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UNIT GUIDE 2016/17
POLI31555 The Dissertation (Politics)POLI30011 Dissertation (with Quantitative Methods) (Politics)
Teaching Block: 1 and 2 Weeks: 1-23
Dissertation coordinators:
Dr Magnus Feldmann (unit owner) and Dr Egle Cesnulyte
Level: H/6
Phone: (0117) 3318248 (Magnus Feldmann)(0117) 331 7272 (Egle Cesnulyte)
Credit points: 40
Email: [email protected] and [email protected]
Prerequisites: None
Office: 2.6, 10 Priory Rd (Magnus Feldmann)1.07, 10 Priory Rd (Egle Cesnulyte)
Curriculum area: Methods and Approaches
Unit owner office hours:
Thursday 3pm-3.50pm, Friday 3pm-3.50pm (TB1)TB2 office hours will be posted on the Dissertation Blackboard site after ChristmasScheduled office hours do not run during reading weeks, though you can still contact tutors for advice by email and to arrange individual appointments
Lecture time and location:Weeks 1, 3, 5 and 7 (TB1), Friday 4pm, Priory Road Complex 2D3Weeks 16, Monday 10-11am, Priory Road Complex 2D1 and week 20 (location and time TBC) Learning OutcomesStudents completing this unit will have:•Gained a knowledge of general issues in research design and research methods relevant to the study of politics. •Acquired a deeper knowledge of topics in research design relevant to their dissertation •Designed a research project •Used research methods relevant to their dissertation •Developed an ability to plan and organize an extended piece of work based on individual initiative•Developed an ability to manage a research project over an extended period of time •Developed an ability to write a long piece of work on a political topic •Possess an in-depth understanding of a political topic Requirements for passing the unit: Satisfactory attendance at workshops Completion of all formative work to an acceptable standard Submission of the research ethics self-assessment form (Week 9) Combined mark of all summative work must be a pass (40 or above)Assessment: Word
count:Weighting: Deadline: Day: Week:
Summative assessment: research synopsis
1500 words 15% 09.30am Friday 25th November 2016
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Formative assessment: writing sample
3500 words 0% 09.30am Friday 24th February 2017
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Formative assessment: presentation at Dissertation Conference
N/A 0% Wednesday 1st March 2017
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Summative assessment: dissertation
8000-10000 words
85% 09.30am Friday 28th April 2017.
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Instructions for the submission of coursework can be found in Appendix A Assessment in the school is subject to strict penalties regarding late submission, plagiarism
and maximum word count. A summary of key regulations is in Appendix B.1
Marking criteria can be found in Appendix C.
Unit Aims To develop and consolidate students’ research skills. To develop and consolidate students’ knowledge of research methods. To offer students the opportunity to extend their knowledge of a political topic of interest. To extend students’ knowledge of the research skills required for dissertation-writing. To provide advice, guidance and support on presentations skills.To allow students to write a lengthy piece of political research.
Unit descriptionThis unit provides an applied introduction to political research and methods of inquiry with the aim of helping you to produce an 8,000-10,000 word dissertation. The dissertation is an extended piece of written work that allows you to identify and investigate a particular question and explore it systematically. In order to do this, students are expected to demonstrate research skills, methodological awareness and an appreciation of the intellectual challenge involved in formulating a valid research design. The unit combines lectures, workshops, a dissertation conference and a structured supervisory and support system. It will provide you with a methodological foundation for your research and guide you through this process during the academic year.
Transferable skills Analytical skills Presentation skills Research skills Verbal and writing skills Time management skills Leadership skills to manage a research project Presentation skills
Development and feedbackYou will receive feedback on the work for this unit as follows: Written feedback from your supervisor on your 1,500-word research proposal. Verbal and/or written feedback from your supervisor on your 3,500 word writing sample. Verbal and/or written feedback on your 15-minute presentation from your supervisor or a member
of staff in attendance. Verbal feedback at the workshops and drop-in sessions. Verbal feedback from your supervisor. Written feedback on your dissertation.
Core readingThe reading to accompany this unit is available in e-reserves, in the library or electronically in the case of online journal articles. There is suggested reading attached to each of the lectures. These readings will also guide the workshops.
The main course texts are: Marsh, D. and G. Stoker (eds.) (2010) Theory and Methods in Political Science (3rd edition),
Basingstoke: Palgrave, JA71 THE. Burnham, P., K. Gilland, W. Grant and Z. Layton-Henry (2008) Research Methods in Politics,
Basingstoke: Palgrave, JA86 RES Harrison, L. (2001), Political Research: an Introduction, London: Routledge, JA86 HAR
The books listed above can be found in the short loan collection on 3 hour loan. These readings cover the lecture topics as well as providing additional material on other methods which you may consider using in your research. You should use this addition reading to inform and support your chosen methodological
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approach and to guide you through the research process. Evidence of further reading on political research is likely to be needed in your research synopsis, and also in your dissertation.
