ET315-30 Dissertation
Introductory description
Do you have a topic or question about Language, Culture and Communication or English Language and Linguistics that you would like to explore in depth? By the time you get to the third year you are likely to have a lot of potential areas of interest. For the dissertation module you get the opportunity to develop a project around one of these interests and, with the support of a supervisor, conduct research and write it up! As well as developing content knowledge in an area of interest to you, the dissertation will help you enhance your research, critical and creative thinking, time management and academic writing skills. The dissertation module also provides excellent training if you are interested in undertaking postgraduate study beyond the BA.
Module aims
The dissertation allows students to develop a research project independently, with the support of a supervisor(s), and to write a substantial piece of work discussing the results of this research. Whilst this is a self-directed research exercise, students are expected to have regular meetings with their supervisor(s) throughout the year (approximately three per term), in order to receive guidance on defining and developing the research topic and on arguing and presenting their thesis. These meetings will normally focus on draft chapters or sections of the dissertation submitted to the supervisors in advance. The dissertation aims to enhance skills in research, critical analysis and argumentation, creative thinking, and academic writing, and to foster the specific intellectual interests and aptitudes of individual students. The dissertation provides an excellent training for students intending to undertake further academic study beyond the BA. It also enhances students' key skills in time management and communication of research results both orally and in writing.
This module will contribute primarily to the achievement of Course Aims #1, #2, #3, #4 and #7:
- Provide a thorough grounding in theories and research findings related to intercultural interaction and linguistics.
- Give students an in-depth understanding and awareness of the nature of generic, discoursal and linguistic features relevant to different cultural and professional contexts.
- Provide a solid foundation in relevant research skills and methods, both quantitative and qualitative.
- Enable students to analyse cross-linguistic features and contexts, and authentic cross-cultural and intercultural discourses using both quantitative and qualitative methods.
- Enable students to undertake an in-depth study of issues relating to intercultural linguistics.
Outline syllabus
This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.
- Individual tutorial meetings with supervisor(s)
Learning outcomes
By the end of the module, students should be able to:
- Demonstrate intellectual independence and originality by choosing their own subject of study and defining its nature and scope Demonstrate an understanding of relevant existing research literature in a relevant area and evaluate them critically Formulate a testable hypothesis or research question and set it in the context of the existing research literature Show an understanding and awareness of the ethical context of a relevant research area Recognise the theoretical, practical, and methodological implications and limitations of their research Demonstrate an advanced level of knowledge and understanding that will equip her/him to proceed to study at a higher level.
Indicative reading list
Allison, B & Race, P (2004) The Student’s Guide to Preparing Dissertations and Theses, London,
Routledge
Berry, R (2004) The Research Project: How to write It. London, Routledge
Glatthorn, A & Joyner, R (2005) Writing the Winning Thesis or Dissertation. London, Sage
Hunt, A (2005) Your Research Project: How to Manage It. London, Routledge
Rudestam, K.E and Newton, R. R (2001). Surviving Your Dissertation. A Comprehensive Guide to
Content and Process. 2nd edn. Londong, Sage
Walliman, N (2001) Your Research Project: A step-by-step Guide for the First-time Researcher,
London, Sage
Walliman, N. S. R. (2004). Your Undergraduate Dissertation: The Essential Guide for Success.
London, Sage
Wyse, D (2006) The Good Writing Guide for Education Students. London, Sage
View reading list on Talis Aspire
Research element
All assessment includes original research project. This involves the design as well as carrying out projects on core areas of module and programme overall.
Interdisciplinary
The Dissertation module brings together and draws on work the students have carried out under the different modules of the programme. Given the nature of the programme, the student work is in most cases interdisciplinary bridging the Linguistic sub disciplines as well as social psychology and communication studies
International
As with all our research modules, the students are encouraged and actively supported to think globally and locally in their work and their project designs. The Dissertation module and their projects provide an opportunity to work on cases of interest from different geopolitical, economic and linguistic contexts.
Subject specific skills
- Demonstrate intellectual independence and originality by choosing their own subject of study and defining its nature and scope
- Demonstrate an understanding of relevant existing research literature in a relevant area and evaluate them critically
- Formulate a testable hypothesis or research question and set it in the context of the existing research literature
- Show an understanding and awareness of the ethical context of a relevant research area
- Recognise the theoretical, practical, and methodological implications and limitations of their research
- Demonstrate an advanced level of knowledge and understanding that will equip her/him to proceed to study at a higher level.
Transferable skills
- Present the results of the research in a clearly written, academically cogently argued, logically structured and properly referenced form
- Consolidate communication, information-seeking and intellectual skills
- Have the ability to reflect on and evaluate their own research project management and performance
- Able to see the applications of a given theory
- Able to retrieve, evaluate critically and select relevant information to support coherent arguments
- Able to demonstrate independence of thought and a degree of originality
Study time
| Type | Required |
|---|---|
| Seminars | 2 sessions of 1 hour (1%) |
| Tutorials | 6 sessions of 1 hour (2%) |
| Private study | 292 hours (97%) |
| Total | 300 hours |
Private study description
Reading and independent research
Costs
No further costs have been identified for this module.
You must pass all assessment components to pass the module.
Assessment group A2
| Weighting | Study time | Eligible for self-certification | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8-10,000 word Dissertation | 100% | Yes (extension) |
Feedback on assessment
Written feedback will be provided on the Centre's standard feedback sheets, which conform to Faculty regulations. This will include both summary and detailed feedback. Where appropriate, additional feedback may be provided via personal meetings with the tutor.
Courses
This module is Core for:
- Year 3 of UETA-X3Q5 Undergraduate Language, Culture and Communication
- Year 4 of UETA-X3Q8 Undergraduate Language, Culture and Communication (with Intercalated Year)
- Year 3 of UETA-Q1T6 Undergraduate Linguistics with Arabic
- Year 3 of UETA-Q1R1 Undergraduate Linguistics with French
- Year 4 of UETA-Q1A2 Undergraduate Linguistics with German (with Intercalated Year)
- Year 3 of UETA-Q1T2 Undergraduate Linguistics with Japanese
- Year 3 of UETA-Q1R5 Undergraduate Linguistics with Portuguese
- Year 3 of UETA-Q1R4 Undergraduate Linguistics with Spanish
- Year 4 of ULNA-R9Q1 Undergraduate Modern Languages and Linguistics
- Year 3 of UETA-Q310 in English Language and Linguistics
- Year 4 of UETA-Q311 in English Language and Linguistics (with Intercalated year)
This module is Core optional for:
- Year 3 of ULNA-R9QB Undergraduate Modern Languages with Linguistics (3 year)
This module is Core option list A for:
- Year 4 of ULNA-R2Q2 Undergraduate German Studies with Linguistics
- Year 4 of ULNA-R9Q2 Undergraduate Modern Languages with Linguistics
This module is Core option list C for:
- Year 4 of ULNA-R1Q2 Undergraduate French Studies with Linguistics