Module Catalogue 2024/25

Pre Requisite Comment

None

Co Requisite Comment

1. SML4099 is only available to students studying at least one language for credit for their degree. Students studying no languages are not eligible; students studying a language through the University-Wide Language Programme (UWLP) but not for credit for their degree are not eligible.

2. SML4099 must normally count as a module for a language a student is studying at Level D (HE Further Advanced). Certain exceptions can sometimes be made, however.
a. Chinese, Japanese or Portuguese: For final-year students of Level C (HE Advanced) Chinese, Japanese or Portuguese, where Level D is rare (Chinese or Japanese) or not available (Portuguese), SML4099 accompanying one of these languages may be considered, if the student’s level of Chinese, Japanese or Portuguese is high enough to allow them to read and analyse the sources they will need for the SML4099 work.
b. French, German or Spanish: Likewise, for final-year students of Level C French, German or Spanish, SML4099 accompanying one of these languages may EXCEPTIONALLY be considered, if the student’s level of French, German or Spanish is high enough to allow them to read and analyse the sources they will need for the SML4099 work. Exceptions in favour of Level C French, German or Spanish will be rarer than exceptions in favour of Level C Chinese, Japanese or Portuguese, because students studying Level C French, German or Spanish will almost always be studying a Level D language alongside it, and they would normally be expected to do SML4099 accompanying their Level D language.
For both cases a) and b) above, the student’s potential SML4099 supervisor will make the final determination about whether the student’s language level is high enough for the proposed dissertation or project, possibly in consultation with their language lecturers.

3. A T&I project can only be undertaken by students on R9Q9 (BA Hons Modern Languages, T & I) or 1423U (BA Hons Modern Languages, T & I (3-year programme)).

Aims

In consonance with the overall aims of the degrees offered in the SML, this module aims:

- To build on skills gained at Stages 1, 2 and 3.
- To provide an opportunity for students to research a subject in depth and write a dissertation/T&I project at Final Year level.
- To prepare students for postgraduate study in the chosen area.

This module aims to allow students to undertake independent research into a specialised area with individual supervision. Students may choose an appropriate topic with guidance from the module leader or supervisor. The area studied should normally fit in with the areas of expertise amongst SML staff, including European, Latin American and Chinese and Japanese film, literature, history, translation or interpretation studies and linguistics. Exceptionally in some years, if the topic dictates it, members of academic staff outside SML can supervise dissertations. The chosen topic should be within a broad area which the student has studied previously.

There will be at six workshops, led by the module leader, staff from the Library or staff from the Academic Skills Team; in these workshops, students will learn and develop research skills and present their own research. The content of workshops will depend on the availability of Library and Academic Skills Team staff, which is typically known in the Summer before a given academic year. There will be dedicated workshops for students undertaking T&I projects.

Each student will receive up to a maximum of six hours of individual supervision.

This module is particularly appropriate for students considering postgraduate study.

Outline Of Syllabus

This module enables students to undertake independent study with guidance from the module leader and supervisor via workshops and tutorials. A high proportion of time is devoted to independent study.

In Semester 2 of Stage 2 there will be a meeting available to all of Stage 2 and Stage 3, to explain the dissertation / T&I Project. They will also be encouraged at this stage to contact the module leader and/or a potential supervisor while on their Year Abroad (Stage 3), or during the Summer before Stage 4.

Before the end of Week 1 of Stage 4, students must produce a 250-500 word proposal, including names of potential supervisors. In addition to the proposal, T&I project students must also provide suggestions of the source materials they intend to work on. If there is no potential supervisor for the student’s topic, the student will be asked to choose another module or change the topic. Students who have not pre-registered for this module during the previous academic session may do so exceptionally during registration of Stage 4 provided they submit the approved 250-500 word proposal and their topic is accepted by a potential supervisor.

During Stage 4 students will be provided with 6 workshops, organised by the module leader and members of staff with expertise in T&I projects. There will be a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 6 hours of individual tutorials with the supervisor. During the tutorials, students will receive guidance on focusing their topic and identifying and formulating precise research questions, planning and timetabling their work, as well as detailed feedback on the draft work they produce. A rough schedule of milestones will be agreed with their supervisor at the beginning of module (e.g. detailed plan; annotated bibliography; draft chapters etc…). Students will be required to produce at least one piece of written work by the end of the first assessment week of semester one, which (according to area of study) might for example take the form of a detailed plan with an annotated bibliography, as agreed by staff and student. For students undertaking a T&I project, the source materials must also be confirmed at this point and the research question established. Students will be required to keep a log of all meetings with their supervisors, including a summary of agreed decisions.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

• in-depth knowledge of a chosen subject area
• basic knowledge of research methodologies
• working knowledge of a limited number of the key theoretical frameworks for research in the arts, social sciences and humanities
• working knowledge of current referencing conventions and bibliographical formats

Intended Skill Outcomes

• project management
• time management
• a range of research skills (e.g. formulating appropriate research questions; using appropriate theoretical frameworks; methodological skills e.g. study design; data collection, management and analysis; interviewing techniques etc. in the case of more applied topics)
• making decisions
• summarising, editing and selecting
• synthesising information and presenting it in dissertation/T&I project form
• writing an extended piece of prose clearly and persuasively
• (T&I projects only) Carrying out an extended translation/interpreting/subtitling task

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Tutorials allow student and supervisor to
• ascertain progress
• identify problems
• plan study tactics
• develop an overall strategy for completion

The supervisor offers staged support through guided and progressively adjusted autonomous learning
Workshops will provide training in research methods and allow students to present aspects of their own work in progress.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

DISSERTATION 1 DETAILS

DISSERTATION STUDENTS ONLY:
6,000 words max. (not 6,000±10%)*
*Exceptions possible where conventions require (e.g. descriptions of historical primary sources). Any exceptions must be agreed with supervisor and module leader.

T&I PROJECT STUDENTS ONLY
Translation project
1-3000 words (depending upon genre of text), and 4,000 words maximum translation commentary.
OR
Interpreting project
10 mins recording of unrehearsed, live, consecutive/ liaison interpreting of a live source speaker(s) (specifics to be agreed with supervisor and T&I Projects coordinator), and 4,000 words maximum interpreting commentary.
OR
Subtitling project
10 mins of subtitled video material and 4,000 words maximum subtitling commentary.

The structure of the dissertation/T&I Project and the duration of the period of preparation and drafting are the most appropriate means of developing the learning (and skills) outcomes.

General Notes

N/A