in class.

IT2003 Italian language: Translation into Italian This course on translation from English into Italian is aimed at building translation skills,

grammatical accuracy and vocabulary. Assessment: translation exercises must be handed each week to your lecturer before each

class so that collective correction and discussion is possible. This counts towards the year asssessment mark. An examination is your main form of assessment for this course (see examination section).

IT2004 Italian language: Computerised translation into English This course will continue to develop translating skills, and introduce elements of on-screen

editing skills and the use of online dictionaries. There will be regular assignments. IT2009 Italian language: Oral This course aims at gradually building oral competence at an intermediate level. Conversation

and debate are especially developed throughout the year. Assessment exercises for this course are included in the year’s assessment (see examination section).

ITALIAN LITERARY AND CULTURAL COURSE – IT2098 This includes the following modules:

Code IT2098 Course Name Term/Semester Hours per week

ECTS

IT2011 Italian literature: Lectura Dantis (Inferno)

Michaelmas/I 2

IT2011 Italian literature: Lectura Dantis (Inferno)

Hilary/ II 1

IT2012 IT2013

Italian literature: Petrarch (wks 1 - 6) Italian literature: Medieval short stories (wks 8 - 12)

Michaelmas/I 1

IT2014 IT2015

Italian literature: Machiavelli (wks 8 - 12) Italian literature: Pirandello (wks 1 - 6)

Hilary/ II 1

IT2070 Italian reading: Society, Emotions & Modernity

Hilary/ II 1

10

IT2011 Italian literature: Lectura Dantis (Inferno) The SF Dante course focuses on Inferno for the entire duration of the academic year (two

hours in Michaelmas term, and one hour in Hilary term). Read the entire Commedia as quickly as you can — concentrating mainly on the narrative

element. Read it in Italian, but refer to a translation when necessary. The Inferno by Robert M. Durling (Oxford) is preferred, while the J. D. Sinclair (Oxford) is reasonably close. At the same time, begin a detailed study of the text starting with Canto I of Inferno. It is important that you should have a knowledge of the entire work, no matter how slight, while studying each individual canto.

Recommended editions: Dante, Commedia, Inferno with translation and comment by Robert M. Durling, (Oxford University Press, 1996); Dante, Commedia, Inferno (ed. N. Sapegno, La Nuova Italia), or with translation and comment by J.D. Sinclair (Oxford U.P.). The notes in English in the editions by Singleton (Routledge and Kegan Paul) and Sayers (Penguin) are also very informative and useful, as are the introductions to the Penguin translations of the three cantiche (both Sayers and Musa).

Page 22: UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE …...To fulfil the above requirement, you should start planning a visit to Italy in the summer after your Junior Freshman course. Later in this

22

While reading the Commedia you will need to consult the Bible (Vulgate), classical texts, particularly Virgil's Aeneid, and Paget Toynbee's Dictionary of Proper Names and Notable Matters in the works of Dante (Revised by C S Singleton, Clarendon Press, 1968). The Enciclopedia Dantesca, (vol. I-VI, Rome 1970-78) will prove particulary useful.

A knowledge of Dante's other works is important for a thorough study of the Commedia so you are advised to peruse the Vita nuova, the lyric poetry (excellent edition by Foster and Boyde, Oxford 1967), the letters (edited by P Toynbee, Oxford, 1966), the Convivio, the Monarchia, and the De Vulgari Eloquentia.

You will need to inform yourself on the historical and cultural background to Dante. A reading list is available from the Department office (room 4087).

Assessment. Exercises may be requested throughout the year. Choice of one commentary (out of two passages from Inferno) in the examination paper (see examination section below – and please read the Dante exam guidelines on pp. 27-28).

IT2012 Italian literature: Petrarch The text studied is Canzoniere. Its 366 poems will prove rather indigestible if you swallow them

all at one sitting, so your first step should be to read a smaller number of poems in greater depth, absorbing some of the most important themes and forms. Among the themes, see in particular praise of beauty, the lover's suffering, the passage of time, solitude and nature, religious imagery and repentance, love, fame, mythology, wordplay, and politics. Indications on these in relation to Petrarch's poems and a reading list are available from the Department office (room 4087).

Assessment. Exercises and presentations may be requested during the course. Choice of one commentary in the examination paper (see examination section below).

IT2013 Italian literature: Medieval short stories The medieval Italian novella is one of the great sources of European storytelling, influencing

Chaucer, Shakespeare and other European writers down to the present day. Italian stories provide fascinating glimpses of social realities, attitudes and values; they make us redefine our ideas of comedy, tragedy and the image of the individual. The course will look at examples drawn from the Novellino, the Trecentonovelle, the Pecorone and most of all the Decameron. We will study themes, forms, narrative devices, and we will look forward to the art of Renaissance storytelling with the Novella del Grasso Legnaiuolo.

Assessment. Exercises and presentations may be requested during the course. Choice of two commentaries in the examination paper (see examination section below).

IT2014 Italian literature: Machiavelli The course is held for five weeks (weeks 8 to 12) in the second semester once a week.

Lectures on Il Principe are held partly in English and partly in Italian. You are required to read the whole text in Italian but you can consult English translations (Penguin or Oxford paperback editions) for a preliminary approach to difficult passages. An introductory lecture on the author and historical background will be followed by close readings of some passages from the Italian text - some of these will be conducted through small group activities. The main themes confronted are new principalities, "vizi" and "virtù", "fortuna", the prince and the people, military aspects, the new prince and Italy.

A reading list is included in the course handout together with a course outline and notes on the author and the text (available from room 4087).

Assessment. Exercises and presentations may be requested during the course. Choice of one commentary in the examination paper (see examination section below).

IT2015 Italian literature: Pirandello The course is held in the first six weeks of Hilary term/semester 2, once a week. Pirandello

was one of the leading playwrights of the 20th century. Two of his plays, Enrico IV and Sei personaaggi in cerca d'autore are studied (recommended editions Milan, Mondadori, 1990). Included among primary texts with the two plays is also Pirandello's essay Sull'umorismo (1908), English transl., On Humour, introducted and annotated by A. Illiano and D.P. Testa, University of North Carolina Press, 1974. The course will focus on a number of aspects but especially on the conflict between the everchanging flow of events which is life and the fixity and immutability of fiction.

Critical works: Budel O., Pirandello, London, Bowes, 1966; Caesar A.H., Characters and Authors in Luigi Pirandello, Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1998; Firth F., Luigi Pirandello. Three plays, Manchester

Page 23: UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE …...To fulfil the above requirement, you should start planning a visit to Italy in the summer after your Junior Freshman course. Later in this

23

University Press, 1974; 1974 Hamilton Alistair, Pirandello. A Biography, Oxford Univeristy Press, 1975; Oliver R. W., Dreams of Passion. The Theatre of Luigi Pirandello, New York, 1979; Paolucci A., Pirandello's Theatre, Southern Illinois University Press; Ragusa O., Luigi Pirandello. An Approach to his Theatre, Edimburgh University Press, 1980; Raymond W., Drama from Ibsen to Brecht, London, Pelican, 1973; Thompson D., An Introduction to Pirandello's "Sei personaggi in cerca d'autore", University of Hull Press, 1985.

Assessment. Exercises and presentations may be requested during the course. Choice of one commentary in the examination paper (see examination section below).

IT2070 Reading: Society, Emotions and Modernity This course, held in the second semester, one hour per week, including work both on language

and concepts, will focus on the interpretation and expression of emotions in late modern society. Theories and, related to these, passages from newspapers, blogs or other sources, will be examined through comprehension, vocabulary, concepts, ideas and opinions. The students are required to prepare weekly material before class. Among the topics chosen are “Identità”, “Vetrinizzazione”, “Autobiografia e incontri”, “Tradimento, “Rancore”, “Emozioni e sentimenti in generale”.

Textbooks. 1. Sei lezioni di lettura su società e sentimenti, handout available electronically. Students please

request this from [email protected], print it out and bring it to class each week. students are requested to know the whole handout;

2. students are also requested to read at least one of the following essays: - Z. Bauman, Liquid modernity, Cambridge, Polity, 2003. - A. Giddens, Modernity and self-identity. Self and society in the late modern age, Cambridge,

Polity, 1991. - C. Lasch, The culture of narcissism, London, Abacus, 1980. - R. Sennett, The culture of new capitalism, New Haven and London, Yale University Press,

2006. - R. Hillman, Emotion: a comprehensive phenomenology of theories and their meanings for therapy,

London, Routledge, 1960. The following instruction will appear in the exam paper: “Summarize very briefly the following

passage in order to give evidence of your linguistic comprehension of it. Then comment on the passage by applying one or more of the theories on emotions discussed in the course. Finally give your views on the content of the passage”.

Please see section I.11 (on pages 7-8) for important advice about how to write a Commentary or an Essay– two very different categories…

OPTIONS Options may be chosen from the Italian Department list (section 1 below) or from other

Departments (section 2). Options may be modified or withdrawn depending on student demand and availability. Each student takes two options.

1. OPTIONS OFFERED WITHIN THE ITALIAN DEPARTMENT

Code Course Name Term/Semester Hours per week

ECTS

IT2021 Italian option: Fascism (Silone/Vittorini)

Michaelmas/I 1

IT2023 Italian option: Goldoni Hilary/ II 1

IT2028 Italian option: Italy and Tourism

Hilary/ II 1

10

Page 24: UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE …...To fulfil the above requirement, you should start planning a visit to Italy in the summer after your Junior Freshman course. Later in this

24

IT2021 Italian option: Fascism (Silone/Vittorini) Michaelmas Term/semester 1, once a week. An examination of two world-famous books by

twentieth-century Italian authors: Vittorini’s Conversazione in Sicilia (1941) and Silone's Fontamara (1933). Silone was one of the founders of the Italian Communist Party and was forced into exile by Mussolini's regime. Fontamara offers a biting analysis of Fascism in the form of a fictional parable about a poor mountain village in the Abruzzi. Vittorini, a former left-wing fascist or “revolutionary fascist”, went on to become one of the most active champions of the anti-fascist resistance after Mussolini’s decision to support Franco’s troops in the Spanish Civil war. Written in the aftermath of the Italian intervention in Spain, Vittorini’s Conversazione in Sicilia is a journey of spiritual and political regeneration into the South of Italy that resonated as a powerful “call to arms” against the Fascist regime among Italian anti-fascists.

In recent years both books have been filmed for Italian television; students taking this option will see at least one of the film versions. A reading list is available from the Department office (room 4087).

Assessment (TSM): An essay in English (2,500 to 3,000 words) - deliver by the first Monday of Hilary term/semester 2.

IT2023 Italian option: Goldoni Hilary Term/semester 2, once a week. Carlo Goldoni was the reformer of the Italian theatre in

the 18th century, drawing on the heritage of the commedia dell'arte in such early written plays as Il servitore di due padroni and refashioning its forms to create the modern, psychological drama of La locandiera. A study of these two texts will follow an introduction to the history of Italian theatre and Goldoni's reform. A reading list is available from the Department office (room 4087).

Assessment: an essay (2,500 to 3,000 words) - deliver by last Friday in Hilary term/semester 2. IT2028: Italy and Tourism The course will be held in Hilary term/semester 2, once a week. It will examine the following

topics: definition and history of tourism; importance of tourism in Italy; geographical outline of Italy; cultural aspects of interest in different regions (literature and writers, architecture and art: styles, architects and artists, music and composers, traditions); descriptions of regions, towns, architectural styles and works of art, focusing on the specific language of art. Each student will have to prepare an itinerary for one Italian region, concentrating especially on its literary, artistic and musical aspects.

The course will consist of lectures, and of student presentations of their itineraries. The course will be held mostly in Italian. A handout will be available shortly before the course

begins. Assessment: an essay (2500/3000 words) to be delivered by last Friday in Hilary term/semester 2. Essays must be based on the reading and the analysis of primary sources in Italian.

2. OPTIONS OFFERED BY OTHER DEPARTMENTS Linguistics (equivalent 5 ECTS) 1) Aspects of written language, 2) Language learning, 3) Sociolinguistics, 4) Aspects of vocabulary

- These, or other option courses are offered by the Centre for Language and Communication Studies. Please see separate CLCS handout for course list and descriptions, and enquire with that Centre about ECTS.

Students cannot take a language learning module offered by CLCS in a language they are studying as part of their degree programme. Students already taking two foreign languages as part of their degree programme may only take a language learning module with the permission of both heads of discipline.

Broad Curriculum Cross-Faculty Courses (equivalent 5 ECTS) The following Broad Curriculum courses are offered: 1) BCBOT Human Impacts on the

Environment; 2) BCBUSN Introduction to Finance; 3) BCECON The Challenge of Development: Achieving the Millennium Development Goals in Developing Countries; 4) BCENG Understanding Literature; 5) BCFILM Film and Theory; 6) BCGEOG Introduction to Physical Geography; 7) BCGEOL Planet Earth; 8) BCHA Art in Ireland: Making and Meaning; 9) BCHIS American History; 10) BCLAW Introduction to Criminal Law; 11) BCLING Language, Mind and Society; 12) BCPHLO Problems in Philosophy; 13) BCPOLS Introduction to Political Science; 14) BCPSY

Page 25: UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE …...To fulfil the above requirement, you should start planning a visit to Italy in the summer after your Junior Freshman course. Later in this

25

Human Cognition & Critical Thinking; 15) BCSCI Science, Technology and Society (tbc); 16) BCSOC Anthropology of Gender. In addition to the above courses the following Language Modules are also available in the following languages and proficiency levels:

• French or German or Spanish (for non-beginners, must have Leaving Certificate qualification or equivalent in the relevant language)

• German or Turkish (for absolute beginners) • Irish (elementary or intermediate or advanced)

For all enquiries relating to language modules, please contact the Centre for Language and Communication Studies, email: [email protected]

You may choose ONE of the Broad Curriculum or language courses offered. The courses are held for both Michaelmas and Hilary terms. For details of these courses, including on-line application procedures, go to http://www.tcd.ie/Broad_Curriculum/cfc/index.php

THE TSM SENIOR FRESHMAN YEAR EXAMINATIONS Language 50%. Literature and other cultural aspects 50%. Within language: Exam 85%, Year’s assessment 15%. Within Exam: paper 80%;

oral and aural 20% as described below: (i) Language paper (3 hours). The language paper includes four components (each equally

weighted): a. grammar exercises (two exercises: one on agreement and one on pronouns); b. translation from Italian into English; c. essay in Italian (write 100 words on one of four given topics); d. translation from English into Italian (ii) Oral (10 minutes) and aural test. Please note that a majority of failed elements overall in written + aural

language leads to an overall fail independently of the mathematical average of the marks involved.

