BASS Social Anthropology and Philosophy / Course details

PHIL30001 consists of a Dissertation, on a topic of your own choice, produced to a professional level of presentation, due in before the January examination period.

This course unit aims to: 

• Improve students' research, critical analysis, independent study, time-management and presentation skills. 
• Provide students with the opportunity for one-to-one philosophical discussions with an appropriate supervisor. 
• Allow students to specialise in a topic that interests them and to develop intellectual independence

One introductory lecture, followed by 1-to-1 supervision (by appointment with supervisor) 

Office Hours: students will have access to the course convenor through regular office hours 

VLE: learning materials (lecture slides, etc.) available online (asynchronous) 

Dissertation Plans: students will be encouraged to submit essay plans for formative feedback 

Dissertation Draft Material: students will be encouraged to submit draft material for formative feedback

• identify the main philosophical questions arising in relation to a major philosophical topic
• clearly articulate the main philosophical questions arising in relation to a major philosophical topic

• evaluate the claims and arguments relating to a major philosophical topic
• formulate sustained and cogent arguments for a conclusion
• consider and respond to objections

• produce and professionally present a substantial independent piece of research
• interpret and criticise both primary and secondary texts

• design their own research question
• undertake independent research

One essay of 6,000 words.

The School of Social Sciences (SoSS) is committed to providing timely and appropriate feedback to students on their academic progress and achievement, thereby enabling students to reflect on their progress and plan their academic and skills development effectively. Students are reminded that feedback is necessarily responsive: only when a student has done a certain amount of work and approaches us with it at the appropriate for a is it possible for us to feed back on the student's work. Feedback on this course will be by 1-to-1 discussion, and written responses to drafts of parts of the dissertation.

We also draw your attention to the variety of generic forms of feedback available to you on this as on all SoSS courses. These include: meeting the lecturer/tutor during their office hours; e-mailing questions to the lecturer and tutor; asking questions from the lecturer (before and after lecture); and obtaining feedback from your peers during tutorials