HSMDN3-Dissertation
Module Provider: History
Number of credits: 90 [45 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring / Summer module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4
Module Convenor: Dr Rohan Deb Roy
Email: r.debroy@reading.ac.uk
Type of module:
Summary module description:
This module allows students to enhance and utilise the knowledge, understanding and skills developed across the whole of the programme, by working on a topic which reflects their own enthusiasms and research interests. It enables them to work in close cooperation with an academic specialist, and to draw on other experts' opinion as necessary. It aims to offer the opportunity to sample at first hand the experience of the research historian, and to produce a piece of work, based upon primary sources, which makes a contribution to the extension of historical knowledge.
Aims:
This module allows students to enhance and utilise the knowledge, understanding and skills developed across the whole of the programme, by working on a topic which reflects their own enthusiasms and research interests. It enables them to work in close cooperation with an academic specialist, and to draw on other experts' opinion as necessary. It aims to offer the opportunity to sample at first hand the experience of the research historian, and to produce a piece of work, based upon primary sources, which makes a contribution to the extension of historical knowledge.
Assessable learning outcomes:
The student will be expected to be able to:
- Attend a series of training sessions
- Discuss critically the range of primary and secondary sources available with regard to their chosen area of specialism
- Assess and apply relevant research methodologies and techniques with respect to their chosen area of specialism
- Situate their own research work within the wider context of the subject's historiography and the current state of scholarship
- Identify and utilize appropriate bibliographical, archival and other sources of relevant information, using information technology as appropriate
- Summarise, document, report and reflect on progress
- Collate, process and critically evaluate substantial amounts of historical material, using information technology as appropriate
- Demonstrate original, independent and critical thinking
- Devise andmanage a research project
- Communicate their arguments effectively on paper, supporting them with an appropriate scholarly apparatus
Additional outcomes:
- The module will develop oral skills through participation in seminars and the presentation on the student’s research topic.
- The module will support progress in the dissertation through feedback on the first draft of the introduction and one chapter, encouraging students to respond to feedback and learn how to revise their academic writing
Outline content:
The module deals with the range and nature of the source materials potentially available for the study of history and encourages students to think critically about their use. It covers issues connected to the choice and refinement of a research project, and the different methodologies which may be deployed together with an assessment of their respective value. Practical skills required for the location of bibliographical and historical material, including the use of electronic means of bibliographic searching and information retrieval and storage, are included, together with training in the use of local and national archives and libraries. The module also deals with communication skills, including those required to construct a clear and properly referenced written text, as well as oral skills and those needed to communicate graphically, for example through the use of Powerpoint presentations. Since the dissertation is intended to be an individual and self-selected research effort, the student will be expected progressively to prepare a series of ‘work-in-progress’ reports covering the methodology, literature and source material, under the guidance of the specialist research supervisor and the Programme Director, before writing the substantive final dissertation.
Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
All students will be allocated a supervisor by the end of November after an initial literature search and a discussion about the research topic with the MA Director. The student and supervisor agree a forward plan of action to cover the rest of the academic year. Meetings are arranged ad personam, and monitored by the MA Director, with fortnightly meetings usually being the norm in the Autumn and Spring terms, three-weekly meetings thereafter. In addition, supervisors will offer comments and help via email. They will also give advice and criticism as necessary on ‘work-in-progress’ reports, drafts of chapters and upon drafts of the completed work before submission.
In addition, in the Spring Term, students will be further supported in their dissertation work by a series of seminars and workshop that provide opportunities to undertake a range of web-based and electronic exercises dealing with bibliographical searches and data storage.
At the end of the Spring Term students will deliver an oral presentation on the subject of their research in front of members of staff and postgraduate students. This will count for 10% of the overall mark.
Students should note that supervisors will not be able to provide feedback on any draft after 1 August before submission.
| Autumn | Spring | Summer | |
| Project Supervision | 5 | 10 | 3 |
| Guided independent study: | 250 | 250 | 382 |
| Total hours by term | 255 | 260 | 385 |
| Total hours for module | 900 |
| Method | Percentage |
| Dissertation | 90 |
| Oral assessment and presentation | 10 |
Summative assessment- Examinations:
n/a
Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:
Oral presentation undertaken during the Spring Term. The oral presentation mark will count for 10% of the overall mark of the dissertation.
Dissertation of 20,000 words excluding endnotes/footnotes and bibliography to be submitted by the Friday prior to 20th September before 1pm.
Formative assessment methods:
Dissertation proposal week 7, Autumn Term
Introduction and chapter draft submitted for feedback by 1 August
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.
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:
Re-submission of dissertation within 12 months of the original date specified in the syllabus.
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
THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS MODULE DESCRIPTION DOES NOT FORM ANY PART OF A STUDENT'S CONTRACT.