Language assessment Students are required to do language exercises regularly during the year in all components of

the course. Tests and exercises on structures, writing and oral are considered for formal assessment. In particular, language tests, vacation work and weekly homework are counted as part of the overall language mark for the year.

Within literature and other cultural aspects: - examination 70% (each of the

literature examination commentaries are equally weighted); - options 30% as described below:

Literature paper (3 hours). This paper includes passages by each of the authors studied during the academic year (two

passages on Dante and two on Medieval short stories, one passage on Petrarch, one on Machiavelli, one on Pirandello and one on ‘Society, Emotions and Modernity’). Candidates are required to write commentaries on FOUR passages, ensuring that they select at least ONE of poetry and ONE of prose. Each passage should be placed in its context and analysed critically. Line references are preferred to long quotations from the given texts.

Literature assessment (options) The two essays submitted on options during the year are counted 30% (each bears equal

weight).

Page 26: UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE …...To fulfil the above requirement, you should start planning a visit to Italy in the summer after your Junior Freshman course. Later in this

26

TSM SF FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP EXAMINATION

Language 50%. Literary/cultural aspects 50%. Within language: paper 80%; oral 20%. Within Literary/cultural aspects: each

paper 50%. The Italian TSM SF Foundation Scholarship Examination is an optional examination which

includes an oral examination and two papers (one on literary aspects and a shorter one on language) covering course work done in the last three terms (Junior Freshman year, and Senior Freshman Michaelmas term). Option term essays cannot be counted towards this examination even though Scholarship candidates are required to complete them as part of their year requirements.

The language paper includes two exercises: a translation from English into Italian and an essay in Italian (write 200 words on one of three given topics).

Literature paper (three hours, answer four questions). JF work: Theatre, Poetry, Modern Novel; and elements from Michaelmas term SF literature course: Dante, Medieval short stories, Petrarch, and any internal options running in Michaelmas term/semester 1.

Please note that the examination elements listed here may be subject to change. As the format of Schol exams has been radically altered, past papers on the College web site are no longer a reliable guide.

_____________________________________________

Dante guidelines — please see next pages…

Page 27: UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE …...To fulfil the above requirement, you should start planning a visit to Italy in the summer after your Junior Freshman course. Later in this

27

Please Note....

FOR TSM SENIOR FRESHMAN, JUNIOR SOPHISTER AND SENIOR SOPHISTER CANDIDATES —

Dante guidelines and examination formats

Please pay careful attention to the message below. The requirements for answering on Dante are being specified in greater detail than heretofore; you will receive detailed guidance during the year on the way to approach commentaries and essays. The advice below applies differently to SF and Mod candidates.

DANTE

NOTE FOR SENIOR FRESHMEN AND SOPHISTERS

The Dante course is the most important single course in our Two Subject Moderatorship, with an entire degree paper given to its assessment. The Commedia is taught over second and third year with detailed readings of the text: 33 hours are given to Inferno, 18 to Purgatorio, 9 to Paradiso; this is followed (in Trinity Term of third year) by 6 seminars which deal with general topics such as the role of Virgil, the mission of Dante pilgrim, Dante’s attitude to the Church, the similes in the Commedia. Students are expected to know the first two cantiche in detail, but while they are directed to the entire Paradiso, they are expected to know in detail only certain sections of it. During the course they submit commentaries. Final year specialists also study Dante’s Opere minori: Vita nuova, Convivio, Monarchia, De vulgari eloquentia (the latter texts being read in translation). There is one obligatory essay question on these texts in the degree paper. The Dante teaching in the department is done by Professor Salvadori Lonergan (Inf., Par., Conv., Mon.), and Professor Ó Cuilleanáin (Purg., VN, DVE).

Assessment for Senior Freshmen The final year paper will have two passages for commentary from Inferno, and candidates may choose to write a commentary on one. The rubric for the commentary will be: Identify and comment in detailed analytical manner on the content and style of one of these passages. Your commentary should follow the text sequentially, and you need to indicate in the margin the line number of the verse(s) under discussion. The relevance of the extract to the canto to which it belongs should emerge from your analysis, which should also be enriched, where appropriate, by reference to the entire Inferno.

SOPHISTERS PLEASE NOTE IMPORTANT CHANGE TO DEGREE EXAMINATION PAPERS FROM 2007

From 2007 both part I and part II of the Moderatorship Dante examination have two papers, possibly on the same day, each one of two hours duration. These will require from candidates the same amount of material as heretofore; the difference is that it has been decided to give candidates a total of four hours rather than three to write what will amount to the same task. This is being done in their interest: we hope that with some more time candidates will perform better. The first 2 hour-paper will consist in the writing of two commentaries (each one from a different cantica) to be selected from a total of six. The rubric is as follows:

Page 28: UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE …...To fulfil the above requirement, you should start planning a visit to Italy in the summer after your Junior Freshman course. Later in this

28

FIRST PAPER

Identify and comment in detailed analytical manner on the content and style of two passages in section A. Your commentary should follow the text sequentially, and you need to indicate in the margin the line number of the verse(s) under discussion. The relevance of the extract to the canto to which it belongs should emerge from your analysis, which should also be enriched, where appropriate, by reference to the Commedia as a whole (this to include the minor works in the case of Moderatorship Part II candidates). An essay or a paraphrase will not be accepted in lieu of a commentary.

Be careful not to repeat substantial amounts of material. The second 2-hour paper will consist in the writing of two essay questions; for part I candidates these will be based on the Commedia as a whole; for Part II candidates questions on the minor works will be included, and at least one question must be chosen from this section. The rubric will be as follows:

SECOND PAPER

Moderatorship Part I candidates should attempt two questions from section (i). Moderatorship Part II candidates should attempt two questions, at least one of which must be from section (ii). It is essential that essays in Section B address the question asked or problem raised; candidates are strongly advised not to write on topics other than those set. Points made in essays should be supported by textual references to the Commedia (and to the minor works, where appropriate, in the case of Moderatorship Part II candidates). The above new exam paper formats are available on the web only from 2006-07 only, see:

http://www.tcd.ie/Local/Exam_Papers/

Be careful not to repeat substantial amounts of material. The Dante course seems to be greatly enjoyed by many (possibly most) students. While there have been, over the years, some very good performances in this section of the degree, the great pleasure given by studying Dante is a reward in itself and is not necessarily always reflected in good examination performance; many graduates appreciate it as testified in correspondence after graduation. It is our aim to make this study as rewarding as possible, mindful nonetheless that it requires very much commitment on your part. To read the text easily you will need to have worked hard at language, and you are advised never to take a break from language acquisition; let each day ensure some grammar revision and acquisition of new vocabulary. You should also study regularly the Commedia during all vacations as it needs several slow and thoughtful readings to be absorbed at the required level.

Your attention is drawn to the Dante Alighieri Prize. Value, €250. See the back pages of this Handbook. Please feel free to contact Professor Salvadori Lonergan ([email protected]) if you require further clarification.

Page 29: UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE …...To fulfil the above requirement, you should start planning a visit to Italy in the summer after your Junior Freshman course. Later in this

29

Remember, remember…

18th December 2009

Deadline for submission of Major/Minor choice forms

Soon after your Senior Freshman year you will need to decide and inform College which subject you wish to take to Senior Sophister level (Major) and which you wish to moderate in at Junior Sophister level (Minor). The deadline for submitting your pattern and major/minor choice forms to the TSM Office is in December 2009. The form will be available in due course. Please indicate your choice. Pattern B - Choice of Major / Minor Subject:

All students who are following a TSM Pattern B Combination must choose their Major subject (the subject which will be studied in the Senior Sophister year) by the end of Michaelmas Term in their Junior Sophister year. Please indicate your choice of minor and major subjects. This form must be signed by you and by a representative from each of your two departments. Please note that changes cannot be made after the deadline.

Please submit your form no later than the last day of Michaelmas Term in their Junior Sophister year.

The deadline for the academic year 2009/10 is Friday 18th December 2009

Form will be available in due course

Important - Out-going Erasmus / Exchange Students:

Current Senior Freshman students intending to participate in a Full Year exchange in their Junior Sophister year must submit their choice to the TSM Office no later than the last day of Trinity Term of their Senior Freshman year. The deadline for the academic year 2009/10 year is Friday, May 8th 2009.

Students intending to go on a full year Erasmus Exchange in their Junior Sophister year must submit their “Choice of major subject” forms by the last day of Trinity term in their Senior Freshman year. (This situation rarely applies to students of TSM Italian.) Forms submitted to the TSM Office are officially recorded and submitted to the Examinations Office for timetabling purposes, as well as to the Student Records Office for updating each individual student record. A copy of this document is also sent to individual departments for their records. Therefore, it is very important for TSM students to submit their major/minor choice forms to the TSM Office in good time and by the deadline.

Page 30: UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE …...To fulfil the above requirement, you should start planning a visit to Italy in the summer after your Junior Freshman course. Later in this

30

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF TSM JUNIOR SOPHISTER ITALIAN COURSES AND EXAMINATIONS

In the Junior Sophister year, language includes translation, writing skills and oral. The literary

and more generally cultural component of your Junior Sophister course includes a range of topics and authors available through core courses and options. Advanced competence is required in language both in speaking and writing. Thorough knowledge of literary or other cultural texts, and good command of critical strategies are also required.

TSM JS, ECTS TOTAL: 30, subdivided into Italian language course, 10; Italian literary course,

10; Options, 10 A description of your courses follows, subdivided into A. Italian language course, B. Italian

literary course, and C. Options.

A. JS Italian language course – IT3099

The language course includes the following modules:

Code IT3099 Course Name Term/Semester Hours per week

ECTS

IT3001 Italian language: Writing skills Hilary/ II

1

IT3002 Italian language: Translation into Italian & Vocabulary (hour 1)

Michaelmas/I and Hilary/ II

1

IT3002 Italian language: Grammar (hour 2) Michaelmas/I and Hilary/ II

1

IT3003 Italian language: Computerised Translation from/into Italian

Hilary/ II 1

IT3004 Italian language: Translation strategies

Michaelmas/I and Hilary/ II

1

IT3009 Italian language: Oral

All year 1

10

IT3001 Italian language: Writing skills is mainly a course on writing essays in Italian but

also on other aspects of writing. Accuracy in grammar and syntax is particularly important. Parallel to this, one of the main aims of the course is to express ideas clearly and coherently with suitable vocabulary in a variety of texts in Italian and with a content suitable for a Moderatorship degree. Compositions and other written texts are regularly assigned in class and marked. Lecturers may refuse to correct work which has already been corrected in class.

An examination is the main form of assessment for this course (see examination section, essay in Italian).

The course on language includes several classes on translation (courses IT3002, IT3003

and IT3004) both from and into Italian. IT3002 Italian language: Translation into Italian, vocabulary and grammar is held

throughout the year. It consists of two hours per week in each semester. In hour one (Translation into Italian and vocabulary) passages for translation include a variety of texts and are intended to develop further translation skills as well as vocabulary while revising relevant grammar and syntax. Consult old examination papers to form an idea of the language requirements. Vocabulary tests will be held throughout the year. Hour two includes grammar revision and regular exercises.

Assessment: each week translation exercises, vocabulary exercises and grammar exercises must be handed in to your lecturer before class so that collective correction and discussion is possible. These count towards the year assessment mark which will include vocabulary test marks. An examination is the main form of assessment for this course (see examination section,

Page 31: UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE …...To fulfil the above requirement, you should start planning a visit to Italy in the summer after your Junior Freshman course. Later in this

31

translation into Italian). Lecturers may refuse to mark work which has already been corrected in class.

IT3003 Italian language: Computerised translation into Italian complements the

above course and provides some exam preparation through computer-based translation. Exercises will be requested.

IT3004 Italian language: Translation strategies is based on Thinking Italian Translation,

by Sándor Hervey, Ian Higgins, Stella Cragie and Patrizia Gambarotta (London, Routledge, 2000). Part of a multilingual series adapted from the French-based Thinking Translation (London, Routledge, 1992) this practical coursebook teaches Italian-English translation skills, focuses on ways of improving translation quality and also gives clear definitions of translation theories. It includes original texts from a range of sources including journalism, business, marketing, technical and literary texts.

The course aims to promote reflection on the choices translators have to make: what features of a source text need prioritizing, or adaptation, or compensation in the translated version. We will also explore the translator's art and profession by examining different varieties of translation, with a view to discovering how they work, who does them, and the underlying principles involved. Methods and approaches used will include some of the following: comparing and commenting on different translations of the same text; undertaking translations into English; doing back-translations between languages for comparative purposes; comparing formulae and conventions used in bureaucratic, scientific or other texts; doing rewrites and précis in English of source texts in English and other languages; editing and revising translations. Classes will involve lectures, discussions and practical sessions.

Reading. Reference will be made to the following books, among others: R. W. Brislin, ed., Translation: Applications and Research, New York, Gardner Press, 1976; Jeremy Munday, Introducing translation studies: theories and applications. London : Routledge, 2001; R. A. Brower, ed., On Translation, Cambridge, Massachussetts, Harvard University Press, 1959; P. Newmark, Approaches to Translation, Oxford, Pergamon Press, 1981; E. Nida, Toward a Science of Translating, Leiden, E.J. Brill, 1964; E. Nida & C.R. Taber, The Theory and Practice of Translation, Leiden, E.J. Brill; G. Steiner, After Babel: Aspects of Language and Translation, Oxford University Press, 1975, 2nd ed. 1992; Routledge encyclopedia of translation studies, ed. M. Baker; assisted by K. Malmkjaer. London: Routledge, 1997.

Assessment: A number of exercises are assigned and marked during the year. An examination is the main form of assessment (see examination section, translation from Italian into English). Other requirements: some presentations may be required. Please read relevant material before classes, and attend regularly.

IT3009 Italian language: Oral includes conversation and debate. Preparation of the Viva

Voce examination and the dossier is included in Trinity term (see examination section below). Revision of grammar is partly done in IT3002 and other language classes, but you should

constantly work on this aspect also independently in view of the language examination where a high degree of accuracy is required.

Vocabulary building is also important and should be pursued both through classes and

independent reading of literary and non-literary texts.