Allocation of supervisorsStudents are invited to complete a form stating their dissertation title or topic and summarising their ideas in a short abstract (paragraph) by the end of the summer term (prior to taking the unit). Those who complete this process by Week 0 will be allocated a supervisor in Week 1. All other students must complete this process by the end of week 1 (TB1). The latter will be contacted about a supervisor in Week 2.
The supervision processThe dissertation is a challenging piece of independent research. In order to help you progress through this task you have a dissertation supervisor to guide you throughout the duration of the project.
This is perhaps the first time that you will engage in writing a lengthy piece of work while receiving individual advice from one of your tutors. For this reason, it is useful to outline here the basic norms that inform that relationship so that you know what to expect from your supervisor and what contribution is expected from you.
The role of the dissertation supervisor consists of: Meeting with you during the academic year.
Responding to your email queries.
Helping you to decide the topic of your dissertation and advise you about your primary and secondary reading.
Helping with formulating ideas questions and, where appropriate, hypotheses.
Discussing the progress of your work.
Offering guidance on the proposed structure of your dissertation.
Offering written feedback on your 1,500-word research synopsis.
Offering verbal and/or written feedback on a writing sample (draft chapter or equivalent) and on your presentation (where possible).
Advising you on matters of presentation, such as the title page, contents page, pagination, footnoting and bibliography (with support of the dissertation coordinator). This information will be posted on Blackboard in TB2.
Make sure that you take advantage of your dissertation supervision meetings. These will be crucial in guiding you through the research process, providing you with advice and knowledge and helping you to work through any problems you encounter. If you are arranging a supervision meeting with your supervisor make sure that you have a clear idea of what you want to discuss and what kind of feedback you would like to receive. If you have questions to ask or an agenda to address it is useful to let your supervisor know in advance so that they have an opportunity to make suggestions. At the end of each supervision session it is helpful to plan out clearly the next stage of work and the target dates. Remember: take the initiative in approaching your supervisor and do not wait to be asked!
The dissertation needs to represent a body of individual study and research which is fit for its purpose and that demonstrates internal and intellectual congruence. Remember that the dissertation is your own project and represents your work and not that of your supervisor. In other words, you are expected to work independently on your project. The supervisor's role is to give advice. Approval of your progress cannot be taken to imply any particular grade or classification.
Teaching arrangementsThis unit will run over both teaching blocks. It combines a varied set of teaching arrangements including:
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Lectures: There will be lectures in weeks 1, 3, 5, 7 in TB 1 and weeks 16 and 20 in TB2. These lectures will introduce you to key themes in political research, addressing issues that you are likely to face as you undertake your research. Each lecture is supported by further reading. The lecture slides will be made available in electronic format through the ‘Blackboard’ Virtual Learning Environment. Please note that the main form of communication with students will be through Blackboard and via email.
Lectures – week 1, 3, 5, 7, 16, 20Week 1 - The Research Process: Getting Started (Dr Magnus Feldmann)Week 3 - The Research Synopsis (Dr Magnus Feldmann)Week 5 - Reviewing the Literature and Identifying Sources (Dr Magnus Feldmann)Week 7 - Methodology, Methods and Research Ethics (Dr Magnus Feldmann)Week 16 - Summarising and Presenting your Research(Dr Egle Cesnulyte)Week 20 - Writing-up your Dissertation: some practical tips (Dr Magnus Feldmann)
Seminars: There will be in three workshops in TB1 (Weeks 2, 4, 8). The workshops are taught by Dr Egle Cesnulyte and designed to help you apply the research advice introduced in the lectures in your own dissertation, while providing you with the skills you need to tackle the practical issues and challenges involved in producing a substantive piece of individual research. To prepare for your workshops this unit guide includes a number of suggested readings that could, where relevant, help you with different aspects of the dissertation process. As the workshops will be mainly student-led, you will also be expected to reflect on your own experience in the light of the suggested readings and come to the workshops prepared to apply this knowledge to your own project.
Drop-in sessions: these are one-to-one meetings for students with the dissertation coordinator. They are run in much the same way as office hours, but are exclusively for dissertation students. They are provided for those requiring additional support with their dissertation beyond the workshops and the supervision meetings discussed below. These clinics begin in Week 1 of TB1. In TB1 they will take place in Michelle’s office (Room 2.3, 10 PR). You do not need to make an appointment for these. Simply turn up during the times and days as outlined below:
Drop-In Sessions
Dr Egle Cesnulyte: G.06 (meeting room), 11 Priory Rd TB-1: Monday, 3-4pm, Weeks 1-5, 7-11;TB-2: Wednesday 11-12pm, Weeks 13-17, 18-23Dr Magnus Feldmann, 2.6, 10 Priory RoadTB-1: Thursday, 4-5pm, Weeks 1-5, 7-11TB-2: TBCPlease note that there are no drop-in clinics during reading weeks or during exam and vacation time.You may also see the dissertation co-ordinators in term-time during office hours. Check the blackboard site for details.
