TYMPDS-Dissertation

Module Provider: Typography
Number of credits: 60 [30 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring / Summer module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2022/3

Module Convenor: Prof Gerry Leonidas
Email: g.leonidas@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

To enable students to show their intellectual mastery of a particular aspect of their subject by engaging in an advanced study of a topic chosen by themselves, and so to produce an extended piece of scholarly writing that is coherently argued, well-written and well-presented. The resulting dissertation should demonstrate the following learning outcomes.

Aims:
To enable students to show their intellectual mastery of a particular aspect of their subject by engaging in an advanced study of a topic chosen by themselves, and so to produce an extended piece of scholarly writing that is coherently argued, well-written and well-presented. The resulting dissertation should demonstrate the following learning outcomes.

Assessable learning outcomes:

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

• exercise independent intellectual judgement


• locate, analyse and explain information about their topic


• critically review and evaluate the literature associated with their topic


• employ methods of enquiry appropriate for and relevant to their topic


• organise complex material


• make and use illustrations that explain and reinforce their argument


• write clearly, and present their dissertation to a satisfactory standard

Additional outcomes:
By the end of the module students should have further developed their skills in personal organisation and time management through self-directed study, and should be able to make constructive use of feedback.

Outline content:

Students choose their topic in consultation with staff. Preliminary work will provide students with guidance on:

• identifying the characteristics of good dissertations


• searching effectively for published and unpublished sources of information and exploring relevant contacts


• efficient methods for note-taking and recording bibliographical details * literature reviews and bibliographic referencing


• drafting, presenting, revising and finalising a topic proposal


• choice of appropriate methods of enquiry (students may work with primary source materials, conduct interviews, and engage in empirical studies)


• writing and presenting the dissertation Once the topic has been agreed by the Programme Director, work will be mainly self-directed, though punctuated by tutorials with supervisors. Students will be expected to show the development of their writing in drafts for discussion.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
Although work will be mainly self-directed independent study, the preliminary stages will involve a series of seminars/workshops on basic research and scholarly writing skills. Students will make oral presentations of their topic proposal. As their work develops, students' drafts for discussion will provide the basis for tutorial meetings with supervisors. Supervisors will use these tutorials to monitor students' progress, and contact hours will be determined by agreement between student and sup ervisor.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures	4	4	4
Seminars	4	4	4
Project Supervision		10	20
Practicals classes and workshops	12
Guided independent study:	10	162	362
Total hours by term	30	180	390
Total hours for module	600

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Dissertation	100

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:
A substantial written study of approximately 10,000£13,000 words.

Formative assessment methods:

Penalties for late submission:

The below information applies to students on taught programmes except those on Postgraduate Flexible programmes. Penalties for late submission, and the associated procedures, which apply to Postgraduate Flexible programmes are specified in the policy £Penalties for late submission for Postgraduate Flexible programmes£, which can be found here: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmissionpgflexible.pdf
The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:

50%

Reassessment arrangements:

Resubmission of all coursework in the module.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1) Required text books: None

2) Specialist equipment or materials: None

3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear: None

4) Printing and binding: None

5) Computers and devices with a particular specification: None

6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence: None

 

Last updated: 22 September 2022