Directed Readings engage students in an independent study of an area not currently offered as an MA study option. They provide an opportunity to work one-to-one with an academic staff member on an area of interest to the student and research specialism of the member of staff and to produce a sustained piece of research and writing. Student and academic work together to construct a programme of work and assessment, and this is supported by regular supervision meetings through the semester.

• Demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of the chosen area of research
• Evidence of an advanced ability to analyse critically film and other cultural texts and evaluate their approaches
• Demonstrate an advanced awareness of the theoretical frameworks and approaches underpinning the chosen area of research

• Demonstrate an advanced ability to undertake a detailed analysis of a corpus of films and situate them within the broader aethestic, theoretical and philosophical debates within the chosen subject
• Demonstrate an advanced capacity to make comparative analyses of concepts and approaches as they circulate within a range of cultural systems and practices
• Demonstrate an advanced ability to synthesise ideas from a range of different sources, critically evaluate those sources and their applicability to films, build a strong analytical argument and revise approaches in the light of feedback

• Acquire advanced research skills in accordance with the requirements of the chosen subject of study
• Communicate research findings effectively both verbally (during supervision meetings) and in written form (the summative assessment)

• Demonstrate an advanced ability to communicate effectively with others about intellectually demanding concepts, topics, materials
• Demonstrate an advanced ability to draw with accuracy, detail and precision on complex materials in independent research work
• Demonstrate an advanced ability to effectively present – through discussion and in writing – complex topics, drawing convincingly on oral, written and visual media as appropriate to the topic

• Informal feedback during supervision discussions
• Written and verbal feedback on individual research plans and essay construction.

To be devised by the student.

Contact hours are variable, by appointment with the supervisor, between 3 and 6 meetings in a semester