Supervision meetings: these are one-to-one meetings with your supervisor. Students generally have 4-5 meetings with their supervisor over the course of the dissertation process, outside office hours. In addition, you may also make reasonable use of office hours, and use email for minor queries, or occasional shorter meetings. It is strongly recommended that you make full use of your supervisor who will be able to advise on the specifics of the dissertation process as it applies to you, offer intellectual input and advice on your research, clarify any uncertainties you may have and generally help you keep on the right track in relation to your research. Your supervisor will discuss your project with you in general terms, and may advise on useful sources, an appropriate structure and suitable approaches to adopt in your research.
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A one-day dissertation conference will take place for all dissertation students on Wednesday 1st
March 2017. It will allow you to present your work in a 15 minute time slot, in a conference panel consisting of small friendly group of peers with your supervisors and some other academic staff. You will be able to use your presentation and persuasion skills while receiving immediate feedback from the audience in a Q&A session that follows the presentation. You can find out more about the conference below and information will be posted on Blackboard nearer the time of the event.
Assessments:Formative assessment The formative assessment for this unit consists of: A writing sample, usually a chapter of your dissertation (or equivalent), of no more than 3,500 words to
be submitted by email to your supervisor. With the approval of your supervisor you may submit this draft work before the deadline (in TB2). It may help to have feedback on your work well in advance of the final submission deadline. Please apply to your supervisor if you require an extension.
A 15-minute presentation, accompanied by a handout to be delivered at the one-day dissertation conference. If you do not attend the dissertation conference, you must deliver the presentation to your supervisor at an agreed time.
Summative assessment and deadlines 15% of unit mark: A 1500 word research synopsis, to be submitted via blackboard 85% of unit mark: An 8,000-10,000 word dissertation to be submitted as ONE spiral bound copy to the
UG Office and one electronic copy to Blackboard. Please note that the electronic copy may be posted on Blackboard upon Graduation.
The Research Synopsis The research synopsis allows you to plan your research project and identify the sources and methods most appropriate in order to answer your question. In other words, the research synopsis will describe your project as well as allowing you to explain how you will undertake the research for your dissertation. You will need to decide whether to use a qualitative or quantitative approach or both; what data to use and how to gather it; and which analytical tools to apply. These choices will need to be justified as being the most appropriate to answer the dissertation question. You should raise all of these issues with your supervisor.
A good research synopsis will include answers to following:
1) What the research aims are and what the dissertation is about. You may identify at specific research question or set of research questions at this point. Some students may develop hypotheses.
2) Why the research is important. By providing a short discussion of the secondary literature you will be able to set your research topic in context of existing research while exploring and explaining contested concepts where appropriate and a summary of observations/ claims. The secondary literature should be drawn from academic sources – notably, books (primarily research monographs), journal articles and research papers/ summaries.
3) How the research is to be conducted. You will be expected to identify the information (data) which is most appropriate to help you answer the question set. The choice will obviously be informed by the approach you are taking (your methodology) that you decide to use for your research project. You will also reflect on the ethical considerations surrounding your research. In other words, in this section you should consider:
a. What methodology you have chosen to undertake research on this topic and why? b. What sources of information (data sources) will you use? How will you gather this information? c. What are the ethical implications of your research, if any?
4) What conclusions can be derived from your analysis above? In other words, what answer or set of answers do you expect to produce? Of course you may not have a complete answer to this as the research is still to be done, but you may be able to identify some possible conclusions or findings. You should also explain what the limitations of your research are (i.e. be honest and reflective about the approaches you are using. It shows that you know what you are doing).
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When assessing your research synopsis, the following questions will be asked: Do you have a clear research focus/question? Is your topic feasible for an undergraduate dissertation? How conversant are you with research already conducted in your field of interest? Is your proposed methodological approach appropriate and coherent? Have you explained the problems that you might you encounter when putting the proposal into
practice? Are there any ethical issues which might be encountered? Is your project coherent? Will the data, narrative or discussion allow you to answer you research
question(s)?
You may duplicate work in your research proposal within your dissertation. However, you should remember that you will come a long way between November and April. It is rarely advisable for students to simply ‘cut and paste’ their research synopsis into their dissertations; you are best off revisiting it in the light of the research you will have carried out by the end of the dissertation process.
