English Language and Literature Dissertation

Learning Outcomes

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• plan and deliver an independent research project within a set time-frame
• produce an extended essay that is logically structured, coherently argued, supported by a detailed bibliography and, where applicable, illustrations
• demonstrate research skills including: the use of subject-specific bibliographical tools; the use of electronic and physical resources; the use of subject-specific software and applications (as appropriate)
• use appropriate software and applications (e.g. word processing; data analysis and visualisation tools; PowerPoint or similar presentation software) to successfully present your work.

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• identify and develop a sustained argument that addresses an appropriate research question
• engage with and critically assess previous work on the chosen subject
• where applicable, make connections between different critical and linguistic methodologies and use interdisciplinary modes of approaching the subject
• identify, analyse, and synthesise secondary and primary sources appropriate to your research topic

Knowledge and Understanding

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

• relevant theoretical and/or critical approaches applicable to your chosen area of study
• the field of enquiry, topic, author, or period you have selected as your chosen area of study

The dissertation is an extended piece of work, of c. 8000 words, which results from the in-depth study of a topic in any of the broad fields of study that constitute your degree in English Language and Literature: English Literary Studies; Cultural Studies; English Language and Linguistics or any combination of these. You will benefit from tutor-led project planning sessions in English and/ or LCL (as appropriate to your topic), and you will be allocated to a supervisory team comprising one member of staff from English and one member from LCL, with the lead supervisor in the discipline closest to your project. You will deliver your project independently in accordance with module deadlines, but taking into consideration oral and written feedback from your supervisor.

The subject of study will be different for each student, but some elements will be common to all projects. These include:

• project planning, including ethics assessments, logistics, time management and milestones;
• identification and formulation of research questions and objectives;
• identification of appropriate data sets and/or textual sources, methodologies and/or theoretical approaches; collation and analysis of primary source data and/or texts;
• identification and analysis of relevant secondary sources;
• critical analysis of material and formulation of independent response;
• communication of project aims and outcomes in verbal and written forms.

Teaching methods include:

Lectures on Dissertation research and writing skills

• These will include sessions dealing with defining and planning a research project; writing a proposals; consideration of ethics and (where appropriate) data management.

Group seminars/workshops

These will include delivering presentations on your research plans, receiving feedback, and exposure to other students' project plans.

Learning activities include:

research and independent study

regular meetings with your supervisor

revising your work to incorporate verbal and written feedback

Formative

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

Dissertation proposal

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

Individual Oral Presentation

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

Draft piece

• Assessment Type: Formative
• Feedback:
• 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.

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.