Dissertation
| Module title | Dissertation |
|---|---|
| Module code | ARAM245 |
| Academic year | 2025/6 |
| Credits | 30 |
| Module staff | Dr Mustafa Baig (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 10 |
|---|
Module description
A good dissertation is a core element of a successful Masters degree. It equips you with key, transferable research skills that will be invaluable to your career whether you decide to take up PhD research or not. A dissertation is not a long essay. It has a certain number of core components that must be evident to varying degrees. Like a good essay, it must demonstrate research skills, independent learning, good organization of complex material, clarity and erudite expression. But a Masters dissertation will be driven primarily by your own interests, the questions you devise and the material you want to research. It will be a mark of your initiative, independence and inquisitiveness. You should expect to start thinking about and working on your dissertation immediately on beginning the Programme. Good early preparation will stand you in good stead later.
Module aims - intentions of the module
To enable you to write an extended piece of independent writing, around a topic of your own choosing, in communication with key experts in your chosen area. It will allow you to demonstrate depth and breadth of knowledge in a particular subject area of professional or intellectual interest. The dissertation will be a mark of your ability to express yourself in writing.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Demonstrate knowledge in depth of a specialised subject area.
- 2. Design an individual research programme, incorporating appropriate social science research methods.
- 3. Collate and analyse subject-specific information from a range of appropriate sources.
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 4. Assimilate and critically analyse data from an appropriate range of sources in political science, including international relations.
- 5. Develop cogent arguments drawing on themes and concepts from political science, including international relations.
- 6. Communicate complex information and ideas relating to Middle East politics effectively in writing.
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 7. Manage own work.
- 8. Use IT for information retrieval and presentation.
- 9. Manage and organise the different phases of the research project from conception to final presentation.
- 10. Prepare a substantive written presentation of the material and arguments.
Syllabus plan
At least four supervision meetings with your supervisor: one to initiate the dissertation followed by two meetings to give academic guidance including specific feedback on draft work. These will take the form of face-to-face delivery, either on campus or online.
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 296 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled learning and teaching activity | 4 | One-to-one supervision |
| Guided independent study | 296 | Independent study (research, reading, writing) |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| One draft chapter of the dissertation, or a developed introduction. Whichever the candidate feels most useful to gain feedback on progress. | One chapter or introduction | 1-10 | Written |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dissertation | 100 | 10,000 words | 1-10 | Written |
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dissertation | Dissertation | 1-10 | Next re-assessment period |
Re-assessment notes
Re-assessment takes place when the summative assessment has not been completed by the original deadline, and the student has been allowed to refer or defer it to a later date (this only happens following certain criteria and is always subject to exam board approval). For obvious reasons, re-assessments cannot be the same as the original assessment and so these alternatives are set. In cases where the form of assessment is the same, the content will nevertheless be different.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
- Burton, Dawn (ed.) (2000), Research Training for Social Scientists: A Handbook for Postgraduate Researchers. London: SAGE.
- Landman, Todd (2016) Issues and Methods in Comparative Politics: An Introduction. London: Routledge.
- della Porta, Donatella (2008) Approaches and Methodologies in the Social Sciences: A Pluralist Perspective. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
| Credit value | 30 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 15 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 7 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 23/04/2020 |
| Last revision date | 05/06/2023 |