You will also not be ‘held’ to your research proposal or penalised if your subsequent project diverts from it. You should think of the research proposal as a statement of intent or a plan of action rather than contract. All research is inevitably a dialogue of some sort between what we set out to do and what we actually 'discover' in the research itself, and it is perfectly normal to revisit, update and hone our earlier assumptions as the research develops. That said, you DO need to make sure that you know broadly where you are going with your dissertation.
Ethics Approval Process - IMPORTANT: please note: You are bound by a strict ethics approval process. It is a University of Bristol requirement that all research follows this procedure. An ethics self-assessment will be posted on Blackboard. This form is due in Week 9 (please check blackboard for further details). Please note that while the ‘ethics self-assessment’ does not carry any marks for satisfactory completion you are not permitted to do any research at the University of Bristol without approval having been granted. Even if you are conducting desk-based research, you are still required to submit an ethics application.
You may submit your ethics self-assessment at any point prior to the deadline in Week 9, and you should consult with your supervisor on the ethical ramifications of your research before submitting this application. Please see the supplementary guide to School Procedures for Ethics Self-Assessment which will be posted on Blackboard. You are not permitted to conduct any fieldwork, including making contact with gatekeepers, until your proposed idea has been reviewed and approved. You cannot gain ethics approval retrospectively.
Your research synopsis must be no longer than 1500 words. Ideally it should be no shorter than 1200 words. It should be submitted via blackboard.
Writing Sample (Draft Chapter or equivalent)The writing sample is a formative element of assessment of this unit. This does not contribute to the final dissertation mark. The aim of the exercise is to ensure you produce a substantive draft of work on which you can get real feedback on your progress (and to give your supervisors a chance to assess this too).
You should use the exercise in the way that you think will be most useful for your own research. Most of you will want to submit a draft chapter. Others might submit a draft introduction, based on the research synopsis or possibly selection of extracts from various parts of your dissertation. When you submit your writing sample please make sure you identify which of these approaches you have adopted – label your writing sample carefully. This will enable your supervisor to give you appropriate feedback.
Supervisors will offer informal written and/or verbal feedback on the writing sample, but will not a mark for the work unless they think doing so would be beneficial to your individual progress. However, as this is a formative piece of work, supervisors will be asked to make sure that the work of a passable standard (40+). Non-submission would warrant a mark of 0 (and no credit points). Likewise, you do not need to worry about self-plagiarism in your final draft. It is perfectly acceptable for you to use material from this exercise in the dissertation itself. Your writing sample is to be submitted to your supervisor by email.
The Dissertation Conference
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One-day dissertation conference – Thursday 3 March 2016 - week 18 (Reading Week TB2)
This event provides you with the opportunity to present your work to your colleagues, your supervisor and other members of the academic staff. In so doing you can expect to receive constructive comments, questions and suggestions. The dissertation conference is also an opportunity to learn about your fellow students’ work, share best practice and discuss your own individual experiences of dissertation research. It also provides you with an important opportunity to practice and develop your presentation skills. Career opportunities are significantly enhanced for those who are able to present their work to time, well-paced, and with confidence in a way that will be accessible to all.
Students will be divided into groups and each student will be able to present their work for 15 minutes. Presentations will be tightly chaired and will not be allowed not exceed this limit. Time-keeping is a key presentation skill in general. In this particular case, you also need to make sure you leave suitable time for questions from the audience. All presentations must be accompanied by a hard-copy handout for distribution to the audience. The group will then be expected to engage critically with the presentation and presenters must be prepared to address questions in the ensuing discussion. All students will receive verbal feedback from their supervisors or another member of staff who will be part of the audience.
All students are expected to attend the full conference proceedings. Refreshments will be made available by the School.
Specific Advice on your Conference Presentation:
1) You have a 20 minute slot for your presentation. You should aim to speak for no more than 15 minutes to allow 5 minutes for questions. You will need to rehearse to make sure you stick to time.
2) You should use this opportunity to present your research to the rest of the group. How you do so is up to you and in part may depend on where you are in the research process. However, you might want to touch on what you are doing and why it is important; how you are planning to do it; what you have done so far; provisional findings; and potential or actually challenges you have faced or can expect to face. You may want to go into more detail on one aspect of your project on which you have been working.
3) Remember that the presentation is a unique opportunity to get comments and feedback on your work from a range of different perspectives (academics and your fellow dissertation students). As academics, presenting our work to peers at conferences is one of the most important ways we solicit opinion pre-publication and develop and improve what we do. Many careers also involve giving presentations. You should aim to use this opportunity to get the most benefit for your own project and to help improve further your presentation skills.
4) PowerPoint will be available in each of the rooms if you want to use it.
Remember!
You can also find tips on how to write a dissertation on the blackboard site.
Nearer the submission date you will be provided with information how to present/format your dissertation.