Page 32: UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE …...To fulfil the above requirement, you should start planning a visit to Italy in the summer after your Junior Freshman course. Later in this

32

B. JS Italian literary course – IT3098 Your core course in literature includes the following modules:

Code IT3098 Course Name Term/semester Hours per week

ECTS

IT3011 Italian literature: Lectura Dantis (Purgatorio)

Michaelmas/ I 2

IT3011 Italian literature: Lectura Dantis (Paradiso)

Hilary/ II 1

IT3012 Italian literature: Lorenzo Michaelmas/ I 1

IT3013 Italian literature: Leopardi Michaelmas/ I 1

IT3014 Italian literature: Manzoni Hilary/ II 1

10

IT3011 Italian literature: Lectura Dantis (Purgatorio/Paradiso) The JS Dante course is held throughout the year and focuses on Purgatorio and Paradiso in

Michaelmas and Hilary terms. In the third term, we offer a series of classes which look at themes across the entire Commedia, rather than being confined to individual parts of it. These classes may provide useful preparation for the essay questions on the Mod. Dante paper.

Prescribed texts: Dante, Purgatorio and Paradiso. Students are advised to consult editions with commentaries (e.g. Sapegno, Momigliano, Singleton, or the new Anna Maria Chiavacci Leonardi). A full reading list is available from the Departmental Office.

Assessment. Exercises and presentations may be requested during the course. Two commentaries and two essays, split between two 2-hour examination papers (see examination section below – and please read the Dante exam guidelines on pp. 27-28).

IT3012 Italian literature: Lorenzo For this course, held in Michaelmas term and generally taught in Italian, you will need a copy of

Lorenzo de' Medici, Selected Writings, edited and with an English verse translation of the Rappresentazione di San Giovanni e Paolo, by Corinna Salvadori (Dublin, Belfield Italian Library, 1992).

The Selected Writings include poetry and prose that represent the great variety of Lorenzo's literary output and do justice to his high achievement. Your text-book has an ample introduction (80 pp), full explanatory notes, and vocabulary. At the first lecture of your course, you will be shown how to use your text-book in order to gain maximum benefit.

Assessment. Exercises and presentations may be requested during the course. Choice of one out of two essay questions in the examination paper (see examination section below).

IT3013 Italian literature: Leopardi The course, held in the first semester, will focus on two aspects: (a) weeks 1-6, introduction to

Leopardi and reading of some of his poems; (b) weeks 8-12, comparison between some of Leopardi's Canti and modern poems by Eugenio Montale, Angelo Tonelli, Giuseppe Conte and/or others. Some of the topics confronted are pessimism, nature, existential courage, language, and intertextuality.

Prescribed texts: Canti, a selection from Operette Morali and Zibaldone, a selection of poems by Montale, Conte and Tonelli. Some notes on Leopardi and some texts and exercises from Canti and other poets' works, as well as a critical bibliography, are included in the Leopardi handout (available free of charge via e-mail, you are required to have a printout copy of this in class, request the electronic version from [email protected]).

Assessment. Exercises and presentations may be requested during the course. Choice of one out of two essay questions (one on Leopardi, and one on other poets) in the examination paper.

IT3014 Italian literature: Manzoni The course focuses on three fundamental aspects of Manzoni's novel I promessi sposi: language,

history and religion.

Page 33: UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE …...To fulfil the above requirement, you should start planning a visit to Italy in the summer after your Junior Freshman course. Later in this

33

Primary works: Manzoni A., I promessi sposi, a cura di A. Chiari e F. Ghisalberti, Milan, Mondadori 1963.

Critical works: Battaglia Salvatore, Il realismo dei "Promessi sposi", Naples, Liguori, 1963. Caretti L., Manzoni. Ideologia e stile, Turin, Einaudi, 1972; Raimondi E., Il romanzo senza idillio, Turin, Einaudi, 1974; Viti G., Conoscere i "Promessi sposi", Florence, Le Monnier,1977; Forgacs D., ed. by, Introduction to The Betrothed, London, Dent, 1997.

Assessment. Exercises and presentations may be requested during the course. Choice of one out of two essay questions in the examination paper (see examination section below).

Please see section I.11 (on pages 7-8) for important advice about how to write a Commentary or an Essay – two very different categories…

C. JS Options

All Junior Sophister students must choose two options by the end of March in the Senior Freshman year. Places will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis, as far as practicable.

All options are assessed by an essay (3,500 to 4,000 words) and an examination (one hour, answer one question). The assessment grade for this work will form part of the Mod. I or Mod. II assessment in Italian.

Essays must be presented in typed form. Both pieces of work will be submitted no later than the first day of the second semester if the course is held in the first semester, and by the end of the week following the last week of the second semester for options held that term. These essays must be handed to the Departmental secretary who will sign for them.

In the option essays, the arguments must be illustrated clearly, supported by adequate reference to primary and secondary sources, and by a running argument including your motivated viewpoint. The organisation and presentation of your work are particularly important in the 3rd year. Consult the section on "Presentation of your work" in the introductory pages of this handbook (I.11, pp. 7-8), and we repeat here that a full description of the conventions of presentation are in the MHRA Style Book, available from the Italian Department (online at http: //www. mhra. org. uk/ Publications/ Books/ StyleGuide/ index.html). These rules must be followed.

Options may be chosen from the Italian Department list (section 1 below) or from other Departments (section 2). Students of Italian will not normally be allowed to take more than one option outside the Department in any one year. Students who wish to do so are asked to consult the Italian Department to discuss their choice of options.

1. OPTIONS OFFERED WITHIN THE ITALIAN DEPARTMENT

Code Course Name Term/Semester Hours per week

ECTS

IT3019 Italian option: Italo Calvino Hilary/ II 1 IT3421 Italian option: Modern Poetics:

Modern Interpretations of Antiquity Hilary/ II 1

IT3422 Italian option: History and society

Michaelmas/ I 1

IT3424 Italian option: The Poetry of Michelangelo

Michaelmas/ I 1

10

IT3019 Italian option: Italo Calvino This course will focus on the life and work of the renowned Italian author Italo Calvino. We

will study in detail three of his novels: Il visconte dimezzato, Il barone rampante, and Se una notte d’inverno un viaggiatore. Topics of discussion and analysis include but are not limited to Calvino’s

Page 34: UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE …...To fulfil the above requirement, you should start planning a visit to Italy in the summer after your Junior Freshman course. Later in this

34

problematic relationship with Italian communism, his intertextuality with other authors, as well as his unique style of writing that draws on the folktale tradition and has much in common with the genre of magical realism. The course will substantially expand the students’ vocabulary and translation skills through a close reading of textual passages.

The course will be enriched by some lectures as well as presentations in preparation of the student essays. These essays (3,500/4,000 words) constitute 50% of the assessment. The other 50% is a one-hour exam (answer one question out of a number of questions asked). Do not repeat the same topic in the essay and exam. This option is offered in the spring semester of 2010. Texts: Calvino, Italo. Il visconte dimezzato (1952)

---. Il barone rampante (1957) ---. Se una notte d’inverno un viaggiatore (1979)

McLaughlin, Martin. Italo Calvino. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 1998. Weiss, Beno. Understanding Italo Calvino. Columbia: University of South Carolina Press, 1993.

IT3421 Italian option: Modern poetics – Modern interpretations of Antiquity The first part of this course, held in the second semester, is on antiquity revived in Italy

through the historical novel, fiction and cinema. The second part is on definitions of myth, and on Italian modern rewriting of some classical myths.

Lectures will be a general introduction on the topics mentioned above, and on problems connected to specific Italian texts such as ‘Savinio’s novel La nostra anima: The surreal survival of ancient myth’; ‘Pasolini’s film Medea: “Barbarian” attitudes and “civilization”’; Manfredi’s L’ultima legione: Commercialization of myth, and relevance of antiquity to modern politics; feature films on antiquity.

Each student may be requested to give a presentation of approximately 10 minutes on a topic agreed with the lecturer of the course by week 4.

Assessment 50% essay (3,500/4,000 words) and 50% examination (one hour, one question chosen out of four or five).

Primary texts: Books. G. Conte, L’Oceano e il Ragazzo (1983), and Le stagioni (1988). V.M. Manfredi, L'ultima

legione, Milan, Mondadori, 2002. ). P.P. Pasolini, Medea, Milan, Garzanti, 1970 (film script). A. Savinio, La nostra anima (1944), Milan, Adelphi, 1981 (reprinted in subsequent editions).

Films. Medea, The Last Legion and/or other films as it will be indicated during the course. Reference reading: S. Byatt, On Histories and Stories, London, Vintage, 2000. B. van den Bossche, Il mito nella letteratura italiana del Novecento, Florence, Cesati, 2007. Classical Myth and Culture in the Cinema, ed. M.M. Winkler, Oxford University Press, 2001. L. Coupe, Myth, London and New York, Routledge, 1997. M. Eliade, The myth of the eternal return, London, Arkana, 1989; Symbolism, the sacred, and the

arts, New York, Crossroad. J. Hillman, The thought of the heart; and The soul of the world, Dallas, Spring, 1992. C.G. Jung, Selected writings, London, Fontana, 1983. S. Semerara, Immortalità dei simboli da Babilonia a oggi, Milano, Bompiani, 2006. B.D. Shaw, 'Spartacus Before Marx', Princeton University (Princeton/Stanford Working Papers

in Classics), November 2005 (available on Internet). D. Strinati, An Introduction to Theories of Popular Culture, London, Routledge, 1995.

IT3422 Italian option: History and society The topic of this course is 'Some aspects of Italian society and politics since 1989'. The course examines some of the following: Chronology of main events; Social data; Changes

in collective and individual ideologies and values; North/South; Political parties; Family; Religion; Crime; Mass media. Other aspects may be suggested by students and agreed with the lecturer before the course begins. The period 1989 to the present has been chosen to allow some updating on Italian society and politics since the year when the Cold War ended, and immediately after Tangentopoli took place in Italy and all existing political parties disappeared,

Page 35: UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE …...To fulfil the above requirement, you should start planning a visit to Italy in the summer after your Junior Freshman course. Later in this

35

changed identity or split into smaller entities while Italy was becoming more globalised, consumerist and postmodern.

The course consists of lectures, and of student presentations in preparation for their essays. Essays (3500/4000 words) constitute 50% of the assessment. The other 50% is a one hour exam (answer one question out of a number of questions asked). Do not repeat the same topic in the essay and exam. The essays written for this course must include three aspects: 1. background history, relevant data and pertinent dates; 2. theory on the topics chosen; and 3. analysis of primary sources and documents in Italian such as newspapers articles, statistical information, surveys, field interviews, etc. Each component is essential and counts toward one third of the overall mark for the essay. General suggestions on how to find these and theoretical frameworks for each individual project will be made in the first class or in preliminary meetings. Otherwise email: [email protected], or call at room 4040.

Basic general and background reading: An electronic handout will be available shortly before the course begins; print it out and take

it to class. As background history use P. Ginsborg, Italy and its Discontents 1980-2001, London, Penguin,

2003 (LEN 309.145 P3); V. Bufacchi and S. Burgess, Italy since 1989: Events and Interpretations, London, MacMillan, 1998 (Open Access HL-255-448).

Do not use superficial Internet sites for your research. This is a very short initial list of Internet sites on relevant problems:

• General data on Italian society: Istituto Nazionale di Statistica (http://www.istat.it/); • Data on Italian society and social analysis: CENSIS (http://www.censis.it/) (open the

section called 'Rapporto Annuale'); • Italian political parties, elections, candidates, polls (http://www.politicalink.it/); • Dipartimento per le pari opportunità (http://www.pariopportunita.gov.it/); La Voce, an

academic journal organized by topic on social issues (http://www.lavoce.info/news); • Rete Lilith (http://www.retelilith.it); Testi del femminismo italiano

(http://www.comune.pisa.it/casadonna/testifeminismo.html); • Newspapers: http://www.ilmanifesto.it/; http://www.repubblica.it/; http://www.lastampa.it/. IT3424 Italian option: The Poetry of Michelangelo ‘Michel piú che mortale Angel divino’, as Ariosto described Michelangelo, cogently

communicated the fusion between mental and physical creation not only in sculpture, painting and architecture but also in poetry, excelling his contemporaries in the visual arts and as a lyric poet. The poet Elizabeth Jennings has written of his poetry that 'the sense of struggle in his sonnets, the feeling of passion just within control, can hardly fail to move and excite the contemporary reader of poetry'. The course will aim at a close reading of the poems with a view to engaging with Michelangelo's existential philosophy. This course will be given in Michaelmas term. Assessment: essay (3500 to 4000 words), and examination (one question - one hour).

2. OPTIONS OFFERED BY OTHER DEPARTMENTS Linguistics (equivalent to 5 ECTS) 1) Aspects of written language, 2) Language learning, 3) Sociolinguistics, 4) Aspects of

vocabulary. These, or other option courses are offered by the Centre for Language and Communication Studies. Please see separate CLCS handout for course list and descriptions.

Students wishing to choose an option in Linguistics, taught and assessed by the CLCS, may do so provided it is different from any option taken during the Freshman years either as part of the course in Italian or in that of any other continental language.

Page 36: UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE …...To fulfil the above requirement, you should start planning a visit to Italy in the summer after your Junior Freshman course. Later in this

36

TSM JUNIOR SOPHISTER YEAR EXAMINATIONS This is a degree examination. LANGUAGE: 40% of overall result. LITERATURE: 60% of the overall result. WITHIN LANGUAGE: paper 55%, Viva Voce 30%, Assessment of year’s work 15%. 1) LANGUAGE PAPER (3 hours) The language paper comprises three sections: (a) prose or translation from English into Italian

(1 passage); (b) translation from Italian into English (1 passage); (c) essay (write on one topic out of a choice of three).

Please note that a majority of failed elements overall in written language leads to an overall fail independently of the mathematical average of the marks involved.

2) VIVA VOCE (20 minutes) The examination will be conducted jointly by the external examiner and an internal examiner,

and will consist mainly of general oral communication between the examiners and the student. Each student, however, must choose an article and submit it to the Italian Department one week before the Viva Voce examination. About five minutes of the examination may be spent on the topic of the student's chosen article. This could take the form of either a brief summary, or specific questions on the article, or close-reading and discussion of a short passage.

WITHIN LITERATURE: three components divided into thirds as follows:

• Dante Paper (4 questions equally weighted): one-third of the overall literature value. • Literature Paper (4 questions equally weighted): value one-third. • Value of options done during the JS year: one-third.

In addition to option essays, an examination will be held for each JS/SS option. Students are reminded that they must be careful not to repeat in the exam substantial amounts of material already used in the assessment essay. Consult the instructions on the exam paper for individual options.

