To give students the opportunity to carry out independent research at an advanced level and in a flexible format, with appropriate support, into a cultural, literary or linguistic topic of interest to them;

To draw on and extend the skills and knowledge of relevant cultural, literary or linguistic issues and theoretical debates students have acquired in their taught modules;

To produce a piece of individual research which presents an argument developed over 5,000 words, or a creative project plus commentary of equivalent length and scope.

(LO1) Utilise a variety of bibliographical tools to locate a range of primary and secondary sources on which to base a research project.

(LO2) Construct, focus and structure an independent project, in discussion with a personal supervisor working in that subject area.

(LO3) Analyse source materials, and develop coherent and original arguments on the basis of research.

(LO4) Engage critically with relevant cultural, literary or linguistic and / or theoretical debates on the topic.

(LO5) Manage time effectively and efficiently and plan a long-term process of research, reading and writing.

(LO6) Present a confident and coherent argument in clear written prose, following scholarly conventions of referencing and bibliography.

(S1) Personal attributes and qualities - initiative.

(S2) Information skills - information accessing: locating relevant information. Identifying and evaluating information sources.

(S3) Information skills - critical reading.

(S4) Communication (oral, written and visual) - influencing skills – argumentation.

(S5) Communication (oral, written and visual) - academic writing (including referencing skills).

(S6) Time and project management - personal organisation.

(S7) Time and project management - project planning.

(S8) Time and project management - project management.

(S9) Critical thinking and problem solving - critical analysis.

(S10) Research skills - all information skills.

Tutorial:
The Research Project is an independent piece of work in which students are expected to take the initiative in planning, researching and writing. Students will be supervised by a member of staff from the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures

Training session:
Students will receive at least one training session from the module convenor and one from the Sydney Jones Library team.

Students who choose to do the Research Project will receive embedded training and preparation in the first three weeks of the semester. Subsequently, students will meet their supervisor at least four times across the semester (either S1 or S2). This ensures that all students receive an equal amount of supervision over the course of the semester in which they are undertaking the Research Project.
A Research Project is a piece of independent research (5,000 words or equivalent) that develops an original argument about a particular cultural, literary or linguistic issue of students' choice. This originality will usually come from their own analysis of primary sources, allowing them to test the conclusions of scholars in their field. All Research Projects are expected to incorporate original research or an original argument/perspective.
Students will deliver a presentation to their peers outlining their project (primary sources; aims and objectives; methodology) in Week 6. This is an unassessed but compulsory component of the Research Project intended to ensure the student is making good progress and allow for additional guidance to be given where necessary.