Students taking this module undertake research on a philosophical topic of their choice (subject to approval by the Department), and write a dissertation of 8,000 words on that topic.
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Syllabus
Students taking this module undertake research on a philosophical topic of their choice (subject to approval by the Department), and write a dissertation of 8,000 words on that topic. Each student will also write a 1500 response to a structured question, a draft chapter, and a two page dissertation plan in Semester 1.
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
Teaching methods include: group discussion meetings, and individual consultation with your dissertation supervisor.
Learning activities include: Identifying, with guidance from your supervisor, a suitable research topic; Identifying (with guidance from your supervisor), studying and reflecting upon relevant philosophical sources; reflecting upon and responding to written and oral feedback from your supervisor; applying techniques and skills learnt to your reading and writing inside and outside the unit
Assessment
Assessment strategy
Your final mark for the dissertation will be based on four stages of assessment.
(1) A 1500 word written response to a structured, directive question supplied by us. Deadline c. week 4 of semester 1. (15% of double module mark.)
(2) A draft chapter, maximum 2000 words. Deadline c. week 8 of semester 1. (Marked pass/fail; 5 mark penalty for non-submission or fail.)
(3) A dissertation plan, around two A4 pages with no more than 1.5 spacing. Deadline c. week 12 of semester 1. (Marked pass/fail; 5 mark penalty for non-submission or fail.)
Students must hand in their research ethics form with the dissertation plan.
(4) Final dissertation, maximum 8000 words. Deadline c. week 10 of semester 2. (85% of double module mark.)
Your final dissertation can, but need not, incorporate the 1500 words under (1) and/or the 2000 words under (2), or a revision of them.
Formative assessment includes: feedback from the supervisor on your structured question, your draft chapter, your dissertation plan and - should you choose to submit one - your dissertation draft.
