| Unit name | Dissertation (Comparative Literatures and Cultures) |
|---|---|
| Unit code | MODLM0019 |
| Credit points | 60 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52) |
| Unit director | Dr. Li |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | School of Modern Languages |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
Why is this unit important?
All MA students are expected to undertake a dissertation as the culmination of the programme of study. Research is exciting – it allows you to embark on an intellectual journey of discovery and takes you to the frontiers of knowledge. With the support of an academic staff member with relevant expertise, you will set your own research agenda, design and develop a research project that speaks to your interest and passion.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
It would normally be expected that the research topic would arise from work already undertaken on the programme, creating an opportunity to explore a specialist area in more detail without, however, replicating any previous assessment. Students are also invited to explore a topic of your own interest and passion, even though it may fall somewhat outside available staff members’ specialist research fields (as long as the student and the supervisor can agree on the research content, methodology, and theoretical framework). These different ways of approaching the dissertation topic will make sure that this assessment is authentic, integrated, and designed for all.
An overview of content
The dissertation will provide a structured and supervised opportunity for students to pursue independently an agreed topic of interest. It involves devising a realisable and potentially original topic. This may arise from work already undertaken on the programme, creating an opportunity to explore a specialist area in more detail. Alternatively, it may arise from an area of personal interest and passion; this may fall outside available staff members’ specialist research fields, provided that student and supervisor can agree on the research content, methodology, and theoretical framework.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
The dissertation marks a significant milestone of students’ intellectual growth and achievement. It requires a great deal of intellectual as well as physical labour, emotional investment, and self-discipline. For many students, the dissertation is the moment when you realise, often with considerable pleasure, that you are able to contribute independently to academic discourses by developing your own ideas in relation to other, existing ones and even advance the scholarship of a particular field. The dissertation may well be what you remember best about your MA, and it may be the first thing that others ask you about when you tell them about your postgraduate studies.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
Students will have been guided by the unit director of MODLM0021 Research Skill to develop a research project portfolio in TB2, which typically includes an outline of dissertation proposal, a methodological summary, a critical review of scholarship, an annotated bibliography, a project plan, and a reflective learning log. You will have been assigned a supervisor by the end of TB2, who will become your primary point of contact for the dissertation. You can expect to do the bulk of your dissertation work during a three-month writing-up period after you complete your taught units. A supervisor will expect to give you about 4 hours supervision in all and you can discuss with them how this is best used. They can give you guidance and help, advising on sources and methods you might use, the structure of your enquiry. Supervisors are allowed to read a draft of up to 5000 words of the dissertation.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
Students will have completed a series of formative and summative tasks in MODLM0021 Research Skills in TB2, in preparation for the dissertation.
Supervisors are allowed to read and comment on a draft of up to 5000 words of the dissertation before its submission. [ILOs 1-3]
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
Dissertation (12,000 words) [ILOs 1-3]
When assessment does not go to plan
When required by the Board of Examiners, you will normally complete reassessments in the same formats as those outlined above. However, the Board reserves the right to modify the form or number of reassessments required. Details of reassessments are normally confirmed by the School shortly after the notification of your results at the end of the academic year.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. MODLM0019).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
