EL7005 - Dissertation

The dissertation is mainly an individual project in which you are expected to carry out your own independent research or practice-based project. You will be given support to help you achieve this through a combination of supervisory sessions and taught dissertation sessions.

You will be assigned an individual supervisor who will advise you on the planning and execution of your project. You are expected to meet with your supervisor on a regular basis. Your supervisor will provide you with feedback on your formative assignments and also on a sample of draft work.

There will be four 2-hour dissertation sessions that you are expected to attend. The tutor-led sessions will be organised according to the typical stages of a dissertation project. The first session will inform you about the structure of a dissertation and how to formulate ‘good’ research questions. The second session will help you identify resources to draw on to support your work and how to write a ‘critical and coherent’ review of previous literature. The third session will introduce you to research ethics and you will be asked to complete an ethics form as part of your work. The final session will develop your knowledge about research design and will introduce you to a range of qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis techniques.

All learning materials, tasks and readings for the four sessions will be posted on the e-learning portal (eLP) to facilitate full participation in the module.

Academic support on this module will come primarily from your interactions with your supervisor during individual meetings. Dissertation sessions will provide you with essential skills and knowledge about dissertation issues such as research ethics and experimental design.

The module handbook, available through the e-learning portal will provide details of all the lectures, assessments and marking criteria. The eLe-learning portal will host information about the research process, in particular research ethics. Detailed assessment criteria will be provided for the dissertation, and sample dissertations will be made available to you via the portal. Links to dissertation guides and skills sessions will be provided but there are no set readings for this module.

In addition, you have a designated Personal Tutor throughout your studies. The academic side of the Personal Tutor’s role includes monitoring your ongoing academic progress, helping you to develop self-reflection skills necessary for continuous academic development, and directing you to further available services which can help you with your academic skills (e.g. the Library’s Skills Plus). You are advised to see your Guidance Tutor at least twice each semester to review your academic progress. Additional language support is also available from the English for Specific Academic Purposes (ESAP) programme offered by the language centre.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

Knowledge & Understanding:
• Conceptualise, theorise and undertake research which addresses complex issues and which advances understanding within the discipline or practice.
• Exhibit advanced and critical knowledge of language/language learning issues and contribute to the creation of new knowledge and /or applications to practice. .

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
• Present research through an extended written argument, following appropriate academic conventions (for example written style, presentation, referencing)

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
• Demonstrate good academic practice in the conduct of primary and secondary research
• demonstrate awareness of ethical issues in relation to your research and ensure that research is compliant with university ethics policies and procedures

Formative assessment
You will be expected to submit 3 formative assessments, totalling 4,000 words, and an ethics form as part of your work on the dissertation.
1. Research proposal
2. Critical review
3. Research strategy
You will receive formative feedback from your dissertation supervisor on all formative assessments
Your supervisor will provide informal formative feedback on your progress during supervision meetings. The number and maximum duration of supervisions is specified in the module guide

Summative (graded) Assessments

12,000 word dissertation. Detailed written feedback will be provided by means of a specific dissertation feedback form.

All dissertations will be blind double marked by two internal examiners. Both examiners will provide written comments. The examiners will agree the final mark that the student will receive.

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This module is a student-centred module in which you will design, plan and conduct your own independent project. You can choose to carry out either a research project on any English language, linguistics or TESOL topic that interests you, or a practice-based project based on your reflections during a teacher-training course.

Throughout the process, you will learn the basic principles of research design and strategy, including how to formulate valid ‘researchable’ problems/questions and how to conduct and manage research. You will develop an appreciation of different approaches to research and an awareness of the range of research methods and tools available for the study of language/language learning. The practice-based project options will draw on and develop your abilities of critical reflection on practice.

The module will help you develop essential academic and study skills, including in managing data, and conducting and disseminating research in a way that is consistent with both professional practice and the normal principles of research ethics.

In the process, you will also develop transferrable skills including management, organization and communication skills. These skills are crucial for your career and personal development.