• Offered for Year: 2024/25

• Module Leader(s): Professor Jens R Hentschke

• Owning School: Modern Languages
• Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus

Semesters

Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.

Aims

To enable students to undertake a sustained piece of independent research at postgraduate level in preparation for PhD study, selecting an appropriate topic and identifying suitable research methodologies.
To enable students to apply appropriate methodologies to a single piece of research, exploring relevant interpretations and analyses.
To enable students to organise and plan their research and to present their findings in a sustained and coherent written form.


The topic for the dissertation and appropriate research methodologies and approaches will be determined in consultation between the student, the programme director and any other member(s) of academic staff who will act as a supervisor of the dissertation.
The topic chosen will take into account the interests and previous experience of the student, including any plans he or she may have for future PhD study, the academic traditions of the subject and opportunities for cross-disciplinary work where appropriate.

Outline Of Syllabus

n/a

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Preparation for the dissertation will normally include supervision by one or more members of staff, guided reading and private study. There may also be a considerable amount of fieldwork, but the amount will depend on the nature of the dissertation (i.e. to what extent it involves text study vs. gathering data from human subjects).
The balance between tutorial and private-study time reflects the stress on guided independent research that underlies this module, though the exact ratio will be a matter for negotiation between the student and the programme director and will depend upon the nature of the dissertation. Good practice would suggest that students should be offered a minimum of 10 hours’ supervision in addition to the initial meeting at which the assignments are agreed.

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Other Assessment

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

A dissertation of 16,000-24,000 words including footnotes and bibliography, set in semester 3, and representing 100% of the formal assessment.
A dissertation is the most effective assessment method for the aims and learning outcomes identified above.

Reading Lists

• SML9024's Reading List

Timetable

• Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
• SML9024's Timetable