Lecture OutlineLectures 1-6 take place in Weeks 1, 3, 5, and 7 of Teaching Block 1; and Weeks 16 and 20 of Teaching Block 2
Lecture 1 – The Research Process: Getting Started (Dr Magnus Feldmann)
Time and Location: Week 1, 4pm Friday, Priory Road Complex 2D3
Learning outcome: A clear understanding of the steps involved in planning and scheduling your research, justifying your project, and establishing a research question (or questions) and, where appropriate, hypotheses.
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Further Reading:‘A guide to writing a politics dissertation’ in L. Harrison, (2001), Political Research: An Introduction London: Routledge, pp. 141-53. JA86 HAR. (e-reserve)‘Writing Dissertations’, in Dunleavy, P. (1986) Studying for a Degree in the Humanities and Social Sciences, Basingstoke: Palgrave, pp. 110-136. LB2395 DUN (e-reserve)‘Planning the Project’ in J. Bell (2010), Doing Your Research Project, Milton-Keynes, Open University Press, pp. 27-42. (e-book, available via library catalogue)
Questions to think about:1. How will I schedule my research over the course of the year?2. What is/are my research questions? Should I have hypotheses?3. What are the main problems I might fact when conducting my research?
Lecture 2 – The Research Synopsis (Dr Magnus Feldmann)
Time and Location: Week 3, 4pm Friday, Priory Road Complex 2D3
Learning outcome: To understand the distinction between the conceptualisation and operationalisation of research, the concept of ‘research design’, how research might be framed, and how to write a coherent research proposal (that is, the Research Design assessment).
Further Reading: J. Mason (2002), ‘Designing Qualitative Research’ in Qualitative Researching, 2nd edition, London, Sage, pp. 24-47 (e-reserve) P. Schmitter (2008) ‘The Design of Social and Political Research’, Working Paper available on the
website of the European University Institute, Florence, at http://www.eui.eu/Documents/DepartmentsCentres/SPS/Profiles/Schmitter/PCSDesignOfSocialPolRes.pdf (online)Also published in: in Donatella della Porta and Michael Keating, eds. (2008), Approaches and Methodologies in the Social Sciences: A Pluralist Perspective, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 263-295 (E-Book),
Questions to think about: 1. What kind of research design is relevant for my research project given my research question and the methodology I am using? 2. Do I have a clear idea of how to structure a research proposal (Research Design assessment)?
Lecture 3– Literature and Data (Dr Magnus Feldmann)
Time and Location: Week 5, 4pm Friday, Priory Road Complex 2D3
Learning outcome: An understanding of the concept of a ‘literature review’ and how to identify the relevant literatures; and an awareness of the various data sources that can be used in a dissertation.
Further Reading: ‘Refining the Problem: The Literature Review’, in Silbergh, D.M. (2001) Doing Dissertations in Politics: A Student Guide, London: Routledge, pp. 73-88. JA86 SIL (e-reserve; e-book may also be accessible via the library catalogue) ‘Literature Searching’ and ‘Reviewing the Literature’ in J. Bell (1992), Doing Your Research Project, Milton-Keynes, Open University Press, pp. 82-114. (e-book available via library catalogue)
Questions to think about:1. What kinds of literature am I planning to use in my dissertation? Am I gaining an adequate understanding of the relevant literatures?2. What data will I use in my dissertation? Does the choice of data sources make sense in the context of
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the research methodology/methods I have adopted for my research? 3. Do I need a ‘literature review’ in my dissertation?
Lecture 4 – Methodology, Methods and Research Ethics (Dr Magnus Feldmann)
Time and Location: Week 7, 4pm Friday, Priory Road Complex 2D3
Learning outcome: To understand the range of methodologies and methods available to use when conducting research, how to select appropriate methods, and where to go to find more information about ‘doing’ research.
Further Reading:▪ P. John (2010), ‘Quantitative Methods’ in D. March and G. Stoker (eds), Theory and Methods in Political Science (Third Edition), Basingstoke: Palgrave, pp. 267-84. JA71 THE. (e-reserve)▪ ‘Introduction’ in D. Yanow and P. Schwarz-Shea (2006) (eds) Interpretation and Method: Empirical Research Methods and the Interpretive Turn New York and London: M. E. Sharpe, pp. xi-xxvii. JA71 INT. (e-reserve)▪ P. Burnham et al (2004), ‘Ethics and Political Research’ in Research Methods in Politics, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan (e-reserve)
Questions to think about:
1. What kind of methods am I using? Do these methods really allow me to answer my research question(s)?2. What are the different methodologies and methods available to me? Why am I inclined towards some methods and away from others?3. What is the relevance of research ethics to my project?
Week 16 – Summarising and Presenting your Research (Dr Egle Cesnulyte)
Time and Location: Week 16, time/location tbc
Learning outcome: To understand techniques of effective presentation and synthesis and to consider ways in which both research might be communicated better, both verbally and in writing.
