Research Preparation and Writing Skills
| Module title | Research Preparation and Writing Skills |
|---|---|
| Module code | DRAM102 |
| Academic year | 2020/1 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Professor Kerrie Schaefer (Lecturer) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 9 (October start) | 6 (January start) | 5 (January start) |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 15 |
|---|
Module description
This module will explore how theatre and performance practices are studied and written about. It will introduce you to critical writings, theoretical frameworks and research methodologies that will enable you to devise and plan a research project of your own in the broad fields of theatre and performance studies. The forms of assessment for the module enable it to act as a specific preparation for your MA dissertation project.
Module aims - intentions of the module
This module aims to allow you to develop and critically reflect on a research topic of your own design. You will explore a set of core ideas and skills and work towards identifying an area of independent research in consultation with your tutor and peers. The module aims to prepare you for your MA dissertation project and equip you with key skills in research, analysis, writing and academic practice. By the end of the module you will be familiar with academic resources, be able to confidently research and present your ideas, and have an advanced understanding of research processes, practices and methodologies.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Demonstrate advanced reading, writing and research skills
- 2. Demonstrate an advanced understanding of the different methodologies for researching into performance and theatre and evaluate critically their respective strengths and weaknesses
- 3. Formulate an appropriately framed research question and identify suitable theories and methodologies to draw on to enable effective, focused and productive research
- 4. Demonstrate an understanding of advanced bibliographical techniques, including both text based and visual documentation, and an ability to construct an annotated bibliography
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 5. Identify and evaluate personal learning strategies in practical, theoretical, and methodological terms
- 6. Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of methodologies applicable to your own work
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 7. Undertake independent research and further your own professional learning with minimum guidance
- 8. Plan and manage time and tasks at a professional level
- 9. Assess and evaluate your own work and critically reflect on others' work and work process in practical, theoretical, and methodological terms
Syllabus plan
Whilst the content may vary from year to year, it is envisioned that it will cover some or all of the following topics:
- Researching theatre and performance: theoretical frameworks
- Academic skills assessment (self) in key areas: writing and reading
- Encountering the live – performance analysis
- Methods and methodologies in theatre and performance
- Practice as research: How do we practice performance research, and how is performance itself research?
- Textual analysis and criticism
- Modes of writing
- Bibliography and referencing; annotated bibliography; literature review
- Research ethics
- Research proposal development: questions, methodologies, literature, plan
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | 134 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled learning and teaching | 16 | Seminars blended online/live classroom |
| Guided independent study | 134 | Including weekly writing tasks (formative assessment); reading and preparation for seminars; attendance at departmental research seminars; theatre visits; independent study on research projects. |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Weekly writing tasks | From 50 to 500 words | 1, 3-4, 7-9 | Written |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | 0 | 70 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annotated bibliography | 30 | 1250 words | 1, 3-5, 7-9 | Written |
| Presentation of research proposal for individual project, including outline of research question, methodology, literature review, timetable and structure | 70 | 15 minutes plus 10 minutes questions | 1-9 | Written |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annotated bibliography | Annotated bibliography | 1, 3-5, 7-9 | Referral/Deferral period |
| Presentation of research proposal for individual project, including outline of research question, methodology, literature review, timetable and structure | Written research proposal for individual project, including outline of research question, methodology, literature review, timetable and structure | 1-9 | Referral/Deferral period |
Re-assessment notes
Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.
Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 50%) you will be required to submit assessment as necessary. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of referral will be capped at 50%.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
- Aston, E. and Savona, G., Theatre as a Sign System: a semiotics of text and performance (London: Routledge, 1991).
- Berry, R., The Research Project: How to Write It (4th ed.) (London & NY: Routledge, 2000).
- Biggam, J., Succeeding with your Master's Dissertation (Maidenhead: Open University Press, 2008) available online
- Brewer, J. D., Ethnography (Buckingham, Open University Press, 2000).
- Burgess, R., Practice based doctorates in creative and performing arts and design. (UK Council for Graduate Education, 1997).
- Burns, R.B. ,Introduction to Research Methods (London: Sage, 2000).
- Councell, C. and Wolf L., Performance Analysis: an introductory course-book (London: Routledge, 2001).
- Carlson, M., Performance: a critical introduction (London: Routledge, 1996).
- Denzin, K. and Y.S. Lincoln (eds), The Sage Handbook of Qualitative Research, 3rd edition (Thousand Oaks (CA): SAGE, 2005).
- Fortier, M., theory/theatre – an introduction, 2nd edition (London/ New York: Routledge, 2002).
- Kershaw, B. and H. Nicholson (eds), Research Methods in Theatre and Performance (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2011).
- McKenzie, J., H.Roms and C.J.W.L. Wee (eds). Contesting Performance – Global Sites of Research (Basingstoke: Palgralve MacMillan, 2009).
- Peck, J. and Coyle, M. The Student's Guide to Writing: grammar, punctuation and spelling (Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005)
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 7 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 2011 |
| Last revision date | 27/07/2020 |