Unit name | Dissertation (English) |
---|---|
Unit code | ENGL39024 |
Credit points | 20 |
Level of study | H/6 |
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
Unit director | Dr. Harris |
Open unit status | Not open |
Pre-requisites |
None |
Co-requisites |
None |
School/department | Department of English |
Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
A dissertation is an essay of 6,000 words on a subject of a student's choice. In order to write a dissertation, the student needs to have an in principle agreement from a member of staff to act as supervisor. This needs to be arranged by the end of the period during which choices of Special Subject are made. (It would be wise to begin discussing the dissertation project with a potential supervisor before that period.) Students choosing to write a dissertation will receive three hours of individual consultation with their supervisor; supervision typically involves discussion of preparatory reading and research, scrutiny of a rough plan of the work, feedback on draft material and advice on writing up. Students are also free to consult other academic staff with relevant expertise. Their individual study will also be supported by occasion workshops and peer-mentoring.
Aims:
This dissertation unit is designed to allow students to study extensively and over a sustained period an author (or group of authors), a theme and/or a literary period that interests them, and by building on interests and research and writing skills developed in preceding years of the degree, to produce a extended essay.
At the end of the unit a successful student will be able to:
One dissertation of 6,000 words.
The summative dissertation maps 100% onto ILOs 1-8.
Reading references will depend on the topic chosen and the student will be responsible for assembling a bibliography that includes both primary and secondary sources.
Delia Da Sousa Correa and W.R. Owens, eds, The Handbook to Literary Research, 2nd edn. London: Routledge/Open University, 2010).
Nigel Fabb and Alan Durant, How to Write Essays and Dissertations: A Guide for English Literature Students, 2nd edition (Harlow: Pearson Longman, 2005).