Module CHEM3187: Chemistry Literature Perspective

Department: Chemistry

CHEM3187: Chemistry Literature Perspective

Type	Level	Credits	Availability	Module Cap	Location
Tied	3	10	Available in 2026/2027		Durham

Tied To

Pre-requisites

Core Chemistry 2 (CHEM2012).

Corequisites

Core Chemistry 3 (CHEM3012) OR Bioactive Chemistry 3 (CHEM3211) OR Chemical Physics 3 (CHEM3411).

Excluded Combinations

None.

Aims

To provide a research-led module in Chemistry, where MChem and MSci students in their penultimate year can development and demonstrate their skills in the reading and critical analysis of a small area of the relevant scientific literature.
To provide students with an opportunity to collect, read and analyse data from primary sources.
To enable students to develop the transferable skills of critical analysis, advanced literacy and presentation.
To provide a foundation for the preparation of a level 4 project report.

Content

Perspective on an individual title allocated to, the student in week 26 of Year 2 by a member of the academic staff from the Board of Studies in Chemistry.
Progress is monitored by the Perspective Supervisor through a series of tutorials in Level 3.
Peer review of a Perspective.
Oral Presentation.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge

Describe and critically analyse the topic of their literature perspective at an advanced level.

Subject-specific Skills

Produce a scholarly and critical review of a narrow area of relevant literature.
Show relevance in their study of a topic.
Produce a critical summary

Key Skills

Enhanced skills in chemical information retrieval, scientific writing, editing and proof-reading, oral presentation and discussion of scientific results.
Self-motivation, in self-guided learning.

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

Students are expected to submit two drafts of their literature perspective during Term 1.
In Term 2, students are expected to take part in the peer review process. Peer review is an essential review stage to ensure the quality of scientific literature and evaluate how well the author(s) have answered their research questions. Students will be assessed by the Module leader on the quality and professionalism of their peer reviews. Training for Peer review is provided in the TaSK weeks at the end of year 2.
Providing a Response to Peer Review is another important task. The Response is a reflective document based upon your consideration of the perception and understanding shown by the reviewers and the quality of their feedback. Students will be assessed by the Module leader on the quality and professionalism of their response to the reviewers.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity	Number	Frequency	Duration	Total Hours	Attendance Monitored
Supervision Sessions	2	Term 1	1 hour	2	Yes
Preparation and Reading				98
Total				100

Summative Assessment

Component	Component Weighting	Element	Length/Duration	Element Weighting
Literature Perspective	100%	Report	2000 words	60%
		Presentation	10 minutes + 5 minutes for questions	20%
		Commentary	2 peer reviews	10%
		Review	Response to peer review	10%

Formative Assessment

Formative feedback will be given on the draft literature perspective by the student's supervisor.

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.