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TGMCDDC: Dissertation
Module code: TGMCDDC
Module provider: Typography; School of Arts and Comm Design
Credits: 60
Level: Postgraduate Masters
When you'll be taught: Full year
Module convenor: Professor Gerry Leonidas, email: g.leonidas@reading.ac.uk
Module co-convenor: Professor Fiona Ross, email: f.g.e.ross@reading.ac.uk
Pre-requisite module(s):
Co-requisite module(s):
Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):
Module(s) excluded:
Placement information: NA
Academic year: 2024/5
Available to visiting students: No
Talis reading list: No
Last updated: 20 May 2024
Overview
Module aims and purpose
This module develops students' abilities to plan, research, and write up an extended research project. It combines tutorials and workshops on fundamental skills with substantial self-directed elements, to enable students to identify appropriate topics and research questions, to develop cogent arguments,and to locate and analyse primary and secondary sources in order to create a substantial piece of writing. The module aims to enable students to develop and demonstrate their mastery of a particular aspect of their subject, through academic research and writing, by engaging in an advanced study of a topic relating to Communication Design. Â
Module learning outcomes
By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:Â
- Write clearly, and present illustrated written work to a satisfactory standard.Â
- Evidence independent judgement through research, academic writing and the organisation of supporting material.Â
- Draw on broad historical, theoretical and technical perspectives in specified areas of Communication Design.Â
- Identify and explain the main currents of thought in specified areas in Communication Design, engaging critically with current discourse, policy, research and practice.Â
- Locate, critically review and evaluate published literature and other information associated with a specified research topic. Â
- Use illustrations to explain and reinforce an argument in written work.Â
Module content
In Semester 1, preliminary teaching sessions will provide students with guidance on:
- identifying the characteristics of good dissertations
- searching effectively for published and unpublished sources of information and exploring relevant contacts
- efficient methods for note-taking and recording bibliographical details
- literature reviews and bibliographic referencing
- drafting, presenting, revising and finalising a topic proposal
- choice of appropriate methods of enquiry (working with primary source materials, conducting interviews, and engaging in empirical studies)
- writing and presenting the dissertation
In Semester 2, students choose their dissertation topic in consultation with teaching staff and they submit a topic proposal.
Once the topic proposals have been agreed by the Pathway Leads, work on developing dissertations will be mainly self-directed, though supported by tutorials with individually assigned dissertation supervisors. Students will be expected to agree a work plan with their assigned supervisor and show the development of their writing in drafts for discussion at pre-arranged supervision tutorials across Semester 2 and over the Summer.
The module approaches the development of academic writing skills with recognition of the diversity of training and education in this area globally. It therefore places particular emphasis on developing in students an understanding of the Department’s approach to academic writing at Masters level, and introducing concepts of research at higher degree level.
Structure
Teaching and learning methods
Although work will be mainly in the form of self-directed independent study, the module begins, in Semester 1, with a series of teaching seminars and workshops on key research and writing skills. As part of this process, students prepare draft outlines and proposals for their selected topic, on which they receive staff feedback. In Semester 2, the topic proposals are approved and these provide the basis for tutorial meetings with the students’ assigned supervisors. Supervisors will use the tutorials to monitor students' progress. Over Semester 2 and the Summer, contact hours between students and supervisors will be determined by a process of discussion and agreement between student and supervisor.Â
Study hours
At least 21 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.
 Scheduled teaching and learning activities |  Semester 1 |  Semester 2 | Ìý³§³Ü³¾³¾±ð°ù |
---|---|---|---|
Lectures | |||
Seminars | 8 | 8 | |
Tutorials | 3 | 2 | |
Project Supervision | |||
Demonstrations | |||
Practical classes and workshops | |||
Supervised time in studio / workshop | |||
Scheduled revision sessions | |||
Feedback meetings with staff | |||
Fieldwork | |||
External visits | |||
Work-based learning | |||
 Self-scheduled teaching and learning activities |  Semester 1 |  Semester 2 | Ìý³§³Ü³¾³¾±ð°ù |
---|---|---|---|
Directed viewing of video materials/screencasts | |||
Participation in discussion boards/other discussions | |||
Feedback meetings with staff | 15 | 15 | |
Other | |||
Other (details) | |||
 Placement and study abroad |  Semester 1 |  Semester 2 | Ìý³§³Ü³¾³¾±ð°ù |
---|---|---|---|
Placement | |||
Study abroad | |||
 Independent study hours |  Semester 1 |  Semester 2 | Ìý³§³Ü³¾³¾±ð°ù |
---|---|---|---|
Independent study hours | 23 | 163 | 363 |
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 50% to pass this module.
Summative assessment
Type of assessment | Detail of assessment | % contribution towards module mark | Size of assessment | Submission date | Additional information |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Capstone project | Dissertation | 100 | 10,000$£13,000 words | Summer, Dissertation Week 12 |
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.
Students take part in seminars and workshops that provide an opportunity for feedback on their draft proposals. Once supervisors are assigned, students receive feedback on interim work at mutually arranged points leading up to the submission of the final work.Â
Reassessment
Type of reassessment | Detail of reassessment | % contribution towards module mark | Size of reassessment | Submission date | Additional information |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Capstone project | Dissertation | 100 | 10,000$£13,000 words | Within the next 12 months |
Additional costs
Item | Additional information | Cost |
---|---|---|
Computers and devices with a particular specification | ||
Required textbooks | ||
Specialist equipment or materials | ||
Specialist clothing, footwear, or headgear | ||
Printing and binding | ||
Travel, accommodation, and subsistence |
THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS MODULE DESCRIPTION DOES NOT FORM ANY PART OF A STUDENT'S CONTRACT.