MA-History-Dissertation-handbook-2018-19

MA HISTORY DISSERTATION HANDBOOK, 2018–19 Faculty of Arts and Humanities Unit Leader: Craig Horner c.horner@mmu.ac.uk v10.7.18 subject to revision i CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 2 LEARNING OUTCOMES 3 CHOOSING A TOPIC & DEVELOPING A RESEARCH PLAN Choosing A Topic Originality, Contribution & Coherence Ethical Considerations Planning the Research Getting Organised WRITING THE DISSERTATION WORKING WITH YOUR DISSERTATION SUPERVISOR FINDING OTHER SUPPORT 11 MANAGING YOUR RESEARCH AND DEADLINES 11 Submission Dates Extensions Meeting Deadlines A Difficult Decision PRESENTATION OF THE DISSERTATION 13 Paper and Text Title Page Abstract Acknowledgements Author’s Declaration Table of Contents List of tables/illustrations/maps Abbreviations Chapters Appendices Bibliography Word Count Binding SUBMISSION 16 10 ASSESSMENT PROCESS 16 APPENDIX 1: DISSERTATION ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 18 ii APPENDIX 2: LEVEL CRITERIA FOR ASSESSMENT OF MASTERS DISSERTATIONS 20 APPENDIX 3: CRITERIA FOR MASTERS AWARDS 22 APPENDIX 4: STYLE SHEET 23 iii Introduction This document is intended as a general guide to assist students in successful completion of their Masters Dissertation It explains the support available to you in pursuing your studies, overviews choosing a topic and developing a research proposal, offers advice on managing your project, explains submission procedures, and includes a statement of assessment processes and criteria The Masters Dissertation is a separate and significant unit in the MA History It will probably be much the greatest challenge of your MA degree course Accordingly, the commitment required to complete a Masters Dissertation should not be under-estimated You will have to sustain a single theme over many pages, develop a clear and coherent argument, and ensure a high quality of presentation The dissertation will set out the results of your own original, indepth research which in the best dissertations will be of publishable quality; it will set out conclusions that you have reached independently, with your supervisor providing advice and support Most students will conduct research based on the dissertation proposal which they submit as part of their Methods unit This topic should be relevant to the discipline of History, and be informed by your own interests and career aspirations Choosing a topic and developing a research plan is discussed further below After discussing your research interests, each student will be directed towards a Dissertation Supervisor, who will provide advice and guidance at regular intervals throughout the research and writing process Supervisors are allocated on the basis of the match between their subject expertise and the chosen research topic Individual tutorials are held as required and appropriate, and may be supplemented by e-mail contact Supervisors have a major role in advising on research questions, the existing research and practice in the area, appropriate research strategies and methods, and the process of researching for and writing the dissertation During the period in which you are researching and writing the dissertation, however, you will be largely responsible for organising your time, for keeping yourself motivated and making sure that you produce something that reflects your capabilities This will not be easy, and you must ensure that you maintain contact with your supervisor, particularly if you feel that things are not going so well Overall responsibility for the organisation of the unit lies with the Unit Leader The Unit Leader is Dr Craig Horner (c.horner@mmu.ac.uk) His role includes:   Working with potential supervisors to help students find suitable dissertation topics Ensuring students and their chosen topics are matched to supervisors     Providing guidance and resources to support the dissertation activity, in general Defining timescales, submission deadlines etc Approving extensions Organising assessment, liaising with internal and external examiners, and seeking to maintain standards The dissertation unit leader will organise a one-to-one tutorial with you at the start of the Spring term to check on the progress of your dissertation planning and to match you up with a supervisor Learning outcomes Masters Dissertations are widely recognised across many professional and academic disciplines to develop important skills and competencies in students These include skills that may be useful as the first stage in a research career, but more importantly they include many skills that can be applied in a variety of different contexts in the workplace Completing a dissertation is a major learning opportunity, during which you will learn about focusing a question, collecting and analysing data, and systemic and coherent writing The formal learning outcomes of the Dissertation Unit suggest that on the successful completion of this unit, students will be able to: Obtain and critically assess literature and develop a systematic understanding of knowledge relevant to the research undertaken Select and justify appropriate research methods Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of research methods and strategies applicable to their own research Critically evaluate the research approaches adopted by other historians, and understand how research is used to develop knowledge in the discipline Demonstrate self-direction in organising and planning research and in overcoming problems and challenges Demonstrate clarity and rigour in systematic, academic analysis Evaluate critically and make relevant deductions from original analysis of primary research material Form conclusions which are relevant to the topic under investigation Develop a coherent and well-structured account of the research conducted in the form of a dissertation In terms of transferable skills, this unit will support students in their development of:  the exercise of initiative and personal responsibility  conceptual understanding  