Module Information

Module Identifier
EN30040
Module Title
Undergraduate Dissertation
Academic Year
2024/2025
Co-ordinator
Dr Katy Birch
Semester
Semester 2 (Taught over 2 semesters)
Reading List
View on Aspire
Other Staff
 

Course Delivery

 

Assessment

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Assessment Dissertation  10,000 Dissertation  100%
Supplementary Assessment Dissertation  10,000 Dissertation  100%

Learning Outcomes

On successful 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 dissertaion.

Brief description

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.

Estimated student workload:
Contact time: 14.5 hours
Independent research and writing up of dissertation: 385.5 hours

Aims

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.

Content

Prior to the summer vacation preceding registration on this module students will attend 2 x 1 hour lectures which will be designed to introduce the module and the basics of identifying a viable project. This will enable students to work on their initial proposal before the start of their final year.

SEMESTER 1:
Week 1: 1 x 1 hour lecture
Week 2: 1 x 1 hour lecture
Week 3: Seminar 1 (2 hours with supervisors in groups of c.12)
Week 4: Seminar 2 (2 hours with supervisors in groups of c.12)
Week 5: Seminar 3 (2 hours with supervisors in groups of c.12)
Reading Week
Week 6: Seminar 4 (2 hours with supervisors in groups of c.12)

Week 7-10: Individual Tutorials (2 x 30 mins)

SEMESTER 2:
Weeks 1-7: Individual Tutorials (3 x 30 mins)

Module Skills

Skills Type Skills details
Application of Number N/A
Communication Small group and individual aspects of delivery 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 dissertation.
Personal Development and Career planning By encouraging initiative, self-reliance, self-responsibility, time-management, independent enquiry and by preparing students for study at postgrduate 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