Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2010-2011 (archived)
Module GEOG3432: DISSERTATION (40 CREDITS) IN GEOGRAPHY B
Department: Geography
GEOG3432: DISSERTATION (40 CREDITS) IN GEOGRAPHY B
| Type | Tied | Level | 3 | Credits | 40 | Availability | Available in 2010/11 | Module Cap | None. | Location | Durham |
|---|
| Tied to | CFG0 |
|---|---|
| Tied to | F800 |
| Tied to | LMV0 |
| Tied to | X1F8 |
Prerequisites
- Scientific Research in Geography (Level 2)
Corequisites
- None
Excluded Combination of Modules
- None
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 and progress towards completion are monitored by the Dissertation Tutor, with whom there are five discussion tutorials during Level 3
- The dissertation should be based mainly on primary and / or secondary natural science research
Learning Outcomes
Subject-specific Knowledge:
Subject-specific Skills:
- 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
Key Skills:
- 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 Research Method Advisory Groups (Part of 'Scientific Research in Geography') may make an important contribution to the formulation of projects
Teaching Methods and Learning Hours
| Activity | Number | Frequency | Duration | Total/Hours | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tutorials | Varies | Terms 1 & 2 | Varies | 3 | ■ |
| Preparation and Reading | 397 | ||||
| Total | 400 |
Summative Assessment
| Component: Dissertation | Component Weighting: 100% | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Element | Length / duration | Element Weighting | Resit Opportunity |
| Dissertation submissions should be typed, using 12 pt Arial font, on A4 paper with 1.5 line spacing, 2 cm left, right, top and bottom margins. The main part of the dissertation, following the title page and abstract and any acknowledgements, must not exceed 35 printed pages, including maps and diagrams. In addition, the dissertation should include a list of References and may include one or more Appendices giving supplementary material. This additional material should not exceed 35 printed pages | 100% | ||
Formative Assessment:
Feedback on Dissertation Proposal which is submitted in the first week of Level 3
■ 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