Classics & Ancient HistoryUniversity of Bristol

PRAGMATISMFocus on what’s essential: arguments and ideas, not just

facts and quotes. Read around the subject, not just your notes.

PLANNINGCover all your units properly, but don’t be too inflexible.

PRACTICEHow long since you last wrote by hand, or under time

pressure?

PREPARATIONSleep. Eat sensibly. Exercise. Listen to energising music.

PERSPECTIVEIt is only an exam...

ANSWER the question

Prepare sufficient topics – so you can answer any question.

EVIDENCE and support for your points

No vague assertions – but no quotes or footnotes required.

INTERPRETATION and argument

Engage with scholarly debates, not just narrative or description.

ORGANISATION

Plan your answers, leave enough time for all questions.

UNFLAPPABILITY

ESSAYHerodotus described his work as a historie - ‘This

is the exposition (apodexis) of the inquiry (historie) of Herodotus of Halikarnassos’ (I.1) – but the precise meaning of that term, and the status of his work as ‘history’ in any modern sense, is widely disputed (see e.g. Finley 1986; Cartledge 1993: 18-35).

EXAMHerodotus described his work as a historie, an

enquiry; however, modern scholars disagree over the precise meaning of that term, as well as whether his work can be considered ‘history’ in a modern sense.