English Dissertation

Learning Outcomes

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• manage the transition to a PhD
• research and plan independently
• formulate and present an argument
• write a sustained piece of work
• manage and complete a major project within a given time-frame

Subject Specific Practical Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• research any given topic and present that research in a scholarly fashion

Cognitive Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• define, structure, develop and manage a significant project within a set period of time
• evaluate a wide range of material and engage critically with that material

This module allows you to undertake independent research, with guidance from a supervisor, to produce an in-depth, scholarly study of an aspect or body of literature which particularly interests you.

Every student will have a supervisor appointed for the dissertation, though it is important that students recognise that the dissertation is an independent research project and they must take responsibility for its progress and for the final dissertation text. Advice on dissertations given during the supervisory process cannot be taken to guarantee a particular outcome for the piece of work, as this is determined by a separate and independent examination process.

You will normally have three face-to-face supervisions of up to an hour over the course of the project. In addition, it is likely that you will seek and receive further advice and feedback by email correspondence. Your supervisor will no normally be able to comment on more than one draft of any of your work, whether submitted as a full draft or as individual chapters over the course of the supervision.

It is important for the student and the supervisor to agree beforehand a schedule for contact during the summer vacation, since supervisors will have other commitments and there may be times over the summer when they are not immediately available.

Supervisors and students should ensure that a record is kept of dates of meetings, the content of those meetings, and of guidance given to the student.

Teaching methods include:

• three one-to-one supervisions with your supervisor over the summer
• maintenance of a record of supervision meetings and agreed actions
• Research Skills is a core module geared towards dissertation preparation. This module provides structure teaching sessions and formal and informal assessments that cover effective academic writing, good presentation techniques, creating an annotated bibliography, and formulating a dissertation proposal

Learning activities include

• individual study and research time
• presentation of research proposal at postgraduate symposium
• accessing research materials (possibly including archival material) and on-line resources
• preparation of a proposal, abstract, bibliography and draft material for review by your supervisor
• preparation for supervision meetings
• editing and presenting the final version of the dissertation in accordance with the approved conventions and by the appointed deadline

Formative

This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.

Presentation

• Assessment Type: Formative
• Feedback:
• Final Assessment: No
• Group Work: No

Annotated bibliography

• Assessment Type: Formative
• Feedback: Students will receive feedback on drafts throughout the module and in one-to-one tutorials
• Final Assessment: No
• Group Work: No

Proposal

• Assessment Type: Formative
• Feedback: Students will receive feedback on drafts throughout the module and in one-to-one tutorials
• Final Assessment: No
• Group Work: No

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.