American studies
American Studies Dissertation
Module code: T7053
Level 6
30 credits in autumn semester
Teaching method: Seminar
Assessment modes: Coursework, Dissertation
The dissertation module will allow you to work on an American Studies project of your choosing. Weekly meetings, peer review and research workshops will guide you through the process of choosing your subject and devising research questions, identifying key debates in your chosen field, developing your own thesis and undertaking the sustained research necessary to demonstrate your mastery of the topic.
You will engage critically with both primary and secondary sources and strive to make an original contribution to your specialist area. The intention is to allow you the time and autonomy to produce a thoughtful and original piece of writing, to develop and demonstrate advanced skills of independent working, and to give expression to your academic interests in an intellectually disciplined and creative way. You will benefit from the guidance of a supervisor but the self-discipline, time-management and organisation required to complete the dissertation will be your responsibility. You will be expected to orally present your topic to your peers as part of the development process.
Module learning outcomes
- Identify an area of interest suitable for extended research and develop a research question
- Show specialist knowledge of the research topic selected
- Manage a project from beginning to completion
- Acquire advanced research skills and techniques and deploy them in the preparation and production of a long dissertation with appropriate scholarly apparatus