POL8099 : Dissertation
- Offered for Year: 2024/25
- Module Leader(s): Professor Derek Bell
- Owning School: Geography, Politics & Sociology
- 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 | |
Aims
This module aims to:
• enable students to undertake an in-depth study of a topic within the area of their MA degree
• provide students with the opportunity to engage in a major research exercise that, in scope and scale, significantly exceeds that of their coursework papers
• give students experience of selecting and applying intellectual frameworks, undertaking original research and presenting their results in a scholarly fashion
• develop skills such as written communication, planning and initiative
Outline Of Syllabus
The module leader will allocate an appropriate dissertation supervisor.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structured Guided Learning | Lecture materials | 3 | 1:00 | 3:00 | Asynchronous; PCAP |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 2 | 2:00 | 4:00 | Introductory lectures |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Drop-in/surgery | 1 | 1:00 | 1:00 | In person, S 2 |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Dissertation/project related supervision | 6 | 1:00 | 6:00 | Meet with supervisor |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 586:00 | 586:00 | N/A |
| Total | 600:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Students will have the support of a supervisor to help them design the project and to be available to offer advice whilst the work is completed.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Research proposal | 2 | M | 5 | 1000 word Dissertation Proposal |
| Dissertation | 3 | M | 95 | 10,000 word Dissertation |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The proposal encompasses a clear statement of a relevant research topic or question; a brief review of the literature to indicate the contribution this research will make; a research design including a description of the methods to be used in gathering and analysing information; and a proposed chapter outline and timeline. This proposal is linked to the knowledge outcomes with regard to signalling a sufficient knowledge of the field to be able to identify the contribution the research will make as well as a sufficient knowledge of the appropriate theoretical, methodological and disciplinary questions. The proposal also prepares the students to begin to develop the skills described here, particularly their ability to find information using effective research techniques. The dissertation itself is an extended report of the research and findings and thus must demonstrate not only the ability to employ effective research techniques and also to draft and edit a lengthy report, but also elaborate a theoretically and methodologically informed argument that demonstrates breadth and depth of knowledge of the topic of the dissertation.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- POL8099's Timetable