MSMSTA: Option A

Module code: MSMSTA

Module provider: Grad Cen for Medieval Studs; School of Humanities

Credits: 20

Level: Postgraduate Masters

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Professor Rebecca Rist, email: r.a.c.rist@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: Yes

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 7 October 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This Option provides an opportunity for students to advance their knowledge and understanding of a particular subject area through an in-depth study of relevant sources and of advanced scholarship in the field, and to demonstrate their own independent capacity for research.    

Module learning outcomes

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

1. locate, analyse and evaluate primary sources relevant to their field using proper critical and comparative methods
2. display a critical understanding of existing scholarly interpretations of the subject
3. reveal an ability to deal with complex issues within a broader conceptual framework
4. demonstrate initiative and self-direction in their methodology, and an appropriate level of originality in their application of knowledge
5. organise and present their material to a high standard in accordance with scholarly protocols 

Module content

A subject is chosen by the student, with the guidance of the Centre staff, from subjects offered within the GCMS. As the subjects offered are related to staff research, students are exposed to the most up-to date analyses and gain knowledge of scholarship in the specific discipline or disciplines. Subjects offered in the past have included: Chaucer; Dante; the Medieval Book; Romance; Medieval Women; Byzantine material culture; and Arthurian literature. It may be possible for a subject to be tailor-made to fit a student’s own interests, to provide a foundation for an intended doctoral application. Students may replace one Option by an appropriate module offered within another MA programme.       

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Introductory orientation sessions in the Autumn Semester guide students in their choice of the subjects to be studied. Students are expected to carry out their own extended searches, and to design their research methodology and the structure of their written work in consultation with their supervisor. Working bibliographies will be presented for comment. Tutorials offer an opportunity for background and contextual discussion as well as detailed analysis of the subjects chosen for research and written work.    

Study hours

At least 10 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: /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