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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "SOCSC/ITS 380"
COURSE NAME: "Researching Rome: Fieldwork in the City of Rome"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2014
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Isabella Clough Marinaro
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: W2:15 PM 5:00 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites but it is strongly recommended that students have a background in contemporary Italian studies or anthropology/sociology/urban studies.
OFFICE HOURS: One hour before or after class and by appointment
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course provides structure and guidance to students who would like to do an independent fieldwork project in the city of Rome. As a unique global city, Rome’s contemporary social, economic and political realities provide a fascinating context for observing and analyzing the production of culture, social and political change, and practices of everyday life. This seminar-style course guides each student through the four main phases of their research project, helping them to: a) select a manageable and realistic case-study for their research, b) identify and interpret relevant theoretical and empirical literature, c) choose the most appropriate techniques of fieldwork observation, data collection and recording, and apply them in a rigorous, ethical and reflexive manner in the city of Rome, d) create a sophisticated written and visual report of their research findings and conclusions.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

The course is structured as an on-going discussion between the professor and students during which, together, they decide the most appropriate ways of carrying out each student’s chosen research project and  of interpreting and presenting the findings. Students are required to read widely on contemporary Rome and global cities more broadly and they are introduced to the main methods of doing urban research. They learn to hone their observation skills, keeping a diary of all their fieldwork sessions, and to actively consider the ethical issues surrounding ethnographic research. Students are introduced to methods and theories of visual sociology and non-participant observation, enabling non-Italian speakers to study Rome’s social environment. Where linguistic skills permit, students are also trained in carrying out interviews and surveys in the field. Students will write a 10-15 page research report explaining the rationale, methods, results and conclusions of the project. They will also present their finding visually in the form of a photographic exhibition, a video documentary or a powerpoint presentation.

Students will present their final projects to the JCU community during the last week of the semester

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

By the end of the course, students should be able to:

· Identify a key feature of contemporary social, economic or political dynamics in Rome and contextualize it within broader scholarship in    Italian studies and urban studies.

· Demonstrate knowledge of the main methods for carrying out fieldwork observation in an urban context and select the most appropriate for researching their topic.

· Construct an ethically rigorous research project.

· Organize their research time in an independent and disciplined way.

· Carry out their fieldwork observation in a systematic manner, identifying any problems and solving them in dialogue with the professor.

· Question, discuss and analyze their findings, incorporating feedback from class discussions into their final report.

· Present their findings in a clear and engaging manner to a large audience.
TEXTBOOK:
NONE
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberComments
Introduction to Cities: How Place and Space Shape Human ExperienceChen, Xiangming, Anthony M. Orum and Krista E. Paulsen (2012) Wiley-Blackwell140515554X  

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberComments
The City Cultures ReaderBorden, Iain, Tim Hall and Malcolm Miles (Eds) 2003Routledge0415302455   
The City Reader,Le Gates, Richard T. and Frederic Stout (Eds) (2011) Routledge0415556651  
The New Urban SociologyGottdiener, Mark and Hutchison, Ray (2010) Westview Press Inc0813344255  
Ethnography and the City: Readings on Doing Urban FieldworkOcejo, Richard (2012) Routledge 0415808375   
Anthropology in the City: Methodology and TheoryPardo, Italo and Giuliana Prato (Eds) (2012) Ashgate1409408337  
Researching the CityWard, Kevin (2013) Sage 1446202119  
RomeAgnew, John A. (1994)John Wiley and Sons0471948861  
Whispering City: Rome and its HistoriesBosworth, Richard. J. B. (2011) Yale University Press0300114710  
Rome: Continuing Encounters between Past and PresentCaldwell, Dorigen and Lesley Caldwell (Eds) (2011) Ashgate 140941762X  
Evicted from Eternity. The Restructuring of Modern RomeHerzfeld, Michael (2009) University of Chicago Press0226329127  
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Summary of relevant theories and secondary materials 1,000-1,500 word essay outlining the main theories to be used in the research project and a summary of secondary materials that will be used in answering the research question.(15%)
Field diary Students keep a detailed diary of their fieldwork sessions and will also be assessed on the progress, detail and sophistication of their fieldwork observation written up in their diary.(20%)
Participation in seminar discussions Students' participation in class discussions, their ability to outline and justify their research choices and refine them based on feedback are graded based on their engagement and responsiveness in class sessions. (15%)
Preliminary findings presentation Students give a 10-minute oral presentation explaining their preliminary findings and explaining how their research strategy will evolve.(10%)
Final visual presentation Students present their findings visually in the form of a photographic exhibition, a 10-minute video documentary or a powerpoint presentation.(20%)
Final report Students write a 10-15 page research report explaining the rationale, methods, results and conclusions of the project. Students may opt to do their research project in groups, ideally made up of Italian and non-Italian speakers , with the prior consent of the professor. They must divide their fieldwork tasks and responsibilities equally. They must write individual field diaries and must make it clear which elements of the presentations and final report they are responsible for, so that each student can be graded individually.(20%)

-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 cours
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 is mandatory for every class. More than one absence will result in the student's grade being lowered.
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

SCHEDULE

Week 1:               Studying the City: Space and Place

15 Jan                  Introduction to doing fieldwork in the city. Identify potential case-study for research  

 

Week 2:               Lecture: Rome’s Urban Development 

22 Jan


Week 3:               Lecture: Theories of the City

29 Jan                  Begin to identify research topic and appropriate theoretical and secondary materials

 

Week 4:               Lecture and discussion on ethnographic research methods.

5 Feb                    Students write an 8 page summary of the relevant secondary literature on their chosen topic, to be handed in in Week 5

 

Week 5:               Lecture and discussion on ethnographic research methods. Students read handouts on

12 Feb                  methodologies and write brief research plan justifying their chosen methods of observation

 

Week 6:               Social Change in the City

19 Feb                 Class discussion on chosen research methods. Decide schedule for fieldwork.

 

Week 7:               Measuring and studying urban poverty and inequality

26 Feb

 

Week 8:               Doing research in suburbs

5 Mar

 

Week 9:               Cities in the global economy

12 Mar

 

19 Mar                  SPRING BREAK

 

Week 10:            Students do oral presentation on their preliminary findings and analysis. Receive feedback

26 Mar                 and decide outline of written/visual report

 

Week 11:             Individual meetings with students on development of research report

2 April

 

Week 12:             Individual meetings with students on development of research report

9 April

 

Week 13:             Final discussion to refine the analysis of students’ research project

16 April

 

Week 14:              Students present their final project

23 April