LING1018 Dissertation Module Handbook | University Of Greenwich

LING1018 Module Details and Learning Outcomes

• Host Faculty: Faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences 
• Host School: School of Humanities and Social Sciences  
• Number of Credits: 60 credits 
• Term of delivery: Terms 1 - 3 
• Site of delivery: Greenwich Maritime site 
• Pre-requisites/Co-requisites: None

LING1018 Aims:

To provide students with the opportunity to carry out an original and substantial piece of  work on an individual research topic of their own choosing (with supervisor approval),  relating to the overarching themes of either applied linguistics or TESOL;  

• To enable students to manage their work effectively, with a high level of autonomy;  
• To enable students to carry out a rigorous literature review and analyse data;  
• To enable students to present research findings appropriately;  
• To provide students with an understanding of issues related to ethical considerations in research.  

Learning Outcomes of LING-1018:

On successful completion of this course, a student will be able to:  

1. Identify and develop a series of original research questions based on a review of existing literature and the content covered in the programme.  
2. Develop systematic strategies for accessing primary and secondary research material. 
3. Critically analyse and evaluate theoretical and secondary source material in relation to primary texts.  
4. Work independently in a self-directed and reflective manner to develop original applications of concepts and ideas.  
5. Formulate an appropriate strategy for approaching an extended research project.  6. Complete an original dissertation of 15000 words, with suitable argumentation and structure, demonstrating conceptual understanding of the topic.

Glossary: • A pre-requisite module must have been completed successfully before taking this module. 

• A co-requisite module must be taken alongside this module.  
• A learning outcome is a subject-specific statement that defines the learning to be achieved through completing this module.

Employability 

All modules you study on the MA Applied Linguistics programme are designed to complement each other by exploring a wide range of topics, issues and perspectives within the field, culminating in the production of a dissertation. You will also acquire a range of employability skills. For example, you will develop analytical skills, as well as the ability to research and make use of information from a variety of sources in the construction and manipulation of arguments and the evaluation of data sets. 

Almost all job descriptions, no matter what the role, require computer literacy,  often involving Microsoft Office. This module requires that you undertake written work in Word (or equivalent). Working with MS Office might be second nature to you – but this is not the case for everyone.  

Just as it is quite hard to do well in an assessment without reading around the subject, it is also tough to get a job in any industry without an understanding of how it functions, and of the relevant pathways in. In tutorials, you have the opportunity to discuss the field you are interested in working in with your Tutor or ECS members of staff, who can help you to research and develop your understanding of career paths.  

How does the course contribute to Greenwich Graduate attributes? The skills listed above are important attributes employers seek. They are developed over the course of the degree through many different courses, types of instruction and forms of assessment. The list should prove helpful to students preparing for job interviews as it helps students to provide concrete examples of skills they have acquired and how they were nurtured through different activities at university.  Demonstrating skills to employers and explaining their transferability is an important skill in its own right. It is key to the art of good application writing and interviewing. The Greenwich Employability Passport is itself a means of illustrating transferable skills acquired outside of the classroom.

Schedule of teaching and learning activities

Assessment

LING-1018 Structure Dissertation:

• Title page 
• Abstract (summary between 300-500 words) 
• Acknowledgements (if any) 
• Table of contents 
• Introduction (Chapter 1) 
• Main body of the text – Chapters 2, 3, 4, etc., presenting the literature review,  methods, findings, and discussion 
• Final chapter (conclusions, further research, recommendations, etc.)
• References list 
• Appendices 

Formative assessments:

In addition to summative assessment, where you receive a grade, your progress will also be monitored through formative assessment, which includes intentional questioning,  workshop discussions, activities and presentations. Students will have the opportunity to present their projects to the class and receive peer and lecturer feedback in a class discussion after the presentation (LOs 1,4,5), which will feed into the final dissertation (LO  6).

Feedback for summative coursework:

Individual feedback will be provided, and the opportunity to meet with your supervisor will be offered.  

LING1018 University of Greenwich – Level 7 Generic Marking Rubric