Research and writing

Choosing a topic and working with the Dissertation Supervisor

READING

MA Dissertation Guidelines [59]

An essential part of the MA degree is a research, writing and presentation of a dissertation. A student cannot complete the degree without submitting an acceptable dissertation. The MA dissertation is based on independent research of a problem, issue, or subject, using appropriate primary and secondary sources. It must be an original piece of work, and it must be structured and presented in accordance with the regulations for the degree and within the normal standards which include style, argument, citation of sources, and bibliography.

Essentially, the student chooses his or her dissertation topic, in consultation with a supervisor, and subject to the approval of the Course Director. The student is responsible for coming up with a viable project. This is both a challenge and an opportunity. The dissertation is essentially problem-based: generally, it will take the form of a structured argument leading to a convincing conclusion. It may seek to solve a problem or answer a question; it may look at an old problem in a new way, evaluate the evidence for a particular viewpoint, or use a case-study to illuminate or contest a larger generalisation. It will not be purely descriptive or narrative. The argument will be based on original research, using primary sources - manuscripts, printed editions of original sources, printed texts or documents, published reports, newspapers, or oral history. It must take account of the historiography of the subject, and seek to make an original contribution to it.

A dissertation requires a lot of planning and organisation. You are strongly encouraged to start thinking about your dissertation topic as early as possible once you start the MA degree programme. When you have an idea, do some background reading on the topic first before you talk to a potential supervisor, in order to familiarise yourself with the historiography. Since the supervisor is appointed, he/ she ensures that your dissertation topic is appropriate in terms of scope and objective of the MA dissertation. In addition, the supervisor offers guidance on the overall structure of the dissertation, as well as directing you to appropriate primary and secondary sources. It is important to maintain constant contact with your supervisor throughout the degree.

All MA dissertations require you to read widely and draw on both primary and secondary sources. A very wide range of material is now available electronically, from library and archive catalogues, to bibliographies, on-line journals and abstracts of papers. Some sources are also now available on line. In order to avoid the last-minute problem of chasing up references, you should get into the habit from the beginning of taking meticulous references for all materials gathered and read. Your dissertation needs to be well footnoted. Please pay particular attention to details such as using the correct format for footnotes and bibliography.

The MA dissertation word limit is 15,000 words, +/-10%. The word-limit is exclusive of bibliography and documentary appendices, and footnotes or endnotes which are merely citations or references. The final bound copyof the dissertation must include the following:

1. Title page.

2. Abstract.

3. Table of contents.

4. List of abbreviations, if used

5.Introduction.

6. The main body of the dissertation. It will usually be convenient to divide it into sections and sub sections, with numbers or titles.

7. Conclusion.

8. Endnotes (if you are not including references as footnotes).

9. Appendices, if any.

10. Bibliography.

11. Plagiarism statement page: you must submit a signed copy of the plagiarism declaration.

YOU ARE ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING SURE THAT YOUR DISSERTATION IS COMPLETED AND SUBMITTED BEFORE THE DEADLINE, AS WELL AS THAT IT COMPLIES WITH ALL THE PRESENTATIONAL REQUIREMENTS.

Дата добавления: 2017-02-01