their learning capabilities, as a platform for continuing professional development Choosing a topic and developing a research plan There is a firm upper limit of 15,000 words, and most dissertations approach this limit This may seem rather over-whelming when you are still working out what your topic will be, but you will probably find that this is not the case once you have started exploring what is of interest to you By the time you near the end, you may well find that you the problem is fitting in everything that you want to say In practice, you will find the whole task much easier if you start by breaking the dissertation into sections and thinking carefully about how you will structure these The process of choosing a topic and developing a research plan starts in the Research Methods unit, when you are required to produce a research proposal A dissertation needs to be an original piece of work, by tackling a gap in the existing literature, a neglected topic, or offering a new approach to a familiar theme Choosing a topic The choice of a topic may be informed by:  Your study in other units of the Master’s programme It is legitimate, and sometimes sensible (after all, you already know something about this topic) to develop a topic covered in a unit assignment into a Masters dissertation Be under no illusions, however, that this will make life any easier; there is a major gulf between a unit assignment and a Masters Dissertation  The availability of appropriate primary sources  Your interests and background knowledge What topic is likely to fully engage your interests?  Suggestions made by tutors for possible research topics  Your career aspirations Conducting research may allow you to develop a topic which will be useful in an interview for further postgraduate training, as in the case of teaching  The academic and professional literature What are the topical themes of the day? What questions would researchers and/or practitioners be interested in the answer to? Part of the skill of finding a suitable dissertation topic consists of identifying a suitable range of primary sources which will be set within a framework of secondary literature from which questions to be asked of the secondary literature can be drawn The more detailed examination of source materials you undertake, the less ground you can cover chronologically and geographically Once you have chosen a topic, you need to try to convert it into a research question, which in turn may lead to clarification of the dissertation title, research aims, research objectives, and if appropriate, research hypotheses A good research question defines the scope of the project, sets boundaries, and defines the direction of the research FAQ: Do I have to the same topic for my Masters Dissertation as I did for my Research Proposal? No Often, especially for part-time students, things change, and it makes sense to change topic However, try if at all possible to stay within the same subject area You will have done a lot of reading for the literature review, and you want to capitalise on this if at all possible FAQ : If I change my topic who should I tell? Make sure that you discuss any change of topic with your supervisor If they and you agree that it is a significant change of topic, send an e-mail to the Dissertation Unit Leader (Craig Horner) to keep him informed Originality, contribution and coherence The dissertation ideally makes an original contribution to historical knowledge This can sound very intimidating, but it need not be The contribution required of a Masters dissertation is modest You need not fear that you are being asked to come up with something totally new and original; you will need to avoid simply recycling the work of earlier historians You will be expected to show that you have surveyed all the relevant primary and secondary sources and be up to date with the recent literature in your subject Your dissertation must be based on primary sources It should be well written and demonstrate your familiarity with appropriate scholarly conventions An important characteristic of a well-written dissertation is its coherence Remember, all research must be grounded in earlier literature which will provide some proposals for further research Masters research may, for example, involve:  critical analysis of a previously under-utilised primary sources  investigating newly emerging historiography The balance between primary material and critical discussion of the secondary literature will differ between dissertations The range, accessibility and quality of primary sources varies between historical periods and fields of history as does the quantity of secondary literature A student may occasionally attempt a historiographical study if primary sources are unobtainable or are in a language with which s/he is unfamiliar This type of study should only be pursued with the full approval of your dissertation supervisor Ethical considerations The University has established an Academic Ethical Framework through which staff and students of the University give consideration to the ethical implications associated with any academic activities with which they engage This may not be relevant to many History dissertations, but will certainly be if you intend to conduct any research based on oral history testimony You will be briefed on ethical considerations in a session of the Research Methods unit If appropriate, you may need to complete the Ethics Check Form (obtainable from your supervisor) It is important to remember that research can be an intensely political and ethical process This is particularly important to bear in mind if you are intending to collect your own oral history interviews If you are considering a project that involves working with individuals or groups you need to discuss the access and ethical issues thoroughly with you supervisor at an early stage Planning the research A research proposal is your best research planning document However, don’t be surprised if your