Postgraduate Module Descriptor

POLM876: Dissertation Skills

This module descriptor refers to the 2018/9 academic year.

Module Aims

The aims of this module are to equip you with the professional skills needed to conduct an extended piece of research and writing. You will have the time and guidance to engage deeply with core debates across the sub-disciplines of politics, equipping you well with practical skills and contributing to your intellectual development. On successful completion of this module you should be a confident and independent researcher.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here - you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills1. design an individual research programme, incorporating appropriate social science research methods.
2. collate and analyse subject-specific information from a range of appropriate sources
Discipline-Specific Skills3. develop the skills requisite to conducting an extended piece of academic writing, including: devising a research question, proposal and literature review; organizing and summarizing key literatures, debates, ideas and controversies.
4. locate your own research in key disciplinary debates, controversies and developments.
Personal and Key Skills5. use IT for information retrieval and presentation.