School of Humanities  
 
 
AMS-30039 Dissertation in English and American Literatures - ISP  
Co-ordinator: Dr Laura Sandy   Tel:33201  
Teaching Team: Mrs Jayne  Braddick, Prof Oliver  Harris Dr Tim  Lustig Dr Jon  Herbert Dr Jonathan Parker Mrs Amanda  Porritt Prof Axel  Schaefer Dr James  Peacock Miss Jo-Anne  Watts Dr Laura  Sandy, Prof Ian  Bell, Mr Jonathan  Bell,  Brian  Jarvis  
Lecture Time: See Timetable...  
Level: 3 Credits: 30 Study Hours: 300  
School Office: Tel: 01782 733147
 
 
 
Programme/Approved Electives for
English and American Literatures Single Honours (Level 3)
Available as a Free Standing Elective
No
Barred Combinations
None
Prerequisites
None
Description

The Dissertation in American Literature is a 30-credit, year-long Independent Study Project (ISP) which offers you the opportunity to research in detail a subject of your own choosing and interest, and to write a substantial piece of work. In this module, you can explore any aspect of American literature: single authors, groups of texts, common themes or particular literary periods. We are also able to supervise dissertations on film as well as comparative work which addresses American and British writing in a transatlantic perspective. Work on the module takes place over both semesters of the final year in a structured way, with supporting lectures, group and individual meetings, and targets for production of draft materials. The module offers you the opportunity to produce an extended piece of research as the culminating assessment of your degree programme. Staff in English and American Studies strongly recommend students to take two rather than the minimum one ISP for reasons of both academic and personal development. The opportunity to work on a subject of your own choosing, together with individual written and oral feedback and the opportunity to revise work means that marks for this module have historically been significantly higher than for other final year modules.
Aims
To enable students to apply theoretical, methodological, and practical approaches in literature to a subject in either English or American literatures or in both.

To enable students to research, plan, and write a substantial piece of independent work.
Intended Learning Outcomes
Undertake extensive independent research. will be achieved by assessments: 1
Produce an extended piece of argument and analysis in English or American literature or in both. will be achieved by assessments: 1
Utilize theoretical, methodological skills appropriate to the discipline of literature. will be achieved by assessments: 1
Manage time effectively, submitting draft materials to time. will be achieved by assessments: 1
Produce written work to an advanced undergraduate level of scholarship and presentation. will be achieved by assessments: 1
Study hours
Lectures, group and individual meetings with supervisor: 10 hours
Research: 200 hours

Writing and preparation for submission: 90 hours
Description of Module Assessment
01: Dissertation weighted 100%
A 10,000 - 12,000-word Dissertation
A piece of independently researched and individually supervised work produced as the culmination of the degree programme to an advanced standard of scholarship and presentation.
Version: (1.06B) Updated: 03/Mar/2013

This document is the definitive current source of information about this module and supersedes any other information.