AR3D1: Dissertation

Module code: AR3D1

Module provider: Archaeology; School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science

Credits: 40

Level: Level 3 (Honours)

When you'll be taught: Semester 2 / Summer / Semester 1 / Semester 2

Module convenor: Dr Gundula M£ldner, email: g.h.mueldner@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 20 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

Building on previous years of progressively more independent study, this module aims to enable you to carry out an independent research project in Archaeology or Anthropology, leading to the production of a written dissertation of c. 12,000 words. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Plan, organise, carry out and document a piece of primary research;
2. Frame and critically assess previous approaches to a research question, and identify or design methods relevant for its solution;
3. Identify, assemble, organise, analyse and effectively present data, information or arguments relevant to the description, discussion and solution of the question;
4. Present your work both orally and in writing, with relevant and well-produced tables, graphs and figures.

Module content

The module is designed to support you in the conduct of independent research and the writing of a dissertation. Guided by your supervisor and a range of lectures and workshops, you will identify a suitable topic, formulate research questions, aims and objectives, adapt or develop a suitable methodology, plan and conduct research through the gathering, critically reviewing and synthesising of information.  

They will analyse evidence using appropriate methods and tools and discuss the results within their wider research context in the form of a written dissertation. They will also present their project design and preliminary results in the form of an oral presentation. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Teaching on the module will be delivered principally via one-to-one supervision, plenary lectures, and workshops focussing on individual aspects of the dissertation process. In addition to the dissertation itself, you will produce a Research Design and participate in a Dissertation Conference, which includes giving a presentation to a small group of students and staff, all contributing to the final module mark. You will also be invited to submit outline plans, chapter drafts and other materials for formative feedback from their supervisors at various points during the year. 

The number of supervision hours as well as hours spent on fieldwork, lab work or external visits will vary between projects and individual student requirements.

Note that teaching for this module will begin in Part 2.

Study hours

At least 20 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• 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 three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/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.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

You will be invited to submit outline plans, chapter drafts and other materials for formative feedback from their supervisors on set dates at various times during the year. 

Reassessment

Additional costs