Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2012-2013 (archived)
Module GEOG3232: DISSERTATION (40 CREDITS) IN GEOGRAPHY A
Department: Geography
GEOG3232: DISSERTATION (40 CREDITS) IN GEOGRAPHY A
| Type | Tied | Level | 3 | Credits | 40 | Availability | Available in 2012/13 | Module Cap | None. | Location | Durham |
|---|
| Tied to | CFG0 |
|---|---|
| Tied to | L702 |
| Tied to | LMV0 |
Prerequisites
- Level 2 Social Research in Geography GEOG2472
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
- 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 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
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 methods of analysis, identify a local 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 Project Advisory Groups (Part of 'Social 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 | 6 | Terms 1 & 2 | Typically 30 minutes | 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 10,000 words. This includes captions to figures and tables, but does not include the figures and tables themselves, or the reference list. Appendices (no upper page limit) can be included on a CD but staff are not obliged to read them. They will only be referred to if any questions arise which cannot be answered from reading the dissertation. Appendices are not to be included as hard copy. | 10,000 words | 100% | |
Formative Assessment:
Formative feedback on a) eight page draft dissertation chapter and b) two page outline of the dissertation consisting of section headings. This is to be submitted in the last week of Term 1. Staff would provide formative feedback but no mark will be given.
■ 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