Teaching Workshop
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
The aim of the workshop is professionalizing providing students with the primary basics of the knowledge and skills needed for the work of writing for a historical journal.
Expected learning outcomes
By the end of the workshop the student will be able to know and analyze the characteristics of a historical journal and the differences that exist between popular magazines, scientific periodicals and popular websites.
Based on these theoretical and practical notions, students will be called upon to analyse a single journal or group of journals, presenting the result of their research in the classroom. Students will be required to write a short review of a book agreed upon by the instructor. The best reviews will be submitted for publication in the journal Parlare di Storia, an online periodical in the Department of Historical Studies of the University of Milan.
Students unable to attend will be able to make use of the educational tools provided by the instructor on Ariel, investigate special readings proposed by the instructor to strengthen their knowledge, and of course contact the instructor both by email and during the office hours.
Based on these theoretical and practical notions, students will be called upon to analyse a single journal or group of journals, presenting the result of their research in the classroom. Students will be required to write a short review of a book agreed upon by the instructor. The best reviews will be submitted for publication in the journal Parlare di Storia, an online periodical in the Department of Historical Studies of the University of Milan.
Students unable to attend will be able to make use of the educational tools provided by the instructor on Ariel, investigate special readings proposed by the instructor to strengthen their knowledge, and of course contact the instructor both by email and during the office hours.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Giudizio di approvazione
Assessment result: superato/non superato
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
Alongside the ongoing transformations in the field of historiography, the field of history journals has changed substantially in recent years. Even though from the very beginnings of the discipline, historians have been reflecting on and investigating the characteristics of their profession, the transformations in the field of technology and the media, together with the changes contemporary societies have undergone, have prompted a process of discipline-related debate that has also concerned the institutionalisation of their own media. Besides the professional journals, a network of online journals (or para-journals) has expanded, contributing to altering the "grammar" of history-making - and thus changing historiographic practices.
The course is intended to provide students with the tools to navigate this panorama, both from a theoretical and a practical point of view. To this end, in-depth lectures on the scenario of the main history journals will be alternated (investigating their characteristics, political and disciplinary issues in their development), with lessons of a markedly practical nature - which will be the prevailing ones; in the latter, through practical exercises, the historical content proposed by the various journals will be analysed, learning to recognise their characteristics, and following the production and evaluation process, with the aim of providing the tools to orient oneself in the different working areas of the editorial teams of history journals with different characteristics (and audiences).
Lastly, in order to acquire the 3 cfu expected from the course, students will have to prepare a historical book review each; the most positive ones will be proposed for publication to the magazine "Parlare di Storia", the on-line magazine of the Department of Historical Studies of the University of Milan.
Students unable to attend will agree on a specific programme with the professor, in addition to the work for the review of a history book.
The course is intended to provide students with the tools to navigate this panorama, both from a theoretical and a practical point of view. To this end, in-depth lectures on the scenario of the main history journals will be alternated (investigating their characteristics, political and disciplinary issues in their development), with lessons of a markedly practical nature - which will be the prevailing ones; in the latter, through practical exercises, the historical content proposed by the various journals will be analysed, learning to recognise their characteristics, and following the production and evaluation process, with the aim of providing the tools to orient oneself in the different working areas of the editorial teams of history journals with different characteristics (and audiences).
Lastly, in order to acquire the 3 cfu expected from the course, students will have to prepare a historical book review each; the most positive ones will be proposed for publication to the magazine "Parlare di Storia", the on-line magazine of the Department of Historical Studies of the University of Milan.
Students unable to attend will agree on a specific programme with the professor, in addition to the work for the review of a history book.
Prerequisites for admission
There are no specific requirements different from those requested for the admission to the MA degree in Historical Sciences.
Teaching methods
Class attendance is mandatory. Frontal lectures by the professor will alternate with guided practical lessons. Lessons are intended to provide the basic tools for getting to know and analysing the characteristics of a historical journal, as well as the tools for working in an editorial team. The active involvement of students in individual and group work will be used to put knowledge into practice and will cover the various steps of editorial work, from editorial direction to the launch of the content produced. Debate with the professor is an integral part of the course and is aimed at developing a critical sense in the reading and analysis of historical texts, as well as understanding the prevailing historiographic methodologies that have taken shape over time through various media, of which history journals represent only one of many forms.
Teaching Resources
Attending students: knowledge of the subjects addressed in class.
Students unable to attend will agree on a specific programme.
International and Erasmus students are invited to promptly get in touch with the professor in order to arrange a reading plan (available in English or in French) for exam preparation.
Students unable to attend will agree on a specific programme.
International and Erasmus students are invited to promptly get in touch with the professor in order to arrange a reading plan (available in English or in French) for exam preparation.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Method: evaluation at the end of the course
Type of examination: evaluation at the end of the course on the basis of active participation in the lessons and of the historical text review (to be agreed with the lecturer) prepared.
Evaluation criteria: ability to demonstrate and elaborate knowledge; ability for critical reflection on the completed work; quality of expression, competence in the use of specialised lexicon, efficacy, clarity.
Type of evaluation method: approval with recognition of 3 CFUs.
The format of the assessement for students with disabilities should be arranged in advance with the lecturer.
Type of examination: evaluation at the end of the course on the basis of active participation in the lessons and of the historical text review (to be agreed with the lecturer) prepared.
Evaluation criteria: ability to demonstrate and elaborate knowledge; ability for critical reflection on the completed work; quality of expression, competence in the use of specialised lexicon, efficacy, clarity.
Type of evaluation method: approval with recognition of 3 CFUs.
The format of the assessement for students with disabilities should be arranged in advance with the lecturer.
Educational website(s)
Professor(s)