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Criminology Extended Dissertation

  • Module code: CM6016
  • Year: 2018/9
  • Level: 6
  • Credits: 60
  • Pre-requisites: Successful completion of level 5 Criminology or equivalent
  • Co-requisites: None

Summary

Through this module you will develop your own criminological specialism by conducting an extended and in-depth study on a topic of your choosing. Students will be tutored in the skills necessary to successfully complete a final year dissertation and will work with a staff supervisor to develop a critical understanding of their research topic. You will work with other students to organize a conference at which you will all present your work, thereby learning the skills of event organization and management as well as having an opportunity to disseminate their dissertation to a wide audience. This module will be an opportunity for you to gain hands-on experience of research skills that can be applied to future postgraduate study and careers in human resources, marketing, public sector and charitable and non-government organisations.

Aims

  • To enhance and exercise the study skills necessary to the successful completion of a final year dissertation.
  • To plan and design an extended piece of academic work and present the completed work as a written dissertation and oral presentation.
  • To develop a detailed and critical understanding of field of criminological enquiry.

Learning outcomes

  • Formulate a viable research proposal and extensive literature search appropriate for a Level 6 dissertation
  • Demonstrate an ability to organise and plan work effectively and independently over a limited period of time
  • Demonstrate the ability to successfully complete a substantial piece of academic written work
  • Demonstrate an ability to communication academic work in written and oral formats

Curriculum content

  • The nature of a criminology dissertation
  • Advanced literature search and research skills
  • Refining research design and questions
  • Assessing feasibility and planning
  • Ethics
  • Project management
  • Information and data collection and presentation.
  • Structuring and Writing up a dissertation
  • Academic conference planning
  • Presentation skills

Teaching and learning strategy

This module will be taught through two-hour group workshops, and one-to-one supervision sessions. Workshops will be interactive in nature and will provide students the opportunity to develop their dissertation through individual and group work tasks and also engage in the business of conference organization. Relevant learning materials will be provided on StudySpace, including digitised reading materials, workshop slides and templates. Students will be expected to engage in a significant amount of independent study which will involve reviewing literature, conducting research, analysing data and preparing assessment.

Breakdown of Teaching and Learning Hours

Definitive UNISTATS Category Indicative Description Hours
Scheduled learning and teaching Workshops (7 x 2 hours) Individual supervision 14 14
Guided independent study 572
Total (number of credits x 10) 600

Assessment strategy

The module will be assessed using a combination of formative and summative assessment. Students will receive feedback on formative exercises so that they are able to use this constructively in the summative assessment on the module. 

Draft critical literature review (formative) (1,000 words).

A1 Portfolio including a dissertation proposal, an annotated bibliography (1,500
words) and an action plan (timetable) (5%) (summative).

A2 Dissertation (70%) 10,000 – 12,000 words (summative).

Critical reflection exercise on conference preparation and oral presentation (formative).

A3 Oral presentation of dissertation with supporting materials (25%) – 15 mins  (summative).

 

Assessment

Deadline

Word count

Status

% Module Mark

Draft   dissertation proposal

TBC

1,500

Formative

  -

A1   Portfolio

TBC

1,500

Summative

5%

A2 Dissertation

TBC

10,000 to 12,000   words

Summative

70%

Critical   reflection exercise on conference preparatio and oral presentation

TBC

 

Formative

 -

A3 Oral   presentation of dissertation with supporting materials

TBC

15 min

Summative

25%

Mapping of Learning Outcomes to Assessment Strategy (Indicative)

Learning Outcome Assessment Strategy
Formulate a clearly viable research proposal and extensive literature search appropriate for a Level 6 dissertation Draft critical literature review (formative) A1 Portfolio (summative) A2 Dissertation (summative)
Demonstrate an ability to organise and plan work effectively and independently over a limited period of time Draft proposal critical literature review (formative) A1 Portfolio (summative) A2 Dissertation (summative)
Demonstrate the ability to successfully complete a substantial piece of academic written work A2 Dissertation
Demonstrate the ability to successfully complete a substantial piece of academic written work A2 Dissertation
Demonstrate an ability to communication academic work in written and oral formats A2 Dissertation (Summative) Critical reflection (formative) A3 Oral presentation (summative)

Elements of Assessment

Description of Assessment Definitive UNISTATS Categories Percentage
CWK Portfolio 1500 words 5
CWK Dissertation 70
PRC Oral presentation 25
Total (to equal 100%) 100%

Achieving a pass

It IS NOT a requirement that any major assessment category is passed separately in order to achieve an overall pass for the module

Bibliography core texts

Czarniawska, B (2014) Social Science Research: From Field to Desk, London: Sage.

Greetham B (2009) How to Write your Undergraduate Dissertation, Basingstoke: Palgrave.

Walliman, N (2013) Your Undergraduate Dissertation: The Essential Guide for Success, London: Sage.

Bibliography recommended reading

Becker, L (2014) Writing Successfully Reports and Dissertations, Sage.

Becker, L (2014) Presenting your Research : Conferences, Symposiums, Poster Presentations and Beyond, Sage.

Elster, J (1989) Nuts and Bolts for Social Science, Cambridge University Press.

Fasett, D (2014) A Student Workbook for Public Speaking: Speak from the Heart, Sage

Gelbart L and Palumbo D (2000) Writing from Inside Out, John Wiley and Sons.

Johnson, W and Rittig RP (2005) Sociology Student Writer's Manual, Pearson.

Swetnam D and Swetnam R (2009) Writing your Dissertation, 3rd ed, How to Books.

Richlin-Klonsky J and Strenski E (2001) A Guide to Writing Sociology Papers, Worth Publishers.

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