Accessibility statement

Politics Dissertation - POL00016H

« Back to module search

  • Department: Politics
  • Module co-ordinator: Dr. Adam Fusco
  • Credit value: 40 credits
  • Credit level: H
  • Academic year of delivery: 2021-22

Module summary

The Dissertation is a compulsory 40 credit project completed by single subject Politics, IR, and Politics and IR students, as well as students from various joint degrees programs, during their third year. The Dissertation is an extended piece of writing (of at least 8,000 and no more than 10,000 words) that allows students to develop their capacity for academic research. Students of Politics and IR must produce a dissertation that draws, at least in part, on IR scholarship. The Dissertation Programme consists of a schedule of workshops, procedural work, and meetings with your Dissertation Supervisor.   The programme is designed to assist you with the development, research, and writing of your dissertation.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Autumn Term 2021-22 to Summer Term 2021-22

Module aims

To develop the skills and knowledge necessary to conduct independent research and to present the results in an effective and convincing manner. Students will become familiar with bibliographic and informational resources and will be able to use appropriate word processing packages. Depending on the topic, students will have the opportunity to learn and utilise quantitative and qualitative analytical techniques used in modern social science research. The discipline of researching and writing a dissertation will provide an excellent foundation for post-graduate study and for all professional activities involving written communication skills, analyses and reports and presentations.

Module learning outcomes

- Be able to independently design a piece of original research 

- Construct and develop an original argument in the form of a thesis

- Organise and utilise a diverse range of sources for independent research purposes

- Time manage, coordinate and plan a research project

- Gain mastery of the literature in one's chosen field of study

Assessment

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

Special assessment rules

None

Reassessment

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

Module feedback

Students will receive written timely feedback on their formative assessment.  They will also have the opportunity to discuss their feedback during the module tutor’s feedback and guidance hours.

Students will receive written feedback on their summative assessment no later than 20 working days; and the module tutor will hold a specific session to discuss feedback, which students can also opt to attend.  They will also have the opportunity to discuss their feedback during the module tutor’s regular feedback and guidance hours.

Indicative reading

Dunleavey, P. (2003) Authoring a PhD: How to Plan, Draft, Write and Finish a Doctoral Thesis or Dissertation. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. 

Burnham, P. et al. (2008)  Research Methods in Politics, 2nd Edition. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. 

Smith, K. et al. (2009) Doing your Undergraduate Social Science Dissertation. London: Routledge. 


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.