topic initially has a rather ‘elastic’ quality as you define and redefine it This process can best be done by writing up your ideas as you along Don’t expect to spend several months of research before putting your ideas down on paper Don’t be afraid to change your mind if an idea does not seem to be working  Shows a clear and informed awareness of related secondary literature – i.e describes and critically assesses the past and current state of historical understanding and debate, and sets itself firmly within that debate Make sure that you:    Keep writing as you go, even though you probably have to re-write a certain amount at the end Keep thinking: what you are trying to find out, or to say? Are your ideas changing? Keep in touch with your supervisor Submission dates All students are required to submit a research proposal as part of the Historical Skills and Research Methods unit This proposal is marked by the proposed supervisor and an appropriate second marker who will give you written and verbal feedback Full time dissertation deadline: September 2019 Part time: September 2020 If necessary, part-time students may submit on the last day of the spring term following the year in which they complete the taught element of the programme but they will need to let the Dissertation unit leader know so that they can retain use of IT and library facilities Extensions Any student who is not able to meet these deadlines has three options: To indicate, in writing to the MA Programme Leader that they not wish to continue to progress to Masters, and wish to be awarded the Postgraduate Diploma instead To apply for an extension, initially contact the MA Programme Leader and your Dissertation supervisor to discuss the situation An extension cannot be granted b the Programme Leader; instead, the student must apply for an extension via procedures set out on the Exceptional Factors website (http://www.mmu.ac.uk/academic/casqe/regulations/exfacs-students.php) These will usually only be granted in extreme cases, such as bereavement or serious illness In cases where a period of extension is refused, the Department may award the Postgraduate Diploma Where no extension has been requested and no Dissertation submitted, the student will be deemed to have elected to terminate their studies and the Department will automatically award the Postgraduate Diploma 11 Meeting deadlines A dissertation is a significant piece of work, so planning is vital You should have already submitted a plan as part of your research proposal This is a good starting point, but you will need to re-visit the plan as things proceed and continually re-assess how you will fit the work into the time available In this process, it is very important to allow for delays generated by others Full time students often have difficulty contacting potential respondents during July and August In order for a busy supervisor to fit an interview with you into their schedule you can expect to give them at least two weeks notice The better organized you are, the more flexibility you will have for dealing with contingencies outside of your control Remember the hand-in date for the dissertation is your deadline, not anyone else’s A common mistake is to assume that at the beginning of the project you have all the time in the world As a part-time student, you may feel that you have many months stretching out in front of you Some part-time students seem to think they can complete a dissertation between May and September Well maybe they can, if they are not working too hard during that period, but… When planning your time allocation you should remember that the ‘notional’ time allocation for a Masters dissertation is 600 hours Also a student studying fulltime has at least months, five days a week, to complete a dissertation If you are not in a position to complete your studies in such a concentrated period you need to think seriously about allocation of weekends, periods of leave, and other ‘time windows’ A difficult decision Sometimes it is better to submit a weaker (but still passable) piece of work, and move on, rather than to seek an extension Whilst we always encourage you to produce your best piece of work, sometimes life is against this It can be a difficult decision as to whether to apply for an extension, or to submit a piece of work which you not feel is a true reflection of your abilities - think about this Presentation of the Dissertation The structure of the dissertation is explained in the Assessment Criteria that follow This section offers more specific guidance on a few key aspects of the presentation of the dissertation Paper and text The dissertation must be word processed and printed on one side of A4 white paper Pages should be numbered consecutively Text should be in at least 1.5 line spacing, and in a font size of 12 Quotations and footnotes (if used) should be single spaced and inset (footnotes are normally 10 point font size) Headings 12 should be in a font size no larger than 14 Margins at the binding left hand side should not be less than cm, and top, bottom and right-hand side margins should not be less than 2.5 cm Title page The title page must contain, in this order: the name of the Institution, Faculty, and Department; the full title of the dissertation (full caps); the full name of the student; and the words 'Dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in History’ followed by the month and year of submission Some like to follow the title page with a single blank sheet Abstract A brief outline (300 words maximum) This should be a factual summary of the dissertation that briefly provides:    the aim and rationale for the research the research methods adopted the major findings and conclusions Acknowledgements Not essential, but you may like to thanks those who have given you advice during the research and writing process Author’s declaration A signed declaration is required which states that the dissertation is the candidate’s own work and has not previously been