Coursework 1: Session Programme Engagement (1,500 words, 50% of module mark)
Submission Deadline: 8th January 2024, 15:00
As part of the Semester One session programme, you will contribute weekly to the Discussion Forum on Moodle. You will be encouraged to post comments, questions, thoughts and observations during and between sessions and to respond to comments, questions, thoughts and observations raised by other students and tutors. These should relate directly to points raised in the lectures, workshops, guest speakerpresentations and panel discussions, and should be considered, thoughtful interventions. There will be clear areas set out for Forum contributions. Your contributions to the Forum should take place at the appropriate time (i.e., during the relevant session or in the week following the relevant session). You must keep up with contributions during the teaching term. When you contribute weekly to the Forum (with the exception of Direct Studies Week), you will normally have a minimum of ten posts by the end of the teaching term, enabling you to perform well in this assessment by giving you plenty of posts to choose from. The Forum will close after the final week of the teaching term in Semester One.
In this coursework assessment task, you should proceed as follows:
(1) Drawing on your contributions to, and participation in, the Discussion Forum on Moodle, selectone example of a comment, question, thought or observation that you posted, and one example of an instance where you responded to a comment, question, thought or observation raised by another user;(2) Insert screenshots of your two examples in your submission document. The screenshots should include your name and the date and time of the contributions and do not contribute towards the word count;(3) Offer critical reflections on the points that you raised in these screenshots in the form of a reflective commentary. Further develop the points that you were trying to make;(4) When appropriate, you may make additional reference to your other Forum contributions in support of your reflections. Screenshots of other Forum contributions that you refer to should be presented at the end of your submission in an appendix — and they are not included in the word count;(5) To help guide your reflections, please comment directly on the following question: How has your view of research changed over the course of the session programme
(6) Make use of scholarly literature from the module reading list to develop and support your ideas. Also, work with any feedback you may have received from others (either in the Discussion Forumor during the module office hours) to improve the quality of your submission;(7) Include some reflection on your developing ideas for a potential final-year dissertation topic, connecting your ideas to aspects of the session programme that have helped you to think about your future research topic;
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(8) Include references to scholarly literature to support and/or illustrate your points. Use full citation norms and include a list of references at the end of your submission.
Coursework 2: Research Proposal (1,500 words, 50% of module mark)
Submission Deadline: 29th April 2024, 15:00
This coursework assessment task requires you to write a first draft of your dissertation proposal. This is in preparation for the production of a 10,000-word dissertation based on original research that you will be required to complete in the final year of your degree programme. This task gives you an opportunity to develop your ability to think carefully and critically at this first stage about what you want to research, whyyou want to research it, and how you will go about doing so. Your research proposal should be organised as follows:
(1) Overview and Research Question (100 words)
(a) Here you should offer a basic overview of what you plan to research. Tie this to the topics and themes of at least one module you have taken so far. You should conclude this section with a clearly defined research question;(b) A research question is a clear statement of what it is that you hope to find out by conducting your project. The more precise you can be, the better. Ensure that your research question is phrased as a question.
(2) Research Context (700 words)
(a) Here you must explain why the project you want to do is worth doing and why it matters. A short introduction should explain your interest in the topic;(b) The rest of this section should be dedicated to outlining the current academic literature on your chosen topic to frame why you think your project is necessary and/or worthwhile pursuing;(c) Use the reading lists of your other modules and the library catalogue to identify this academic literature;
(d) The key aim here is to explain what other researchers have already argued about your topic and how you hope to build upon or critique these arguments;(e) Make full use of citation and remember to list your secondary sources in a list of referencesat the end (See References below).
(3) Methods and Sources (700 words)
(a) For a research project to be viable, you must identify how you will collect thenecessary information and evidence to support your argument;(b) In Semester Two of this module, you will attend three workshops focussed on different methods and sources for culture, film, media, communications, heritage, digital practices and the arts. In this section of the proposal, you should identify which one of these methodsand/or sources is the most relevant for your dissertation and why. If you think more than one method is relevant, that is fine. Again — explain why;(c) Consider testing out the feasibility of your chosen methods and/or sources by running small trials or small-scale experiments. Explain what works, what does not work (and why) and how you would work around any challenges encountered when you undertake your actual dissertation project. Reporting on the process and experience from your small-scale experiments — while simultaneously grounding this in relevant academic literature for support — can help you justify the ways in which your chosen methods and/or sources are a good fit for your proposed dissertation research. The content or materials from your small-scale experiments should be presented at the end of your submission in an appendix — and
they are not included in the word count. Students who run small-scale experiments —and do so effectively and meaningfully — will be rewarded for their efforts;(d) Good research proposals demonstrate familiarity with key considerations relating to scholarly ethical conduct as covered during the Semester One Session Programme.
This may vary depending on how such conduct applies to your proposed research.
(e) If, after attending the three workshops, you decide that the method (or methods) and source (or sources) covered will not be suitable for your proposed project (e.g., due to a change in your approach or topic), proceed as follows. Consult the workshop folders on Moodle and refer to the method (or methods) and source (or sources) that you think is (or are) most suited to the research you wish to conduct;
(f) Cite relevant academic literature in support of your choice (or choices).
(4) References (not included in word count) a) Present a list of references at the end of your research proposal;b) Ensure to present references in line with the conventions of the Harvard Referencing Systemrecommended by the Department of Cultural, Media and Visual Studies.
Top Tips — Approaching a research proposal as more than just a one-off assessment
(a) The task of putting together a good and meaningful research proposal helps you learn and internalise the technique of narrowing down the scope of your selected topic thoughtfully and effectively.
(b) Putting together a research proposal does not lock you into a specific topic. Instead, thetechnique of crafting one can be applied to any topic that you end up choosing for your actual dissertation project — should you change your mind a number of times (which is not uncommon);(c) Because a good and effective research proposal requires bringing together learning from both
Semesters One and Two, it is a task that demands a lot of independent exploration and study, careful planning, analytical engagement, critical reflection and skilful execution. This distinguishes the research proposal as a piece of assessment from coursework done on other modules.
(d) The task of producing a research proposal mirrors the process you will undergo when undertaking your final-year dissertation project over a period of 7-8 months. In many ways, then, your actual final-year dissertation project starts with your research proposal. You — and only you — are in the driving seat. The more you invest in your research proposal, the higher the rewards you will reap.
(e) Working autonomously can be challenging for some students. We advise you to make use of the module office hours early to obtain guidance and feedback on your ideas and progress, to ensure that your work-in-progress is heading in the right direction, and to seek reassurance from tutors which is an important source of confidence and support.
Word counts
The maximum length for Coursework 1 is 1,500 words and for Coursework 2, 1,500 words. Astandard penalty of 5 points will apply for overlength pieces, and words estimated to be in excess of the limit may not be read.
No penalty will be applied to underlength pieces, but substantially underlength work may not cover the assessment task adequately. This may hold the mark down.
Word counts include in-text citations but not the list of references or titles.
Students are responsible for recording word counts on coursework submissions.