CARRYING MARKS INTO THE SENIOR SOPHISTER YEAR: A NOTE FOR MOD 2 ITALIANISTS ONLY:

Junior Sophisters who intend to proceed to the Senior Sophister year in Italian will be assessed on their year’s work in order to carry 150 Junior Sophister marks forward to their Senior Sophister year. The marks will be compiled from the two JS option essays, with a combined total value of 70 marks, and from continuous assessment on JS language courses for work done in the first two terms, to a value of 80 marks. Here is a detailed breakdown of how the 150 marks are calculated:

IT3001 Writing Skills = 10 marks IT3002 Translation into Italian & Grammar = 30 marks IT3004 Translation Strategies = 20 marks IT3009 Oral = 20 marks Overall Language = 80 marks

Literature: JS options = 70 marks

Total JS marks brought forward to the fourth year = 150 marks Please see page 45 for a new TSM rules on JS & SS marks.

Page 37: UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE …...To fulfil the above requirement, you should start planning a visit to Italy in the summer after your Junior Freshman course. Later in this

37

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF TSM SENIOR SOPHISTER ITALIAN COURSES AND EXAMINATIONS

A high degree of fluency and precision in the spoken and written language, and high academic

quality in the literary and other cultural aspects, are expected in the Senior Sophister year. Language courses are described first in these pages. The literary and more generally cultural components of your Senior Sophister course also figure in this handbook and include a range of topics and authors available through core courses, taught options, and dissertation. In dissertation and essays, a higher amount of emphasis is placed on autonomous research than in earlier years.

There will be a compulsory Senior Sophister Grammar Assessment Test on the first Friday of the first semester. This test consists of translation, essay and/or cloze. Its purpose is to determine what your level of competence is in Italian and advise you towards your study. It is a decisive test, and gives you a perspective on what grammatical areas are to be covered. Those who receive a mark lower than II.2 in this test are requested to see the course coordinator (Roberto Bertoni) immediately after the results are disclosed.

TSM SS, ECTS TOTAL: 60, subdivided into Italian language course, 25; Italian literary course,

15; Options, 10; Dissertation, 10. Courses are described below subdivided into four sections: A. Italian language course, B. Italian

literary course, C. Options, D. Dissertation. A. TSM SS Italian language course – IT4099

In Italian in the Senior Sophister year you should be able to express yourself orally and in

writing, accurately, fluently and with a well developed vocabulary; have clear notions of some of the registers and sectoral languages of Italian; develop your skills in translating from and into Italian; and understand reading passages, videos and listening tapes at a higher advanced level. Your general language competence and academic language competence are integrated in 4th year. Class activities are based both on general topics and on topics related to specific fields of interest.

Language modules:

Code IT4099 Course Name Term/Semester Hours per week

ECTS

IT4001 Italian language: Variability Michaelmas/I and weeks 1 - 6 of Hilary/ II

1

IT4002 Italian language: Essay writing and general competence

All year 1

IT4003 Italian language: Translation from/into Italian

All year 1

IT4004 Italian language: Computerised translation

Michaelmas/I 1

IT4009 Italian language: Oral All year 1

25

Page 38: UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE …...To fulfil the above requirement, you should start planning a visit to Italy in the summer after your Junior Freshman course. Later in this

38

1. IT4001 Italian language: Variability All year, once a week, mandatory. The topics studied include some aspects of standard and

neo-standard Italian, dialects, formal and informal language, emphasis, differences between the spoken and written varieties of Italian, politically correct language, and the languages of advertisement, journalism and politics. The main aim of the course is to identify and use some language registers and sectoral languages in Italian. Vocabulary tests will be held throughout the year.

Textbooks. 1. Linguitalia 4, Section I (available from Room 4087). 2. G. Berruto (1987), Sociolinguistica dell'italiano contemporaneo, Rome, La Nuova Italia Scientifica, 1989. 3. A. Tosi, Language and Society in a Changing Italy, Clevedon, Multilingual Matters, 2001. Further reading as enlisted in Linguitalia 4 and recommended in class.

Assessment. Examination, and written exercises as requested during the year. 2. IT4002 Italian language: Essay writing and general competence Second semester, once a week, mandatory. This is mainly a course on writing essays in Italian.

The course involves paragraphing, organising discourse, using appropriate registers, and revision of grammar and syntax. The main aim of the course is to express ideas clearly and coherently in a variety of texts in Italian and with a content suitable for a Moderatorship degree. Grammar revision is also done in this course according to the needs of the students and their requests.

Textbook. Linguitalia 4 (available from Room 4087), section II. Assessment. Examination, and written exercises as requested during the year. 3. IT 4003 Italian language: Translation from/into Italian All year, once a week, mandatory. Translation from English into Italian and from Italian into

English. Passages for translation include a variety of texts. Consult old examination papers to form an idea of the language requirements. The main aim of the course is to teach how to transfer words, concepts and structures in the appropriate registers from one to the other language.

Textbook. Linguitalia 4, Section III, old examination papers, and other material provided by lecturers.

Assessment. Examination, and written exercises as requested during the year. 4. IT4009 Italian language: Oral All year, once a week, mandatory. Conversation and discussion on a variety of topics,

presentation of short papers, articulation of oral discourse, adequate register, oral interaction and debate. In the second semester, both oral and aural classes (and rehearsals towards the Aural examination) are included. In the last five weeks of the year, students prepare their oral dossiers for the Viva Voce examination. The main aim of the oral course is to express ideas fluently, clearly and appropriately in Italian at an advanced level in a variety of situations, and develop advanced aural skills.

Textbook. Lecturer's own materials. Also: aural tapes available to lecturers from Rooms 4078 and 4091.

Assessment. The course is assessed through a Viva Voce examination, and an Oral test held in the first semester.

Revision of grammar is partly done in IT4002 and IT4003, but you should constantly work

on this aspect also independently in view of the language examination where a high degree of accuracy is required.

Vocabulary building is also important and should be pursued both through classes and

independent reading of a variety of texts.

Page 39: UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE …...To fulfil the above requirement, you should start planning a visit to Italy in the summer after your Junior Freshman course. Later in this

39

B. TSM SS Italian literary course – IT4098

Code IT4098 Course Name Term/Semester Hours per week

ECTS

IT4011 Italian literature: Dante Vita Nuova, Convivio, Monarchia

All year 1

IT4012 Italian literature: Boccaccio

Michaelmas/ I

1

IT4013 Italian literature: Castiglione Hilary/ II

1

IT4014 Italian literature: Language history Michaelmas/ I

1

15

IT4011 Italian literature: Dante Vita Nuova, Convivio, Monarchia Dante's "minor works" are worth careful study in themselves, and also because they throw

additional light on his Commedia. This course will look in close textual detail at the spiritual, poetic, philosophical and political ideas contained in the Vita Nuova, Convivio and Monarchia. Reading lists will be provided.

Textbook. Dante Alighieri, Vita nuova; edited by Jennifer Petrie and June Salmons. Dublin: Foundation for Italian Studies, University College, Dublin, 1994. Bibliographies in addition to the ones previously given for the Commedia will be supplied.

Assessment. Exercises and presentations may be required during the course. Choice of one out of three questions in the last section of Mod Dante paper B (reserved for Senior Sophisters), which may replace one of the two Dante essay questions. Only one question can be taken from this section which also includes IT4014. Please read the Dante exam guidelines in this handbook.

IT4012 Italian Literature: Boccaccio The course is held in the first semester once a week. Please buy a good Italian edition of the

Decameron. A reading list is available from the Department office (room 4087). Reference will also be made to some other works by Boccaccio. When studying the Decameron, we may look at many of the following points:

a) The Introduction - Black Death - Comparison with Manzoni - function of the historical setting;

b) The cornice: the world of the storytellers and the world of the actual stories . Characterization of the storytellers - Dioneo;

c) Structure: how are the stories arranged? Is there any relationship between individual days? Is there any progressive sequence from Day I to Day X? What are the main themes? Why is Day VI, 1, important strategically? Note carefully the comments of the author himself and the point at which they are inserted; d) Realism. Vivid picture of people, places, events. Social issues of the age. View of Italian society in the Trecento; e) Attitude to religion and clergy (Secular orders, friars);

f) Attitude to women. Is Boccaccio a champion of women's rights or is this a carefully fostered pretence?

g) Love, Fortune, Intelligence: three main themes in the Decameron. How interconnected are they? Are the three of equal importance in the Decameron?

h) How do we read a book from such a different age, which still seems to have so much to say to our own times?

Assessment. Exercises and presentations may be requested during the course. Choice of one essay question out of two in the literature examination paper.

IT4013 Italian literature: Castiglione Castiglione's Libro del Cortegiano (1528), a Renaissance dialogue set at the court of Urbino, was

translated into many languages and became enormously influential not only in defining the role of the courtier (whose modern descendants include the gentleman, the political advisor and the arbiter of taste) but also in suggesting images of the good life, the art of conversation and the spiritual nature of beauty. The course will examine Castiglione's text in detail. Reading lists will be provided.

Page 40: UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE …...To fulfil the above requirement, you should start planning a visit to Italy in the summer after your Junior Freshman course. Later in this

40

Reading of relevant material before classes and regular attendance are extremely important. Assessment. Exercises and presentations may be requested during the course. Choice of one

essay question out of two in the literature examination paper. IT4014 Italian literature: Language history The complex history of "Italian", and its emergence as a national language, are bound up with

the peculiar circumstances of Italian political and cultural history. This course will look at several important moments in the story. Topics covered will include: the shift from Latin to the various vernaculars; Dante's De Vulgari Eloquentia and the ideal of the "volgare illustre"; the "questione della lingua" in the sixteenth century; foreign influences on literary Italian; Manzoni's views on language; a national language for a united Italy

Textbooks. A reading list will be provided, including Bruno Migliorini and T. Gwynfor Griffith, The Italian Language, London, Faber, 1966, revised edition 1984. Martin Maiden A linguistic history of Italian. Harlow, Longman, 1995. Dante, De Vulgari Eloquentia, edited and translated by Steven Botterill, Cambridge University Press, 1996.

Assessment. One question in the last section of the Mod. Dante paper (reserved for Senior Sophisters), which may replace one of the two Dante essay questions. Only one question can be taken from this section, which also includes IT4011.

Independent revision of the literary course from previous years is very important in

view of the literature papers where a number of essay questions are devoted to topics studies in the SF and JS years. You can also attend some of the literature classes again and discuss courses with your lecturers.

C. TSM SS Options Students must choose two options. You choose from the list of options below, unless you

have taken them previously. Your combination of options must be submitted for approval to the Department by the end of March in the JS year.

All options are assessed by an essay (3,500 to 4,000 words) and an examination (one hour, answer one question).

Essays must be presented in typed form. Both pieces of work will be submitted no later than the first day of the second semester if the course is held in the first term, and by the end of the week following the last week of the second semester for options held that term. These essays must be handed to the Departmental Executive Officer who will sign for them.

In the option essays, the arguments must be illustrated clearly, supported by adequate reference to primary and secondary sources, and by a running argument including your motivated viewpoint. The organisation and presentation of your work are particularly important in the 4th year. Consult the section on "Presentation of your work" in the introductory pages of this handbook, and we repeat here that a full description of the conventions of presentation are in the MHRA Style Book, available from the Italian Department (and online at http: //www. mhra. org. uk/ Publications/ Books/ StyleGuide/ index.html). These rules must be followed.

Options included:

Code Course Name Term/Semester Hours per week

ECTS

IT3421 Italian option: Modern poetics: Modern Interpretations of Antiquity

Hilary/ II

1

IT3422 Italian option: History and society

Michaelmas/ I

1

IT3424 Italian option: The Poetry of Michelangelo

Michaelmas/ I

1

IT4021 Italian option: Writers and politics during fascism

Michaelmas/ I

1

IT4023 Italian option: Writers and society in Italy in the 21st century

Hilary/ II

1

10

Page 41: UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE …...To fulfil the above requirement, you should start planning a visit to Italy in the summer after your Junior Freshman course. Later in this

41

IT3421 Italian option: Modern poetics – Modern interpretations of Antiquity The first part of this course, held in the second semester, is on antiquity revived in Italy

through the historical novel, fiction and cinema. The second part is on definitions of myth, and on Italian modern rewriting of some classical myths.

Lectures will be a general introduction on the topics mentioned above, and on problems connected to specific Italian texts such as ‘Savinio’s novel La nostra anima: The surreal survival of ancient myth’; ‘Pasolini’s film Medea: “Barbarian” attitudes and “civilization”’; Manfredi’s L’ultima legione: Commercialization of myth, and relevance of antiquity to modern politics; feature films on antiquity.

Each student may be requested to give a presentation of approximately 10 minutes on a topic agreed with the lecturer of the course by week 4 in the term when the course is taught.

Assessment 50% essay (3,500/4,000 words) and 50% examination (one hour, one question chosen out of four or five).

Primary texts: Books. G. Conte, L’Oceano e il Ragazzo (1983), and Le stagioni (1988). V.M. Manfredi, L'ultima

legione, Milan, Mondadori, 2002. ). P.P. Pasolini, Medea, Milan, Garzanti, 1970 (film script). A. Savinio, La nostra anima (1944), Milan, Adelphi, 1981 (reprinted in subsequent editions).

Films. Medea, The Last Legion and/or other films as it will be indicated during the course. Reference reading: S. Byatt, On Histories and Stories, London, Vintage, 2000. B. van den Bossche, Il mito nella letteratura italiana del Novecento, Florence, Cesati, 2007. Classical Myth and Culture in the Cinema, ed. M.M. Winkler, Oxford University Press, 2001. L. Coupe, Myth, London and New York, Routledge, 1997. M. Eliade, The myth of the eternal return, London, Arkana, 1989; Symbolism, the sacred, and the

arts, New York, Crossroad. J. Hillman, The thought of the heart; and The soul of the world, Dallas, Spring, 1992. C.G. Jung, Selected writings, London, Fontana, 1983. S. Semerara, Immortalità dei simboli da Babilonia a oggi, Milano, Bompiani, 2006. B.D. Shaw, 'Spartacus Before Marx', Princeton University (Princeton/Stanford Working Papers

in Classics), November 2005 (available on Internet). D. Strinati, An Introduction to Theories of Popular Culture, London, Routledge, 1995.

IT3422 Italian option: History and society The topic of this course is 'Some aspects of Italian society and politics since 1989'. The course examines some of the following: Chronology of main events; Social data; Changes

in collective and individual ideologies and values; North/South; Political parties; Family; Religion; Crime; Mass media. Other aspects may be suggested by students and agreed with lecturer before the course begins. The period 1989 to the present has been chosen to allow some updating on Italian society and politics since the year when the Cold War ended, and immediately after Tangentopoli took place in Italy and all existing political parties disappeared, changed identity or split into smaller entities while Italy was becoming more globalised, consumerist and postmodern.

