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Module Descriptors

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Session: 2022/23

Last modified: 09/03/2022 15:39:56

Title of Module: Languages Dissertation

Code: LING10003 SCQF Level: 10
(Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework)		 Credit Points: 40 ECTS: 20
(European Credit Transfer Scheme)
School:School of Education & Social Sciences
Module Co-ordinator:B  Cross

Summary of Module

In this module, students will learn to write a dissertation on a topic of their choice, related to the English language, cultures of English speaking countries, or intercultural topics. During the module, students will develop an understanding of the nature of academic research as based on empirical evidence and appropriate research methodology.  They will learn to define adequate research aims, select appropriate methods, search for, identify and critically evaluate sources, summarise, analyse, synthesise, and interpret source materials accurately and critically, and develop evidence-based, sound and balanced conclusions based on prior analysis; if human participants are involved in their projects, students will develop an ability to employ appropriate qualitative and/or quantitative methods, including definition of adequate samples, development of appropriate research instruments, and application of adequate methods of data analysis.  Linguistically, students will develop an ability to produce an extended written academic text, deliver an oral presentation, and conduct an oral discussion of their project, with due attention to communicative effectiveness, text structures, text clarity, stylistic appropriateness, and accuracy of linguistic forms. They will also develop an ability to work independently and under their own initiative, manage their workload and time, and reflect critically on their own knowledge and skills. In assessment of all components of the module,  quality of subject content and level of language skills will be assessed separately and weighted equally.


Module Delivery Method
Face-To-FaceBlendedFully OnlineHybridCHybridOWork-based Learning
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Face-To-Face
Term used to describe the traditional classroom environment where the students and the lecturer meet synchronously in the same room for the whole provision.

Blended
A mode of delivery of a module or a programme that involves online and face-to-face delivery of learning, teaching and assessment activities, student support and feedback. A programme may be considered “blended” if it includes a combination of face-to-face, online and blended modules. If an online programme has any compulsory face-to-face and campus elements it must be described as blended with clearly articulated delivery information to manage student expectations

Fully Online
Instruction that is solely delivered by web-based or internet-based technologies. This term is used to describe the previously used terms distance learning and e learning.

HybridC
Online with mandatory face-to-face learning on Campus

HybridO
Online with optional face-to-face learning on Campus

Work-based Learning
Learning activities where the main location for the learning experience is in the workplace.


Campus(es) for Module Delivery
The module will normally be offered on the following campuses / or by Distance/Online Learning: (Provided viable student numbers permit)
Paisley:Ayr:Dumfries:Lanarkshire:London:Distance/Online Learning:Other:
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Term(s) for Module Delivery
(Provided viable student numbers permit).
Term 1check markTerm 2check markTerm 3

 

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Learning Outcomes: (maximum of 5 statements)

On successful completion of this module the student will be able to:

L1. Demonstrate an abililty to choose a suitable research topic, formulate adequate research aims , and decide on appropriate research methods.

L2. Demonstrate an ability to search for, identify, classify, evaluate and select sources as appropriate for their project aims; if human subjects are involved: demonstrate an ability to define appropriate samples, and design and administer appropriate research instruments.

L3. Demonstrate an ability to report, analyse and interpret sources accurately and critically, and to produce sound, balanced and evidence-based conclusions; if human subjects are involved: demonstrate an ability to analyse and interpret critically empirical data.

L4. Demonstrate an ability to produce an extended piece of written work, with due attention to text structure, clarity, conciseness, linguistic accuracy, academic style, and referencing techniques; deliver an oral presentation, and conduct a formal discussion of their project, with due attention to structure, clarity, conciseness, accuracy, style, and effective oral communication

L5. Demonstrate an ability to reflect critically on their own knowledge, understanding, and skills; work independently and under their own initiative, manage their workload and time, and appreciate diversity in terms of academic knowledge and methods.

Employability Skills and Personal Development Planning (PDP) Skills
SCQF Headings During completion of this module, there will be an opportunity to achieve core skills in:
Knowledge and Understanding (K and U) SCQF Level 10.

recognizing, understanding and critically evaluating existing knowledge, theories and concepts in a specialist field

recognizing, understanding and critically evaluating research methods in a specialist field

Practice: Applied Knowledge and Understanding SCQF Level 10.

applying research methods to derive evidence from relevant sources

critically evaluating evidence acquired through research

developing and testing conclusions drawn from evidence in relation to a specialised subject

Generic Cognitive skills SCQF Level 10.

critically evaluating existing knowledge in complex fields

understanding qualitative and/or quantitative research methods

deriving conclusions from complex and varied evidence

critically testing conclusions against a variety research methods and complex and varied types of evidence

Communication, ICT and Numeracy Skills SCQF Level 10.

presenting orally complex information about specialist subjects to specialist audiences

describing, explaining and defending research methods and conclusions relating to specialist subjects in discussion with specialists

producing an extended research paper setting out research design, evidence and conclusions concerning specialist subjects

using a range of IT applications for oral presentations and written papers

Autonomy, Accountability and Working with others SCQF Level 10.

identifying aims and methods of a research project in consultation with subject specialists

executing a research project in consultation with subject specialists

taking account of and adhering to timescales and deadlines

taking responsibility for methods and conclusions of a research project by defending them in discussion with subject specialists

Pre-requisites: Before undertaking this module the student should have undertaken the following:
Module Code:
Module Title:
Other:
Co-requisitesModule Code:
Module Title:

* Indicates that module descriptor is not published.

