This is an archived handbook for a previous year. The current undergraduate and postgraduate handbooks can be viewed using the links above.

Undergraduate Handbook 2017-2018 (archived)

Module GEOG3232: DISSERTATION (40 CREDITS) IN GEOGRAPHY A

Department: Geography

GEOG3232: DISSERTATION (40 CREDITS) IN GEOGRAPHY A

Type	Level	Credits	Availability	Module Cap	Location
Tied	3	40	Available in 2017/2018		Durham

Tied To

Pre-requisites

Social Research in Geography (GEOG2472)

Corequisites

None.

Excluded Combinations

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 on an approved human geography topic, chosen by the student and approved by the Department's Director of Education
Formulation of the topic and progress towards completion are monitored by the Dissertation Supervisor, with whom there are six discussion tutorials during Level 3

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge

On successful completion of the module students are expected to have developed an advanced and detailed knowledge of a specified geographical topic.

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 social 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
Conceptualisation — consider and formulate a research question and methodology of appropriate and completable scope, drawing on and synthesising relevant literature
Research — conduct data gathering and analysis in an academically rigorous manner
Synthesis — consider findings with reference to empirical questions and scholarly debates as relevant
Skills in time management and project management appropriate for undertaking multifaceted, long-duration research projects

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 as well as depth of knowledge of a specified geographical topic.
The Level 2 Dissertation Supervision Groups (Part of the module 'Social Research in Geography') supported students in formulating projects and conducting fieldwork, as well as time/project management skills. Students were given detailed verbal and written feedback on the formative research proposal in Level 2.
The Level 3 Dissertation Supervision individual meetings support students in completing fieldwork, analysing data, interpretation and writing up findings.
Students are given detailed verbal and written feedback on the formative draft chapter(s) (max 8 pages) and a 2-page outline at Level 3.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity	Number	Frequency	Duration	Total Hours	Attendance Monitored
Tutorials	6	Terms 1 & 2	Typically 30 minutes	3	Yes
Preparation and Reading				397
Total				400

Summative Assessment

Component	Component Weighting	Element	Length/Duration	Element Weighting	Resit Opportunity
Dissertation	100%	Dissertation submissions should be typed, using 12 pt Arial font, on A4 paper with 1.5 line spacing, 2cm top and bottom margins, and 2cm left and right margins. The main part of the dissertation, following the Declaration page, title page, abstract and any acknowledgements, must not exceed 10,000 words. This 10,000 word limit does not include text within tables and figures or text in table and figure captions. An appropriate number of figures (i.e. those directly referred to in the text) should be integrated into the text throughout. In addition, the dissertation should include a list of References. References are not included in the 10,000 word limit.	10,000 words	100%

Formative Assessment

Formative feedback on a) eight page draft dissertation chapter or eight pages derived from multiple chapters and b) two page outline of the dissertation consisting of section headings.

Students who do not attend monitored activities shown under Teaching Methods and Learning Hours, or who fail to complete the summative or formative assessment(s) specified above, may be subject to the Academic Progress procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University.