English Dissertation

Learning Outcomes

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• manage the transition to a masters programme and further postgraduate work
• write at length
• research and plan independently
• manage and complete a major project within a given time-frame
• formulate and present an argument

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

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

Knowledge and Understanding

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

• a specific author, period or field of enquiry, whether critical or creative.

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

This module allows you to undertake independent research, with guidance from a supervisor, to produce an in-depth, scholarly study of an aspect of literature or an extended creative project and critical commentary which particularly interests you. It can also form a good basis if you wish to go on to study at postgraduate level.

Teaching methods include

• three one-to-one supervisions with your supervisor across the semester
• on-line support via Blackboard
• maintenance of a record of supervision meetings and agreed actions
• three lectures in the preceding semester offering guidance and advice on using advanced on- line resources for research, and on creating an annotated bibliography and dissertation proposal.

Learning activities include

• individual study and research time
• accessing research materials 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

Innovative or special features of this module

• The main innovative feature of this module is the opportunity it gives you to undertake in- depth independent research into a topic of your own choosing.
• It also provides you with a form of individual supervision that is unique to this module.

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.

Repeat

An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.