Single or Joint honours history

Library, the Internet, on-line journals.
Students will be encouraged to use relevant online documents and resources for historians and the Design collection as appropriate.
Students will also be provided with the opportunity to visit the Staffordshire County Record Office.
The Blackboard virtual learning environment will be available (where relevant) to support this module. Details will be supplied in the module handbook.

This module is intended to assist students, preparing to undertake an undergraduate dissertation in history and to develop the empirical/source-based , analytical, research, library (including on-line), bibliographical, stylistic and presentational skills necessary to plan a dissertation.

The initial weeks of the module are intended to develop an understanding of what a dissertation involves, and to assist in selecting a topic and beginning background and library based research on which to base dissertation planning. This will be followed up by an exploration of issues in relation to primary sources.

Students will also be provided with a range of guidance on undertaking literature review, selecting methodologies, and theoretical frameworks and the presentation of dissertations.

A portfolio of work of approximately 2,500 words which contains:

1. A research proposal (Learning Outcome 1, 2, 3 and 4)
- A title for proposed dissertation (this can be adjusted at a latter date).
- Context for the dissertation.
- The aims of the study and some research questions.
- Explanation of proposed methodology and sources.
- A Research timetable.
- An extensive bibliography - containing books and journal articles from your library research.
2. A summary of the key arguments of three pertinent secondary sources from bibliography - of which one must be from an on-line journal. (Learning Outcome 3).
3. Source Documental Appraisal - which discusses the nature and limitations of this source material and how it relates to secondary reading undertaken (Learning Outcome 2).
4. Appendices including a record of tutorials, library, internet and other research (Learning Outcome 4).

Threre will be a strong emphasis on student engagement with a range of materials and undertaking a review of relevant journals. The following provide useful guidance texts on undertaking dissertations:

Blaxter, Lorraine et. al How to Research, Open Univ. Press, Buckingham, 2nd edn. 2001
Berger, Stefan & Feldner, Heiko & Passmore, Kevin Writing History: Theory and Practice, Arnold, London, 2003
Bell, Judith, Doing your Research Project, Open University Press, Milton Keynes, 3rd edn. 1999
Berry, Ralph The Research Project: How To Write It, Routledge, London, 4th edn. 1999
Black, Jeremy & MacRaild, Donald M. Studying History, Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke 2nd edn. 2000
Levin, Peter. Excellent Dissertations, Open University Press, Maidenhead 2005
Jordanova, Ludmilla: History in Practice, Arnold, London, 2000
Hampson, Liz. How's Your Dissertation Going, Lancaster 1994
McDowell, W.H. Historical Research: A Guide, Longman, London, 2002
Turabian, Kate L. A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, Univ. of Chicago Press, Chicago, 1996
Swetnam, Derek. Writing your Dissertation, Oxford, 2000

This module will be taught over twelve weeks via a mixture of workshops and tutorials - which are intended as a support for a significant amount of independent study.

The workshops (where you will often be expected to work in groups) will also be supplemented by individual tutorials.

Workshops 20 hours, Tutorials 1 hour, Independent Study 129 hours.