MRes Research Skills 1
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| AMCS4082 | American and Canadian Studies | 4 | 20 | Autumn UK |
- Code
- AMCS4082
- School
- American and Canadian Studies
- Level
- 4
- Credits
- 20
- Semesters
- Autumn UK
Summary
This module introduces students to the key Research Skills required for successful completion of an MRes in any discipline within the School of Cultures, Languages and Area Studies. It will enable students to become more effective researchers and develop a range of transferable professional skills—from writing and presentation to public engagement and project management. Routes through the module include compulsory and elective courses offered by the Faculty of Arts Researcher Skills Programme, the central Graduate School Researcher Development Programme, and the Social Sciences and Arts Graduate Centre Programme. Students will work with their supervisors to identify which of the skills from these programmes they should prioritise for their development. In addition, students will be required to attend their Department’s Postgraduate Professional Development Programme (which incorporates occasional seminars and postgraduate-led events alongside weekly peer review sessions and lectures by visiting academics). These sessions are intended to give students the opportunity to receive detailed feedback on their written work from their peers, and allow them to develop a range of important skills relating to critical interrogation, intellectual clarity, and verbal articulacy. These skills will prove crucial to the successful completion of their degree and in relation to things such as conference presentations, funding applications and (academic or non-academic) job interviews. The minimum expectation of students is that they complete the two mandatory courses from the Graduate School Researcher Programme in this semester and regularly attend Work-in-Progress sessions within their Department. Their initial Development Needs Analysis can then be further refined after the completion of these strands. The core assessment element of this module, the Literature Review, is a significant first step in establishing the theoretical framework and source base for the MRes dissertation. The feedback on it provided by the student’s supervisors will enable them to go on to plan the overall chapter structure and basic thesis of their dissertation, as well as develop an awareness of any archival resources that may need to be drawn on in the future.
Target Students
Available for students registered for any MRes degree in the School of Cultures, Languages and Area Studies. Students are reminded that enrolments which are not agreed by the Offering School in advance may be cancelled without notice.
Classes
- One 2-hour seminar per week for 11 weeks
The School of Cultures, Languages and Area Studies operates an attendance policy. The details of this policy can be found in the student handbook on Workspace and in module handbooks.
Assessment
- 100% Coursework 1: Literature Review - 4000 words
Assessed by end of autumn semester
Educational Aims
The module aims to• Introduce students to the key methodological and disciplinary issues in their field• Enable students to create a Development Needs Analysis• Encourage students to develop skills in finding and managing research data• Introduce students to some of the research methods emerging from Knowledge Exchange and Impact agendas• Provide students with an opportunity to network with their peers and develop their work in dialogue with experts in their field from within their Department and from external institutions• Provide students with experience in assembling a critical and evaluative annotated bibliographyLearning Outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
A1. Knowledge and understanding of key concepts and thinkers relevant to the MRes dissertation
A2. Knowledge and understanding of theoretical frameworks relevant to independent research in the student’s chosen field as well as arts and humanities research more generally
Intellectual skills
B1. Ability to develop and sustain a coherent argument.
B2. Advanced textual interpretation and critical analysis.
B3. Ability to critically evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of a variety of theoretical frameworks
B4. Understanding and appraisal of complex ideas.
Professional/practical skills
A1. Scholarly referencing, library and bibliographical skills
A2. Selection, sifting and synthesis of knowledge from various primary and secondary sources.
A3. Acquisition of appropriate research skills
Transferable skills
D1. Ability to express complex ideas clearly and coherently in writing and speech.
D3. Word processing
D4. Collation and distillation of conceptual information
D5. Conceptual problem solving
D6. Independent, critical thinking