Information on examinations and theses
Tests
Tests are written examinations. They cover the entire lecture course and usually last 45 minutes. The form, scope and question type of the test will be announced during the course.
Written examinations
Exams are written examinations for the lecture course or proseminar. They cover the entire lecture course thematically and usually last 90 minutes. The form, scope and type of questions will be announced in the respective courses.
Oral examination for the lecture
The oral examinations for the lecture take the form of a structured examination discussion lasting between 15 minutes and 30 minutes, depending on the study regulations and module. The content of the examination is based on a focus of your choice from the subject area of the lecture course. Please attend the office hours in advance to determine the topic of the exam and bring an initial bibliography and, if necessary, a main source for exam preparation.
Essays
An essay is a scientific text that develops a research problem in an argumentative way. The main aim of the essay is to form your own opinion on a given topic and to justify it. References only need to be cited directly, preferably in the Harvard citation style with () in the text; footnotes are not used. The literature you have read in preparation for the essay should be listed at the end. The length of the essay is 3-5 pages, the literature you have read in preparation for the essay should be listed in a bibliography at the end.
Term papers
With the term paper you show that you know and can apply the methodology of the respective subject and that you are able to put forward theses, formulate arguments and present results. You will also demonstrate your research skills and the ability to deal critically with sources and academic literature. The topic of the term paper is determined in consultation with the examiner and recorded in writing in an → agreement, which you attach to your completed paper when you hand it in.
The length of the work varies depending on the course: In the introductory proseminars and proseminars it is 10-15 pages, in the (main) seminars 14-18 pages of continuous text, plus cover sheet, table of contents, bibliography, declaration of independence and, if applicable, appendices. Please note the → Chair's statement on plagiarism and the lecturer's formal requirements.
Presentations
Presentations are short, structured presentations on a given topic. Depending on the topic, the presentation may be accompanied by a presentation, a source paper or a handout. The scope of the presentation varies depending on the degree program, module and course, so please discuss all details with the examiner in person.
Final theses
If you are planning to write a thesis in Ancient History, first attend the consultation hour to discuss a topic. Two further consultations with the thesis supervisor are scheduled during the processing period: One to discuss the outline as well as the source and literature basis at the beginning and a progress meeting in the second half of the editing period. You can submit 15% of your text in advance for an initial correction.
- A prerequisite for taking on the supervision and initial review of a thesis is prior attendance of the advanced seminar or seminar. Attendance at the research colloquium in Ancient History is expected.
- Please note that the supervision and first assessment of theses is reserved exclusively for members of the faculty who have completed their habilitation. In justified cases, the second assessment can also be carried out by a member of staff with a doctorate upon request. The decision on this is made by the Examination Committee.
The processing time for Bachelor's theses is 8 weeks, starting from the issue of the topic. The Bachelor's thesis should have a length of 30-45 pages of continuous text. The processing time for Master's theses is 23 weeks or 6 months for state examination theses, starting from the time the topic is issued. The Master's thesis should be 60-80 pages in length.
Colloquia for final theses
The colloquium for the Bachelor's or Master's thesis takes place in the form of an examination discussion, during which you have the opportunity to present the most important points of your thesis and to comment on the criticism in the reviews. You will also answer questions about the topic of your thesis and the historical context. Aids are not permitted in the colloquium, with the exception of prepared source papers as a basis for discussion. The examiner of the colloquium is always the supervisor of the thesis. After receiving the first and second assessments of the thesis, please visit the consultation hour to discuss an appointment for the colloquium.
Final oral examinations
If you are planning to take a final oral examination in Ancient History, please visit the office hours first to discuss a topic (visit 1). This topic should not be too small and specific, but should also not cover an entire epoch of antiquity, but rather form a thematically meaningful section and, depending on the density of information, cover 60-100 years. In order to be able to discuss not only the chosen topic but also the source situation and research opinions, please send a paper of max. 3 pages at least three days before the examination with
- 8-12 literature titles that you have used and whose theses you want to discuss
- 2-3 central (bilingual!) source passages that are central to your topic.
It is recommended that you bring a first version of such a paper with you to the first consultation, although a further consultation (visit 2) is always necessary to discuss the topic and time frame in detail and to receive feedback on your documents. With the exception of a handwritten chronology, no other aids are permitted in the examination itself.
Please note that a state examination usually requires you to have previously attended a course with me (such as HS, S, CO).