Module LAW3110C for 2022/3
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Undergraduate Module Descriptor
LAW3110C: Legal Research Paper 1
This module descriptor refers to the 2022/3 academic year.
Module Content
Syllabus Plan
Students will be asked to select their field of study from a range of subject areas offered by staff. Having reached agreement with staff over supervision, students will undertake a research phase to narrow down and refine their field of study to a specific title.
Students will meet with their supervisor on a mutually agreed basis (not less than three meetings during the term) to plan and discuss their research, analysis and writing. Students will also be supported by specific teaching materials (which may include group workshops) for guidance and advice on: managing and structuring the paper; research using databases and library resources; preparing the Report (see below); referencing; and effective writing. Students will receive regular formative advice and feedback through the individual and group supervision activities.
Midway through the module, students will submit a Report (1000 words). This work is summatively assessed and enables students to demonstrate and test their interim progress with their Legal Research Paper. The Report will take the form of an abstract of the paper setting out the aims of the paper and summarising the strands of discussion that will be covered in the final paper. It will include a short indicative bibliography.
Thereafter, it is anticipated that students will focus on independently developing and writing up the final paper with support from their supervisor, group sessions and independent planning. Students will be expected to prepare their final submission as if they are submitting their work to a peer-reviewed journal and the assessment will include consideration of how the journal reviewers might consider the submission.
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 |
---|---|---|
7.5 | 142.5 | 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 | 1.5 | Individual supervision meetings; a minimum of three meetings is expected over the term. |
Scheduled learning and teaching activities | 6 | Research training |
Guided independent study | 22.5 | Identifying and locating research materials. |
Guided independent study | 60 | Carrying out research, reading and taking notes |
Guided independent study | 60 | Drafting and writing up |
Online Resources
This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).
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 & LTatham, 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)