HI 7138 Approaches to Historical Research: Dissertation Preparation (5 ECTS)

Coordinators: Dr. David Ditchburn, Dr. Graeme Murdock, Dr. Anne Dolan
Duration: Semester 2: 1-2 hrs per week
Prerequisites: none

This module is designed to prepare students in the design, research and writing of a dissertation. It involves individual meetings with supervisors, and also the presentation of two papers, each of 30 minutes, to an audience of other M Phil students and staff. These presentations are normally related to chapters of the dissertation. Presenters are required to answer questions about their presentations from the audience – and students in the audience are required to ask questions.

Assessment:

2 x oral presentations, each worth 50% (average of marks given by staff in attendance).

Learning outcomes:

On successful completion of the module students should be able to:

• identify key primary and secondary sources to be used in the dissertation
• reflect critically upon these sources
• discuss appropriate methodological and theoretical approaches
• outline in an oral presentation key issues to be addressed in the dissertation
• respond coherently and authoritatively to questions posed by an academic audience about the oral presentation