The course consists of lectures, and of student presentations in preparation for their essays. Essays (3500/4000 words) constitute 50% of the assessment. The other 50% is a one hour exam (answer one question out of a number of questions asked). Do not repeat the same topic in the essay and exam. The essays written for this course must include three aspects: 1. background history, relevant data and pertinent dates; 2. theory on the topics chosen; and 3. analysis of primary sources and documents in Italian such as newspapers articles, statistical information, surveys, field interviews, etc. Each component is essential and counts toward one third of the overall mark for the essay.General suggestions on how to find these and theoretical frameworks for each individual project will be made in the first class or in preliminary meetings. Otherwise email: [email protected], or call at room 4040.

Basic general and background reading: An electronic handout will be available shortly before the course begins; print it out and take

it to class.

Page 42: UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE …...To fulfil the above requirement, you should start planning a visit to Italy in the summer after your Junior Freshman course. Later in this

42

As background history use P. Ginsborg, Italy and its Discontents 1980-2001, London, Penguin, 2003 (LEN 309.145 P3); V. Bufacchi and S. Burgess, Italy since 1989: Events and Interpretations, London, MacMillan, 1998 (Open Access HL-255-448).

Do not use superficial Internet sites for your research. This is a very short initial list of Internet sites on relevant problems:

• General data on Italian society: Istituto Nazionale di Statistica (http://www.istat.it/); • Data on Italian society and social analysis: CENSIS (http://www.censis.it/) (open the

section called 'Rapporto Annuale'); • Italian political parties, elections, candidates, polls (http://www.politicalink.it/); • Dipartimento per le pari opportunità (http://www.pariopportunita.gov.it/); La Voce, an

academic journal organized by topic on social issues (http://www.lavoce.info/news); • Rete Lilith (http://www.retelilith.it); Testi del femminismo italiano

(http://www.comune.pisa.it/casadonna/testifeminismo.html); • Newspapers: http://www.ilmanifesto.it/; http://www.repubblica.it/; http://www.lastampa.it/.

IT3424 Italian option: The Poetry of Michelangelo ‘Michel piú che mortale Angel divino’, as Ariosto described Michelangelo, cogently

communicated the fusion between mental and physical creation not only in sculpture, painting and architecture but also in poetry, excelling his contemporaries in the visual arts and as a lyric poet. The poet Elizabeth Jennings has written of his poetry that 'the sense of struggle in his sonnets, the feeling of passion just within control, can hardly fail to move and excite the contemporary reader of poetry'. The course will aim at a close reading of the poems with a view to engaging with Michelangelo's existential philosophy. This course will be given in the first semester. Assessment: essay (3500 to 4000 words), and examination (one question - one hour).

IT4021 Italian option: Writers and politics during fascism The main aim of the course is to examine intellectual debate and fiction in relation to the

attitudes of a number of Italian writers towards political commitment, ideology and literature. Works are included by Carlo Levi, Primo Levi, Emilio Lussu, Luigi Meneghello, Elio Vittorini and others.

The course in 2009/10 is taught by Cormac Ó Cuilleanáin, Peter Arnds and Giuliana Adamo. Textbooks. Reading lists are available from room 4087. Assessment. An essay (3,500 to 4,000 words) and an examination (one hour, answer one

question). Other requirements: some presentations may be required, but do not form part of the annual

assessment. Reading of relevant material before classes and regular attendance are extremely important.

IT4023 Italian option: Writers and Society in Italy in the 21st century The course is held in the second semester, once a week. The main aim of the course is to

examine intellectual debate and fiction in relation to the attitudes of a number of Italian writers towards political commitment, social issues, ideology and literature. In addition to general concepts on commercialization, individualization, writers’ interest in democracy, and realism as a form of representation, a number of novels will be examined, probably by Rea (La dismissione), Saviano (Gomorra), Mazzucco (Vita) and Doninelli (La nuova era). In weeks 6 to 9, students' and lecturer's presentations will focus on other novels to be examined in your essays, e.g.: Abate, Tra due mari; Lia Levi, Tutti i giorni di mia vita; Veronesi, La forza del passato; Wu Ming, 2005 dopo Cristo. Other novels may be chosen both in the general section, and for in individual presentations in agreement with the lecturer who teaches this course.

Textbooks. More accurate reading lists will be available from room 4087 and from Roberto Bertoni before the course begins. A handout will be available free of charge via e-mail, you are required to have a printout copy of this in class, request the electronic version from [email protected] in due time. A full course description, reading suggestions and some notes are included in the handout.

Page 43: UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE …...To fulfil the above requirement, you should start planning a visit to Italy in the summer after your Junior Freshman course. Later in this

43

Assessment. An essay (3,500 to 4,000 words) and an examination (one hour, answer one question). You are not allowed to answer in the exam on the same novel(s) examined in your essay.

Other requirements: some presentations may be required, but do not form part of the annual assessment. Reading of relevant material before classes and regular attendance are extremely important.

D. TSM SS Dissertation

A distinctive cultural element in this final year is the preparation of an independent degree dissertation of some 15,000 words (50-60 pages). The dissertation is normally written in English. You must choose the topic of this by 30 June in the summer between the JS and SS years, as preparatory reading should be done during the vacation. The dissertation is most successful when the topic focuses on a specific problem arising out of a student's own interests, and is proposed by the student himself/herself. Members of staff are always willing to discuss possible topics and help students to focus their ideas more precisely. If you have a favourite genre and/or period, discuss this and obtain guidance towards some author or feature that will capture your interest. The sooner this discussion is begun the better. The title is subject to approval by the Department. The range of topics is wide even though, of course, only topics for which a supervisor is available will be approved. Consult you course co-ordinator initially about this, and then keep in touch with the supervisor assigned to you. In consultation with your supervisor, you should discuss your ideas, then write a preliminary outline of your argument, then organise your work into chapters. Hand in chapter after chapter and then a draft of the whole work. The first complete draft of a dissertation must be submitted to the Department by Friday, 11 December. The final version, properly typed and corrected in every detail, must be submitted by Friday, 22 January.

In the dissertation, the arguments must be illustrated clearly, supported by adequate reference to primary and secondary sources, and by a running argument including your motivated viewpoint.

As you write, check that each section is really part of your argument. Always point out exactly where you're going.

Use the primary texts. Support your ideas by making appropriate reference to primary texts. Mention in brackets the abbreviated titles and page numbers from these texts each time you quote from them. An initial footnote should indicate what edition you are using, or refer to the bibliography of your dissertation.

Use the critics. Scan the scholarly books and articles on your title-subject and texts, looking for facts and arguments to throw light on your subject. Use them to help you define your terms, and to come to grips with the texts themselves. Quote where it really helps your argument (even by contrast or disagreement). Acknowledge each critical borrowing by author, work and page in the footnotes of your dissertation.

The organisation and presentation of your work are also very important. The proper use and acknowledgement of critical material is essential. Quotations must be accurately cited. A full description of the conventions of presentation is in the MHRA Style Book, available from the Italian Department (and online at http: // www.mhra.org.uk / Publications / Books / StyleGuide / index.html). These conventions must be followed. They include rules on how to present a bibliography. The basic rules in this respect are to indicate name and surname of author, title of work, name of journal, number of issue, year of publication, and, in case of books, place of edition and name of publisher. Titles of articles in journals and chapters from books are in inverted commas, whereas titles of books are in italics. Proof-reading must be precise. The dissertation must be written in clear and accurate English, correctly punctuated, without grammatical errors and with precise use of vocabulary. Bad punctuation or grammar are unacceptable. You can drop as much as an entire class in your result (eg from II.2 to III) for poor presentation.

Page 44: UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE …...To fulfil the above requirement, you should start planning a visit to Italy in the summer after your Junior Freshman course. Later in this

44

TSM SENIOR SOPHISTER YEAR EXAMINATIONS AND ASSESSMENT This is a degree examination. 150 points are carried from work done in Italian during the JS

year, and 500 points are acquired in the SS year.

LANGUAGE 40% of overall result. LITERATURE: 60 % of overall result.

WITHIN LANGUAGE: 85% goes to the examination, and 15% to year language assessment.

SS YEAR LANGUAGE ASSESSMENT The mandatory language assessment consists of exercises done throughout the year on

variability (text analyses and performative exercises), essays and translations; and of an oral test held in semester I.

LANGUAGE EXAMINATION

Two papers: each paper 1/3, and Viva Voce 1/3, as described in detail below: 1) LANGUAGE I – Language Variability and Essay (3 hours) This comprises three sections: (a) textual analysis (choice of one out of two passages - answer in English with examples and

excerpts in Italian) - 30% of this paper; (b) extended writing skills (part 1) (choice of one out of three exercises which may include

rephrasing given texts, writing letters and responding to specific instructions) - 35% of this paper;

(c) extended writing skills (part 2): essay in Italian (choice of one out of a number of titles - 35% of this paper.

2) LANGUAGE II – Prose composition and Unseen Translation (3 hours) This comprises two sections: (a) translation from English into Italian (1 passage); (b) translation from Italian into English (1 passage). Each section is worth one half of the overall mark for this paper. Please note that a majority of failed elements overall in written language leads

to an overall fail independently of the mathematical average of the marks involved. 3) VIVA VOCE (20 minutes) The examination will be conducted jointly by the external examiner and an internal examiner,

and will consist mainly of general oral communication between the examiners and the student. Each student, however, must choose an article and submit it to the Italian Department one week before the Viva Voce examination. About five minutes of the examination may be spent on the topic of the student's chosen article. This could take the form of either a brief summary, or specific questions on the article, or close-reading and discussion of a short passage.

WITHIN LITERATURE: three components divided into thirds as follows: • Dante Papers (4 questions equally weighted, done in two 2-hour sessions) and Literature

Paper (4 questions equally weighted): combined value one-third, split 50% to Dante and 50% to literature. Please read the Dante exam guidelines on pages 27-28.

• Two options done during the year. • Dissertation submitted during the year: one-third of the overall literature value.

Page 45: UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE …...To fulfil the above requirement, you should start planning a visit to Italy in the summer after your Junior Freshman course. Later in this

45

In addition to option essays, an examination will be held for each JS/SS option. Students are reminded that they must be careful not to repeat in the exam substantial amounts of material already used in the assessment essay. Consult the instructions on the exam paper for individual options.

______________________________________________________________________

PLEASE NOTE:

A new TSM regulation on passing your Major subject in both the Junior and Senior Sophister years.

From 2009/10 in Junior Sophister Pattern B students are required to pass both the Mod Part I (minor subject ex 350) and Mod Part II (major subject ex 150) in order to progress to the Senior Sophister year. Up to and including this year (0809) they were only required to pass their minor subject. From 2010/11 in Senior Sophister Pattern B students will be required to pass all of the following elements in order to pass and be awarded an Honors degree: JS Mod Part I (ex 350), JS Mod Part II (ex 150), SS Mod Part II (ex 500) and as a result their Mod Part II Overall (ex 650). Currently AND in the academic year 2009/10 students are required to pass their Mod Part I (ex 350) and Mod Part II (ex 650) in order to be awarded an Honors degree. The changes to the JS regulations will be included in the 2009/10 edition of the College Calendar.

Page 46: UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE …...To fulfil the above requirement, you should start planning a visit to Italy in the summer after your Junior Freshman course. Later in this

46

SECTION III - EUROPEAN STUDIES COURSES

EUROPEAN STUDIES ITALIAN COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

In addition to the language and cultural courses described below, students of European Studies

are allowed to attend Two Subject Moderatorship courses taught in the Italian Department on language, literary texts, or on History and Society, as auditors only. If you intend to do so, please ask permission from individual lecturers to attend their classes. Use the timetable on the TSM notice board. The reasons why not all Italian TSM courses are obligatory for ES students are as follows: ES students have a specific programme negotiated between the various Departments and the Centre for European Studies. In addition to the courses they take in the Language Departments, the ES students study several topics on disciplines in the non-language Departments (History, Sociology and Political Science). The ES students have a limited number of hours available for classes, and an already sufficient amount of work to do. Introducing new Italian courses on an obligatory basis would also mean to assess them through further work.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF EUROPEAN STUDIES JUNIOR FRESHMAN ITALIAN COURSES AND

EXAMINATIONS

Through your course in Italian in the Junior Freshman year you should be able to express yourself orally and in writing, simply but accurately, and understand reading passages and listening tapes at an appropriate language level. Your Junior Freshman courses have two main aims: i. general language competence (aimed at acquiring language skills of a general nature); and ii. specific language competence (reading, writing, oral and listening aimed at acquiring language skills on topics related to fields of a social nature and close to the discipline interests of students of European Studies). The language courses are intensive and require a systematic daily work schedule to be successful. Do not miss class preparation, written work and revision. Remember to talk to your lecturers immediately if you have problems. A description of the Junior Freshman courses is given below and in the next pages. Contact hours

Code Course Name Term/Semester Hours per week ECTS total: 15

IT1051 Italian Reading skills, including Italian Stories in Hilary term/semester II weeks 8-12

All year

1

Counted as part of a global unit IT1068 called Italian

Reading: Society and Stories (5 Credits)

IT1052 Italian language: Writing skills

All year 1

Counted as part of a global unit IT1069 called Italian

Language: Structures and Writing 1 (5 Credits)

IT1055 Italian language: Structures

Michaelmas/ I

4

See under Writing

IT1055 Italian language: Structures

Hilary/ II 2

See under Writing

IT1059 Italian language: Oral and Aural

All year 1

5 Credits

Page 47: UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE …...To fulfil the above requirement, you should start planning a visit to Italy in the summer after your Junior Freshman course. Later in this

47

1. IT1051 - Italian language and culture: Reading skills, and Italian Stories. All year, once a week, mandatory. This course builds elementary reading skills based on extracts from newspapers and essays in

the first eight weeks of the first semester, and develops a more advanced level in the following weeks of the year. Translation from Italian into English, and building and revision of vocabulary are included.

In the last five weeks of the second semester a whole text is read. As your first introduction to extended Italian prose writing, we have chosen Hugo Pratt's illustrated text Una ballata del mare salato, a book by one of Italy's leading cartoonists, in which adventure, exploration of other cultures, the first world war, mystery, fables and eclectic literary references are combined.

Textbooks. Linguitalia 1 (available from room 4087), Linguitalia 1. Hugo Pratt, Una ballata del mare salato, Turin, Einaudi, 2004, photocopies available from room 4087 (an English translation is available in the College library). Further reading will be indicated in class.

