Module SXL-3113:
Dissertation

Module Facts

Run by School of History, Law and Social Sciences

20.000 Credits or 10.000 ECTS Credits

Semester 1 & 2

Organiser: Dr Marie Parker-Jones

Overall aims and purpose

The purpose of this module is to provide students with the opportunity to write an extended piece of independent research-based work on a legal topic. In particular, the aims of the module include enabling students to formulate a research proposal setting out appropriate research techniques and methodologies; enabling students to plan, organise and write a lengthy piece of work; and enabling students to demonstrate an ability to undertake a detailed and sustained investigation into a particular topic or issue within the field of legal scholarship. Students will also deliver an oral presentation on their research.

Course content

The module will provide students with the opportunity to develop their research skills; an opportunity to develop their skills of written and oral presentation; and an opportunity to research a topic in more depth than is otherwise possible during their undergraduate studies.

Assessment Criteria

excellent

Excellent: A- to A* (70+%) An outstanding, possibly brilliant, answer, containing all the material relevant to the question and no irrelevancy, all the material and references being accurate and correct, there being no inaccuracy or error, the whole presented in a clear, logical, critical argument with little room for improvement. An answer which demonstrates a complete mastery of the subject.

good

Good: B- to B+ (60-69%) High Standard: A comprehensive answer, containing all the material relevant to the question and no irrelevancy, all the material and references being accurate and correct, there being no inaccuracy or error, the whole presented in an argument which, while clear, logical and critical, leaves room for improvement in its construction and presentation. An answer which shows complete competence in the subject.

threshold

Threshold: D- to D+ (40-49%) An answer which, while predominantly correct in its presentation of material, contains a significant level of error and is therefore not entirely reliable.

C- to C+

C- to C+: C- to C+ (50-59%) An answer which, while always in the main accurate and correct, fails to distinguish between relevant and irrelevant material and is lacking in criticism. An answer which while reliable with regard to correctness is either not comprehensive or not entirely pertinent.

Learning outcomes

  1. Demonstrate the ability to communicate reasoned and clearly structured written arguments on a legal topic succinctly using appropriate referencing systems.

  2. Demonstrate the ability to present ideas and reasoned arguments orally using a short focused presentation including using use information technology programme such as PowerPoint.

  3. Identify, obtain, critically review, and analyse relevant legal and associated materials from various sources.

  4. Demonstrate the ability to independently conduct sustained and focused research on a selected legal topic in order to create a well-balanced argument.

  5. Demonstrate the ability to identify, explain, and articulate arguments in a problem area.

Assessment Methods

Type Name Description Weight
DISSERTATION Dissertation

6,000 - 8,000 word dissertation

 70.00
INDIVIDUAL PRESENTATION Presentation

10 minute prepared presentation to staff and students in a conference format, with an additional 5 minutes for questions

 30.00

Teaching and Learning Strategy

Hours
One-to-one supervision

Students will work with a Supervisor throughout the academic year.

 4
Private study

Students will use private study time to carry out further research and to write their Dissertation.

 192
Seminar

There will be 4 hours of Seminars in total. These sessions will be used to provide students with guidance on the writing process.

 4

Transferable skills

  • Literacy - Proficiency in reading and writing through a variety of media
  • 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 sensitevely 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.
  • 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
  • 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

Subject specific skills

  • Develop the ability to interpret legal rules and employ techniques of legal reasoning competently and efficiently in order to offer a range of solutions and conclusions to actual or hypothetical complex legal problems, all supported by relevant academic literature, jurisprudence and legislative research. Such solutions will be clearly communicated and presented
  • Develop the ability to analyse complex legal issues, set against the background of the political, social, economic or cultural contexts in which they may arise
  • Develop those skills which are necessary for scholarship and research in legal subjects, namely the ability to identify relevant primary and secondary legal sources and to retrieve accurate legal information using paper and electronic sources

Resources

Talis Reading list

http://readinglists.bangor.ac.uk/modules/sxl-3113.html

Reading list

Recommended Reading: S Foster, Legal Writing Skills (Pearson 2019) L Lammasniemi, Law dissertations: a step-by-step guide (Routledge 2018) M Salter, Writing Law Dissertations (Longman 2007) L Webley, Legal Writing (Routledge-Cavendish 2010)

Pre- and Co-requisite Modules

Courses including this module

Optional in courses: