AMS-30036 - Module Specification
School of Humanities
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Programme/Approved Electives for 2020/21

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2020/21

The dissertation offers students the opportunity to research in detail a subject of their own choosing and interest, and to write a substantial piece of work that explores any aspect of American Studies through one or more of its disciplines. Work on this 30-credit 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 students the opportunity to produce an extended piece of research as the culminating assessment of their degree programme. Staff in American Studies strongly recommend students to take the dissertation option for reasons both of academic and personal development. The opportunity to work on a subject of the student's 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.

To enable students to apply theoretical, methodological, and practical approaches from one or more of the component disciplines of American Studies.
To enable students to research, plan, and write a substantial piece of independent work.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Undertake extensive independent research: 1,2
Utilize theoretical, methodological and practical skills in one or more component disciplines of American Studies: 1,2
Manage time effectively, submitting draft materials to time: 1,2
Produce written work to an advanced undergraduate level of scholarship and presentation: 1,2
Research, plan and produce preparatory materials for the ISP: 1,2
Take account of written and verbal feedback in the development of the ISP: 1,2
Produce an extended piece of argument and analysis in one or more of the component disciplines of American Studies: 1,2

Study hours

Lectures, group and individual meetings with supervisor: 20 hours
Research: 200 hours
Writing and preparation for submission: 80 hours

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment