HS2PFD: Preparing for your Dissertation

Module code: HS2PFD

Module provider: History; School of Humanities

Credits: 20

Level: Level 2 (Intermediate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Dr Elizabeth Maeve Barnes, email: e.barnes@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: Yes

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module guides students towards a detailed design of their Part 3 dissertation project. This module aims to inspire and prepare students for their dissertation by directing them to begin independent work on a large research project (their dissertation) under the supervision of a member of the History Department. Through a series of in-person and recorded lectures, students will be introduced to key elements in research design, and asked to think about how they will select primary source material and conceptual frameworks appropriate to their project. With supervisors, students will think practically and critically about sources, methods, and approaches that can inform their further independent work at Part 3.

Module learning outcomes

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

1. Identify and understand the key literature and conceptual frameworks that will shape their research project
2. Reflect on the sources, methods, and approaches that inform their analyses of the past through an assessed research report
3. Demonstrate the ability to design a large research project within an assessed detailed dissertation plan
4. Work independently, with supervision, on a research project, and understand some of the issues that arise in dissertation work and how to overcome them

Module content

Students are expected to attend a series of lectures in semester 2. These lectures focus on generic dissertation advice, including locally-based dissertation research (e.g., using the library, the University’s special collections, and MERL, the Berkshire Record Office, and the National Archives). Additionally, students will receive a series of lectures outlining the development of the various conceptual frameworks that inform historical research.

Students are also expected to watch videos from a bank of online resources relating to primary source types, their advantages and limitations, and how they can be used in Part 3 dissertations.

Tutorials with supervisors will involve more focused advice on methods and approaches best suited to individual students’ research ideas, including advice for studying particular periods and geographical areas.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Lectures will initially offer broad advice about approaching the research project. The next set of lectures will focus on the various conceptual frameworks that historians have used to approach the past, and which may inform the research design of students’ dissertation projects. Subsequent focus on independent work with the supervision of a member of the department, which will involve two tutorials on method/approach and two focused sessions for individuals on research design.

Colleagues will prepare of a bank of online resources to aid and guide students’ independent research, including videos, notes, and reading lists.

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: /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 may ask for written feedback on an outline of their dissertation plan, up to 2 sides of A4.

Reassessment

Additional costs