This module allows students to focus on an area of specific interest to them and to produce a project based on independent research. It will build on the research skills developed in the three preceding Core modules and give students basic skills in selecting and refining an area of study, supported by feedback in seminars and tutorials, that will form the basis on which to build for the compulsory Independent Study module in Final Year. In plenary sessions students will receive practical advice and support on project management, research management, finding sources, methodology, and crafting an argument. In small groups students will work on choosing and refining a topic, preparing a proposal, and planning, with feedback from the tutor and peer review of formative work. Individual tutorials will enable the student to discuss questions specific to their projects. A 2,500-word project in English will be produced at the end of the module, along with a 500-word abstract in the target language, thereby developing students’ academic writing skills in English as well as their ability to summarise in the target language.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the module students should be able to:
demonstrate their ability to start the research process by choosing a topic, formulating specific research
questions, and distinguishing between appropriate methods, all under the guidance of a tutor and in response to peer review.
demonstrate some independence in collecting, organizing and analysing material/data and applying relevant research methods.
appraise a specific research question in the light of the relevant theoretical and cultural contexts, evaluate the materials / data collected, and begin to engage creatively with relevant debates in a format appropriate to the topic.