EDM097: English Language Education Dissertation

Module code: EDM097

Module provider: Institute of Education

Credits: 60

Level: Postgraduate Masters

When you'll be taught: Semester 2 / Summer

Module convenor: Dr Kari Sahan, email: k.e.sahan@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: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module aims to develop students’ ability to carry out a small-scale investigation under the supervision of a tutor. Students will work independently, demonstrating their ability to identify an appropriate research topic and methods to investigate it. They will practise finding up-to-date literature on the subject using the library, including online journals and e-books as appropriate for their chosen topic. The dissertation will be expected to follow a given structure, and include an introduction, literature review, methods, results and discussion and conclusion section. Students will be expected to consider the ethical implications of their study and apply to the ethics committee if necessary.

Aims: 

• To research and write up a 15,000-word dissertation on a subject related to English language education that meets the assessment criteria
• To develop an in-depth understanding of the chosen area
• To develop an argument from a considered and well-informed point of view on the topic
• To develop and make use of your academic skills in identifying and defining a research topic, applying appropriate research techniques and, where relevant, offering practical conclusions
• To display academic rigour in carrying out the agreed programme and in presenting your findings
• To produce a high quality, fully referenced dissertation supported by appropriate evidence

Module learning outcomes

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

1. Provide an introduction setting out the topic and the approach and guiding the reader as to the content of the substantive chapters to come
2. Establish a conceptual/theoretical context and provide a thorough review of the work already done in the particular field
3. Set out a presentation and analysis of the material including, if appropriate, the relevant qualitative and quantitative data
4. Put forward an appropriate generalisation of the findings leading to conclusions and implications for policy and/or practice and research
5. Select and apply appropriate tools for analysing data and appraise and evaluate research data against research questions
6. Engage critically with a wide body of literature and concepts exercising informed and independent critical judgment through structured and reasoned argument

Module content

Introductory sessions focussing on identifying a research topic and developing the dissertation proposal. Tutorials focussing on developing the initial dissertation outline, data collection, and writing. Much of the content will be independent work.

The specialist subject skills knowledge and understanding will very much be directed by the subject of the dissertation.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The contact time for the dissertation consists of an introductory lecture and individual supervision. EDM102 compliments and supports students' work on their dissertation, for example, providing training in research methods.

Contact for dissertation supervision is not to exceed 10 hours. Guidelines for this contact will be elucidated in the Programme Handbook.

Study hours

At least 3 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 50% 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.

Students will show drafts of some chapters to the supervisor who will provide written and verbal feedback on these. Students will receive formative feedback, which can be fed forward to contribute to the development of the dissertation, during their tutorial meetings with supervisors.

Reassessment

Additional costs