published or submitted in support of any other degree or diploma For example: I declare that the work in this dissertation was carried out in accordance with the Regulations of the Manchester Metropolitan University The work is original except where indicated by special reference in the text and no part of the dissertation has been submitted for any other degree The dissertation has not been presented to any other University for examination either in the United Kingdom or elsewhere Signed: Date: Table of contents Chapters in sequence with brief titles; appendices, if any; bibliography, all with respective page numbers 13 List of tables/illustrations/maps You may not have any If you have them, a separate sheet is used for each category, listing each item in order, with page numbers Where the total number of items is very small, you may combine the lists on one page All the tables, diagrams and other illustrations should be listed in the order in which they appear in the text, together with page numbers Abbreviations It can be very convenient for the reader to have a list of abbreviations when a large number is used in the text and notes If you provide such a list, it should be on a separate sheet Chapters Where the first chapter is short and of an introductory nature it may be appropriate to entitle it ‘Introduction’, in the Table of Contents, with the title ‘Chapter One’ reserved for the first substantive chapter Similarly, there may be a short final chapter simply called ‘Conclusion’ On the other hand, it may be that the argument is introduced and/or concluded in the course of larger opening or closing chapters Appendices Sometimes you may have a large body of information which does not fit easily into either the text or notes, as in the case of large statistical tables Always ask yourself whether you need to provide such information in an appendix Bibliography You must provide a full bibliography of all the material you have used in preparing the dissertation, separated into primary and secondary sources Word count The word count should be typed at the bottom right hand side of the contents page Binding Two copies are to be bound in soft covers (usually plastic front and colour card in back), with a spring or spiral binding; ring binders are not acceptable The student’s surname and initials, 'M.A.' and the year of submission must be printed on the front title page Selected copies may be deposited in the University Library after all assessment procedures have been completed 14 FAQ : Where can I get my dissertation bound? There are a number of possibilities These include MMU Students Union, or your local print shop No one is necessarily better than any other but you need to check out these arrangements before the last minute Submission Two bound copies of the dissertation must be submitted Copies should be submitted in person (not by post) to the Coursework Receipting Office in the Geoffrey Manton building They will give you a receipt; you must keep this The opening hours of this Office are often restricted at times when students may seek to submit their dissertations; it is your responsibility to ensure that your dissertation is received by the Office before the deadline passes ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION IS NOT ACCEPTED 10 Assessment process Each dissertation is assessed independently by the supervisor and a second internal assessor Assessment is based on the criteria listed in Appendices and 2, and recorded on the standard form in Appendix The two internal assessors discuss their assessment and agree a provisional mark All marks are submitted to the Dissertation Unit Leader, who will resolve any issues On occasions, when the internal markers have significantly divergent views of the strengths and weaknesses of a piece of work, a third internal assessor may be asked to assess the work The unit leader will compile a list of marks and review the overall performance of the cohort All dissertations will then be sent to one of the external examiners for the programme for external moderation to assure standards and consistency Marks will then be considered at the Board of Examiners, and only after that meeting will marks by released to students 15 Appendix 1: Dissertation Assessment Criteria Introduction In assessing dissertations markers will be seeking the following elements in each section This checklist is offered to assist you; markers will always be seeking adequate coverage of the points listed below under the chapters, but there are occasions in which elements may for good reason appear in another chapter Marks are not allocated on a chapter by chapter basis; this leaves markers scope to reward achievement, rather than to penalise omissions Not all dissertations follow exactly the same structure In addition to checking that all elements are covered, markers will consider how well each element is addressed as a means of allocating marks at an appropriate level This will be guided by the level assessment criteria in the following appendix Preliminaries The following preliminary elements either should or may (optional shown in brackets) be included at the beginning of a dissertation:  Declaration  Title page  (Dedication)  (Acknowledgements)  Abstract (see below)  Contents list (including list of any appendices)  (List of tables) Abstract (300 word maximum) This should be a factual summary of the dissertation that briefly provides:  The aim and rationale for the research  The research methods adopted  The major findings and conclusions The structure of the dissertation will depend on your topic, and should be decided in consultation with your supervisor The following are, however, key elements: Introduction (around 1000 words) This chapter should help the reader understand what the research is about and how it has been conducted It should provide:     Any necessary background information The rationale for the research (typically including both theoretical and practical rationales) The research