Dissertation in Slavonic Studies

Code

MLAC3053

School

Modern Languages and Cultures

Level

3

Credits

20

Semesters

Full Year UK

Summary

Students compile a bibliography and write a dissertation (4,000-7,000 words; footnotes are included in the word count but bibliography is NOT) which demonstrates extensive reading and independence of thought and judgement.

Target Students

Only available for Final-year students of the Department of Russian and Slavonic Studies. Students must normally have an average of 60 or above in Part 1 to be able to take this module and atopic and short plan for the project must be submitted before the start of the final year. The dissertation can only be taken if the subject considers that there is a member of academic staff willing and qualified to supervise it.

Classes

• One 2-hour tutorial each week for 2 weeks
• One 1-hour tutorial each week for 7 weeks

Activities may take place every teaching week of the semester or only in specified 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. 5-hour supervision session.

Assessment

• 100% Coursework 1: 5,000 - 7,000 words in length

Assessed by end of spring semester

Educational Aims

Learning Outcomes

a) Knowledge and understanding:
•increased knowledge of the subject of the dissertation (A3);
•use of advanced Russian, Serbian, or Croatian for the purposes of understanding, with a high level of accuracy (A1)

b) Intellectual skills:
• the ability critically and effectively to analyse a variety of cultural products from, and issues about, the target culture past and present (B1);
•ability to extract and organise material from written sources (B2);
•ability to reflect critically upon and reach judgment about evidence from written sources (B3);
•ability to identify and solve problems in relation to the subject of the dissertation (B4);
•ability to identify and apply an appropriate methodology (B5), ability to structure a reasoned argument in the light of evidence (B6)

c) Professional/practical skills:
• ability to communicate clearly and effectively in written English (C1);
•ability to use target-language source materials (C2), bibliographic and internet research skills in TL and English (C3);
•accurate and effective note-taking and summarising skills (C5), ability to articulate knowledge of the discipline (C6)

d) Transferable skills:
• the ability to work autonomously (D1);
• communication skills: effective writing (D2), time management (D4);
• IT skills such as word-processing in Cyrillic (D5); identification of problems and construction of strategies for their solution (D6);
• personal skills: self-direction, self-discipline, initiative (D7)

Conveners

• Dr Siggy Frank