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Learning and Teaching
Core information on research methods will be delivered in form of lectures. In tutorial sessions, students will have opportunities to discuss their projects and to practice academic writing, presentation and discussion skills. Support for individual projects will be provided by dissertation supervisors on an ongoing basis. At the end of trimester 1, students will deliver an oral presentation of their projects. At the end of trimester 2, students will present their completed project in form of a written dissertation of 5000 - 6000 words. Following submission of the dissertation, students will participate in a formal discussion of their project with their assessors. The module will be supported throughout by the VLE.
Learning Activities
During completion of this module, the learning activities undertaken to achieve the module learning outcomes are stated below: 		Student Learning Hours
(Normally totalling 200 hours):
(Note: Learning hours include both contact hours and hours spent on other learning activities)
Lecture/Core Content Delivery24
Tutorial/Synchronous Support Activity48
Asynchronous Class Activity0
Independent Study328
400 Hours Total

**Indicative Resources: (eg. Core text, journals, internet access)

The following materials form essential underpinning for the module content and ultimately for the learning outcomes:

Essential Reading:
P. Levin (2001) Excellent Dissertations (2nd Ed.). Student-Friendly Guides. Maidenhead: Open University Press

Recommended Reading:
S. Bailey (2015) Academic Writing. A Handbook for International Students. London: Routledge.

M. B. Davis (2007) Doing a Successful Research Project. Using Qualitative or Quantitative Methods. Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan

K. F. Punch (2006) Developing Effective Research Proposals. Sage. London

(**N.B. Although reading lists should include current publications, students are advised (particularly for material marked with an asterisk*) to wait until the start of session for confirmation of the most up-to-date material)

Engagement Requirements

In line with the Academic Engagement Procedure, Students are defined as academically engaged if they are regularly engaged with timetabled teaching sessions, course-related learning resources including those in the Library and on the relevant learning platform, and complete assessments and submit these on time. Please refer to the Academic Engagement Procedure at the following link: Academic engagement procedure

Where a module has Professional, Statutory or Regulatory Body requirements these will be listed here:
In line with the Academic Engagement and Attendance Procedure, Students are defined as academically engaged if they are regularly engaged with timetabled teaching sessions, course-related learning resources including those in the Library and on our VLE, and complete assessments and submit these on time. Please refer to the Academic Engagement and Attendance Procedure at the following link:
https://www.uws.ac.uk/media/4153/academic-engagement-and-attendance-procedure.pdf


For the purposes of this module, academic engagement equates to the following:
All fulltime students (part-time and distant learning students should check with their programme leader for any queries) are required to attend all scheduled classes and participate with all delivered elements of the module as part of their engagement with their programme of study. Consideration will be given to students who have protection under the appropriate equality law. Please refer to UWS Regulations, Chapter 1, 1.64 – 1.67, available at the following link:

http://www.uws.ac.uk/current-students/rights-and-regulations/regulatory-framework/

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Supplemental Information

Programme BoardEducation
Assessment Results (Pass/Fail) No
Subject PanelLanguages
ModeratorF Leon-Solis
External ExaminerB Matthews
Accreditation Details
Version Number

2.07

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Assessment: (also refer to Assessment Outcomes Grids below)
Written Dissertation (60%)


In asessment of all components of the dissertation module, quality of subject content and level of language skills will be assessed separately and weighted equally.
Coursework (40%)
(N.B. (i) Assessment Outcomes Grids for the module (one for each component) can be found below which clearly demonstrate how the learning outcomes of the module will be assessed.
(ii) An indicative schedule listing approximate times within the academic calendar when assessment is likely to feature will be provided within the Student Handbook.)

Assessment Outcome Grids (Footnote A.)

Component 1
Assessment Type (Footnote B.) Learning Outcome (1) Learning Outcome (2) Learning Outcome (3) Learning Outcome (4) Learning Outcome (5) Weighting (%) of Assessment ElementTimetabled Contact Hours
Dissertation/ Project report/ Thesischeck markcheck markcheck markcheck markcheck mark600

Component 2
Assessment Type (Footnote B.) Learning Outcome (1) Learning Outcome (2) Learning Outcome (3) Learning Outcome (4) Learning Outcome (5) Weighting (%) of Assessment ElementTimetabled Contact Hours
Clinical/ Fieldwork/ Practical skills assessment/ Debate/ Interview/ Viva voce/ Oralcheck markcheck markcheck markcheck markcheck mark250
Presentationcheck markcheck markcheck markcheck markcheck mark150
Combined Total For All Components100% 0 hours

Footnotes
A. Referred to within Assessment Section above
B. Identified in the Learning Outcome Section above

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Note(s):
  1. More than one assessment method can be used to assess individual learning outcomes.
  2. Schools are responsible for determining student contact hours. Please refer to University Policy on contact hours (extract contained within section 10 of the Module Descriptor guidance note).
    This will normally be variable across Schools, dependent on Programmes &/or Professional requirements.

Equality and Diversity
Aligned with the overall commitment to equality and diversity stated in the Programme Specifications, the module supports equality of opportunity for students from all backgrounds and with different learning needs. Using our VLE, learning materials will be presented electronically in formats that allow flexible access and manipulation of content (part-time and distant learning students should check with their programme leader for any queries). The module complies with University regulations and guidance on inclusive learning and teaching practice. Specialist assistive equipment, support provision and adjustment to assessment practice will be made in accordance with UWS policy and regulations. The University’s Equality, Diversity and Human Rights Policy can be accessed at the following link: http://www.uws.ac.uk/equality/

Our partners are fully committed to the principles and practice of inclusiveness and our modules are designed to be accessible to all. Where this module is delivered overseas, local equivalent support for students and appropriate legislation applies.

https://www.uws.ac.uk/about-uws/uws-commitments/equality-diversity-inclusion/


UWS Equality and Diversity Policy
(N.B. Every effort will be made by the University to accommodate any equality and diversity issues brought to the attention of the School)

2014 University of the West of Scotland

University of the West of Scotland is a Registered Scottish Charity.

Charity number SC002520.

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