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English and History of Art Bridge Dissertation with Creative Practice - ENG00122H

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  • Department: English and Related Literature
  • Module co-ordinator: Dr. Daniel Matore
  • Credit value: 40 credits
  • Credit level: H
  • Academic year of delivery: 2023-24
    • See module specification for other years: 2024-25

Module summary

The English and History of Art Bridge Dissertation with Creative Practice is one of the most exciting and ambitious modules of your degree. Building on your Personal Research Plan (‘Research Now’, Level Two), you will produce a sustained piece of work on a topic of your choosing (subject to approval) that bridges English and History of Art.

The English and History of Art Bridge Dissertation with Creative Practice is your opportunity to undertake a substantial interdisciplinary research project (7000-8000 words total), combining a critical essay (of at least 4000 words) with a practice-based creative component. Together, these should form a cohesive literary and art historical research project, investigating a topic of your choosing (subject to approval).

The practice-based component might include the following:

  • a portfolio of creative or non-academic writing

  • a critical edition of a text or art historical source (or collection of texts or art historical sources)

  • an external engagement project

  • a print publication (e.g. in collaboration with Thin Ice Press)

  • a translation project

NB: This is not a comprehensive list of every possible practice-based component. These are indicative examples only.

You will be allocated a bridge dissertation supervisor who will offer tailored support throughout the process, and you will attend lectures that guide you through the challenges of refining your topic, structuring your research, and writing an extended piece of critical prose. You will learn how to engage critically with existing scholarship, identify your own original contribution to your chosen field, and develop and sustain an argument and creative practice.

The module will help you to undertake extensive independent research, communicate your critical insights and close textual readings to a range of readers and audiences, and present your research clearly and persuasively. You may extend and develop ideas that have fascinated you in previous English and/or Art History modules, or undertake interdisciplinary research in an area that you have not previously studied.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 1 2023-24 to Semester 2 2023-24

Module aims

The aims of this module are to enable English and Art History students to develop key skills in independent research and writing, with appropriate academic guidance and writing support. The module will offer students the opportunity to explore one element of their literary and/or art historical interests in considerable depth. It will further enhance students’ core skills in research and writing, the analysis of visual sources, library and IT use, and transferable skills in communication, time management, and organisation.

Module learning outcomes

On successful completion of the module, you should be able to:

  1. Demonstrate an advanced understanding of and engagement with an appropriate range of primary texts and art historical sources, as identified by you, and the ability to undertake independent research on a focused topic.

  2. Demonstrate an advanced understanding of and engagement with relevant contextual, critical, creative, and theoretical materials and approaches in English and Art History.

  3. Evaluate key debates within the relevant critical and creative fields dealing with your chosen research topic.

  4. Produce independent arguments and ideas which demonstrate an advanced proficiency in critical thinking, research, management of a creative project, and writing skills.

Module content

In Semester One, all single subject and combined course students will have two 30-minute supervision meetings with their (bridge) dissertation supervisor. Your first supervision meeting will include a discussion of your Personal Research Plan from the Research Now module. Your second supervision meeting will focus on either a short piece of writing of up to 2,000 words or a plan or outline of the whole (bridge) dissertation of up to 1,000 words. We all work differently, and it is up to you to decide whether you would like to submit a draft or a plan first. Please remember that you must complete both of these exercises: if you choose to submit a plan now, you will still have to submit a draft in the next meeting.

In Semester Two, you will have two further 30-minute supervision meetings with your (bridge) dissertation supervisor. Depending on what you submitted for the previous meeting, your third supervision meeting will focus on either a short piece of writing of up to 2,000 words or a plan or outline of the whole (bridge) dissertation of up to 1,000 words. Your fourth supervision meeting will discuss the final shape and structure of the (bridge) dissertation.

You are welcome at all stages to use staff open office hours—also known in our partner departments as student hours or staff feedback and guidance hours—to seek advice and ask questions.

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Essay : 7000-8000 Word Essay		 N/A 100

Special assessment rules

None

Additional assessment information

The total word count for this interdisciplinary research project of 7000-8000 words must combine a critical essay of at least 4000 words and a linked practice-based creative component.

Reassessment

None

Module feedback

  • You will receive feedback on all assessed work within the University deadline, and will often receive it more quickly. The purpose of feedback is to inform your future work; it is designed to help you to improve your work, and the Department also offers you help in learning from your feedback. If you do not understand your feedback or want to talk about your ideas further you can discuss it with your tutor or your supervisor, during their Open Office Hours
  • For more information about the feedback you will receive for your work, see the department's Guide to Assessment

Indicative reading

Key texts will depend on the subject of the dissertation research.


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University is constantly exploring ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary by the University. Where appropriate, the University will notify and consult with affected students in advance about any changes that are required in line with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.