Theology Dissertation
| Module title | Theology Dissertation |
|---|---|
| Module code | THE3082 |
| Academic year | 2019/0 |
| Credits | 30 |
| Module staff | Professor Siam Bhayro (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 40 |
|---|
Module description
This module provides an opportunity to carry out independent research in a sustained way on a chosen topic. The dissertation is written in your final year, and will allow you to put to use the skills you have acquired in the first two years of the programme, by thinking at length about a question that is of particular interest to you.
Module aims - intentions of the module
This core module provides an opportunity for students to carry out independent research in a sustained way on a topic chosen by the student (with advice), and to present the findings of research in an extended piece of academic written prose.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. research and write at length, in an independent and self-critical way, about a self-selected topic in Theology
- 2. synthesise and make critical use of a range of theological and complementary disciplines
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 3. demonstrate comprehension of and intelligent engagement with the richness of Christianity in some of its varied forms
- 4. discuss and demonstrate critical comprehension of aspects of Christianity's classical sources
- 5. demonstrate awareness of and critical assessment of Christian contributions to debate in the public arena
- 6. demonstrate intellectual flexibility through the practice of a variety of complementary methods of study
- 7. evaluate and critically analyse a diversity of primary and secondary sources
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 8. undertake independent work within broad guidelines
- 9. shape information independently into a coherent and creative account
- 10. make critical and independent use of written sources
- 11. communicate clearly in a written form
- 12. communicate clearly in a PowerPoint presentation
Syllabus plan
Proposal
A provisional broad topic for your dissertation must be decided in the Summer Term of the second year (or at the end of Stage 2) in consultation with appropriate members of staff. You will be expected to have at least a rough idea of the area within which you wish to work; staff will help define the topic in detail and give assistance with bibliography.
The proposal must include the following:
- a brief account of the dissertation topic, indicating questions which you intend to address
- a chapter plan, with brief statements of the projected content of each chapter
- a bibliography of the works which you have consulted or will need to consult, set out in the format you will use for the dissertation itself
- a description of the range of source material available on your topic, with a brief statement of how you intend to handle it and any problems of method which it may pose.
You will need to submit your research proposal by the end of June. This is a critical part of the module and failure to submit a proposal will mean that students cannot progress or gain credit for this module.
The broad subject of your dissertation must be agreed by the Module Convenor before the end of the second year (or Stage 2); he or she will also appoint a supervisor to work with you.
Supervision
You will receive feedback on your proposal from your assigned supervisor.
Throughout the year you should keep in regular contact with your supervisor who will ensure that a realistic work schedule is maintained, but it should be realised that a dissertation basically involves the student working on her or his own.
The maximum time allowed for consulting your supervisor is three hours.
Since the dissertation must be substantially your own work, the appropriate assistance provided by the supervisor is defined as:
- initial discussion of an appropriate topic, title, contents and research material;
- comment on one draft of each chapter in turn or of one draft of the whole dissertation. Such comment will be focussed on identifying any obvious weaknesses in the argument and suggesting directions for further research. Supervisors should not be expected to give a mark/grade to drafts.
You should revise the dissertation before final submission in the light of the supervisor’s comments.
Draft chapter
You will be expected to submit a draft chapter (minimum 2000 words) by the beginning of Term 2. If you do not, the Department will not release the mark for the PowerPoint presentation (see below).
PowerPoint presentation
In January you will be expected to deliver a PowerPoint presentation on the topic of your dissertation to a small group of staff and students, which will constitute 15% of your mark for this module.
The presentation should explain as clearly as possible the central question or theme of your dissertation, outline the ways in which you are hoping to answer that question, and indicate the sources on which you are drawing, together with a provisional indication of your conclusion. This process is designed to ensure that you do have a clear central argument or thesis to your dissertation, and that you have been exposed to a wide range of possible questions or challenges to that argument or thesis.
Writing and presenting your dissertation
Further details are available in the Theology handbook.
Dissertations are regarded as examinable components and as such, feedback will not be available until after the exam board has met.
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | 293 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled learning and teaching | 3 | Dissertation tutorials |
| Scheduled learning and teaching | 1 | PowerPoint presentation |
| Scheduled learning and teaching | 3 | Dissertation information sessions |
| Guided independent study | 293 | Private study |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meetings with supervisor to discuss plans and drafts. | 3 hours | 1-11 | In meeting with supervisor |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 90 | 0 | 10 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PowerPoint presentation | 10 | 15 minutes | 2-11 | Oral and written feedback |
| Dissertation | 90 | 10000-12000 words | 1-12 | Written feedback on BART sheet |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| PowerPoint presentation | PowerPoint presentation | 2-12 | To be arranged individually with module convenor |
| Dissertation | Dissertation | 1-11 | Refer/Defer period |
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
As determined by the research subject
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
| Credit value | 30 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 15.00 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 6 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Last revision date | March 2012 |
