Module GEOG3432: DISSERTATION (40 CREDITS) IN GEOGRAPHY B

Department: GEOGRAPHY

GEOG3432: DISSERTATION (40 CREDITS) IN GEOGRAPHY B

Prerequisites

• Scientific Research in Geography (Level 2).

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• Dissertatation (40 Credits in Geography B (GEOG3232); Dissertation for Geography BScEURO

Aims

• To enable students to plan and execute a substantial piece of independent geographical research on an approved topic.
• To provide students with an opportunity to collect and analyse data from primary and/or secondary sources using mainly natural scientific research methods.
• To encourage students to develop the transferable skills of advanced literacy and presentation.

Content

• An individual piece of work chosen by the student and approved by the Department's Director of Learning and Teaching.
• Early formulation of the topic is monitored by the Dissertation Adviser, with whom there is one discussion tutorial after completion of fieldwork.
• The dissertation should be based mainly on primary and/or secondary natural science research.

Learning Outcomes

• On successful completion of the module students are expected to be able to produce a dissertation showing these skills: Formulation: identify a clear objective.
• establish the relevant substantive and theoretical context.
• produce a scholarly and critical review of relevant literature.
• Execution: use appropriate and relevant natural science research methods.
• identify a logical structure and argument.
• show relevance and depth.
• produce a critical appraisal of the outcome.

• Presentation: demonstrate advanced skills of literacy, numeracy, graphicacy, editing and proof-reading, documentation and bibliography.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• The dissertation is the most important single item on which Single-Honours Geography students are assessed.
• It is their own work on a topic of their own choice, done largely in their own time and reflecting their level of training, attitude, motivation, powers of organisation and analysis.
• The Level 2 Dissertation Advisory Groups (part of Scientific Research in Geography') make an important contribution to the formulation, and the data analysis and writing up take place in this Level 3 double module.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

None.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University