Aims

To enable students to:
1. engage in an extended research project
2. consolidate and develop research techniques, critical skills, and scholarly imagination
3. demonstrate professional scholarly practice and develop skills in writing and presentation appropriate to the chosen medium
4. assume autonomy, choice and responsibility in the academic study of music

The focus on this module is very much on the process of learning and of developing academic and professional skills through a dissertation that is embedded within their prior and continuing study in the academic modules of their music degree, focussed on a topic of the student’s own choice. The bulk of the student's time is devoted to private study and research. At the same time, they will receive appropriate support and guidance to enable their success. Workshops offered through this module will introduce students to the research and writing process and will help them develop the skills required to undertake a supervised research dissertation. Students are recommended to arrange regular tutorials with their supervisor - six one-hour meetings being the norm - and are expected to attend at least five of the Music research seminars over the course of the academic year.

Additional assessments, to comprise a dissertation outline (to include methodology) and participation in a UG conference, are designed to contribute to the successful completion of the dissertation. Formative assessments, including an initial proposal written over the summer vacation (submitted during the first week) and participation in a final research showcase, are designed to further raise student achievement.

Outline Of Syllabus

Students submit a dissertation proposal in week 1 and are allocated a dissertation supervisor. Six one hour one-to-one meetings with the supervisor over the course of the year support the planning and writing of the dissertation. A series of workshops in Semester 1 covering various aspects of the dissertation process including planning, research, writing and referencing provide additional support, alongside one further workshop in Semester 2, to help facilitate the final writing stages of the dissertation. These writing workshops are organized to introduce and help students develop appropriate research approaches and methods, and the process tools and skills that will enable students to be successful.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Since this is a dissertation module focused on a topic of the student’s own choice, the bulk of the student’s time is devoted to private study and research. The workshops will be whole class events to provide advice and guidance on the approaches/techniques required to undertake the dissertation. These workshops are aimed at developing students’ research and writing skills, and to guide the students in the writing of their extended outlines (to provide an overview of their proposed course of study and research) and in preparing their short presentations (demonstrating the progress of their research during a Finalists’ Conference, which takes place during the assessment period at the end of Semester 1). Tutorials are in the form of supervisory sessions (individual) and are to ascertain progress, provide formative feedback and feed forward, and facilitate problem solving and supported independent learning. Students are recommended to arrange regular tutorials with their supervisor (six one- hour meetings being the norm) and are expected to attend at least five of the music department's research seminars.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The quality of the dissertation tests all the learning outcomes. The ‘extended outline’ tests the student’s planning and preliminary research skills and acts as an early ‘staging post’ to assess the student’s progress. The presentation tests oral presentation skills, as well as providing a 'staging post' to assess the student's progress at the halfway point. Presentations are discussed in panels in the student conference.