HSMTTD: Towards the Dissertation

Module code: HSMTTD

Module provider: History; School of Humanities

Credits: 20

Level: Postgraduate Masters

When you'll be taught: Semester 1 / 2

Module convenor: Dr Rohan Deb Roy, email: r.debroy@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s): IN THE SAME YEAR AS TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST TAKE HSMDSS (Compulsory)

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 will prepare students for the dissertation module. The MA dissertation is likely to be their first substantial and original scholarly contribution to knowledge. This module will help students develop relevant historical, organisational, and technical skills that will embolden them to carry out the work required to produce their dissertation.   

Module learning outcomes

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

1. Identify a plausible and original topic for the dissertation 
2. Develop a succinct research proposal 
3. Compare secondary literature on an area of history 
4. Construct a bibliography of primary sources   
5. Apply relevant knowledge in creating a structure for the dissertation 
6. Deliver an oral presentation on the dissertation topic  

Module content

This module guides students in deciding their topic of dissertation, imparts the skills necessary towards drafting a research proposal, and trains them to construct an outline as well as a roadmap for the dissertation. This module culminates in an oral presentation workshop in which students deliver a brief talk on their dissertation project in front of an audience comprising of departmental staff. Throughout, students are supported by the programme director and their individual dissertation supervisors.   

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

At the start of the Semester 1, the programme director leads a seminar on the scope and nature of MA history dissertations. Thereafter, students are guided across Semester 1 and Semester 2 by their individual supervisors. Supervisions happen in the form of regular in-person/online meetings as well as via email correspondence. At the oral presentations workshop, students have the opportunity to receive detailed feedback on their dissertation project from other members of the departmental staff.   

Study hours

At least 8 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 are encouraged to discuss with the programme director and their individual supervisors before finalising their research proposal, outline of dissertation structure and their oral presentation. 

Reassessment

Additional costs