ENMMED-Dissertation

Module Provider: English Literature
Number of credits: 90 [45 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Summer term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Dr John Scholar
Email: j.m.scholar@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 15,000 words, on a topic relating to literature in English. The topic will be arrived at in consultation with staff.

Aims:

This module aims to:

1. Enable students to conceive and select an appropriate topic on which to write a dissertation.


2. Encourage students to develop and use the advanced research skills they have acquired from the module "Materiality and Textuality," and to apply the understanding gained from their other modules.


3. Encourage students to develop and integrate their critical skills in relation to literature, its contexts, and associated theoretical preoccupations and possibilities.


4. 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:

1. Formulate questions and recognise relevant problems and complexities.


2. Examine and question their own assumptions, arguments, and choices of theoretical or critical languages.


3. Analyse arguments made by others in terms of their assumptions and claims.


4. Read texts and documents analytically, and with an understanding of their conventions.


5. Think and debate with peers and with experts in the field.


6. 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 around 4 hours of individual supervision and guidance. In addition, there will be a two-hour seminar to prepare the students for researching and writing an extended piece of scholarly and critical work.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Project Supervision			4
Practicals classes and workshops			2
Guided independent study:			894
Total hours by term	0	0	900
Total hours for module	900

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Dissertation	100

Summative assessment- Examinations:
Not applicable.

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

Coursework

Students must submit a 15,000-word dissertation on a topic of their choice, within the field of English literature.  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 some work in draft form, and they will receive tutorial feedback on these drafts.

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:
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: 30 March 2023