Course Details in 2023/24 Session

Module Title	LH Philosophical Project
School	Phil, Theology and Religion
Department	Philosophy
Module Code	08 27860
Module Lead	Darragh Byrne
Level	Honours Level
Credits	40
Semester	Full Term
Pre-requisites
Co-requisites
Restrictions	None
Exclusions
Description	In this module, students research and write a 10,000 word dissertation on a topic of their own choice, identifying issues which their work will aim to resolve, identifying, reading and analysing appropriate literature, and evaluating relevant arguments contained therein. They construct their own arguments and positions, and present both the exegetical and evaluative material in clear, concise English. Although the module is Level H, teaching begins in the summer term of Stage 2 (and coincides with that offered as part of the 20-credit module, Philosophical Project (09 21805): during his period students attend (i) two lectures on philosophical methodology aimed to help them to chose a topic and to begin work on it; (ii) a workshop in which they present draft versions of their work and work in groups to address problems encounter; and (iii) a more conventional (optional) seminar at towards the very end of term at which they are have an opportunity to raise and discuss further issues with each other and the module convenor. During this period they write a short research proposal (1,500 words max. – 50% longer than that written by students on the 20 credit version). This is submitted in Week 3/4 of the first term of their final year, at which point they are assigned a supervisor who gives feedback on the proposal. (The proposal is an exclusively formative assessment.) Over the course of the final year they have 4 or 5 further meetings with the supervisor, who reads and comments on work-in-progress and provides help and advice on the dissertation process. We do not anticipate that many Joint Honours students will take this module (and only those who are taking at least 80 credits in Philosophy at LH are permitted to do so) but amongst those who do, if any have unusually heavy exam commitments in Stage 2 in their other subject they are permitted to skip some or all of the Summer term sessions, and if any do so, an extra couple of seminars/tutorials are provided at the start of the first term of their final year.
Learning Outcomes	By the end of the module students should be able to: select a topic suitable for philosophical investigation; identify suitable texts for analysis and criticism, against the background of which they can advance their own arguments; for this module it is expected that these include some more challenging readings than would suffice for the 20 credit dissertation demonstrate an advanced ability to interpret philosophical arguments relevant to the topic; present good philosophical arguments of their own, supporting their conclusions about the topic of their research; clearly present these arguments verbally to a group do peers, and critically discuss them in a seminar format present this material well in a very substantial piece of philosophical writing, in a style and format appropriate to academic philosophical writing.
Assessment	27860-01 : 10000 word Philosophical Project : Coursework (100%)
Assessment Methods & Exceptions	Assessments: 10,000 word essay (100%) Reassessment: As above
Other
Reading List