Assessment. The course is assessed by examination (a reading comprehension, a translation into English, and an extended comprehension question in English on Pratt in the Language II paper), and through exercises done during the year (at least six comprehension exercises and five translations from Italian into English).

2. IT1052 Italian language: Writing skills Second semester, once a week, mandatory. This course builds elementary writing skills.

Grammatical accuracy and suitable vocabulary at the appropriate 1st year level are particularly important. Cohesion of text and content are also relevant to this course. Essays, summaries and other writing activities are included.

Textbook. Linguitalia 1 (available from room 4087), sections entitled Espressione scritta. One unit per week throughout the two semesters following the textbook progression. Check the "Indice".

Assessment. The course is assessed by examination (an essay in Italian and an Italian précis of an English text in the Language I paper), and through exercises done during the year (at least six essays and five summaries in Italian of English passages).

3. IT1055 Italian language: Structures This course is mandatory. Four hours every week in the first semester and two hours per

week in the second semester. Basic language structures are taught. New grammar material is explained and practised, and weekly written work is corrected.

Textbooks. 1. Ciao! 2. Junior Freshman Language Guide and Harraps Italian Verbs. 3. English Grammar for Students of Italian by Adorni and Primorac is another useful book - copies of this book may be consulted in room 4097.

Assessment. The course is assessed by examination (section 'Grammar, language structures' in the Language I paper), and through exercises and tests done during the year.

4. IT1059 Italian language: Oral & Aural All year, once a week, mandatory. This course aims at gradually building oral competence at an

elementary level. Functional elements are used in the first few weeks. Some conversation and debate are developed in subsequent weeks. Included are some aural comprehension classes based on previous examinations, and some oral examination rehearsals.

Textbook. Ciao!; and Linguitalia 1 (available from room 4087), sections entitled Espressione orale and Ascolto in Unità 10 to 22 (one unit per week following the textbook progression; check the "Indice"). Aural tapes available from rooms 4078 and 4088 on request from the teaching staff.

Assessment. Oral and aural examinations and tests. ITALIAN ES JF ASSESSMENT AND EXAMINATIONS. There are three components in the course: 1) Structures and Writing (85% examination, 15% assessment); 2) Reading: Society and Stories (85% examination, 15% assessment); 3) Oral and Aural (85% examination, 15% assessment). 1 and 2 above are worth 35% each of the total result; and 3 is worth 30%.

Page 48: UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE …...To fulfil the above requirement, you should start planning a visit to Italy in the summer after your Junior Freshman course. Later in this

48

The mandatory language assessment consists of exercises done throughout the year on structures, reading and writing, and of one oral and one aural tests held in the second semester.

The examinations consist of two papers, an oral interview and an aural test as detailed below: (i) Paper I: Italian Language - Structures and Writing (3 hours). This comprises three sections:

(b) test in grammar, language structures; (b) Italian précis of an English text; (c) guided essay in Italian [150 words].

(ii) Paper II: Italian Reading - Society and Stories (3 hours). This comprises three sections: (a) comprehension with questions [questions on the content of the passage, and on how to explain some words and phrases - answer most questions in English, but also a short commentary on the passage in Italian]; (b) translation from Italian into English; (c) extended comprehension question in English on a story read during the year.

(iii) Aural [questions on the contents of a recording, and transcription of missing words from a transcript] (20 minutes). Oral (10 minutes).

Page 49: UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE …...To fulfil the above requirement, you should start planning a visit to Italy in the summer after your Junior Freshman course. Later in this

49

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF EUROPEAN STUDIES SENIOR FRESHMAN ITALIAN COURSES

AND EXAMINATIONS Through your course in Italian in the Senior Freshman year you should be able to express

yourself orally and in writing, accurately, fluently and with a sufficiently developed vocabulary; and understand reading passages and listening tapes at an appropriate language level. Your general language competence and specific language competence are more integrated in 2nd year than they were in 1st year. Class activities are based both on general topics and topics related to fields of interest specific to European Studies. The topics involved include some aspects of Italian society (work, the mass media, urbanisation, the environment, feminism, etc.), politics (ideologies, political parties, elections, etc.), history (since the Risorgimento), some short stories, and passages on society, emotions and modernity.

All students, but especially those who wish to spend the Junior Sophister year in Italy, are invited to do extra reading on their own in Italian. Read articles and books on topics related to your disciplines - the Italian staff will be glad to help with reading suggestions. Watch the Italian news and other Italian programmes in Room 4074. Use the Italian audio and video tapes available from Room 4091.

A description of the Senior Freshman courses is given below and in the next pages.

Contact hours

Code Course Name Term/Semester Hours per week

ECTS total: 15

IT2067 Italian Reading: Stories, Society, History

All year 1 5 Credits

IT2055 Italian language: Writing skills All year

1 Counted as part of a global unit IT2069

called Italian Language: Structures and Writing 2

(5 Credits)

IT2058 Italian language: Structures

Michaelmas /I 2 See under Writing

IT2058 Italian language: Structures

Hilary /II 1 See under Writing

IT2068 Italian language: Oral and Aural

All year 1 5 Credits

1. IT2067. Italian Reading: Stories, Society, History All year, once a week, mandatory. This course builds reading skills at intermediate and higher-

intermediate levels. Revision of vocabulary and some translations from Italian into English are included.

First semester: passages from newspapers and magazines, from short essays on sociology, politics and history, and two short stories (Goffredo Parise, 'Italia', and Mario Rigoni-Stern, 'Nikolajevka, 26 gennaio 1943') linked to the topics of the general language programme and included in Linguitalia 2 (Units 5 and 9).

Second semester: language classes which includes some cultural aspects. Brief information is given on Italian modern history, and four short stories are read: Alberto Moravia, 'Il morso'; Carmine Abate, 'Nuotare, nuotare'; and Luigi Malerba, 'Il marito femminista' and 'La signora del WWF'. These stories are linked to the topics of the general language programme and are included in Linguitalia 2 (Unità 11, 13, 14 and 16).

In weeks 8 to 12 of the second semester the reading course will focus on “Society, emotions and modernity”. Each week, the summary of an essay and, related to that, a passage from

Page 50: UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE …...To fulfil the above requirement, you should start planning a visit to Italy in the summer after your Junior Freshman course. Later in this

50

newspapers, blogs or other more life-based sources, will be read. Work will be done on comprehension, vocabulary, concepts, expression of ideas and opinions. The students are required to prepare each weekly material before class. Among the topics chosen are “Identità”, “Vetrinizzazione”, “Autobiografia e incontri”, “Tradimento, “Rancore”, “Emozioni e sentimenti in generale”.

Textbooks. - Linguitalia 2 (available from room 4087), sections entitled Lettura in Unità tematiche 1 to 18

(one unit per week following the textbook progression). - Sei lezioni di lettura su società e sentimenti, handout available electronically. Students please

request this from [email protected], print it out and bring it to class each week. Assessment. Examination (a reading comprehension, a translation into English, and an extended

comprehension question in English on either stories or society, emotions and modernity in the Language II paper), and exercises done during the year (at least five comprehension exercises, three extended comprehensions and four translations from Italian into English).

Sample of exam question on stories: 'How is Italian society portrayed in one or more of the stories read in the Italian course this year?' Suggestions on how to confront this question: give a short summary of the story (or stories) chosen, illustrate how the social content is expressed, and what other implications your comprehension of the text brings to light.

Sample of exam question on society and sentiments: 'How do emotions carry social weight in one or more of the essays and articles read in the Italian course this year?' Suggestions on how to confront this question: give an introduction by using a theoretical concept, give a short summary one or more of the essays chosen, illustrate their social meaning, and give examples from one or more of the articles read; give finally a conclusion on Italy now in the light of your own extended comprehension.

2. IT2055. Italian language: Writing skills All year, once a week, mandatory. This course builds intermediate and advanced-intermediate

writing skills. It includes essay writing and summary. Textbook: Linguitalia 2 (available from Room 4087), sections entitled Scrittura in Unità tematiche

1 to 22. Check the "Indice". Assessment. Examination (essay and précis in the Language I paper), and exercises done during

the year (at least six essays and five summaries). 3. IT2058. Italian language: Structures This course is mandatory. First semester: twice a week. Second semester: once a week. New

topics from Ciao (e.g. the subjunctive, hypothetical clauses, the passive voice and passato remoto), a revision and reinforcement of grammar and a development of further grammatical skills. A progression of grammar topics will be distributed by lecturers in class.

Textbook. Ciao!, and Section II (Esercizi grammaticali) of Linguitalia 2. Some work may also be based on F. Gatti and S Peyronel, Grammatica in Contesto.

Assessment. Examination (section 'Grammar, language structures' in the Language I paper), and exercises and tests done during the year.

4. IT2068. Italian language: Oral & Aural All year, once a week, mandatory. This course aims at gradually building oral competence at an

intermediate level. Conversation and debate are especially developed throughout the year. Included are some aural comprehension exercises.

Textbook. Linguitalia 2 (available from room 4087), sections entitled Espressione orale in Unità tematiche 1 to 22 (one unit per week following the textbook progression). Check the "Indice". Aural tapes available on request from the teaching staff from Rooms 4078 and 4088.

Assessment. Oral and aural examinations, and oral test. Building and revision of grammar is formally done in IT2058, but you should constantly

work on this aspect also independently in view of the language examination where a relevant degree of accuracy is required.

Vocabulary building is also important and should be pursued both through classes and independent reading of a variety texts.

Page 51: UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE …...To fulfil the above requirement, you should start planning a visit to Italy in the summer after your Junior Freshman course. Later in this

51

ITALIAN ES SF ASSESSMENT AND EXAMINATIONS. There are three components in the course: 1) Structures and Writing (85% examination, 15% assessment); 2) Reading: Stories, Society, History (85% examination, 15% assessment); 3) Oral and Aural (85% examination, 15% assessment). 1 and 2 above are worth 35% each of the total result; and 3 is worth 30%. The mandatory language assessment consists of exercises done throughout the year on

structures, reading and writing; of an oral test held in semester I; and an aural tests held in semester II.

The examinations consist of two papers, an oral interview and an aural test as detailed below: (i) Paper I: Italian Language - Structures and Writing (3 hours). This comprises three sections:

(a) test in grammar, language structures; (b) Italian précis of an English text; (c) guided essay in Italian [200 words].

(ii) Paper II: Italian Reading - Stories, Society, History (3 hours). This comprises three sections: (a) comprehension with questions [questions on the content of the passage, and on how to explain some words and phrases - answer most questions in English, but also a short commentary on the passage in Italian]; (b) translation from Italian into English; (c) extended comprehension question in English either on the stories read in the Italian course during the second year, or on the essays and articles on society and sentiments studied in semester II.

(iii) Aural [questions on the contents of a recording, and transcription of missing words from a transcript] (20 minutes). Oral (10 minutes).

Foundation Scholarship Examination Optional examination. European Studies Schol. (Italian) includes two components: 1. Language paper (70%) - 90 minutes: a. comprehension with questions [questions on the content of the passage, and on how to

explain some words and phrases - answer most questions in English, but also a short commentary on the passage in Italian] (1/2 of the total of paper);

b. guided essay in Italian (200 words - use some of the phrases given etc.) (1/2 of the total of paper).

2. Oral (30%) ___________________________________________________________________

Page 52: UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE …...To fulfil the above requirement, you should start planning a visit to Italy in the summer after your Junior Freshman course. Later in this

52

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF EUROPEAN STUDIES SENIOR SOPHISTER ITALIAN COURSES

AND EXAMINATIONS This section is subdvided into three parts: A. ES SS Major language courses; B. ES SS Minor language

courses; C. ES SS Major and Minor - Cultural options.

A. ES Senior Sophister Major Language course Through your course in Italian as a major language in the Senior Sophister year you should be

able to express yourself orally and in writing, accurately, fluently and with a well developed vocabulary; have clear notions of some of the registers and sectoral languages of Italian; develop your skills in translating from and into Italian; and understand reading passages, videos and listening tapes at an advanced level. Your general language competence and academic language competence are integrated in 4th year. Class activities are based both on general topics and on topics related to fields of interest specific to European Studies.

There will be a compulsory Senior Sophister Grammar Assessment Test on the first Friday of the first semester. This test consists of translation, essay and/or cloze. Its purpose is to determine what your level of competence is in Italian and advise you towards your study. It is a decisive test, and gives you a perspective on what grammatical areas are to be covered. Those who receive a mark lower than II.2 in this test are requested to see the course coordinator (Roberto Bertoni) immediately after the results are disclosed.

Code Course Name Term/Semester Hours per week

ECTS total: 20

IT4001 / IT4055

Italian Language: Variability

Michaelmas/ I, and weeks 1to 6 of Hilary/ II

1 5

IT4002 / IT4057

Italian Language: Essay writing and general competence

All year 1 5

IT4003 / IT4053

Italian Language: Translation from/into Italian

All year 1 5

IT4009 / IT4056

Italian language: Oral

All year 1 5

In addition to the above courses, students of European Studies are allowed to audit Two Subject Moderatorship cultural courses taught in the Italian Department on literary texts, or on History and Society. If you intend to do so, please ask permission from individual lecturers to attend their classes. These courses are enlisted on the Italian notice board term by term.

1. IT4001/4055 Italian language: Variability All year, once a week, mandatory. The topics studied include some aspects of standard and

neo-standard Italian, dialects, formal and informal language, emphasis, differences between the spoken and written varieties of Italian, politically correct language, and the languages of

Page 53: UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE …...To fulfil the above requirement, you should start planning a visit to Italy in the summer after your Junior Freshman course. Later in this

53

advertisement, journalism and politics. The main aim of the course is to identify and use some language registers and sectoral languages in Italian. Vocabulary tests will be held throughout the year.

Textbooks. 1. Linguitalia 4, Section I (available from Room 4087). 2. G. Berruto (1987), Sociolinguistica dell'italiano contemporaneo, Rome, La Nuova Italia Scientifica, 1989. 3. A. Tosi, Language and Society in a Changing Italy, Clevedon, Multilingual Matters, 2001. Further reading as enlisted in Linguitalia 4 and recommended in class.

Assessment. Examination (sections A and B of Language I), and written exercises done during the year.

2. IT4002/4057 Italian language: Essay writing and general competence Second semester, once a week, mandatory. This is mainly a course on writing essays in Italian.

The course involves paragraphing, organising discourse, using appropriate registers, and revision of grammar and syntax. The main aim of the course is to express ideas clearly and coherently in a variety of texts in Italian and with a content suitable for a Moderatorship degree. Grammar revision is also done in this course according to the needs of the students and their requests.

