Module SOCM904 for 2019/0
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Postgraduate Module Descriptor
SOCM904: Dissertation
This module descriptor refers to the 2019/0 academic year.
Module Aims
The object of the dissertation is to give you the opportunity to display your abilities in the collection, handling and ordering of material, and to be an exercise in the communication of ideas, appropriate to research topics chosen, with help and guidance from members of the academic staff, by themselves. The aims are to afford you the opportunity to obtain a solid knowledge of the issues that pertain to your dissertation topics. It will also develop your ability to explore and present your arguments in relation to empirical data provided by library research and/or fieldwork, where the latter is undertaken.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to: | |
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Module-Specific Skills | 1. In depth knowledge of a specialised subject area in cultural sociology. 2. design an individual research programme, incorporating appropriate social science research methods 3. collate and analyse subject-specific information from a range of appropriate sources |
Discipline-Specific Skills | 4. assimilate and critically analyse data from an appropriate range of sources in sociology or anthropology 5. develop cogent argument drawing on themes and concepts from sociology or anthropology 6. communicate complex information and ideas relating to sociology or anthropology effectively in writing. |
Personal and Key Skills | 7. undertake and manage an individual research project 8. use IT for information retrieval and presentation 9. manage and organize the different phases of the research project from conception to final presentation 10. prepare a substantive written presentation of the material and arguments. |
Module Content
Syllabus Plan
Number of student-led workshops on 'Dissertation research and writing.'
At least four supervision meetings: one to initiate the dissertation followed by three meetings to give academic guidance including specific feedback on draft work
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 |
---|---|---|
6 | 594 | 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 | 4 | One-to-one supervision |
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | 2 | dissertation workshop |
Guided independent study | 594 | Independent study |
Online Resources
This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).
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 |
---|---|---|---|
Initial proposal and bibliography | 1500 words | Oral | |
Summary of findings | 1500 words | Oral |
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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Dissertation | 100 | 15,000 words | 1-10 | Written and or oral feedback |
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 |
---|---|---|---|
Dissertation | Dissertation (15,000 words) | 1-10 | 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.
Gary King, Robert O. Keohane, and Sidney Verba, (1994) Designing Social Inquiry, Princeton UP.
Dawn Burton (ed.) (2000), Research Training for Social Scientists: A Handbook for Postgraduate Researchers, Sage.
Brett-Davies, M. (2007) Doing a Successful Research Project. Palgrave
Subject-specific reading will vary according to research topic