LWMTDI: Dissertation

Module code: LWMTDI

Module provider: School of Law

Credits: 60

Level: Postgraduate Masters

When you'll be taught: Semester 2 / Summer

Module convenor: Dr Ruvi Ziegler, email: r.ziegler@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

The aim of this module is to develop high-level skills in research design, management and implementation through conduct of a major independent research project and writing of the Dissertation. 

Module learning outcomes

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

1. Demonstrate a detailed knowledge of the topic of the dissertation
2. Critically analyse and evaluate the topic
3. Place the subject matter of the dissertation within a wider legal and/or socio-political context
4. Access, take advantage of, and critically use different sources of research
5. Construct an argument that can be sustained through a work of such length

Module content

Students will research and write a Dissertation of a maximum of 20,000 words. The title of the Dissertation must be agreed with the module convenor and the proposed supervisor. 
 
Students should note that some PGT programme specifications set down specific requirements for the Dissertation. For example, the Dissertation may need to relate meaningfully to the subject area of the programme in question (e.g. 'International Law'). Check the relevant programme specifications for this information. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module will be delivered primarily through a series of weekly seminars. The seminars explore a variety of issues related to the process of research design and execution, the nature of law and legal writing, and a range of theoretical and methodological approaches to legal research. Sessions will be held in which students’ tentative dissertation questions will be workshopped. This is to assist students in formulating focused and feasible questions for their dissertations. 

Study hours

At least 5 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.

Feedback given throughout the process by supervisor: in particular, the supervisor will review and provide feedback on at least one substantive draft chapter of the dissertation prior to submission. 

Reassessment

Additional costs