LWMHDP-Dissertation Plan

Module Provider: School of Law
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2022/3

Module Convenor: Dr Charlotte Smith
Email: C.L.Smith@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module aims to build on the knowledge, understanding and skills developed in the Archival Research Module. It aims to develop further a critical awareness of issues in legal historical research, to facilitate the discussion of those issues, and to further develop key legal historical research skills, including especially those involved in planning a legal historical research project. It will culminate in the creation of a research plan for the dissertation.

Aims:
This module aims to build on the knowledge, understanding and skills developed in the Archival Research Module. It aims to develop further a critical awareness of issues in legal historical research, to facilitate the discussion of those issues, and to further develop key legal historical research skills, including especially those involved in planning a legal historical research project. It will culminate in the creation of a research plan for the dissertation.

Assessable learning outcomes:
£ After completing the module, students will:
£ have a detailed knowledge and understanding of historical research, methods and sources;
£ be capable of formulating appropriate and relevant research questions;
£ be able to design a research strategy appropriate to carrying out an independent research project in legal history;
£ be able to select the sources and research methods appropriate to their research question and formulate a detailed dissertation plan;
£ have a detailed understanding of the methodological difficulties which may arise in the course of their research.

Additional outcomes:
This module will also encourage the development of independent learning, as well as communication skills and personal responsibility.

Outline content:
Students will attend at least four research seminars organised by the Forum for Legal Historical Research at Reading and the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies/London Legal History Seminar Series. They may also attend other seminars and workshops in the School of Law and at the Graduate School (to be agreed at the discretion of the Programme Director and relevant Module Convenor). Students will then be required, in consultation with their dissertation supervisor, to formulate and submit a detailed dissertation plan.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
Teaching and learning is primarily in the form of research seminars and workshops and regular supervision.

Contact hours:

Ìý	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Seminars	2	2
Project Supervision	2	2
Guided independent study:	96	96
Ìý	Ìý	Ìý	Ìý
Total hours by term	100	100
Ìý	Ìý	Ìý	Ìý
Total hours for module	200

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written assignment including essay	100

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:
£ Graded: Detailed dissertation plan (3000 - 4000 words).
£ Pass / Fail: Attend at least four research seminars or events.

Formative assessment methods:

Penalties for late submission:

The below information applies to students on taught programmes except those on Postgraduate Flexible programmes. Penalties for late submission, and the associated procedures, which apply to Postgraduate Flexible programmes are specified in the policy £Penalties for late submission for Postgraduate Flexible programmes£, which can be found here: /cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmissionpgflexible.pdf
The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: /cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:
50% in the Dissertation Plan and a Pass in Attendance

Reassessment arrangements:
As for the original assessment, but a mark in a passed element can be carried forward.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1) Required text books:Ìý

2) Specialist equipment or materials:Ìý

3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear:Ìý

4) Printing and binding:Ìý

5) Computers and devices with a particular specification:Ìý

6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence:Ìý

Last updated: 22 September 2022