FT2CRIT: Independent Critical Project

Module code: FT2CRIT

Module provider: Film, Theatre and TV; School of Arts and Comm Design

Credits: 40

Level: Level 2 (Intermediate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1 / 2

Module convenor: Dr David Foster, email: d.foster@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded: IN TAKING THIS MODULE YOU CANNOT TAKE FT2CSP OR TAKE FT2CCPP (Compulsory)

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 27 June 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

The module aims to develop your ability to apply the research skills and knowledge to an area of individual interest in an extended research project with creative component on a topic not directly taught on the course, and which is initiated and developed independently but under supervision. Each student will develop the parameters of their own research project in close dialogue with their supervisor, who will also approve the students’ research proposal before it can proceed. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Select appropriate methodologies for written academic work; employ skills of research, organisation, presentation and analysis; effectively communicate an argument in clear and accurate prose
2. Demonstrate the ability to plan on paper a coherent project in theatre, film, television or mixed media which draws convincingly on critical and theoretical debates and practices encountered elsewhere on the course
3. Realise a project with a creative component that is internally coherent, systematic and imaginative in its decision making and that is informed by an appropriate critical and conceptual agenda
4. Evaluate your project self-critically, analysing both local and systemic levels of decision making, in the light both of independent reading and research and selected examples of theatre, performance, film or television practice
5. To develop students’ skills in effectively shaping an extensive and appropriately contextualised piece of written work that fully expresses their research process, critical thinking and research findings
6. Develop skills and competencies associated with critical argument and academic writing: appropriate deployment of research using printed and electronic resources; critical analysis and coherent argument; undertaking increasingly independent work; presentation of written work (and possibly graphics and data) using IT; identifying and addressing problems in the analysis of film, TV and/or theatre texts. Tutorial work also encourages the further development of oral communication skills and the ability to present and defend ideas in one-to-one discussion.

Module content

Students will plan and execute a individual project on a chosen topic in film, theatre, television, or a combination of these. Students will meet with their supervisors to begin detailed plans for the structure and approach of their project, including their creative component. Drafts of writing and creative component will be discussed in tutorials before final submission. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Students will meet regularly with their supervisor to develop their project as well as attending taught skills sessions. Emphasis in supervision will be on the development of a project which is appropriate in scale, achievable within readily available resources and informed by clear critical objectives. Supervisors may read and comment on draft sections but may not comment on the work in its entirety in draft form. 

Study hours

At least 6 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• 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 three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: /cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/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.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Ongoing oral feedback provided by the supervisor. 

Reassessment

Additional costs