aims, question and/or objectives, as appropriate An overview of the chapters that follow 16 Literature Review/methods (around 4000 words) This chapter reviews previous research, and sometimes practice, that is relevant to your research It should:  be informed by a reading in a good range of relevant sources – with an emphasis on academic sources  provide definitions of key concepts  identify major issues, current debates or areas of interest to both researchers and practitioners  offer a clear view of how the dissertation research fits with existing knowledge, and the modest contribution that it seeks to make  be analytical and evaluative, comparing and structuring previous research, and not just be a descriptive account of previous research  give a statement of the research strategies and research methods chosen and why  reference ethical issues (if appropriate)  provide details of the selection of sample interviewees, if you have used oral history testimony  inform and lead into the subsequent chapters of the dissertation Conclusions (around 2000 words) This chapter concludes the dissertation It should:  offer a summary of the key issues identified which your dissertation has identified, referring back to aims, and the sources identified in the literature review  evaluate the research your have conducted  summarise its ‘contribution’ – what is known now that wasn’t known before this research was conducted?  identify recommendations for further research References References must:  cover all primary and secondary sources cited in the dissertation,  list secondary sources divided into book and journal articles, in alphabetical order of authors’ names  adopt a consistent citation practice This handbook offers a style guide, but academic styles vary and you should agree a consistent style with your supervisor Appendices Appendices are optional Typically they include examples of useful background information or evidence There is no merit in a thick bundle of Appendices 17 Style, structure and presentation  Appropriate use of academic style and language  Coherence or arguments, both within sections, and between sections  Spelling, punctuation and grammar  Labelling of figures and diagrams 18 Appendix 2: Level Criteria for the Assessment of Masters Dissertations 70% and above: Distinction level This grade is awarded for work in which all unit learning outcomes are achieved at an excellent/outstanding level The work shows a wide breadth of knowledge and application, together with an ability to develop and sustain an appropriate depth of argument across the whole of the dissertation A thorough synthesis of the available literature is given to set the study into context Key themes are identified and developed, and the research remains focused at all times, with appropriate selection, execution, explanation and justification of methods used A high level of accuracy, insight and clarity of thought is demonstrated in the analysis of the findings, leading to valid conclusions and recommendations The work provides some evidence of originality in its approach to theory and/or method and/or application, and is close to professional standards for publication The organisation and presentation are excellent throughout, with accurate and consistent bibliographic citations 60-69% Merit level This grade is awarded for work in which all unit learning outcomes have been achieved at a good level There will be a thorough investigation of the literature, the themes explored will be relevant raising significant issues, but some areas may require further discussion or analysis to really pull out the key points or make comparisons A dissertation at this level is well focused, shows clear understanding of the research methods and provides an appropriate level of evaluation and critical analysis of the findings Adequate conclusions and recommendations are reached, but the work may lack the in-depth understanding and synthesis of work reaching Distinction level The structure and presentation are of a high standard, with accurate and consistent bibliographic citations 50-59% Pass level This grade is awarded for work in which all unit learning outcomes have been achieved at least at threshold level A dissertation at this level identifies key issues and demonstrates competence in carrying out an advanced, independent study, although one or more aspects of the work may be weak or insufficiently developed The literature review sets the study into context and gives adequate coverage of key items, although some aspects might have merited deeper investigation There is evidence that adequate knowledge of research methods has been acquired, although there may be some weaknesses in execution, design or analysis The work identifies conclusions but may not contextualize them by referring back to the objectives or literature review, and may omit to formulate appropriate recommendations The structure and presentation is sufficient to convey a clear message, but there may be grammatical or stylistic weaknesses The bibliographic citations may on the whole be satisfactory, but may include some inaccuracies and inconsistencies 19 45-49% Marginal Fail level (eligible for re-submission) This grade is awarded for work that achieves most but not all unit learning outcomes and those that are achieved are predominantly achieved only at a threshold level This might be exhibited in a number of different ways It may be that the literature review fails to provide a coherent rationale for the study Appropriate issues may not have been identified and themes may have not have been developed adequately The argument or approach may be unclear because of the inclusion of irrelevant or inconsistent material The research methods may have been poorly understood and applied Analysis and evaluation may be incomplete or unsystematic, with discussion and conclusions poorly developed The work may be poorly expressed or presented The standard of bibliographic citations may fall below an acceptable level