Dissertation (10,000 words) [100%] [Learning outcomes 1-8]

With a focus within politics and its historical context the Dissertation incorporates appropriate stages of research - conceptualising the selected problem, identifying and locating appropriate sources, reading them with the technical competence, critical understanding and insight necessary to establish what can be learned from them, and presenting the results in a clear, coherent, cogent and attractive form. It therefore not only has scholarly value in its own right, but also provides a comprehensive test and display of the skills, strengths and limitations of its author.

12 hours of supervision which provides the basis for 288 hours devoted to independent study.

Library, where students will find relevant books, journals, newspapers and periodicals.
Internet, where there are relevant Web sites.

The Blackboard virtual learning environment will be available (where relevant) to support this module. Details will be supplied in the module handbook.

Bryan Greetham, How to Write Your Undergraduate Dissertation, 2nd ed. (Palgrave Macmillan, 2014)
Stella Cottrell, Dissertations and Project Reports: A step by Step Guide (Palgrave Macmillan, 2014)
Nicholas Walliman, Your Undergraduate Dissertation: The Essential Guide for Success, 2nd ed (Sage, 2014)

1. APPLY THE RESEARCH SKILLS, METHODS AND TECHNIQUES ACQUIRED OVER THE PREVIOUS TWO YEARS
[Application]

2. A SYSTEMATIC UNDERSTANDING AND KNOWLEDGE OF KEY ASPECTS OF POLITICAL AND HISTORICAL ENQUIRY AND DEBATE, INCLUDING DETAILED KNOWLEDGE OF A SPECIALIST TOPIC, WITH AN APPROPRIATE RANGE OF SOURCES.
[Knowledge & Understanding]

3. DEMONSTRATE AN UNDERSTANDING OF POLITICS IN ITS HISTORICAL CONTEXT.
[Learning]

4. DEPLOY ESTABLISHED TECHNIQUES OF POLITICAL AND HISTORICAL RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS [Enquiry]

5. ANALYSE CURRENT DEBATES IN THE STUDY AND RESEARCH OF POLITICS IN ITS HISTORICAL CONTEXT, AND CRITICALLY EVALUATE ARGUMENTS, ASSUMPTIONS, CONCEPTS AND DATA TO MAKE REASONED JUDGEMENTS
[Analysis]

6. DEVISE APPROPRIATE QUESTIONS TO ACHIEVE A SOLUTION, OR IDENTIFY A RANGE OF SOLUTIONS TO COMPLEX ISSUES
[Problem Solving]

7. COMMUNICATE AND ANALYSE INFORMATION, IDEAS, PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS TO POLITICAL PROBLEMS IN THEIR HISTORICAL CONTEXT TO BOTH SPECIALIST AND NON-SPECIALIST AUDIENCES [Communication]

8. MANAGE ONE'S OWN LEARNING, EXERCISE INITIATIVE, AND DEPLOY EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGIES. [Reflection]