2014/15 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

DESN3660 Independent Study Dissertation

40 creditsClass Size: 300

Module manager: Dr Kevin Laycock
Email: k.laycock@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2014/15

Pre-requisites

DESN2275

Research Methods

This module is mutually exclusive with

DESN3460

Ind Study: Minor Dissertation

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Objectives

The module provides students with the opportunity to investigate a subject area of relevance to their programme of study. The dissertation will allow the student to demonstrate coherent and detailed subject knowledge and should be informed by recent research/scholarship in the discipline.

Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, students should be able to:

- demonstrate the ability to select and investigate a topic of relevance to the core components of their programme of study;
- collect, edit, assess and review qualitative and/ or quantitative information;
- test hypotheses, fulfil aims and / or investigate research questions;
- produce a written dissertation which reports clearly and concisely on their investigation and discuss findings / conclusions with clarity and succinctness.

Skills outcomes
Planning and organisation
Problem solving
Information literacy
Research skills
Analysis, critical thinking and argument construction
Computer literacy

Syllabus

The student will select the general area of investigation at the end of level 2 and prepare a written proposal indicating the topic and provisional title, an outline of the dissertation and a list of key sources / texts. Guidelines on the format of the written dissertation will be given to support the development of the topic will be given in an introductory lecture in semester 2 of Level 2.

Skills lectures in semester 1 of Level 3 will consolidate and develop writing style, literature searching and research methods and time and project management to support the production of the dissertation.

Students will receive individual tutorial support, but the emphasis will be on independent study. It is expected that dissertations will be of no fewer than 10,000 and may be no more than 12,000 words. Accompanying illustrative material may be included in any suitable format agreed after consultation with the supervising tutor.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	2	1.00	2.00
Seminar	1	1.00	1.00
Tutorial	9	0.50	4.50
Private study hours			0.00
Total Contact hours			7.50
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			7.50

Private study

-Private Study will be spent:

- Online (VLE) support for dissertation skills and information (30 hours)
- Refinement of original proposal (30 hours)
- Identification and review of background reading material / primary research (121 hours)
- Drafts of text (and, where appropriate, illustrative material) produced (131 hours)
- Final draft produced and submitted (80 hours)

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Progress monitoring:

- The first meeting with the supervisor in week 1. A plan of activity and a timetable of regular meetings to be negotiated with the supervisor. Progress will be monitored through: one group meeting and nine in-person tutorials available to each student over the two semesters.
- Week seven of semester one: students to submit a draft version of approximately 4,000 words to include the methodology and literature review to the supervisor via the VLE
- Between teaching weeks one - four of semester two students to submit a ‘final draft’ (paper or electronic copy) directly to supervisor. This must be a substantial or near complete draft of the dissertation (8000 – 12000 words), including the literature review, (or embedded version for art & design students), research undertaken and initial discussion of any findings. An outline of work yet to be completed must also be included. Supervisors will provide verbal (or where necessary) written feedback on the ‘final draft’.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay or Dissertation	10,000 to 12,000 word dissertation	100.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Dissertation Development and Submission First meeting and planning: The first meeting with the supervisor should take place in week 1 after registration. A plan of activity and a timetable of regular meetings will be negotiated with the supervisor. Progress will be monitored through: one group meeting and nine in-person tutorials, available to each student over the two semesters. Draft version of methodology and literature review Week seven of semester one: students to submit a draft version of approximately 4,000 words to include the methodology and literature review to the supervisor via the VLE, (Art & Design students to submit literature review as part of chapter text). The supervisor will provide a minimum of six action points of formative feedback via the VLE. The feedback will be made available to the students no later than two weeks after the submission date. In addition, the text will be scrutinised for its originality. Students with a poor originality score will be required to discuss their work with their supervisor. Final Submission The final submission will be the Thursday of teaching week eight of semester two.

Reading list

There is no reading list for this module

Last updated: 29/01/2015

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