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 eight hours of 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 programme of 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 are 4 workshops (2 hours each) designed to encourage early engagement of the students with the dissertation undertaking 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 seminar 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 the development of these skills.
The student will propose three dissertation topics. A Dissertation Committee led by the Module Leader will choose the best topic and assign the student with a supervisor. The topic will be researched, independently of the supervisor, by the student in preparation for the dissertation.
Contact with a supervisor will take place at regular intervals, as appropriate. The contact time will vary from student to student but a maximum contact time of 20 hours or the equivalent (face-to-face contact may not be possible with eLearning students) is anticipated, the majority of this occurring at the initial stages of the work. Time spent in reading drafts and giving the resultant feedback is included within the 20 hours.
Assessment Methods
This module is assessed through one Dissertation.
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Compulsory
