One 7500-9000 word project document [1, 2, 3]

Formative Assessment:
Supervisory surgeries will provide students with formative feedback on their methodologies and data analysis/manipulation. Students will be required to give a presentation at an appropriate point and this will be used to formatively assess their progress. Students will also have the opportunity to submit chapter plans and drafts to their supervisor for feedback prior to final submission of the project.

The module is designed for students to produce original investigative research in geography. The project identifies an issue which can be examined through fieldwork and/or by library/archival investigation. Students are encouraged to begin their fieldwork or gather other information, as appropriate, during the easter vacation prior to teaching block six. An academic supervisor is allocated to each student to provide guidance on the project.

The student will primarily be engaged in independent learning involving planning data collection (including fieldwork), analysis and presentation. Support for this module will be delivered through a distance learning mode by an on-line VLE (Blackboard) during the summer teaching block.
The formative learning will be delivered in 3 ACTIVITIES arranged early in the semester. The activities will normally consist of 1 to 3 TASKS that will allow the learning outcomes for each formative activity to be achieved. Each activity will require up to 8 hours of learning time.
Materials delivered during the workshop and via the VLE will provide guidance in time management, literature searching, report writing and presentation of research results.
In addition there will be a minimum of 6 on-line distance learning e-mail supervisory surgeries that will be incorporated into the activity hours to provide specific project guidance. Opportunities for face-to-face supervisory meetings will be made available during the summer school.

These will vary according to the nature of the project, but will commonly include:
University Library, Faculty of Sciences Learning Resource Centre, IT, Internet & email facilities, access to GIS and other software, access to laboratories and laboratory equipment, and access to field equipment.

Clifford, N. & Valentine, G. (2003) Key Methods in Geography. Sage Publications.
Flowerdew R & D Martin (2005) Methods in human geography a guide for students doing a research project. 2nd edition Pearson.
Hay, I. (2006) Communicating in geography and the environmental sciences. 2nd edition OUP.
Montello, D. & Sutton, P. (2006) An Introduction to Scientific Research Methods in Geography. Sage
Parsons, T & Knight, P.G. (2005) How to do your dissertation in Geography and other related disciplines (2nd Edition). Chapman & Hall.
Robson, C. (2002) Real World Research. Blackwell.
Rogers, A., Viles, H. & Goudie, A. (2002) The students' companion to geography. 2nd edition Blackwell.