Dissertation
MODULE CODE
CREDIT VALUE
Module Aims
Aim 1
to provide postgraduate students with advanced skills required to undertake an extended programme of research.
Aim 2
to cover practical skills (such as project planning and management) and theoretical skills (such as applying conceptual models).
Aim 3
It will inform students of a range of different research methodologies and students will be able to assess the appropriateness of particular methodologies for their proposed dissertation topic.
Aim 4
to enable the students to put into practical effect the research skills acquired during the course and to work in a self-defined field with the objective of producing a substantial piece of work based on critical evaluation and independent thought.
Aim 5
to give students the opportunity to carry out extended research on a subject of interest to them.
Aim 6
to give students the opportunity to show their ability to work independently and at a high quality level, on a substantial project.
Module Content
There will be six online Writing Your Dissertation workshops to encourage early engagement with the dissertation supervisors and the dissertation itself. These workshops will cover the following issues:
(1) Introduction to the dissertation module: supervision and working with your supervisor, time-management, choosing your topic.
(2) Research methodologies and perspectives.
(3) Overview of the main theoretical approaches to legal research.
(4) Planning Your Dissertation – choosing a topic/formulating research questions.
(5) Reviewing the Literature.
(6) Referencing and dishonest academic practices.
Writing the Dissertation itself will involve research into and completion of a dissertation on a topic chosen by the student and approved by the Project Supervisor, the topic being within the subject area of the LLM pathway selected by the student.
The topic must also be one that falls outside the subject-matter covered in the modules undertaken by the student unless it involves a significant and substantial extension or development of an aspect of that subject-matter.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module, a student will be able to:
Teaching Methods
There will be six online workshops on Writing Your Dissertation designed to encourage early engagement with the dissertation supervisor and the writing of the dissertation itself. Students are expected to prepare answers to the discussion questions and present these to, and discuss with, the workshop tutor and group in the context of synchronous and / or asynchronous discussions. In addition to the skills of analysis and research, students are expected to develop and apply skills of analytical discussion, oral expression and writing. Students will engage with other students and staff in online activities, and synchronous and asynchronous workshops, to consider and critically analyse particular sources and engage in discussion leading to development of these skills.
The synchronous and asynchronous workshops also give students the opportunity to synthesise in a more dynamic way the independent learning already undertaken and apply principles from various themes covered in the workshop activity sheets.
The topic is agreed with the student and dissertation supervisor. Students on a named pathway must choose a topic within the broad subject area of that pathway.
The topic will be researched, independently of the supervisor, by the student in preparation for the dissertation.
Assessment Methods
This module is assessed through one Dissertation.
View The Other Course’s Modules
Compulsory
Optional