Further Reading:▪ University of Kent (undated) ‘Tips on making student presentations’ at http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/presentationskills.htm▪ J. van Emden and L. Becker (2010), ‘Delivery, non-verbal communication and nerves’, in Presentation
Skills for Students, Basingstoke: Palgrave. (e-reserve).▪ B. Chivers (2007) ‘Why do a presentation?’ in A Student’s Guide to Presentations (London: Sage)
available at:http://www.sagepub.com/sites/default/files/upm-binaries/17269_01_Chivers_Ch_01.pdf
Questions to think about?
1. How might I improve my presentation skills?2. What are the best ways of communicating my dissertation project? How do I tackle difficult questions?
Week 19 – Writing up your Dissertation: some practical tips (Dr Magnus Feldmann)
Time and Location: Week 20, time/location tbc
Learning outcome: To understand the challenges associated with writing up a long piece of work; and how those challenges might be addressed and overcome.
Further Reading:▪ ‘Writing Your Dissertation’, in Byran Greetham (2009) How to Write Your Undergraduate Dissertation, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. pp 323-347. LB2369 GRE (e-reserve)
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• ‘Writing Clearly: Style and Referencing issues’ and ‘Developing Your Text and Managing the Writing Process’, in Dunleavy, P. (2003) Authoring a PhD. How to Plan, Draft, Write and Finish a Doctoral Thesis or Dissertation, Basingstoke: Palgrave, pp. 103-156. LB2369 DUN (e-reserve)
Questions to think about:
1. How will I organise the writing up stage of my dissertation to ensure that I complete the project on time?
2. How might I use a self-editing technique to improve the quality of the final version of the dissertation?3. What is the guidance on presenting my dissertation?
Workshops:One-hour workshops take place in Weeks 2, 4 and 8.
Workshop 1 (Week 2) – Getting Started (Dr Egle Cesnulyte)
Learning Outcome: An understanding of the first steps to be taken in any research project and how that understanding might be applies to specific cases
This workshop will consider:- Finding a research topic and focus- Good and bad research questions- Hypotheses- Identifying puzzles- Research rationales and justifications
Lecture 1 reading is relevant for this workshop.
Workshop 2 (Week 4): Planning your research (Dr Egle Cesnulyte)
Learning Outcomes: An understanding of what a research synopsis is, and how a research synopsis might be structured
The workshop will consider:- Best practice in writing research synopses- Research design- Conceptualisation in research- Operationalisation of research projects- Establishing a chapter structure- Setting a research schedule
Lecture 2 reading is relevant for this workshop.
Workshop 3 (Week 8): Writing about Literature, Theory and Methods (Dr Egle Cesnulyte)
Learning Outcome: An understanding of the ways in which secondary literature and methods might be discussed in the context of a research project (and research synopsis).
The workshop will consider:- Why literature reviews (or discussion of existing research) matters.- The use of theory in research projects- The function of methodology and methods in research projects
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Lecture 3 and Lecture 4 reading is relevant for this workshop.
Appendix A
Instructions on how to submit essays electronically
1. Log in to Blackboard and select the Blackboard course for the unit you are submitting work for. If you cannot see it, please e-mail [email protected] with your username and ask to be added.
2. Click on the "Submit Work Here" option at the top on the left hand menu and then find the correct assessment from the list.
3. Select ‘view/complete’ for the appropriate piece of work. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have selected both the correct unit and the correct piece of work.
4. The screen will display ‘single file upload’ and your name. Enter your name (for FORMATIVE ASSESSMENTS ONLY) or candidate number (for SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENTS ONLY) as a submission title, and then select the file that you wish to upload by clicking the ‘browse’ button. Click on the ‘upload’ button at the bottom.
5. You will then be shown the essay to be submitted. Check that you have selected the correct essay and click the ‘Submit’ button. This step must be completed or the submission is not complete.
6. You will be informed of a successful submission. A digital receipt is displayed on screen and a copy sent to your email address for your records.
Important notes You are only allowed to submit one file to Blackboard (single file upload), so ensure that all parts of
your work – references, bibliography etc. – are included in one single document and that you upload the correct version. You will not be able to change the file once you have uploaded.
Blackboard will accept a variety of file formats, but the School can only accept work submitted in .rtf (Rich Text Format) or .doc/.docx (Word Document) format. If you use another word processing package, please ensure you save in a compatible format.
By submitting your essay, you are confirming that you have read the regulations on plagiarism and confirm that the submission is not plagiarised. You also confirm that the word count stated on the essay is an accurate statement of essay length.
If Blackboard is not working email your assessment to [email protected] with the unit code and title in the subject line.
