EN3JDA: Joint Dissertation - English and History of Art

Module Provider:

English

Number of credits:

40 [20 ECTS credits]

Level:

H (Honours)

Terms in which taught:

312

Module Convenor:

Professor JB Bullen

Pre-requisites:

Englsih Part 1 and History of Art Part 1

Co-requisites:

Modules excluded:

Module version for:

2007/8

Aims:
The Dissertation is designed to develop students’ independent skills in the formulation, research and scholarly presentation of an extended and substantial critical argument that draws on expertise or concepts and arguments acquired from both disciplines.

Assessable learning outcomes:
By the end of the Dissertation students will be expected to:
• show an ability to plan, organize and carry out a substantial piece of independent research
• identify, select and deploy in cogent argument a wide range of appropriate resources and relevant evidence
• demonstrate, where relevant, a confident awareness of and engagement with critical debates surrounding the selected topic
• exercise skills of editing, proof-reading and formal presentation to high standards of scholarly accuracy.

Additional outcomes:
By the end of the modules students will also be able to
• use a variety of IT resources (including word-processing software and on-line information resources)
• organize his or her time effectively.

Outline content:
The Dissertation is a compulsory element in the English and History of Art degree. It provides students with the challenge of producing an extended piece of independent criticism on a topic arising from their own interests and related to knowledge and skills acquired in both departments. The acceptable range of topics is extremely wide, providing that the study makes or examines a link between literature and visual art. Aside from this basic requirement, the only restrictions on choice are that the topic must be capable of substantive critical development, and that—while the topic may relate to or grow out of work previously undertaken—it must not overlap unduly with taught materials covered in other modules the student has taken.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
While preparatory workshops on dissertation skills are organized in the Spring and Summer terms of Year 2, the module consists primarily of independent study and writing. After consultation with the liaison officers, students submit a form with a proposed title by Week 9 of the Spring term. Students will be assigned two supervisors, one in SEAL and one in History of Art, at the beginning of the Summer term. Students should meet with their supervisors to receive preliminary guidance and bibliographical advice during the Summer term. Thereafter, students are entitled to two supervision sessions from each supervisor during the Autumn and Spring of Part 3. Both supervisors will read and comment on one draft only of the Dissertation, provided that it is submitted by a date specified by SEAL.

Contact hours:

Assessment:
Coursework
Students submit an 8,000-10,000 word dissertation by Monday of the second week of the Summer term in their final year.

Relative percentage of coursework
100%.

Penalties for late submission
Ten marks (out of 100 on the normal University scale) will be deducted from a piece of work submitted up to one calendar week after the original deadline or any formally agreed extension of that deadline. Once this period has elapsed, a mark of zero will be recorded.

Examinations
None.

Requirements for a pass
A mark of 40%.

Reassessment arrangements
Dissertation to be submitted by 1 September if it carries an original mark of less than 40%.