BA Italian and Spanish / Course details

This course unit is a guided research unit, in which the student submits a 12,000-word dissertation on a subject of her or his own choosing that relates to the Spanish- and/or Portuguese-speaking worlds (subject to approval by the convenor). The student will be expected to identify and develop a dissertation topic appropriate to the scale of the project. They will shape a central research question that should provide scope to explore sophisticated critical issues and undertake complex research and analysis. Following some initial lectures on key issues related to undertaking and designing a dissertation project, the convenor will allocate the student a dissertation supervisor, who will provide guidance with relevant research methods, writing skills and analysis of data. Thus, this course unit affords the student the opportunity to design and undertake a large research project, and will involve significant independent research.

IMPORTANT: Students are reminded that they should seek formal ethical approval before undertaking any research for their dissertation that involves third parties (e.g. interviews, questionnaires, etc.). This includes any preliminary research that students may wish to undertake during their year abroad or the summer prior to their final year. They should contact the dissertation convenor for guidance on how and when to apply for such approval.

An average mark of 60% at Level 2 will be a requirement for admission onto this course unit.

• To develop a better understanding of the languages, cultures and/or histories of the Spanish- and/or Portuguese-speaking worlds
• To explore an aspect of the languages, cultures and/or histories of the Spanish- and/or Portuguese-speaking worlds
• in greater analytical depth
• To develop critical thinking, conceptual reasoning and analytical skills
• To place an analysis of culture and/or history in their social, aesthetic and political context

• Show an in-depth knowledge of an aspect of the languages, cultures and/or histories of the Spanish- and/or Portuguese-speaking worlds
• Show familiarity with key scholarly debates and literature about their chosen topic 

• Define a topic for research
• Write and revise a key research question
• Write analytical plans for extended pieces of work
• Develop a written argument of depth and complexity, using primary sources and critical literature, with a standard of scholarly presentation of the material produced appropriate to Level 3 study. 

• Use the library, electronic and online resources
• Engage in significant independent research
• Design a large-scale research project appropriate to Level 3 study
• Organize a large volume of information

Suggested further readings

1. Chambers, Ellie, and Northledge, Andrew, The Arts Good Study Guide (Milton Keynes: Oxford University Press, 1997)
2. Reardon, Denis, Doing Your Undergraduate Project (London: SAGE, 2004)

Enrolment procedure: Students must submit their dissertation topic proposal form to the dissertation convenor by the end of the first Friday of September. It is expected that in most circumstances students will have already undertaken preparatory research, especially taking advantage of sources available during the period of residence abroad (if applicable), before beginning the unit . Following submission of the proposal form, the dissertation convenor will then evaluate the topic, decide whether it is feasible and, if so, whether there is sufficient expertise within the subject area to supervise the project. Students will be offered the chance to change their topic in cases where approval is not forthcoming. If an appropriate topic cannot be finalised by the end of Week 2 then a student will be required to choose alternative units. If approved, the convenor will allocate a supervisor based on 1) staff expertise and 2) fair distribution of workload among staff. When, because of workload distribution, it is not possible to allocate students to the supervisor whose expertise is most appropriate, students will be offered the choice of changing their topic. In cases in which particular expertise is highly popular, students may be allocated a supervisor based on their second year average mark or based on the strength of their proposal. Allocation of supervisors will be finalised by week 4. In cases in which a supervisor has more than one student, there may be a group-work component to the course unit. Any such groups will normally be 3-6 students, who will meet to discuss research findings and review each other's work, under the guidance of their supervisor. Additionally, students will have one to one meetings with their supervisor.