How to confirm that your essay has been submitted You will have received a digital receipt by email and If you click on the assessment again (steps 1-
4), you will see the title and submission date of the essay you have submitted. If you click on submit, you will not be able to submit again. This table also displays the date of submission. If you click on the title of the essay, it will open in a new window and you can also see what time the essay was submitted.
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Appendix BSummary of Relevant School Regulations
(Further information is in the year handbook)
Attendance at classesSPAIS takes attendance and participation in classes very seriously. Seminars form an essential part of your learning and you need to make sure you arrive on time, have done the required reading and participate fully. Attendance at all seminars is monitored, with absence only condoned in cases of illness or for other exceptional reasons.
If you are unable to attend a seminar you must inform your seminar tutor, as well as email [email protected]. You should also provide evidence to explain your absence, such as a self-certification and/or medical note, counselling letter or other official document. If you are unable to provide evidence then please still email [email protected] to explain why you are unable to attend. If you are ill or are experiencing some other kind of difficulty which is preventing you from attending seminars for a prolonged period, please inform your personal tutor, the Undergraduate Office or the Student Administration Manager.
Requirements for credit pointsIn order to be awarded credit points for the unit, you must achieve:
Satisfactory attendance in classes, or satisfactory completion of catch up work in lieu of poor attendance
Satisfactory formative assessment An overall mark of 40 or above in the summative assessment/s. In some circumstances, a
mark of 35 or above can be awarded credit points.
Presentation of written workCoursework must be word-processed. As a guide, use a clear, easy-to-read font such as Arial or Times New Roman, in at least 11pt. You may double–space or single–space your essays as you prefer. Your tutor will let you know if they have a preference.
All pages should be numbered.
Ensure that the essay title appears on the first page.
All pages should include headers containing the following information:
Formative work Summative workName: e.g. Joe BloggsUnit e.g. SOCI10004
Seminar Tutor e.g. Dr J. HaynesWord Count .e.g. 1500 words
**Candidate Number**: e.g. 12345Unit: e.g. SOCI10004
Seminar Tutor: e.g. Dr J. HaynesWord Count: e.g. 3000 words
Candidate numbers are required on summative work in order to ensure that marking is anonymous. Note that your candidate number is not the same as your student number.
Assessment LengthEach piece of coursework must not exceed the stipulated maximum length for the assignment (the ‘word count’) listed in the unit guide. Summative work that exceeds the maximum length will be subject to penalties. The word count is absolute (there is no 10% leeway, as commonly rumoured). Five marks will be deducted for every 100 words or part thereof over the word limit. Thus, an essay that is 1 word over the word limit will be penalised 5 marks; an essay that is 101 words over the word limit will be penalised 10 marks, and so on.
The word count includes all text, numbers, footnotes/endnotes, Harvard referencing in the body of the text and direct quotes. It excludes, the title, candidate number, bibliography, and appendices. However, appendices should only be used for reproducing documents, not additional text written by
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you.
Referencing and PlagiarismWhere sources are used they must be cited using the Harvard referencing system. Inadequate referencing is likely to result in penalties being imposed. See the Study Skills Guide for advice on referencing and how poor referencing/plagiarism are processed. Unless otherwise stated, essays must contain a bibliography.
ExtensionsExtensions to coursework deadlines will only be granted in exceptional circumstances. If you want to request an extension, complete an extension request form (available at Blackboard/SPAIS_UG Administration/forms to download and School policies) and submit the form with your evidence (e.g. self-certification, medical certificate, death certificate, or hospital letter) to Catherine Foster in the Undergraduate Office.
Extension requests cannot be submitted by email, and will not be considered if there is no supporting evidence. If you are waiting for evidence then you can submit the form and state that it has been requested.
All extension requests should be submitted at least 72 hours prior to the assessment deadline. If the circumstance occurs after this point, then please either telephone or see the Student Administration Manager in person. In their absence you can contact Catherine Foster in the UG Office, again in person or by telephone.
Extensions can only be granted by the Student Administration Manager . They cannot be granted by unit convenors or seminar tutors.
You will receive an email to confirm whether your extension request has been granted.
Submitting EssaysFormative essays Summative essays
Unless otherwise stated, all formative essay submissions must be submitted electronically
via Blackboard
All summative essay submissions must be submitted electronically via Blackboard.
Electronic copies enable an efficient system of receipting, providing the student and the School with a record of exactly when an essay was submitted. It also enables the School to systematically check the length of submitted essays and to safeguard against plagiarism.
Late SubmissionsPenalties are imposed for work submitted late without an approved extension. Any kind of computer/electronic failure is not accepted as a valid reason for an extension, so make sure you back up your work on another computer, memory stick or in the cloud (e.g. Google Drive or Dropbox). Also ensure that the clock on your computer is correct.
