Class and Popular Culture

Class and Popular CultureDissertation workshopSeminar PlanFormat and contributionRules and referencesStages to considerProposal and planThe Research stage itselfThe write upContributory assessmentResearch Plan 1000 words 10% weightingDissertation 7000 words: 90% weighting

Module handbook: pp 2-3.

!!Plagarism and Collusion!!YOU MUST READ THE MFM FINAL YEAR WELCOME GUIDE, AVAILABLE FROM THE MFM SCHOOL OFFICE, IT WILL HELP YOU WITH DISSERTATION GUIDELINES INCLUDING STRUCTURE AND PRESENTATION

You must submit two copies which must be in the following format: TitleAcknowledgementsAbstract of 150 words Contents pageList of illustrations, including author/source/copyrightIntroduction Literature Review and/or Methodology section Main body, in chapters with use of subheadingsBibliography/References Appendices

StagesPlanning research question and methodgathering informationwriting up

What makes a good research question?Things to think about: who and what how will they tell you? do you have sufficient access?

What am I interested in?Why did I take the module to begin with What have I been interested in from the readings so far/to come?ExerciseWorking in pairsPitch your idea: what are you planning to research, why is this interesting, what is the object you plan to study?How will you do it?MethodWhich reading or paper are you using to support your research?

Plan your primaryresearchwhat is my methodhow & whothe questionof ethicsTextual/discourse analysismedia,style of text and the contents they contain?Discourse AnalysisHow is a text interpreted by an audience?

Theoretical framework?reading up appropriate textstwo journal articles which might provide a template or appropriate guide.whos analysis are you basing your work onis there sufficient distance between your new work and their original text?

How will you carry out the analysis itself

Proposal - Week 9Research proposal - 1000 words 10% of the final gradeStructure/schema?What is your Research questionWhy you think this is interestingHow you plan to investigate your questionWhose work will you use to support your analysis? Readings you plan to use!

What does a dissertation proposal include?The essential parts of a research proposal are generally standard:Dissertation title (so far): Aim at making the title short and to the point.Overall objectives: If you have more than three objectives, your area of research is probably far too broad and needs to be narrowed. (Some university courses may ask you to include a rationale at this stage.)Literature, context, background: You can use any of these words as the title of this section, just make sure that you mention key schools of thought or areas of study that are going to provide information about your dissertation. Details of the research: Here, you can expand the ideas spelt out in your research question. This section is about outlining clearly your area of research.Methodologies: Your work may be empirical (with some sort of study and collection of data such as questionnaires) or non-empirical (no such data, all your research comes from already published writing and projects). If your study is non-empirical, this section is likely to be short; longer if you need to collect or look at the empirical data. If youre allowed to use bullet points in your research proposal, you need do no more than list your intended activities (for example, carrying out interviews, consulting archives or evaluating data).Potential outcomes: Avoid second-guessing the result of your dissertation. If you knew the outcomes, it would be pretty pointless doing the dissertation! Here, youre summarising the type of outcomes you hope to generate and suggesting a target audience.Timeline: If youre asked to outline how you plan to manage your research, think about including a Gantt chart or some kind of concept map. Whatever you do, make your timeline realistic.Bibliography: Provide a list of the readings you expect to use to support your analysis. Should not aim to be comprehensive, and will not be complete, but should indicate the concepts, schools of thought and intended analytical framework you will use to assess your primary research material.Dissertation StructureIntroduction Literature Review and/or Methodology section Main body, in chapters with use of subheadingsBibliography/References AppendicesThe Write UpThis is the same as any other project!

Allocate a Target work counts per sectionDrafting: why to rewriteCitations and bibliography Proof readingDo get someone you trust to read itKeeping goingEngage Your Advisors Be sure to speak with your advisors throughout the process of writing your dissertation. Be clear about goals and deadlines. When you meet, have questions prepared and make sure you understand their directions. Be proactive about solving problems, rather than withdrawing. If you are not getting the guidance you need, consider talking with another professor or administrator who can help.

Keeping goingEngage Your Peers Sharing your work with your peers is useful. Setting up regular appointments to discuss your research will not only keep you on track with your dissertation, but it will ensure that you have helpful colleagues in the future.

Keeping goingApplaud Yourself Though you may feel like you are making incremental progress, you have already come so far in your academic career. Be sure step back along the way and acknowledge the work you have done.

What else can you expect from me?Plan marked and returned in 15 days!

Office periods for the next 6 weeks

Tutorials on weeks 11 and 12.