ENMMDE-Dissertation

Module Provider: English Literature
Number of credits: 90 [45 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Spring / Summer term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2019/0

Email: a.s.mangham@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:
The module will prepare and guide the student in the research and writing of a dissertation of up to 20,000 words, on a topic relating to modern literature in English. The topic will be arrived at in consultation with staff.

Aims:
This module aims to:
i) Enable students to conceive and select an appropriate topic on which to write a dissertation.
ii) Encourage students to develop and utilise the advanced research skills they have acquired from the module on "Materiality and Textuality," and to apply the understanding gained from their other modules.
iii) Encourage students to develop and integrate their critical skills in relation to modern literature, its contexts, and associated theoretical preoccupations and possibilities.
iv) Encourage students to produce a clearly written, coherently argued, and well-presented and documented dissertation.

Assessable learning outcomes:
By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to write a well-conceived, clear, coherent, and well-presented and documented dissertation, demonstrating advanced knowledge, and advanced research and analytical skills.

Additional outcomes:

It is expected that, by the end of the module, students will be able to:
i) Formulate questions and recognise relevant problems and complexities.
ii) Examine and question their own assumptions, arguments, and choices of theoretical or critical languages.
iii) Analyse arguments made by others in terms of their assumptions and claims.
iv) Read modern texts and documents analytically, and with an understanding of their conventions.
v) Think and debate with peers and with experts in the field.
vi) Assess claims to literary, scholarly, and historical authority, and to think in an independent manner.

Outline content:
The dissertation will be written on a subject chosen by the student, in consultation with the Programme Director and the dissertation supervisor. It is expected that the dissertation will be a distinctive piece of critical work, that has been conceived, researched, and written by the student.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
Supervisors will provide between 5 and 15 hours of individual supervision and guidance. In addition, there will be a two-hour seminar at the end of the spring term to prepare the students for researching and writing an extended piece of scholarly and critical work.

Summative assessment- Examinations:
Not applicable.

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:
Students must submit a 20,000-word dissertation on a topic of their choice, within the field of modern literature in English. The specific nature and title of the dissertation will be arrived at in consultation with the dissertation supervisor and the Programme Director.

Formative assessment methods:
Students will submit several drafts of chapters, and they will receive tutorial feedback on these drafts.

Penalties for late submission:
Penalties for late submission on this module are in accordance with the University policy. Please refer to page 5 of the Postgraduate Guide to Assessment for further information: http://www.reading.ac.uk/internal/exams/student/exa-guidePG.aspx

Assessment requirements for a pass:
In order to be eligible for the award of the degree, candidates must obtain a mark of or exceeding 50% for the dissertation.

Reassessment arrangements:
Re-submission of coursework.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):
1) Required text books:
2) Specialist equipment or materials:
3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear:
4) Printing and binding:
5) Computers and devices with a particular specification:
6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence:

Last updated: 10 April 2019