Module Identifier
EN31000
Module Title
DISSERTATION
Academic Year
2008/2009
Co-ordinator
Mr Michael J Smith
Semester
Semester 1
Other Staff
 

Course Delivery

Delivery Type Delivery length / details
Lecture See below
 

Assessment

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Assessment DISSERTATION OF 8000 WORDS  Excluding footnotes/endnotes and bibliography  100%
Supplementary Assessment Resubmit or resit failed elements and/or make good any missing elements 

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this module, students should be able to:

1. Conduct independent research, compile bibliographies and find ways around appropriate research materials.

2. Conceive, plan and execute an appropriate topic for study based on literary research, structured over an extended piece of writing

3. Display a critically focused understanding of literary texts, cultural contexts and theoretical concerns

4. Complete the writing of the dissertation in compliance with the substantive as well as formal requirements expected of an undergraduate dissertation

Content

Semester 1
(a) 3 ? 1-hour lectures designed to equip students with the relevant study/research skills for the Dissertation. These lectures will address the following issues: bibliographical and library resources, research and time management skills, structure and argument, and presentation.
(b) 2 ? 2-hr workshops in groups of 20-25 students. Students will discuss and workshop their chosen subject with a view to submitting a definitive topic at the end of the second workshop for formal ratification.
(c) 1 x 1-hour group sessions of 3-4 students each with supervisor. These sessions will aim for the cross-fertilisation of students' ideas and collective consultation.
Semester 2
(a) 2 ? 30-min. individual supervisions. The student will meet with his/her supervisor to discuss the dissertation in detail.
(b) 1 x 1-hour group sessions of 3-4 students each with supervisor. These sessions will aim for the cross-fertilisation of students' ideas and collective consultation.

Brief description

The precise topic of the dissertation will be chosen by each student in consultation with tutors, and will be formally approved by the Department. It will be delivered through a combination of lectures, group workshops, small group advisory sessions and individual supervisions (see below).

Dissertation word count: 8000 words in length (excluding footnotes/endnotes and bibliography)

Aims

The Dissertation develops students' independent research skills and represents a logical `culmination' of students' learning experience. It also helps prepare students intending to study at postgraduate level for the MA dissertation and PhD work. The Dissertation module gives third-year students the opportunity to extend and deepen their study of the authors/texts examined in the period core modules and in option modules and/or to explore the work of writers not on the curriculum.

Module Skills

Skills Type Skills details
Communication In the workshop, small group and individual aspects of delivery (see above), through group discussion
Improving own Learning and Performance Through independent planning, researching and realization of a research project. The structure of the module builds into it formative assessment and encourages self-reflection.
Information Technology Research skills will require the utilization of bibliographical and search databases, internet-based research, as well as the use of word-processing in the course of writing of the dissertation
Personal Development and Career planning By encouraging initiative, self-reliance, self-responsibility, time-management, independent enquiry and by preparing students for study at postgraduate level.
Problem solving By developing evaluative analysis, constructing an independent research strategy, and by formulating and conducting an extended critical argument.
Research skills By requiring students to outline, structure, independently research and write an extended piece on a topic of their choosing
Subject Specific Skills Detailed critical analysis of literary texts and evaluation of broad intellectual/ theoretical concepts in an independently-researched piece of writing.
Team work Through workshop and small group work

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 6