This module provides you with an opportunity to develop your own criminological/sociological specialism by conducting an extended and in-depth study on a topic of your choosing. You 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 also work together to organise a student conference at which you will present their work, thereby learning the skills of event organisation and management as well as have an opportunity to disseminate your dissertation to a wide audience. These skills, involving an ability to organise and plan work effectively and autonomously will enhance your employability.
On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
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 Canvas, 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.
| Definitive UNISTATS Category | Indicative Description | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled learning and teaching | Workshops (7 x 2 hours) | 14 |
| Scheduled learning and teaching | Individual supervision | 14 |
| Guided independent study | 572 | |
| Total (number of credits x 10) | 600 | |
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 1,000 words (formative).
A1 Portfolio (5%) consisting of: a dissertation proposal, an annotated bibliography (1,500 words) and an action plan (timetable) (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).
| Learning Outcome | Assessment Strategy |
|---|---|
| 1) Formulate a clearly viable research proposal and extensive literature search appropriate for a Level 6 dissertation | Draft proposal critical literature review (formative) A1 Portfolio (summative) A2 Dissertation (summative) |
| 2) 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) |
| 3) Demonstrate the ability to successfully complete a substantial piece of academic written work | A2 Dissertation |
| 4) Demonstrate an ability to communication academic work in written and oral formats | A2 Dissertation Critical reflection (formative) A3 Oral presentation (summative) |
| Description of Assessment | Definitive UNISTATS Categories | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Oral presentation of dissertation with supporting material | 25 |
| Coursework | Dissertation 10,000 to 12,000 words | 70 |
| Coursework | Portfolio 1500 words | 5 |
| Total (to equal 100%) | 100% | |
It IS NOT a requirement that any assessment category is passed separately in order to achieve an overall pass for the module.
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Greetham B (2009) How to Write your Undergraduate Dissertation, Basingstoke: Palgrave.
Walliman, N (2013) Your Undergraduate Dissertation: The Essential Guide for Success, London: Sage.
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Becker, L (2014) Presenting your Research : Conferences, Symposiums, Poster Presentations and Beyond, Sage.
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Johnson, W and Rittig RP (2005) Sociology Student Writer's Manual, Pearson.
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