Proposal and annotated bibliography (10%) 1000 words (LOs 2, 5)
Dissertation (90%) 15 000 words (LOs 1-5)

Students will identify the content of their own dissertation project as a culmination of their experiences on the critical pathway and use the university’s library resources and online databases to explore the critical contexts of their project.

The topic will be drawn from the literature of the period c1850 to the present, and will frame the analysis using the critical and socio-cultural contexts explored on the course.

1. demonstrate a systematic knowledge of developments in literature of the period and an in depth knowledge of an area of literature
Knowledge and Understanding

2. demonstrate a critical understanding of current research and advanced scholarship in relation to an aspect of the literature of the period
Analysis
Learning

3. apply complex critical and theoretical concepts in an innovative or original way
Enquiry
Application

4. organise critical, theoretical and primary material and analyse in a sustained argument
Communication
Problem solving

5. independently organise and manage a substantial research project
Problem Solving

Students will be allocated a supervisor who will help them to establish the content and objectives (the research question) of the dissertation. Supervisions will be conducted by email and Skype.

A discussion board will explore generic research issues and MA level study skills.

The module will consist of regular supervisory meetings to discuss the progress of students' research and provide feedback on written work submitted in draft form. Primarily, however, the module will be based on independent learning, focusing on the following tasks: (a) establishing a preliminary bibliography and refining the scope of a chosen topic; (b) pursuing a programme of systematic research, including the selection and evaluation of critical, conceptual and contextual materials; (c) providing chapter-length drafts for supervisors' comment at mutually-agreed points in the academic year, and refining and editing these drafts prior to final submission of the dissertation

Library
Blackboard
JSTOR
MLA International Bibliography

Dolowitz, David P (2008). Researching Online. London: Palgrave.

Oliver, Paul (2008). Writing Your Thesis 2nd ed. London: Sage.

Thomas, R. Murray; Brubaker, Dale L (2000). Theses and dissertations: a guide to planning, research, and writing. Westport, Connecticut : Bergin and Garvey.

Farina, Geoff, Erspamer, Francesco, Mongiat Farina, Caterina, Eco, Umberto (2015). How to Write a Thesis. Boston: MIT Press.

Becky S.C. Kwan (2008). ‘The nexus of reading, writing and researching in the doctoral undertaking of humanities and social sciences: Implications for literature reviewing. English for Specific Purposes
27. 1, pp. 42–56.

Levin, Peter (2011). Excellent Dissertations. Maidenhead: McGraw-Hill Open University Press