Undergraduate Module Descriptor

ANT3040: Anthropology Dissertation

This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.

Module Content

Syllabus Plan

An introductory seminar will outline the process of writing the dissertation, expectations regarding standards of argument and research, and formal requirements. It will also provide guidance as to how to find a viable topic. You will then be assigned to thematic study groups convened by the module leader and guided by another member of staff acting as expert advisor. You will produce an initial plan and literature list in the first month of the semester and a full first draft by the first month of the second semester. Both items will be posted on ELE and you are expected to contribute to your study group's ELE blog. In the two study group meetings, you will present on your work in progress and receive feedback from the expert advisor. You will be assigned another student on whose work in progress you are expected to comment.

Learning and Teaching

This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:

Scheduled Learning and Teaching ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
112890

...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled Learning and Teaching activity 2 hoursSupervision meetings with module leader and expert advisor
Scheduled Learning and Teaching activity2 hoursIntroductory seminar will outline the process of writing the dissertation, expectations regarding standards of argument and research, and formal requirements. It will also provide guidance as to how to find a viable topic.
Scheduled Learning and Teaching activity5 hoursStudy Groups. Students will then be assigned to thematic study groups convened by the module leader and guided by another member of staff acting as expert advisor. In the two study group meetings, students will present on their work in progress and receive feedback from the expert advisor. Each student will be assigned another student on whose work in progress they are expected to comment
Scheduled Learning and Teaching activity2 hoursLibrary session
Guided independent study120 hoursDissertation research and production of first draft of dissertation.
Guided independent study11 hoursPreparing presentations of research-in-progress for study group meetings
Guided independent study120 hours Completion of final dissertation
Guided independent study40 hoursInitial dissertation title, plan and literature list

Online Resources

This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).

 ELE – http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/

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 assessmentSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Initial dissertation plan and bibliography1500 words1,4,5,6Written
A first draft of the dissertationVariable with the aim to submit as complete a draft as possible 1-6Written
2 presentations of work in progress (one per term)5-10 mins each in the context of the seminars1, 2, 6Oral

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.

CourseworkWritten examsPractical exams
10000

...and this table provides further details on the summative assessments for this module.

Form of assessment% of creditSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Final dissertation (integrating the dissertation plan, first draft, and bibliography)1009,000 words1-8Written

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 assessmentForm of re-assessmentILOs re-assessedTimescale for re-assessment
DissertationDissertation (9,000 words)1-8August/September assessment period

Re-assessment notes

Any dissertation plan and bibliography as well as dissertation for which extension has been granted will be assessed in the same way as a dissertation submitted to the original deadline.