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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "ITS 460"
COURSE NAME: "Research and Writing in Italian Studies"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2025
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Anna Mauceri
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: MW 4:30 PM 5:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisites: Senior Standing or Permission of the Instructor
OFFICE HOURS:
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Italian Studies is an interdisciplinary field that covers the study of the Italian language, literature, art, history, politics, culture, and society. ITS 460 provides students with an overall understanding of the methodology, critical issues, and research techniques employed in the field, in preparation for the senior thesis. It explores various approaches to studying Italian literature, language, society, and culture, and equips students with the necessary skills to conduct independent research in the discipline. Through a combination of theoretical discussions, practical exercises, and case studies, students will learn how to formulate research questions, locate, and evaluate primary and secondary sources, analyze textual and visual materials, and present their findings effectively both orally and in writing.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

The course combines critical analysis and class discussion of current research directions in the field of Italian studies with practical writing exercises oriented by the topic of the senior thesis. It will be held in English, but students are required to use a significant number (varying depending on the topic and available bibliography) of primary and secondary sources in Italian.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Upon the completion of the course, students will be able to:

• understand the key concepts, theories, and methodologies applied in Italian Studies

•refine the interdisciplinary approach to Italian Studies envisioned by the major

•identify and evaluate primary and secondary sources in the field and its subfields

•formulate research questions and design research projects.

•explore and critically integrate primary and secondary sources in English and Italian

•explain and analyze course material orally and in written forms, and in individual and group contexts.

•employ academic writing styles and techniques of drafting and reviewing texts

•prepare chapters of a research project
TEXTBOOK:
NONE
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Participation /Attendance  10%
Written reviews of assigned academic articles (2)Students will be required to write 2 critical reviews of 2000 words on assigned articles20%
Literature Review and Outline for the Final ProjectDue week 8. Literature Review: 1500/2000 words Outline: 1000 + bibliography (at least 6 academic sources)20%
Case Study Oral Presentation Students will select one article/topic from the textbook to present to the class. 15 minutes10%
Final Project Oral Presentation A 20-minutes oral presentation10%
Final Project 30%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY

More than 2 absences will result in Participation/Attendance score of 0 (10% of final grade)

You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed. The final exam period runs until ____________
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
SCHEDULE

PART ONE: Introduction to Italian Studies

 

Week 1:

Introduction to the course

Italian Studies Across Disciplines

Reading:

•Marco Ceravolo, Anna Finozzi, Introduction to Italian Studies Across Disciplines, Roma: Aracne, 2022, pp. 9-13

Writing: How to identify a research question?

 

Week 2:

Reading:

•Daragh O’Connell, Beatrice Sica, Literary Cultures in/and Italian Studies.

•Clough Brook, Florian Mussgnug, F; Pieri, G; (2017) Italian studies: An interdisciplinary perspective. Italian Studies, 72 (4) pp. 380-392. (https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10070414/

Discussion on Italian Studies: Literary Cultures in/and Italian Studies

Writing: How to explore sources

 

Week 3:

Readings:

•Sandra Ponzanesi- Goffredo Polizzi, Does Italy Need Postcolonial Theory? Intersections in Italian Postcolonial Studies. English Literature [online] ISSN 2420-823X Vol. 3 – December 2016 [) https://edizionicafoscari.unive.it/media/pdf/article/english-literature/2016/0numero-monografico/art-10.14277-2420-823X-EL-3-16-8_YvPLun8.pdf

Discussion on Italian Studies: Italian Studies and Postcolonial Studies

Writing: How to quote our sources

 

Week 4:

Reading:

•Clodagh Brook, Monica Jansen, Transnational Perspectives on Postsecular Italy, in M Ceravolo-A. Finozzi, Italian Studies Across Disciplines, pp. 93-128.

Discussion: Italian Studies and Transnational Studies. Writing: Research topic and research question(s)

Week 5:

Reading:

•Cristina Lombard- Diop, Postcolonial studies under erasure: The politics of the transnational in Italian

Studies, Forum Italicum 2023, Vol. 57(2) 431–442.

Discussion: Postcolonial vs. Transnational (Italian) Studies

Writing: Literature Review

 

Week 6:

Librarian's Workshop

Draft Literature Review DUE .

 

 

PART TWO: working on your final project

 

Week 7:

Final Project Proposal Due 

Discussion of the proposal.

Week 8:

Synthesizing research findings and identifying key themes and arguments

Incorporating scholarly literature and integrating citations effectively

Week 9:

Literature Review Due

Examining research studies in Italian literature, history, art, or linguistics; class discussion

 

Week 10:

Second Critical Review of a case study selected by the student

Instructor’s feedback on the final project draft.

Structuring the final project.

 

Week 11:

Draft final project introduction + at least 2 additional pages due

Discussions on findings, research issues, experiential learning.

Writing Center session mandatory

 

Week 12:

Oral Presentation of one article from the Final Project bibliography

Instructor’s feedback /Final Project Discussion

 Draft complete final project due

 

Week 13:

Instructor’s feedback

Oral Presentation of the project

 

Week 14:

Instructor’s feedback

Experiential Learning: Reflection on the research process and lessons learned

Final Project Due

.