LS3DI: Dissertation

Module code: LS3DI

Module provider: English Language and Applied Linguistics; School of Humanities

Credits: 40

Level: Level 3 (Honours)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1 / 2

Module convenor: Dr Fraibet Aveledo, email: f.aveledo@reading.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Dr Natalia Kampakli, email: a.n.kampakli@reading.ac.uk

Additional teaching staff 1: Professor Rodney Jones, email: r.h.jones@reading.ac.uk

Additional teaching staff 2: Dr Erhan Aslan, email: erhan.aslan@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s): BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST TAKE LS1SG AND TAKE LS1ELS (Compulsory)

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: Yes

Last updated: 13 August 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module aims to build on the knowledge and skills students have gained in the first two year by giving them the chance to apply them to conducting an extended piece of original research. Students choose their own topics, design and implement their own study, and report the results, all under the guidance of a supervisors. Students will read widely in their chosen area and critically evaluate different theories, ideas, and methodologies, articulate a set of original and answerable research questions, choose a suitable methodology for answering their questions, carry out their study, and analyse and interpret their findings. They will also engage with the ethical issues associated with doing research. These activities will  help them develop skills in project planning and time management that they will be able to directly apply to any future career.  

Module learning outcomes

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

1. Carry out an extended independent investigation of a research topic, and develop creative intelligence in independent interpretation. 
2. Generalise knowledge and methods from one area of study to others to develop a critical and nuanced appreciation of issues; 
3. Critically assess contrasting arguments and claims from primary and secondary applied linguistic sources, in addition to challenging received conclusions 
4. Use in-text references and develop reference lists. 

Module content

Choosing and narrowing down your topic; Project planning and time management; Surveying previous literature; Critical reading; Constructing an argument from the literature; Identifying a research gap; Formulating research questions; Choosing a methodology and designing a study; Gathering Data; Ethical issues in research; Analysing quantitative and qualitative data; Reporting findings; Discussing and interpreting findings; Relating findings to previous literature; Reaching conclusions; Articulating limitations of the research; Revising and proofreading; Giving and receiving peer-feedback.  

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module is chiefly carried out through independent study under the guidance of a supervisor. Students will meet with their supervisor at least three times per semester.  

In addition, students will attend 4-5 workshops per term during which their instructor will briefly review key concepts in research. The bulk of the workshops will consist of guided pair work and group work during which students share with one another various aspects of their research, including drafts of different chapters of the dissertation and give one another feedback.  

Study hours

At least 15 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.

Reassessment

Additional costs