Module POLM876 for 2017/8
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Postgraduate Module Descriptor
POLM876: Dissertation Skills
This module descriptor refers to the 2017/8 academic year.
Module Aims
The aims of this module are to equip you with the professional skills needed to conduct an extended piece of research and writing. You will have the time and guidance to engage deeply with core debates across the sub-disciplines of politics, equipping you well with practical skills and contributing to your intellectual development. On successful completion of this module you should be a confident and independent researcher.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to: | |
---|---|
Module-Specific Skills | 1. design an individual research programme, incorporating appropriate social science research methods. 2. collate and analyse subject-specific information from a range of appropriate sources |
Discipline-Specific Skills | 3. develop the skills requisite to conducting an extended piece of academic writing, including: devising a research question, proposal and literature review; organizing and summarizing key literatures, debates, ideas and controversies. 4. locate your own research in key disciplinary debates, controversies and developments. |
Personal and Key Skills | 5. use IT for information retrieval and presentation. |
Module Content
Syllabus Plan
Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:
1. Elements of a research proposal
2. Devising a research question
3. Planning and writing a literature review
4. Deciding on your approach/methodology
5. Workshopping your ideas
6. Refining the proposal
7. The writing process
Learning and Teaching
This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
---|---|---|
14 | 136 | 0 |
...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:
Category | Hours of study time | Description |
---|---|---|
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | 14 | 7 x 2 hour lectures |
Guided independent study | 40 | reading in preparation for the lectures |
Guided independent study | 16 | web-based research |
Guided independent study | 80 | writing of research proposal and literature review |
Online Resources
This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).
http://www.ex.ac.uk/gradschool/skill_sessions_descript.htm
How this Module is Assessed
In the tables below, you will see reference to 'ILO's. An ILO is an Intended Learning Outcome - see Aims and Learning Outcomes for details of the ILOs for this module.
Formative Assessment
A formative assessment is designed to give you feedback on your understanding of the module content but it will not count towards your mark for the module.
Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
---|---|---|---|
Research proposal | 600 words | 1-5 | Written and or oral feedback |
Summative Assessment
A summative assessment counts towards your mark for the module. The table below tells you what percentage of your mark will come from which type of assessment.
Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
---|---|---|
100 | 0 | 0 |
...and this table provides further details on the summative assessments for this module.
Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
---|---|---|---|---|
Literature review | 100 | 3,500 words | 1-5 | Written and or oral feedback |
0 | ||||
0 | ||||
0 | ||||
0 | ||||
0 |
Re-assessment
Re-assessment takes place when the summative assessment has not been completed by the original deadline, and the student has been allowed to refer or defer it to a later date (this only happens following certain criteria and is always subject to exam board approval). For obvious reasons, re-assessments cannot be the same as the original assessment and so these alternatives are set. In cases where the form of assessment is the same, the content will nevertheless be different.
Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
---|---|---|---|
Literature review | Literature review (3,500 words) | 1-5 | Next reassessment period |
Indicative Reading List
This reading list is indicative - i.e. it provides an idea of texts that may be useful to you on this module, but it is not considered to be a confirmed or compulsory reading list for this module.
Burton, D.(ed)(2000)Research Training for Social Scientists SAGE. Dunleavy, P.(2003)Authoring a PhD. Palgrave MacMillan.
Harrison, L.(2001)Political Research: An Introduction. Routledge.
Hay, C.(2002)Political Analysis: An Introduction Palgrave MacMillan.
King, G, Keohane, R.O.and Verba,S. (1994) Designing Social Inquiry Princeton University Press.
Burnham, P.,Gilland,K.,Grant, W.and Layton-Henry,Z.(2004) Research Methods in Politics Palgrave MacMillan. Marsh, D.and Stoker, G.(eds)(2002)Theory and Methods in Political Science 2nd edition Palgrave MacMillan.
Silbergh, D.M.(2001) Doing Dissertations in Politics Routledge.
Silverman, D.(ed)(2004)Qualitative Research: Theory, Method and Practice SAGE.
Turabian, K.(1996) A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses and Dissertations Chicago,IL: University of Chicago Press.
Wisker, G.(2001)The Postgraduate Research Handbook Basingstoke: Palgrave MacMillan.