Introductory description

N/A.

Module aims

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.

All students must take the non-credit-bearing module Introduction to Research Methods in Term 1. This module introduces students to the basic issues and procedures of literary research, including the writing process, how to construct a bibliography, finding both print and electronic resources, and writing research proposals.
As part of the Introduction to Research Methods course students will take part in a dissertation proposal writing workshop. This will help them to think about how to frame their proposals. Students will be encouraged to look at the areas of expertise covered by staff and to use staff office hours to discuss ideas with relevant specialists and potential supervisors before finalizing their proposals. MA in Literary Translation Studies must also take part in an additional, subject-specific dissertation proposal writing workshop.
Dissertation proposals — of 500-words in length — must be submitted to the relevant MA convenor by the end of Week 9 of Term 1. The convenor will ensure that each proposed project:

• is intellectually viable;
• is achievable within the stipulated time and word limits;
• is feasible given the resources;
• falls within the expertise of members of academic staff who are available to supervise it. Projects falling short of one or more of these criteria will be discussed with the student and reformulated. The convenor will then be responsible for assigning each project to a supervisor. Students will be assigned a supervisor by the end of Week 1 of Term 2, and advised to begin work on their dissertation research immediately.
  In Term 2 each student should have two meetings with their supervisor: the first will be an introductory meeting and the second should take place before the dissertation progress report is due.
  The Dissertation Progress Report includes the following:
• Dissertation Progress Report form
• title and chapter breakdown
• an abstract of 1000 words
• a bibliography
  This Dissertation Progress Report must be submitted to the Postgraduate Programmes Officer by the end of Week 9 of Term 2. The progress reports will be reviewed by the MA Convenor, who will contact the students in the event of any problems.
  During Term 3 each student should meet with their supervisor on three occasions (spread evenly across the term). The supervisor is permitted to read one rough draft of a dissertation, which must be sent to them by the end of Term 3.
  Students receive five supervisions for their MA dissertations, two in Term 2 and three in Term 3. Supervisions are generally around 45-60 minutes in length, but the initial two meetings may be shorter.
  Face-to-face supervision of dissertations concludes at the end of term 3. Over the summer months of July and August, email contact is at the supervisor's discretion.
  Dissertations are due in September. Dissertation calendar
  TERM 1
• Week 6: dissertation proposal writing workshop
• End of Week 9: proposal due
  TERM 2
• 2 meetings with supervisor
• End of Week 9: Dissertation Progress Report due
  TERM 3
• 3 meetings with supervisor
• End of Term 3: deadline for sending a draft to supervisor.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Plan and execute a research project in the field of literary studies or literary translation studies.
• Develop a specialised insight into their select topic.
• Engage analytically with key debates and major theoretical concepts in their chosen field of literary studies or literary translations studies.
• Demonstrate an understanding and awareness of research methodology, including any relevant ethical considerations.
• Locate, assess and critically analyse relevant sources of information.
• Organise, edit and present materials relating to a selected range of primary and secondary texts.
• Demonstrate writing and referencing skills appropriate to postgraduate level.

Indicative reading list

Reading lists can be found in Talis

Subject specific skills

Develop a specialised insight into their selected topic.

Transferable skills

Engage analytically with key debates and major theoretical concepts in their chosen field of literary studies or literary translation studies.
Demonstrate an understanding and awareness of research methodology, including any relevant ethical considerations.
Locate, assess and critically analyse relevant sources of information.
Organise, edit and present materials relating to a selected range of primary and secondary texts.
Demonstrate writing and referencing skills appropriate to postgraduate level.