Unit information: Dissertation in 2020/21

Unit name	Dissertation
Unit code	THRSM0120
Credit points	40
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24)
Unit director	Dr. Langer
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	Successful completion of level 3, Study Year Abroad Unit
Co-requisites	None
School/department	Department of Religion and Theology
Faculty	Faculty of Arts

Description including Unit Aims

The Dissertation is an exercise in extended independent research with close supervision at key stages. Students are required to identify their own research topic, formulate the particular research questions to be addressed, identify the main primary sources to be used, set the research questions in the context of the issues arising from the secondary literature, and execute a scholarly and analytical text to high scholarly standards consistent with M level of study.

Students will have the opportunity to present their work to non-specialist audiences and to organize elements of an academic event.

Intended Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit students will be able to:

1. demonstrate a deep and sophisticated understanding of a chosen subject
2. enhance their research skills by way of a production of an extended piece of independent research in accordance with high scholarly standards
3. gain proficiency in forming their own research questions and compile their own extensive bibliography
4. advance their skills of argumentation and communication, appropriate to level M
5. the ability to work with both secondary and primary resources and to draw reasoned and considered conclusions from them
6. present their work to non-specialist audiences and to organize elements of an academic event.

Teaching Information

3 hours of one-to-one supervisory sessions with Dissertation tutor at key stages; access to tutorial consultation with unit tutors in office hours. Opportunity for presentation of research materials in yearly department UG and MArts conference. Attendance at fortnightly research seminar with PGT and PGR students. Dissertation training sessions and library training sessions.

Assessment Information

Summative: 1 x 10,000-word dissertation project (including footnotes) [ILOs 1-5]

Formative: Participation in the organization and running of the annual UG/MArts dissertation conference and presentation of the research at the conference. [ILO 6]

Reading and References

Bibliographical references will depend on the topic chosen and the student will be responsible (in consultation with an appointed supervisor) for assembling a bibliography which will include relevant primary and secondary sources.