Philosophy Dissertation

Learning Outcomes

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• conceptualize a feasible and intellectually adventurous research project as well as a programme of study to bring it to fruition
• critically evaluate a wide range of both primary and secondary texts, and the arguments contained in them
• synthesize and integrate the analysis of these texts and the philosophical positions they contain into a coherent, sustained and convincing dissertation argument
• present and debate ideas in an open minded and rigorous way

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• the subject chosen for your dissertation, including principal primary and secondary literature
• the place of your topic in philosophy considered more broadly
• the processes by which understanding is achieved and new ideas advanced within the discipline

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• develop and manage a programme of study to bring your chosen research project to fruition
• demonstrate the capacity for self-directed problem-solving, independent working and autonomous time- management
• locate relevant scholarly literature, using a variety of bibliographic aids, to permit a convincing response to be made to the research question
• communicate a coherent, sustained and convincing argument at length
• identify a significant research question and the appropriate way of addressing it

You will complete a 15,000 word dissertation on a subject of your choice, subject to available supervisory expertise. This dissertation may follow on from (but not replicate) work completed in other elements of the programme, but this is not a requirement. You will be allocated an appropriate supervisor, and develop the project under their initial guidance. The bulk of the work, however, is done independently. Samples of written work and a full draft of the dissertation may be submitted for comment to the supervisor.

Teaching and learning methods

Teaching methods include

• one-to-one meetings with supervisor
• feedback on written work

Learning activities include

• oral discussion with supervisor
• conceptualization of dissertation project
• research for and organization and composition of dissertation

Resources & Reading list

Textbooks

Liz Hampson (1994). w's your Dissertation Going?: Students share the Rough Reality of Dissertation and Project Work. Lancaster.

Derek Swetnam (1997). Writing Your Dissertation: How to Plan, Prepare and Present Your Work Successfully. Oxford.

Charles R. Doty (1997). Guide to Dissertation Proposal Preparation & Dissertation Preparation. New Jersey.

James E. Mauch & Jack W. Birch (1993). Guide to the Successful Thesis and Dissertation: A Handbook for Students and Faculty. New York.

Roy Preece (1994). Starting Research: an Introduction to Academic Research and Dissertation Writing. London.

Fred Pyrczak (1999). Completing Your Thesis or Dissertation: Professors Share Their Techniques and Strategies. Los Angeles.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat

An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External