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

With a focus within modern and international history the Dissertation necessarily incorporates each stage of historical research - conceptualising the problem in the context of current knowledge and historiography, 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.

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 HISTORICAL ENQUIRY AND DEBATE WITHIN MODERN AND INTERNATIONAL HISTORY, INCLUDING DETAILED KNOWLEDGE OF A SPECIALIST TOPIC, WITH AN APPROPRIATE RANGE OF SOURCES.
Knowledge & Understanding

3. DEMONSTRATE AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE UNCERTAINTY, AMBIGUITY AND LIMITS OF HISTORICAL KNOWLEDGE, AND THE PERSPECTIVES THAT GIVE RISE TO IT PERTAINING TO MODERN AND INTERNATIONAL HISTORY
Learning

4. DEPLOY ACCURATELY ESTABLISHED TECHNIQUES OF HISTORICAL RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS
Enquiry

5. ANALYSE CURRENT HISTORICAL RESEARCH AND DEBATES, 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 HISTORICAL INFORMATION, IDEAS, PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS TO BOTH SPECIALIST AND NON-SPECIALIST AUDIENCES
Communication

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

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

Recommended Library Books and Journals

Berry, Ralph The Research Project: How to Write It Routledge, London, 4th Edn. 2000
Black, Jeremy & MacRaild, Donald Studying History Palgrave, Basingstoke, 2nd Edn. 2000
McDowell, W.H. Historical Research: A Guide Longman, London, 2002
O'Leary, Zina The Essential Guide to Doing Research Sage, London, 2004
[Staffordshire University] History Dissertation Handbook
Turabian, Kate L. A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations Univ. of Chicago Press, Chicago, 6th Edn. 1996