ED31220 - MAJOR DISSERTATION

Module Identifier	ED31220
Module Title	MAJOR DISSERTATION
Academic Year	2001/2002
Co-ordinator	Mr Bob Jones
Semester	Semester 2 (Taught over 2 semesters)
Mutually Exclusive	Not advisable to combine with ED31310
Course delivery	Seminars / Tutorials	1 per fortnight (more if required)
Assessment	Continuous assessment	an extended esay of approximately 10,000 words	100%
	Resit assessment	All failed or missing elements of assessment to be re-taken or made good.

Brief description

This module provides students with an opportunity to investigate a topic of their own choice, in consultation with the Director of Undergraduate Studies. It involves independent study under the guidance of a member of staff. It necessitates wide reading, leading to an extended essay. It requires library-based study and typically involves small-scale empirical investigation. Prior approval from the Director of Undergraduate Studies is needed before pre-registering and registering on this module.

Aims of the module

to encourage independent study;
to develop skills which are associated with library-based study;
to achieve knowledge and understanding of a topic which is chosen by a student and approved by the Department.
to develop research skills in a small-scale investigation.

Syllabus

No set syllabus. A plan of study is worked out by the student under the guidance of a member of staff.

Learning outcomes

On completion of this module, a student should be able to demonstrate an ability:

to undertake independent study;
to plan and present an extended investigation: aims; literature review; methods; analysis;
to demonstrate skills which are associated with library-based study: effective use of bibliographic searches; an ability to choose relevant sources; a sound knowledge and understanding of sources; critical interpretation of sources; an ability to synthesise sources; an ablity to present coherent argument;
to demonstrate research skills in a small-scale investigation: an appropriate method of data collection; an appropriate method of data analysis; an awareness of ethical and legal issues in data collection; to apply the results of the analysis to the aims of the dissertation.

Reading Lists

Books
Determined by the selected topic, and decided by the student and tutor.