Dissertation
| Module title | Dissertation |
|---|---|
| Module code | POLM877 |
| Academic year | 2019/0 |
| Credits | 45 |
| Module staff |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 80 |
|---|
Module description
A good dissertation is a core element of a successful Masters degree. It equips you with key, transferable research skills that will be invaluable to your career whether you decide to take up PhD research or not. A dissertation is not a long essay. It has a certain number of core components that must be evident to varying degrees. Like a good essay, it must demonstrate research skills, independent learning, good organization of complex material, clarity and erudite expression. But a Masters dissertation will be driven primarily by your own interests, the questions you devise and the material you want to research. It will be a mark of your initiative, independence and inquisitiveness. You should expect to start thinking about and working on your dissertation immediately on beginning the Programme. Good early preparation will stand you in good stead later.
Module aims - intentions of the module
To enable you to write an extended piece of independent writing, around a topic of your own choosing, in communication with key experts in your chosen area. It will allow you to demonstrate depth and breadth of knowledge in a particular subject area of professional or intellectual interest. The dissertation will be a mark of your ability to express yourself in writing.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Demonstrate knowledge in depth of a specialised subject area
- 2. Design an individual research programme, incorporating appropriate social science research methods
- 3. Collate and analyse subject-specific information from a range of appropriate sources.
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 4. Assimilate and critically analyse data from an appropriate range of sources, from policy papers to canonical texts in the history of political thought
- 5. Develop cogent argument.
- 6. Communicate complex information and ideas effectively in writing.
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 7. Use IT for information retrieval and presentation.
- 8. Manage own work
Syllabus plan
At least four supervision meetings: one to initiate the dissertation followed by three meetings to give academic guidance including specific feedback on draft work.
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | 444 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | 6 | Supervision meetings |
| Guided independent study | 444 hours | This time includes reading, reflecting on the material, structuring , planning and writing your dissertation. |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| one draft chapter of the dissertation, or a developed introduction. Whichever the candidate feels most useful to gain feedback on progress. | one chapter or introduction | 1-8 |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dissertation | 100 | 15,000 words | 1-8 | Written feedback |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dissertation | Dissertation (15,000 words) | 1-8 | Next reassessment period |
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
G King, R Keohane and S Verba, Designing Social Inquiry (Princeton UP, 1994);
D Burton (ed), Research Training for Social Scientists: A Handbook for Postgraduate Researchers (Sage, 2000).
Subject-specific reading will varying according to research topic.
| Credit value | 45 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 22.50 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | POLM876 Dissertation Skills |
| NQF level (module) | 7 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 01/10/2008 |
| Last revision date | 30/11/2013 |
