Run by School of History, Law and Social Sciences

60.000 Credits or 30.000 ECTS Credits

Semester 3

Organiser: Prof Peter Shapely

This course brings together all the skills and experience learnt by the student in Part 1 of the MA course (in Celtic Archaeology, Global Heritage, History, or Welsh History) through the successful completion of a piece of scholarly research and writing on a topic chosen by the individual student. This module will enable the student 1. To gather a list of relevant sources for their chosen topic. 2. To gather relevant secondary research material for their chosen topic. 3. To gather relevant primary research material for their chosen topic . 4. To interrogate and analyse their source material in relation to relevant research questions. 5. To construct a coherent chapter plan for their dissertation. 6. To write up the project successfully in a manner that conforms to the conventions of style and presentation required for MA dissertations and detailed in the School¿s MA Style Sheet.

The MA dissertation will set the chosen research in its broader context e.g. historiography, theoretical framework, geographical and historical framework. It will set research questions and a structure will be worked out. It will describe and analyse the chosen topic using a range of relevant secondary and primary evidence. The project will be written up in an ordered manner that conforms with conventions set out in the Style Sheet provided for MA students.

threshold

Threshold students (C/50%) will demonstrate satisfactory research skills in at least parts of their chosen topic, and will make at least partly successful attempts to interrogate and analyse the information and to write up the project in a manner that conforms with the School¿s requirements.

good

Good students (B/60%) will show a solid level of achievement in all the criteria listed in the paragraphs above.

excellent

Excellent students (A/70% and above) will show this solid achievement across the criteria combined with originality, extensive knowledge of the chosen topic in its broader context and subtlety of argument and analysis.

1. Demonstrate the ability to identify, collate, and critically analyse primary and secondary source material relevant to their chosen topic.

2. Effectively contextualise research material within a broader context.

3. Interrogate and critically evaluate research material to identify and construct relevant research questions.

4. Construct an effective argument/hypothesis developed from a critical awareness of current theories and approaches in their field of research.

5. Utilize the research skills taught in this module to organize, manage, and present a structured and substantial piece of written work in the form of a dissertation.

Type	Name	Description	Weight
DISSERTATION	15000-2000 word Dissertation		100.00

		Hours
Individual Project		600

• Literacy - Proficiency in reading and writing through a variety of media
• Numeracy - Proficiency in using numbers at appropriate levels of accuracy
• Computer Literacy - Proficiency in using a varied range of computer software
• Self-Management - Able to work unsupervised in an efficient, punctual and structured manner. To examine the outcomes of tasks and events, and judge levels of quality and importance
• Exploring - Able to investigate, research and consider alternatives
• Information retrieval - Able to access different and multiple sources of information
• Inter-personal - Able to question, actively listen, examine given answers and interact sentistevely with others
• Critical analysis & Problem Solving - Able to deconstruct and analyse problems or complex situations. To find solutions to problems through analyses and exploration of all possibilities using appropriate methods, rescources and creativity.
• Safety-Consciousness - Having an awareness of your immediate environment, and confidence in adhering to health and safety regulations
• Presentation - Able to clearly present information and explanations to an audience. Through the written or oral mode of communication accurately and concisely.
• Teamwork - Able to constructively cooperate with others on a common task, and/or be part of a day-to-day working team
• Mentoring - Able to support, help, guide, inspire and/or coach others
• Caring - Showing concern for others; caring for children, people with disabilities and/or the elderly
• Management - Able to utilise, coordinate and control resources (human, physical and/or financial)
• Argument - Able to put forward, debate and justify an opinion or a course of action, with an individual or in a wider group setting
• Self-awareness & Reflectivity - Having an awareness of your own strengths, weaknesses, aims and objectives. Able to regularly review, evaluate and reflect upon the performance of yourself and others
• Leadership - Able to lead and manage, develop action plans and objectives, offer guidance and direction to others, and cope with the related pressures such authority can result in

• problem solving to develop solutions to understand the past
• understanding the complexity of change over time; in specific contexts and chronologies
• being sensitive to the differences, or the "otherness" of the past, and the difficulty to using it as a guide to present or future action
• being sensitive to the role of perceptions of the past in contemporary cultures
• producing logical and structured arguments supported by relevant evidence
• planning, designing, executing and documenting a programme of research, working independently
• marshalling and critically appraising other people's arguments, including listening and questioning
• making effective and appropriate use of relevant information technology
• making critical and effective use of information retrieval skills using paper-based and electronic resources
• critical evaluation of one's own and others' opinions

Compulsory in courses:

• V1AP: MA Celtic Archaeology year 1 (MA/CELTARCH)
• V1AR: MA History year 1 (MA/HIST)
• V9AC: MA Medieval Studies year 1 (MA/MS)
• V1AJ: MA Welsh History year 1 (MA/WH)