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History Dissertation - HIS00048H

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  • Department: History
  • Module co-ordinator: Prof. Lawrence Black
  • Credit value: 40 credits
  • Credit level: H
  • Academic year of delivery: 2023-24

Module summary

This module gives students the chance to work as active and independent scholars. Students design their own research project during the third year, research the primary materials needed, organise and reflect on the material they have gathered, plan the structure of their arguments and interpretations, draft a chapter and outline to submit for feedback, and then write and submit their 8,000-word dissertation. This work will spread across the whole academic year. Throughout they have the support of a member of academic staff as their dissertation advisor. Full details of tasks to be completed, and the relevant deadlines, are provided on the Dissertation VLE. This guidance also provides much advice and information to help and support students as they work on their dissertations.

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 students to undertake an independently chosen, designed and managed project;
  • To provide the opportunity to work extensively with original historical material;
  • To allow students to explore a chosen aspect of the past at length; and
  • To engage with opinions and debates around a specific topic using original research.

Module learning outcomes

Students who complete this module successfully will:

  • Have gained experience of designing and managing a large scale project to completion;
  • Have gained experience of exploring and explaining a specific research topic at length;
  • Have acquired skills and understanding from extended research into original material; and
  • Have learned to situate their specific research results among the debates and views of others.

Module content

In semester two of year two, following a lecture outlining the dissertation module, students are encouraged to discuss ideas for the dissertation with academic staff. Students then submit a proposal in week 11, which will be used to allocate academic advisors for the start of year three. Students are undertaking an independently researched project and not a taught module. They will continue, however, to have support, advice, and feedback from their dissertation advisor as they work to produce their dissertation. They will have meetings and dissertation workshops with their advisor in semester one focused on bibliography, research questions and their project as a whole. In addition in semester one there are lectures on dissertation skills, sources and project design. In semester two, after submitting formative draft work, students will receive written feedback and a one-to-one tutorial with their advisor.

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Dissertation		 N/A 100

Special assessment rules

None

Additional assessment information

Students have the opportunity to submit up to 2,500 words of draft dissertation work and a plan for completion in week 1 of semester two. The 8,000-word dissertation, written and presented according to our requirements and conventions (set out on the Dissertation VLE), is then to be submitted in week 1 of the assessment period for semester two.

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Dissertation		 N/A 100

Module feedback

Students will receive detailed feedback on the draft work submitted at the start of semester two as well as timetabled sessions with their advisor. Throughout they are encouraged to consult with their advisor and other academic staff in student hours. For more information, see the Statement of Assessment.

Indicative reading

There are no key texts for this module.


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.