The aim of the Project Essay is to give students the opportunity to carry out independent academic research into a cultural, literary, linguistic or area studies topic of interest to them. In their Project Essay, students are supposed to draw on and extend the skills and knowledge of relevant cultural, literary, linguistic or areas studies and theoretical debates and issues they have acquired at levels one and two. Further details of the format of the Project Essay are provided in the Year Abroad Handbook: Guide to Assessment.

(LO1) In completing their Project Essay, students will have demonstrated the ability to 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) Produce a written text, following scholarly conventions of referencing and bibliography.

(LO4) Analyse source materials, and develop coherent and original arguments on the basis of their research.

(LO5) Engage critically with relevant cultural, literary, linguistic, area studies and / or theoretical debates on the topic.

(LO6) Organise the material gathered in the course of their research.

(LO7) Manage their time effectively and efficiently and plan a process of research, reading and writing over a period of about 4 months.

(LO8) Conduct independent research.

(LO9) Present a coherent argument in clear written prose.

(S1) Global citizenship - cultural awareness

(S2) Global citizenship - understanding of equality and diversity

(S3) Time and project management - project planning

(S4) Improving own learning / performance - reflective practice

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

Teaching method 1 - Work Placement.
Students doing this module spend their second semester abroad on an independent work placement in Europe or Latin America. The length of the placement is normally three and a half months or longer. If the placement is four months long, students are permitted to take up a MODL218 placement, which lasts only three months. If the placement lasts for only three months, the MODL218 placement must be four months long.

The Project Essay enables students to pursue their own interests and do research on a topic of their choice. It is expected to be a systematic and coherent study of a cultural, historical, linguistic or literary theme. Detailed first-hand acquaintance with the topic studied must be clearly evident. All topics need to be approved by the supervisor at Liverpool. While working on their Project Essay, students are required to submit to their supervisor 3 pieces of work at prescribed intermediate deadlines. On each submission, they will receive written feedback from their supervisor.