The following schema of marks deduction for late/non-submission is applied to both formative work and summative work:
Up to 24 hours late, or part thereof Penalty of 10 marksFor each additional 24 hours late, or part thereof
A further 5 marks deduction for each 24 hours, or part thereof
Assessment submitted over one week late
Treated as a non-submission: fail and mark of zero recorded. This will be noted on your transcript.
The 24 hour period runs from the deadline for submission, and includes Saturdays, Sundays, bank holidays and university closure days.
If an essay submitted less than one week late fails solely due to the imposition of a late 13
penalty, then the mark will be capped at 40. If a fail due to non-submission is recorded, you will have the opportunity to submit the essay
as a second attempt for a capped mark of 40 in order to receive credit points for the unit.
Marks and FeedbackIn addition to an overall mark, students will receive written feedback on their assessed work.
The process of marking and providing detailed feedback is a labour-intensive one, with most 2-3000 word essays taking at least half an hour to assess and comment upon. Summative work also needs to be checked for plagiarism and length and moderated by a second member of staff to ensure marking is fair and consistent. For these reasons, the University regulations are that feedback will be returned to students within three weeks of the submission deadline.
If work is submitted late, then it may not be possible to return feedback within the three week period.
Fails and ResitsIf you fail the unit overall, you will normally be required to resubmit or resit. In units where there are two pieces of summative assessment, you will normally only have to re-sit/resubmit the highest-weighted piece of assessment.
Exam resits only take place once a year, in late August/early September. If you have to re-sit an exam then you will need to be available during this period. If you are not available to take a resit examination, then you will be required to take a supplementary year in order to retake the unit.
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Appendix C
Level 6 Marking and Assessment Criteria (Third / Final Year)
1st (70+) o Excellent comprehension of the implications of the question and critical understanding of the theoretical & methodological issues
o A critical, analytical and sophisticated argument that is logically structured and well-supported
o Evidence of independent thought and ability to ‘see beyond the question’
o Evidence of reading widely beyond the prescribed reading list and creative use of evidence to enhance the overall argument
o Extremely well presented: minimal grammatical or spelling errors; written in a fluent and engaging style; exemplary referencing and bibliographic formatting
2:1 (60–69) o Very good comprehension of the implications of the question and fairly extensive and accurate knowledge and understanding
o Very good awareness of underlying theoretical and methodological issues, though not always displaying an understanding of how they link to the question
o A generally critical, analytical argument, which shows attempts at independent thinking and is sensibly structured and generally well-supported
o Clear and generally critical knowledge of relevant literature; use of works beyond the prescribed reading list; demonstrating the ability to be selective in the range of material used, and the capacity to synthesise rather than describe
o Very well presented: no significant grammatical or spelling errors; written clearly and concisely; fairly consistent referencing and bibliographic formatting
2:2 (50–59) o Generally clear and accurate knowledge, though there may be some errors and/or gaps and some awareness of underlying theoretical/methodological issues with little understanding of how they relate to the question
o Some attempt at analysis but a tendency to be descriptive rather than critical;
o Tendency to assert/state opinion rather than argue on the basis of reason and evidence; structure may not be entirely clear or logical
o Good attempt to go beyond or criticise the ‘essential reading’ for the unit; but displaying limited capacity to discern between relevant and non-relevant material
o Adequately presented: writing style conveys meaning but is sometimes awkward; some significant grammatical and spelling errors; inconsistent referencing but generally accurate bibliography.
3rd (40–49) o Limited knowledge and understanding with significant errors and omissions and generally ignorant or confused awareness of key theoretical/ methodological issues
o Largely misses the point of the question, asserts rather than argues a case; underdeveloped or chaotic structure; evidence mentioned but used inappropriately or incorrectly
o Very little attempt at analysis or synthesis, tending towards excessive description
o Limited, uncritical and generally confused account of a narrow range of sources
o Poorly presented: not always easy to follow; frequent grammatical and spelling errors; limited attempt at providing references (e.g. only referencing direct quotations) and containing bibliographic omissions.
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Marginal
Fail
(35–39)
o Unsatisfactory level of knowledge and understanding of subject; limited or no understanding of theoretical/methodological issues
o Very little comprehension of the implications of the question and lacking a coherent structure
o Lacking any attempt at analysis and critical engagement with issues, based on description or opinion
o Little use of sources and what is used reflects a very narrow range or are irrelevant and/or misunderstood
o Unsatisfactory presentation: difficult to follow; very limited attempt at providing references (e.g. only referencing direct quotations) and containing bibliographic omissions
Outright
Fail
(0–34)
o Very limited, and seriously flawed, knowledge and understanding o No comprehension of the implications of the question and no attempt
to provide a structureo No attempt at analysiso Limited, uncritical and generally confused account of a very narrow
range of sourceso Very poorly presented: lacking any coherence, significant problems
with spelling and grammar, missing or no references and containing bibliographic omissions
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