English and Politics Bridge Dissertation (Politics Supervisor) - POL00085H

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Module summary

The dissertation is one of the most exciting and most ambitious modules of your degree. You will produce a sustained piece of work on a topic of your choosing that bridges English and Politics (subject to approval). Based on your dissertation proposal (submitted in Week 11 of Semester 2 of Year 2), you will be allocated a dissertation supervisor in the Department of Politics and International Relations who will offer tailored support throughout the process, and you will attend lectures, in the Politics Department, that guide you through the challenges of refining your topic, structuring your research, and writing a dissertation. You are also encouraged to consult with staff in English, as required. 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 across 7-8,000 words.

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 modules or undertake literary or political research in an area that you have not previously studied.

Module will run

Occurrence	Teaching period
A	Semester 1 2026-27 to Semester 2 2026-27

Module aims

The aims of this module are to enable 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 political interests in considerable depth. It will further enhance students’ core skills in research and writing, 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 political case studies, 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, and theoretical materials and approaches in English and Politics.

3. Evaluate key debates within the relevant critical fields or theoretical frameworks dealing with your chosen research topic.

4. Produce independent arguments and ideas which demonstrate an advanced proficiency in critical thinking, research, and writing skills.

Indicative assessment

Task	% of module mark
Essay/coursework	100.0

Special assessment rules

None

Indicative reassessment

Task	% of module mark
Essay/coursework	100.0

Module feedback

You will receive feedback on your dissertation before the end of term.

Indicative reading

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