Course Details in 2024/25 Session

Module Title	LI Dissertation Preparation
School	Phil, Theology and Religion
Department	Theology and Religion
Module Code	09 28288
Module Lead	Nicholas Adams / Isabel Wollaston
Level	Intermediate Level
Credits	20
Semester	Semester 2
Pre-requisites
Co-requisites
Restrictions	Submission of a completed Dissertation Choice Form by the published deadline.
Contact Hours	Project supervision-4 hours Practical Classes and workshops-16 hours Guided independent study-180 hours Total: 200 hours
Exclusions
Description	The Dissertation Preparation module is designed to support students in identifying and developing a research topic for their level H dissertation. It includes sessions designed to support students in identifying an appropriate research topic, locating relevant sources of information, writing and delivering a short presentation of the proposed research topic, writing a literature review; presenting, developing and structuring an extended argument, etc.). One session will focus on placement-based and/or field-work based research and the ethical and / or professional issues this may involve. The Dissertation Tutor co-ordinates these sessions in co-operation with staff from Information Services, the College of Arts and Law Academic Writing Advisory Service (AWAS), and other members of staff within the School of Philosophy, Theology and Religion. Each student also works with their allocated Dissertation Supervisor who can advise on the development of a research proposal, the location and use of appropriate resources, and comment on how to approach a literature review. These supervision meetings should last no longer than 1 hour each and consist of up to 4 meetings. By the end of the module, successful students will have identified a clear research topic, and conducted an initial review of how that proposed topic relates to existing literature.
Learning Outcomes	By the end of the module students should be able to: Identify an intellectually coherent research project as the basis for a 20/40 credit Level H Dissertation that is consistent with (a) their own interests, (b) the resources available in Birmingham or accessible elsewhere, and (c) the availability of appropriate supervision; Present their proposed research topic and its significance in a formative individual oral presentation, and in a written summary of that presentation of the proposed research topic (summative); Locate, analyse and assess the quality of existing primary and secondary sources relevant to their chosen topic in the form of a literature review; Demonstrate their familiarity with academic conventions for citing literature; Be able to undertake future research for the dissertation with confidence and efficiency.
Assessment	28288-01 : 1500 word Summary of Presentation : Presentation (35%) 28288-02 : 2000 word Literature Review : Coursework (65%)
Assessment Methods & Exceptions	Assessment: 1 x 1500-word summary of an individual presentation of the proposed research topic and its significance (35%); 1 x 2000-word literature review (65%) Reassessment: Resubmission of any failed component, if it results in failure of the module as a whole.
Other	None
Reading List