DISSERTATION - 2019/0

Module Overview

This module allows students to specialise in an aspect of the programme which is of particular interest to them by writing a topic-based dissertation based on thorough independent research. Successful completion of the module requires close collaboration with a supervisor and good planning and organisation skills.

Module provider

School of Literature and Languages

Module Leader

DIPPOLD Doris (Lit & Langs)

Number of Credits: 60

ECTS Credits: 30

Framework: FHEQ Level 7

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Year long

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

A pass in the Postgraduate Diploma of 50% or above.

Module content

Orientation sessions will be held in the Spring semester (before Easter) in preparation for choosing a topic and commencing work on the dissertation; this will include workshop tasks and group work. Students will submit a proposal in early May and be allocated a supervisor in late May.

 

The pattern of work for the dissertation is as follows: a piece of research on a well-specified question related to their studies, drawing on the relevant literature; the work may integrate empirical work, case studies and theory and must be written in English.

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

The student is assessed entirely on the basis of their written dissertation. The assessment criteria are available in the Dissertation Handbook provided to all students. All Dissertations are also checked for plagiarism using an electronic plagiarism detection system.

Module aims

• As an extensive piece of work (10,000-12,000 words) which allows the student to work on a topic independently and in depth, the dissertation provides the opportunity for students to specialise in an aspect of the taught programme which is of particular interest and to synthesise the skills and knowledge which they have acquired throughout the academic year.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The module commences in the Spring Semester, and is completed by early September of the same year.

The teaching and learning strategy is designed to develop the students’ ability to conduct and report independent research. It builds on the Research Methods module, allowing students to gain experience of applying some of the principles and methods learned. Included in the strategy is the development of a research proposal to help students crystallise their ideas.

A proposal will be submitted in the first week of May. All proposals are subject to an approval process by the potential supervisor in co-operation with the Programme Director. Students and supervisors will agree a timetable of work which will include regular meetings and/or communications, at which outlines, drafts and revisions of written work are reviewed. Students are expected to submit sections of the dissertation for comment as their work proceeds.

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: CMCM015

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2019/0 academic year.