Textbook. Linguitalia 4 (available from Room 4087), section II. Assessment. Examination (section C of Language I), and written exercises done during the year. 3. IT4003/4053 Italian language: Translation from/into Italian All year, once a week, mandatory. Translation from English into Italian and from Italian into

English. Passages for translation include a variety of texts. Consult old examination papers to form an idea of the language requirements. The main aim of the course is to teach how to transfer words, concepts and structures in the appropriate registers from one to the other language.

Textbook. Linguitalia 4, Section III, old examination papers, and other material provided by lecturers.

Assessment. Examination (Language II), and written exercises done during the year. 4. IT4009/4056 Italian language: Oral All year, once a week, mandatory. Conversation and discussion on a variety of topics,

presentation of short papers, articulation of oral discourse, adequate register, oral interaction and debate. In the second semester both oral and aural classes (and rehearsals towards the Aural examination) are included. In the last five weeks of the year, students prepare their oral dossiers for the Viva Voce examination, and are given one examination rehearsal towards the Aural examination. The main aim of the oral course is to express ideas fluently, clearly and appropriately in Italian at an advanced level in a variety of situations, and develop advanced aural skills.

Textbook. Lecturer's own materials. Also: aural tapes available to lecturers from Rooms 4078 and 4091.

Assessment. A Viva Voce examination, an aural examination, and an oral test. Revision of grammar is partly done in IT4002/4057 and IT4003/4053, but you should

constantly work on this aspect also independently in view of the language examination where a high degree of accuracy is required.

Vocabulary building is also important and should be pursued both through classes and

independent reading of a variety of texts.

Page 54: UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE …...To fulfil the above requirement, you should start planning a visit to Italy in the summer after your Junior Freshman course. Later in this

54

ITALIAN ES SS MAJOR ASSESSMENT AND EXAMINATIONS. There are four components in the course: 1) Language Variability (85% examination, 15% assessment); 2) Essay Writing and Grammar (85% examination, 15% assessment); 3) Translation from and into English (85% examination, 15% assessment); 4) Oral and Aural (70% Oral examination, 15% Oral assessment, 15% Aural examination). 1, 2 and 3 above are worth 20% each of the total result; and 4 is worth 40%. The mandatory language assessment consists of exercises done throughout the year on

variability (text analyses and performative exercises), essays and translations; and of an oral test held in semester I.

The examinations consist of two papers, an oral interview and an aural test as detailed below: 1) LANGUAGE I (3 hours) This comprises three sections: (a) language variability textual analysis (choice of one out of two passages - answer in English

with examples and excerpts in Italian); (b) language variability writing skills (part 1) (choice of one out of three exercises which may

include rephrasing given texts, writing letters and responding to specific instructions); (c) essay in Italian (choice of one out of a number of titles). 2) LANGUAGE II (3 hours) This comprises two sections: (a) translation from English into Italian (1 passage); (b) translation from Italian into English (1 passage). Each section is worth one half of the overall mark for this paper. 3) ORAL (15 minutes) The candidate will submit one dossier of photocopied Italian materials (at least five passages

or items on a topic of her/his choice) in the fields of history, politics or current affairs. The dossier must be submitted no later than a week before the examination.

The examination will begin with a five minute presentation by the candidate on the topic chosen. During this presentation the candidate can use some very concise notes - no more than ten points, each point no longer than a short sentence. Notes must be kept well visible to the examiners.

The five minute presentation will be followed by a discussion on the topic of the presentation

(five minutes). The examination will finish with general conversation (five minutes). The examination will be conducted jointly by the language external examiner and an internal

examiner. 4) AURAL (15/20 minutes) Comprehension tests conducted on the basis of a tape or video. Instructions will be given in

English. The examination will be conducted by an internal examiner.

Page 55: UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE …...To fulfil the above requirement, you should start planning a visit to Italy in the summer after your Junior Freshman course. Later in this

55

B. ES Senior Sophister Minor Language course Through your course in Italian as a minor language in the Senior Sophister year, you should be

able to revise some language structures, develop your skills in comprehension, comment upon reading passages, build vocabulary, and work on other aspects of language competence at an appropriate level. A description of the Senior Sophister minor course is given underneath.

Contact hours

Code Course Name Term/ Semester

Hours per week

ECTS

IT4058 Italian language: Textual Analysis

All year 1 5

In addition to the above course, students of European Studies are allowed to audit Two Subject Moderatorship language classes, and cultural courses taught in the Italian Department on literary texts, or on History and Society. If you intend to do so, please ask permission from individual lecturers to attend their classes. These courses are enlisted on the Italian notice board term by term.

ITALIAN ES SS MINOR ASSESSMENT AND EXAMINATIONS

Year assessment. Students are required to do exercises regularly during the year. Their

averaged result counts 15% of the total Italian mark. Examination. 85% of the overall Italian mark: one paper in textual analysis and comprehension.

A passage or passages for comprehension, tested by means of a résumé and questions to be answered on the nature and content of the text. Answers will be in English only (with examples and excerpts in Italian). Sample questions: 1) Summarize the passage; 2) What is the author’s viewpoint on ...; 3) Comment on the following aspects of the language of the passage: ... (aspects such as colloquial/non colloquial language; degree of difficulty; etc.). The three components are worth 1/3 each.

C. ES Senior Sophister Major and Minor - Cultural Options

SENIOR SOPHISTER ITALIAN OPTIONS

Code Course Name Term/ Semester Hours per week

ECTS

IT3422 Italian option: History and Society Michaelmas/ I 1 5

IT4021 Italian option: Writers and politics during Fascism

Michaelmas/ I 1 5

IT4023 Writers and society in Italy in the 21st century

Hilary/ II 1 5

Choose preferably one course in the first semester and the course in the second semester to make up a full course. Assessment: essays and examination.

IT3422 Italian option: History and society The topic of this course is 'Some aspects of Italian society and politics since 1989'.

Page 56: UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE …...To fulfil the above requirement, you should start planning a visit to Italy in the summer after your Junior Freshman course. Later in this

56

The course examines some of the following: Chronology of main events; Social data; Changes in collective and individual ideologies and values; North/South; Political parties; Family; Religion; Crime; Mass media. Other aspects may be suggested by students and agreed with lecturer before the course begins. The period 1989 to the present has been chosen to allow some updating on Italian society and politics since the year when the Cold War ended, and immediately after Tangentopoli took place in Italy and all existing political parties disappeared, changed identity or split into smaller entities while Italy was becoming more globalised, consumerist and postmodern.

The course consists of lectures, and of student presentations in preparation for their essays. Essays (3500/4000 words) constitute 50% of the assessment. The other 50% is a one hour exam (answer one question out of a number of questions asked). Do not repeat the same topic in the essay and exam. The essays written for this course must include three aspects: 1. background history, relevant data and pertinent dates; 2. theory on the topics chosen; and 3. analysis of primary sources and documents in Italian such as newspapers articles, statistical information, surveys, field interviews, etc. Each component is essential and counts toward one third of the overall mark for the essay.General suggestions on how to find these and theoretical frameworks for each individual project will be made in the first class or in preliminary meetings. Otherwise email: [email protected], or call at room 4040.

Basic general and background reading: An electronic handout will be available shortly before the course begins; print it out and take

it to class. As background history use P. Ginsborg, Italy and its Discontents 1980-2001, London, Penguin,

2003 (LEN 309.145 P3); V. Bufacchi and S. Burgess, Italy since 1989: Events and Interpretations, London, MacMillan, 1998 (Open Access HL-255-448).

Do not use superficial Internet sites for your research. This is a very short initial list of Internet sites on relevant problems:

• General data on Italian society: Istituto Nazionale di Statistica (http://www.istat.it/); • Data on Italian society and social analysis: CENSIS (http://www.censis.it/) (open the

section called 'Rapporto Annuale'); • Italian political parties, elections, candidates, polls (http://www.politicalink.it/); • Dipartimento per le pari opportunità (http://www.pariopportunita.gov.it/); La Voce, an

academic journal organized by topic on social issues (http://www.lavoce.info/news); • Rete Lilith (http://www.retelilith.it); Testi del femminismo italiano

(http://www.comune.pisa.it/casadonna/testifeminismo.html); • Newspapers: http://www.ilmanifesto.it/; http://www.repubblica.it/; http://www.lastampa.it/. IT4021 Italian option: Writers and politics during fascism The main aim of the course is to examine intellectual debate and fiction in relation to the

attitudes of a number of Italian writers towards political commitment, ideology and literature. Works are included by Carlo Levi, Primo Levi, Emilio Lussu, Luigi Meneghello, Elio Vittorini and others.

The course in 2009/10 is taught by Cormac Ó Cuilleanáin, Peter Arnds and Giuliana Adamo. Textbooks. Reading lists are available from room 4087. Assessment. An essay (3,500 to 4,000 words) and an examination (one hour, answer one

question). Other requirements: some presentations may be required, but do not form part of the annual

assessment. Reading of relevant material before classes and regular attendance are extremely important.

IT4023 Writers and Society in Italy in the 21st century The course is held in the second semester, once a week. The main aim of the course is to

examine intellectual debate and fiction in relation to the attitudes of a number of Italian writers towards political commitment, social issues, ideology and literature. In addition to general concepts on commercialization, individualization, writers’ interest in democracy, and realism as a form of representation, a number of novels will be examined, probably by Rea (La dismissione),

Page 57: UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE …...To fulfil the above requirement, you should start planning a visit to Italy in the summer after your Junior Freshman course. Later in this

57

Saviano (Gomorra), Mazzucco (Vita) and Doninelli (La nuova era). In weeks 6 to 9, students' and lecturer's presentations will focus on other novels to be examined in your essays, e.g.: Abate, Tra due mari; Lia Levi, Tutti i giorni di mia vita; Veronesi, La forza del passato; Wu Ming, 2005 dopo Cristo. Other novels may be chosen both in the general section, and for in individual presentations in agreement with the lecturer who teaches this course.

Textbooks. More accurate reading lists will be available from room 4087 and from Roberto Bertoni before the course begins. A handout will be available free of charge via e-mail, you are required to have a printout copy of this in class, request the electronic version from [email protected] in due time. A full course description, reading suggestions and some notes are included in the handout.

Assessment. An essay (3,500 to 4,000 words) and an examination (one hour, answer one question). You are not allowed to answer in the exam on the same novel(s) examined in your essay.

Other requirements: some presentations may be required, but do not form part of the annual assessment. Reading of relevant material before classes and regular attendance are extremely important.

Page 58: UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE …...To fulfil the above requirement, you should start planning a visit to Italy in the summer after your Junior Freshman course. Later in this

58

SECTION IV - ERASMUS EXCHANGES

AND VISITING STUDENTS

GUIDELINES FOR outgoing ERASMUS students

Students of the Italian Department are eligible for Erasmus exchanges with Continental universities.

Students of European Studies majoring in Italian must spend the Junior Sophister

year in Italy. The ES Erasmus regulations are not reported here because the Centre for European Studies gives the students a very detailed handbook with all rules. Read it carefully. The places you can go to are primarily Pavia and Siena, but when these places are filled, places may be available in Florence. After you make your choice of place and this is approved, you will have to register on line at the Italian university chosen and book accommodation. The coordinator in the Italian Department is Roberto Bertoni. Contact him (Arts, room 4040, e-mail [email protected]) and the Centre for European Studies Office (Arts, room 3037) to complete these and other bureaucratic requirements.

TSM students can also go away on Erasmus as indicated in detail below. All TSM students must spend at least two months in Italy before taking their degree examinations. A Erasmus exchange can cover this requirement.

TSM students, please read the following and go and see the Erasmus co-ordinator in the Italian

Department (Gabriella Grassi, Room 4081, tel. 896 3854, e-mail: [email protected]). We expect that there will be some exchange places for Trinity TSM students at the following

Universities: (a) Bologna: four places – each for the duration of the entire academic year

(Italian and a variety of other subjects; 1 post for students of English and Italian, and 3 for students of Italian and a second subject if that particular second subject is available in Bologna. In some years, a post may be available to postgraduates);

(b) Trieste: one place for the duration of the entire academic year at the Translation and Interpreting Faculty of the University of Trieste (Italian and another language);

(c) Pavia: two places for the duration of the entire academic year (for students of Italian and other languages as well as a number of art subjects and humanities);

Confirm with the Erasmus co-ordinator whether the above will be the actual exchanges available.

Please note I. In order to be selected for a Erasmus exchange, students of Italian must obtain at least II.2

in their Italian examinations. II. Preference for one-year exchanges is given to Senior Freshmen. III. After assigning one-year exchanges to Senior Freshmen, Junior Sophisters doing

Moderatorship II in Italian are considered for the remaining one-year exchanges in Italy if their other Department allows them to go. Each case is considered individually.

Page 59: UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE …...To fulfil the above requirement, you should start planning a visit to Italy in the summer after your Junior Freshman course. Later in this

59

IV. Junior Sophisters studying Italian and another language and doing Moderatorship I in the language other than Italian may be considered to go to the country of the second language if suitable Italian courses are available there.

V. All students applying for Erasmus exchanges through Departments other than Italian need to receive consent from the Italian co-ordinator or from the head of the Italian Department. Permission to go to univerisities other than Bologna, Trieste and Pavia is normally given only if suitable Italian courses are available in the host universities.

VI. Please remember that in order to take part in a Erasmus exchange, you need to fulfil the requirements of both your Departments. Contact your second Department as soon as possible.

Provisional offers will be made in 2009/10, during Hilary Term/semester 2, to be confirmed

after the summer examination results are published. Access the Internet sites of the universities on offer to form ideas about them: BOLOGNA: http://www.unibo.it/default.htm TRIESTE: http://www.sslmit.univ.trieste.it/ and http://www.univ.trieste.it/ PAVIA: http://www.unipv.it/ How to apply First step. Complete the Italian Department application (obtainable from the Department

Erasmus co-ordinator), and return it no later than the beginning of March 2010 (date to be confirmed).

Also collect a different application form from the International Office and return one copy of this completed (and signed by the Head of the Italian Department and by the Head of your other Department, or by the Erasmus co-ordinators of both Departments) to ISA.

On both application forms indicate address, telephone number, and e-mail where you can be contacted during Trinity term and during the period 30 May to 4 July.

Second step. No later than one week after you have been offered a post, you are requested to

confirm (preferably in writing) that you have accepted or rejected the offer. In relation to this, contact the Italian Department Erasmus co-ordinator. For general information the International Office website is very useful:

https://www.tcd.ie/international/outgoing-trinity/eu-erasmus/index.php Third step. When you accept the offer of a post, immediately contact the Erasmus office at the

host university in relation to registration and accommodation. Italian universities request that you complete their electronic application forms. If you do not do this they will not accept you as a student there.

