Course: Dissertation
The Dissertation is the major piece of written work in the course. Students prepare for it in the Research Preparation module, AR4402, during which they assemble an initial proposal defining the scope and focus, aims and objectives of their research as well as considered methodology and research questions. On the basis of the subject area of their proposal, they are allocated an appropriate supervisor for Dissertation. Under the guidance of the supervisor and the stimulus of seminar discussions and/or tutorials, they continue to refine the aims, objectives and methods, as to develop their understanding of the field of study, the availability of material, and the relationship of their own research to related work. The main work in the course is the research itself: collecting material. Analysis of collected materials in relation to literature and methodology take place mainly at the later stage, resulting in the structuring and writing up of the dissertation. The result should be a coherent argument with clear conclusions, well written, finely and imaginatively presented, and should follow the requisite conventions for references and bibliography.