Undergraduate Module Descriptor

LAW3047C: Dissertation

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

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
Discussion of research and analysis development through individual supervision meetings and in the context of group workshopsAt least three meetings per term1-2, 4, 6-9Individual oral and/or written feedback from supervisor during supervision meetings as set out in the module handbook

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
Research Report202,000 words1, 2, 4, 7, 8Written feedback sheet and individual meeting with supervisor
Dissertation8010,000 words1-9Written feedback and (if needed), individual meeting with supervisor

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 (10,000 words) (100%)1-9August/September reassessment period

Re-assessment notes

Students who fail the dissertation module will be required to submit a reworked paper on the same topic to reflect on and learn from the feedback they will have received on the dissertation as submitted at first instance.

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.

B Allison and P Race, The Student’s Guide to Preparing Dissertations and Theses (Routledge Cavendish 2004)

R Banaker and M Travers, Theory and Method in Socio-Legal Research (Hart, 2005)

J Bell, Doing your Research Project (4th edn, Open University Press 2005)

L Blaxter and C Hughes, How to Research (3rd edn, Open University Press 2006)

J Grix, The Foundations of Research (Palgrave 2004)

E Higgins & L Tatham, Successful Legal Writing (3rd edn, Sweet and Maxwell 2015)

J Knowles, Effective Legal Research (4th edn, Sweet and Maxwell 2016)

M McConville, Research Methods for Law (Edinburgh University Press 2007)

N Salkind, Exploring Research (7th edn, Prentice Hall 2009)

M Salter and J Mason, Writing Law Dissertations: an Introduction and Guide to the Conduct of Legal Research
(Longman, 2007)

D Stott, Legal Research (2nd edn, Routledge Cavendish 1999)