BOLOGNA: follow the instructions given by Ufficio Erasmus at http://www.estero.unibo.it/cener/fileseng/default.htm and http://www.estero.unibo.it/aric/Scamb/info_registrazioni_en.htm TRIESTE: http://www.univ.trieste.it/~Erasmus/english/home_eng.html PAVIA: http://www.unipv.it/erasmus/incoming/ The sites above also provide information on what is to be done on arrival. Normally the following seven documents are requested abroad: 1. 5 passport size photographs. 2. A Trinity certificate stating that you are a Erasmus student. 3. A certificate stating that you are registered in Trinity. 4. Your cheque (from the International Office). 5. A valid Irish passport. 6. Your European medical insurance form, issued by the Eastern Health Board (Trinity

College Students' Union may help with this). 7. A medical certificate stating that you are healthy and free of infectious diseases.

Page 60: UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE …...To fulfil the above requirement, you should start planning a visit to Italy in the summer after your Junior Freshman course. Later in this

60

Fourth step. Contact your course co-ordinators abroad, give them your names and explain your problems. Their contact tel. numbers and e-mail addresses are as follows:

BOLOGNA: Gino Scatasta, Dipartimento di Lingue e Letterature straniere moderne (Sezione di Anglistica), Via Cartolerie, 5, 40124 Bologna;

work e-mail: [email protected], tel.: 0039 - 051 - 2097199; home e-mail: [email protected], tel.: 0039 - 051 - 523567, or: 0039 - 0736 - 253563. TRIESTE: Federica Scarpa, SSLMIT, Via Filzi 14, 34100 Trieste; tel: 0039 - 040 – 637443 email: [email protected] PAVIA: Prof.ssa Lia Guerra (for TSM), Dipartimento di lingue e lettere moderne, email:

[email protected]; tel: 0039 - 0382 – 984503. Prof.ssa Marina Tesoro (for ES), Facoltà di Scienze Politiche, email: [email protected]

What to study Exchange students must cover a programme of study roughly equivalent to what they would

have done in Trinity College. It is their responsibility to ascertain the requirements of both the Italian Department and their

other Department in Trinity, before leaving Dublin. Students make sure that they clearly know what courses in the non-Italian subject they should

attend, and what examinations they should sit in this subject abroad, by asking for precise indications from the Erasmus co-ordinators of Trinity Departments other than Italian.

With regard to Italian, if you stay for the whole Academic Year, you will seek the following courses: 1. on literature and cultural studies, and 2. on language:

(i) Literature and cultural studies. Our second year core course covers Dante's Inferno,

Petrarch's Canzoniere, Medieval short stories, Machiavelli's Il principe, Pirandello’s plays: Sei personaggi in cerca d’autore and Enrico IV and coursework on social topics. Our third year core course covers Dante's Purgatorio and Paradiso, texts by Lorenzo, Leopardi and Manzoni. In addition to this, both in the second year and in the third year, there are two optional courses. The duration of classroom hours for courses varies from 5 or 6 to 11 hours.

If you are away for the whole Academic Year, arrange to attend classes in the host university which cover most of the programme outlined above. Ideally you should choose: i. classes on some core texts which you should have studied in your year in Trinity (with an examination or assignment by essays on four authors); and ii. classes on two topics which replace your Trinity optional courses (with an examination or assignment by essays on each of these). Please note: your mark on literature for the year will include the core course as well as the two options.

(ii) Language (some general language and translation if available). In some cases the Italian

Department in Trinity posts language tests to be held in the host university. They are mailed back to Dublin where they are marked;

We do not expect, of course, that other universities' courses will coincide exactly with our

own. On arriving in the host university, contact your local co-ordinator immediately, and sign up for the courses specified by your Trinity Departments. If some of the prescribed courses are not available, other comparable courses in the same area should be substituted for them. Details of assessment must be agreed from the start with the host university co-ordinator, or else it can be very difficult to obtain marks at the end of the year. Always keep a copy of any work that you submit for assessment, just in case the original gets lost in transit.

If you stay away for the whole Academic Year, organise your list of Italian courses and examinations, for which you must bring back marks, is as follows:

1. literature and other topics: i. core course, ii. option 1, and iii. option 2. 2. language.

Page 61: UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE …...To fulfil the above requirement, you should start planning a visit to Italy in the summer after your Junior Freshman course. Later in this

61

ECTS units, or Credits (Crediti). In addition to marks, you have to organize an adequate number of ECTS units (ECTS means

European Credit Transfer System). Each subject in each E.U. country is worth a certain number of ECTS units, or credits (crediti in Italian). Trinity College requires that you bring back a total of at least 45 units globally (including all subjects you attend in Italy) for the entire academic year. At least 20 units must be obtained in each of your two TSM subjects.

Make sure that you reach the required amount of crediti when you choose your subjects in Italy. If you do not reach that amount, write immediately to Gabriella. Your programme will not be recognised in Dublin unless it is approved by both your TCD Departments.

The International Office will also send you a 'Learning Agreement', including a request for your ECTS amount. You will complete and return this 'Learning Agreement' both to the International Office, to Gabriella and to the co-ordinator in your other Department at TCD.

YEAR OUT — NON-ERASMUS GENERAL

Many students doing Mod II in Italian take a full year in Italy before starting the fourth year.

This is a year "off books", but with careful planning it can be the best year of all for bringing your knowledge of Italian up to a really good standard and giving you a perfect opportunity for a total and leisurely revision of your literature course. Once you have spent an extended period in Italy, you are no longer dependent on the Department for your awareness of things Italian. You are in a position to develop your own independent perceptions rather than having them filtered through the teaching (however inspired!) of your lecturers.

YEAR OUT — NON-ERASMUS EXCHANGE WITH PAVIA

TSM JS STUDENTS INTERESTED IN THIS EXCHANGE FOR THE

ACADEMIC YEAR 2009-10 are invited to APPLY TO GABRIELLA GRASSI by 1 MARCH 2010.

Both postgraduates, and TSM Junior Sophisters who complete the first part of Moderatorship

in their non-Italian subject at the end of the current academic year, may apply for the above exchange.

TSM Junior Sophisters' requisites: i. minimum result II.2 in moderatorship Part I in the second subject; ii. minimum standard II.2 in Junior Sophister assessed work for the Italian Department; iii. intention to take a year "off books" before proceeding to Moderatorship Part II in Italian. According to the terms of this bursary, no fees will be charged to the outgoing Trinity

student, who will also avail of free accomodation in a college of the University of Pavia. The year at the University of Pavia will be spent working on the language, attending literary

and cultural courses relevant to the TCD Italian programme, and preparing the Senior Sophister Italian dissertation. The University of Pavia may require that some examinations be taken at the end of the year.

Interested candidates should apply in writing, stating their name, address, e-mail, phone

number, first and second subject, marks obtained, and a short passage on why they would like to intercalate a year of study in Italy under this exchange.

Page 62: UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE …...To fulfil the above requirement, you should start planning a visit to Italy in the summer after your Junior Freshman course. Later in this

62

GUIDELINES FOR incoming ERASMUS and VISITING students

Erasmus and visitng students intending to study Italian must complete a registration form called

"Italian courses available to Erasmus and visiting students at Trinity College". This form is available from room 4087 (e-mail [email protected]) or from the Department Erasmus co-ordinator Ms Gabriella Grassi (room 4081; e-mail [email protected]).

The form includes a list of courses available to Erasmus and Visiting students as well as boxes for personal data. Beside each course the number of credits (or ECTS, or units) allowed is indicated. Only courses which are assessed, tested or examined are admitted for credits.

The Italian Department registration form must be returned to the Department signed by the Erasmus co-ordinator or by the Head of Department. If the form is not signed, the students cannot attend classes. Keep a copy of this form for your reference.

Erasmus and Visiting students must also give the Department a copy of their Course Record Sheet which will be kept on file.

Erasmus and Visiting students have the same obligations towards attendance, assessment and examinations as the local students as described in relevant sections of this handout.

Page 63: UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE …...To fulfil the above requirement, you should start planning a visit to Italy in the summer after your Junior Freshman course. Later in this

63

SECTION V - PRIZES AND BURSARIES

COMPOSITION PRIZE. The composition prize is awarded to Junior and Senior Freshmen.

It may be divided between students of equal merit. DANTE ALIGHIERI PRIZE. This prize was founded in 2004 by a gift from Corinna

Salvadori Lonergan, her students and graduates (1961-2001), and her colleagues and friends to mark her retirement after forty years of service. It is awarded annually to the Sophister in the Two-subject Moderatorship course who obtains the highest result, and not less than a second class (first division) in the Dante degree paper. Should none qualify, it may be awarded for outstanding submitted work on Dante at postgraduate level. Value, 250 euros.

ITALIAN CULTURAL INSTITUTE PRIZE. This prize was founded in 1978 by a gift

from the Italian Cultural Institute. It is awarded annually to the best student in the Italian Department at the discretion of that Department. Value, 150 euros.

DAVID NEWMARK PRIZE. This prize was founded in 1978 by a gift from David

Newmark and is continued in his memory. It is awarded annually to the ab initio Junior Freshman deemed to have made most progress in Italian. Value, 100 euros.

EVASIO RADICE PRIZE. This prize was founded in 1982 by a gift from Fulke R. Radice,

C.B.E., M.A. (OXON.), in memory of his grandfather, the patriot Evasio Radice, who was Professor of Italian 1824-49. The prize is awarded annually to the Senior Sophister in the two-subject moderatorship course who obtains the highest result, and not less than a second class (first division), in the Moderatorship examination in Italian. Value, 200 euros.

[The above entries are partly taken and partly adapted from Calendar 2007-08, S30-31]. THE CARMEL McCULLAGH FRIENDSHIP FUND. Friends of Carmel McCullagh

(Mod. 1983) offer a Bursary to a TSM student. It is not necessarily for the highest academic achiever but is intended for a student who has a love of Italian and is thoroughly committed to Italian studies. Application is by letter (e-mail) that will be forwarded to the committee of Friends. Enquire about this year's conditions from Ms Mary Keating, Room 4087 ([email protected]). (The Bursary was worth approx. 800 euro in 2009 and was tenable during the Summer at the University for Foreigners in Perugia).

OTHER GRANTS. Some grants, normally covering fees partly or totally, may be available

from institutions or schools of languages in Italy to learn Italian during the summer. Please enquire about these from Ms Mary Keating, Room 4087 ([email protected]).

Page 64: UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE …...To fulfil the above requirement, you should start planning a visit to Italy in the summer after your Junior Freshman course. Later in this

64

FINALLY: WHAT TO DO IF YOU FAIL A TEST OR EXAMINATION…

Non è la fine del mondo.......

If you fail a test, please do not regard this as a reason to stop working! Instead:

• Look at your marks and the marker’s comments; • Ask for feedback from the marker; • If you have any questions or concerns, raise them with the marker; • If you are still concerned, talk first to the year co-ordinator, and then if your problems

are still unresolved talk to the head of department; • Identify and analyse the points where you were marked wrong; • Study those points, practise them, drill them; • Get help (from books, from Italian staff, from peer learning, from wherever; • Revise, ensuring that you are fully prepared next time around.

If you fail your annual examination in May/June… Take this very seriously indeed. Sometimes with a marginal fail you might be luckier with the repeat examination, but you cannot assume that this will happen. Assume that you have serious work to do. Do not carry on as usual; the course will not learn itself, and you have to take action. Here are some suggestions.

• Contact your Tutor; • Contact the Italian Department for advice; • Cancel your summer break; • Cancel your summer job; • Go to Italy; • Take a serious summer course; • Get grinds; • Study six hours a day, five days a week; • Get tapes of Italian and listen to them as you move around; • Practise old exam papers.

Remember, if you take the trouble to fix the Italian course properly in your mind, you can lift yourself to a whole new level of competence. You can convert an exam setback into a real opportunity for growth. If you fail in the Autumn supplementals at Freshman level, you will have to repeat the year and pay full fees, so it is worth taking some financial hardship in order to avoid this. At Mod 1 there is no Autumn supplemental, so a failure at the annual examination means a full extra year. At Mod 2 there is no supplemental at all.

Page 65: UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE …...To fulfil the above requirement, you should start planning a visit to Italy in the summer after your Junior Freshman course. Later in this

65

UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE

Department of Italian Student Handbook

2009/2010

www.tcd.ie/italian

Page 66: UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN TRINITY COLLEGE …...To fulfil the above requirement, you should start planning a visit to Italy in the summer after your Junior Freshman course. Later in this

66

Points to note in 2009/2010 Learning technology

The Centre for Language and Communication Studies has installed a suite of multifunctional computers in rooms 4072, 4073 and 4074, giving improved access to computer programs, video and audio recordings, TV and radio. This will have an impact on our language class work, but it also offers possibilities of reinforcing your own independent study.

Buy a good dictionary

JF students will need a good bilingual (English-Italian, Italian-English) dictionary, while SF, JS and SS students should invest in a good monolingual dictionary (e.g. Nuovo Devoto Oli compatto: €29.40 on www.ibs.it).

The Zanichelli dictionaries, Il Ragazzini and lo Zingarelli, have been purchased as on online subscription, currently for the next year until 2010. Access to the dictionaries is from the Databases page on the Library’s website http://www.tcd.ie/Library/resources/resourceList.php?resourceType=Database (although the website is being overhauled at the time of writing and this could affect the address).

Peer Learning

Mutual help for JF students, tutored by their fellow-students in the Senior Freshman year. Sign up for proven benefits to both groups: [email protected]

Dante guidelines and exam formats

The requirements for answering on Dante are specified in some detail (please see the Dante pages under TSM courses). The Mod. Dante paper has been divided into two 2-hour papers to allow more time for answering. Should other changes in examination formats be introduced during 2009/10, they will be communicated separately.

Plagiarism and www.turnitin.com

College is moving towards the use of Turnitin as an electronic check on incoming essays, and the Department may possibly require some assignments to be delivered in this format during 2009/10. See section I.16 below for a broader treatment of this topic.

The NS system

Two years ago we began to see many exam failures correlated with substantial absences from the course. We therefore changed our practice of the past quarter-century, which had been to use attendance checks purely for advisory purposes; we started applied the College’s “non-satisfactory” rule literally (see section I.9 below). Absence from more than one-third of can result in formal NS reports, with possible exclusion from examinations, meaning that the student must repeat the year and pay full fees of over €5,000. Our definition of “satisfactory attendance” is still more lenient than some other departments, but we do insist that all students must participate in the course. If you are having problems, please do not stay away. Come in and talk to us.