ALC8098 : Dissertation
ALC8098 : Dissertation
- Offered for Year: 2024/25
- Module Leader(s): Professor Paul Seedhouse
- Lecturer: Dr Christopher Leyland, Dr Elaine Lopez, Dr Müge Satar, Professor Steve Walsh
- Owning School: Education, Communication & Language Sci
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 3 Credit Value: | 60 |
| ECTS Credits: | 30.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Pre-requisite
Modules you must have done previously to study this module
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| ALC8020 | Research Methods in Applied Linguistics |
Pre Requisite Comment
Successful completion of 120 taught module credits, aspart of the MA in Applied Linguistics and TESOL programme.
Co-Requisite
Modules you need to take at the same time
Co Requisite Comment
N/A
Aims
To design and carry out a limited, independent research project on a topic in Applied Linguistics and TESOL.
To analyse the results and evaluate the strengths and limitations of the project.
Outline Of Syllabus
Refine a proposal.
Finalise the research questions.
Identify suitable subjects.
Identify and use appropriate data-gathering techniques.
Identify and use appropriate data analysis techniques.
Present and analyse data in relation to the research questions.
Draw conclusions
Learning Outcomes
Intended Knowledge Outcomes
To understand the processes involved in planning and carrying out a research project.
To understand the strengths and limitations in the research they have carried out.
To understand the extent to which they have been able to answer their research questions.
To understand how they might use what they have learnt from this study to improve their effectiveness as researchers.
Intended Skill Outcomes
To be able to investigate and develop ideas about language learning and teaching which they have encountered in the taught part of the programme.
To be able to use what they have learnt from the Research Methods module to plan and carry out a research project.
To be able to identify possible weaknesses in their original proposal and deal with them.
To be able to gather and analyse data.
To be able to produce a written account of the research in the form of a thesis.
To be able to critically evaluate other research on the same topic.
To be able to critically evaluate the strengths and weaknesses in their own research.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 75:00 | 75:00 | N/A |
| Guided Independent Study | Directed research and reading | 1 | 30:00 | 30:00 | N/A |
| Guided Independent Study | Skills practice | 1 | 75:00 | 75:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Dissertation/project related supervision | 6 | 1:00 | 6:00 | N/A |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 414:00 | 414:00 | N/A |
| Total | 600:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
The tutorials provide the students with feedback on their research plans, and advice while they are carrying out their research, analysing their data, writing up their results and evaluating the strengths and weaknesses in their research. The private study allows the students to carry out their research project, investigate other research in the same area, gather and analyse data, write up the results and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses in their research.
Reading Lists
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dissertation | 3 | M | 100 | a 15,000 word thesis. |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The thesis allows the student to demonstrate that they are able to:
- identify and critically evaluate literature on the chosen research topic
- justify their choice of research methods
- set out the results of their research
- explain the answers which their data suggest for their research questions
- explore the implications of their results
- identify strengths and weaknesses in the research they have carried out.
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- ALC8098's Timetable
Past Exam Papers
- Exam Papers Online : www.ncl.ac.uk/exam.papers/
- ALC8098's past Exam Papers
General Notes
N/A
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