Dissertation MLANG

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• relevant theoretical approaches applicable to your chosen area of study
• the topic you have selected in your chosen field of study

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• where applicable, make connections between different critical methodologies and use interdisciplinary modes of approaching the subject
• evaluate and critically assess previous work on the chosen subject
• analyse/synthesise secondary, as well as primary sources
• engage with critical debate through a sustained argument over an extended piece of work
• demonstrate originality of thought and approach which moves beyond a simple synthesis of secondary materials

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• demonstrate specific, as well as general, research skills, such as information retrieval and library searches (which may include external libraries and archives)
• demonstrate an appropriate use of web-based research and general competence in using electronic research methods and data
• write a dissertation under deadline conditions which is logically structured, coherently argued, supported by a detailed bibliography and, where applicable, illustrations

The dissertation is an extended piece of work, of 10,000 words, which results from the in-depth study of a topic in one of the three fields of study that constitute the Modern Languages curriculum (cultural and literary studies, linguistic studies, and social and political studies). It is equivalent to two single weighted modules, one in each semester.

The tutorial supervision provides you with guidance on methodology on structuring your research and your writing. In the early supervisions the methodology for investigation of the topic is agreed, as is the ground to be covered, and the structure of the finished dissertation is discussed. Later meetings require you to have prepared a section of the work, and this forms the basis of the supervision. You will be expected to demonstrate the research skills and the intellectual ability required by the project.

Teaching methods include

• research and independent study
• regular contact (email, skype, face to face) with your supervisor.(bank of hours applies total time 6 hours)
• The Dissertation is supported by a Research Skills module in Sem 2 which is structured around Dissertation-specific skills training in regular group meetings.

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.