Module Catalogue 2024/25

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

The aims of this module are:

•To undertake an independent piece of research in archaeology in a key area of students' interest within the taught masters programme, while under guided supervision.
•To gain advance skills in written presentation of research ideas.
•To provide in depth research in one area which may be developed in further postgraduate study or in a professional working environment.
•To prepare students for careers in academic and commercial archaeology sectors

Outline Of Syllabus

Students, in consultation with the DPD for their taught master programme, will choose a specific area of research relating to their chosen pathway within the field of the taught Master Programme in Archaeology. Supervision is provided by an appropriate member of staff in the School with research interests and detailed knowledge of the chosen subject. Supervisors will work with students to first develop a project proposal before embarking on the dissertation. In-class seminars will prepare the student for writing the proposal whilst tutorials with the dissertation supervisor will allow students to exchange, discuss and develop their ideas within an academic environment providing them with guidance and confidence to produce high quality research.

Further seminars will prepare students for archaeology careers in the academic and commercial sectors.

Outline syllabus, intended as a guide only; week-by-week topics may be slightly different to the following:

• Lecture: Introduction to the MA Dissertation; Identifying a research question
• Workshop: preparing your Dissertation outline I - aims and objectives
• Workshop: preparing your Dissertation outline II - methods
• Workshop: Robinson Library Advanced library skills
• Workshop: Writing Conference papers, oral communication and academic networking
• Workshop: Producing Posters for conferences
• Workshop: Publishing in academic journals and writing books
• Workshop: Research and teaching careers and applying for academic jobs
Formative Assessment 10-minute Presentations (All MA students and academic staff to attend)
Semester 2
Formative Assessment PGF Conference

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

By the end of the module you will have:
• An ability to develop research questions and methodologies.
• Practical Experience and training in how to organise, manage and present data in archaeological research.
• An understanding of the ethical issues of archaeological research.
• A knowledge and understanding of how to publish original archaeological research.
• A critical awareness of archaeology-related career paths.
• Learnt how to produce a detailed, well-structured piece of research
• Gained detailed and advanced knowledge in a key area of research relating to the taught masters programme in archaeology.

Intended Skill Outcomes

By the end of the module you will have:
• The ability to identify and use effectively specialist publications including fieldwork reports, surveys, excavation reports and finds reports.
• The ability to collect, collate, critically analyse and present data from a range of different sources relating to theoretical issues in archaeology using appropriate techniques.
• An ability to verbally communicate complex problems, datasets and interpretations.
• An ability to write a project proposal.
• Developed skills in independently structuring and undertaking a piece of extended research
• Discussed and developed ideas with experts in their chosen field
• Produced research and writing of a professional and advanced research standard
• Gained time management and organisational skills

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

In Semester 2, students will be assisted by formal sessions designed to prepare them for starting research on their dissertation. These sessions will occur in the weeks at the beginning of the semester and after an initial introduction to the dissertation. Students will put these new skills to practice and produce a dissertation proposal by mid-semester. They will each have to give a ten minute presentation on their outline submission during a mini-conference at the end of the semester. In the second half of the second semester, a series of sessions will help prepare students with various career skills including networking, publishing work, and applying for jobs and careers.

In Semester 3, students will work on their dissertation, which requires careful planning, time-management and interaction with a supervisor in tutorial sessions. This will test the student's ability to produce a well-structured and formatted piece of work with clear aims and objectives. It will examine a student's ability to produce independent research of an advanced standard and write a professional and high quality piece of written work worthy of higher degree level research. The dissertation enables students to experience writing extended pieces of research and report writing suitable for training for further postgraduate study or working in a professional environment.

Extended research through private study will provide students with experience of producing high quality research independently preparing them for further postgraduate study or work in a professional environment.

Tutorials with a member of staff with direct research interests in the field of study covered by the dissertation provides students an opportunity to exchange, discuss and develop their ideas within an academic environment, giving them guidance and confidence to produce high quality research.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The dissertation proposal (due mid-way through semester 2) must be based on a clearly defined research question and an associated set of data of archaeological sources. A methodology will then be created for the analysis of the data/sources, and the proposal as a whole structured according to the AHRC headings for research project proposals. Feedback on the proposal will allow the students to improve their research and writing plans for their dissertation.

The proposal will assess your ability to plan a project using archaeological research methods. The project must be based on a clearly defined research question and an associated set of data or archaeological sources. A methodology will then be created for the analysis of the data/sources.

Submitted work tests intended knowledge and skills outcomes, develops key skills in research, reading and writing.

The formative assessment (oral presentation, due end of semester 2) will provide you practice in communicating your research to an audience of peers while allowing you to gain early, informal feedback before continuing with further research for your dissertation.

The dissertation (due end of semester 3) assesses students' knowledge and understanding of their chosen area of research and of the issues involved in it; their ability independently to apply skills of analysis and interpretative tools; and their skills of initiative, planning, organisation and adaptability in selecting and defining an appropriate topic, assembling relevant evidence and secondary material, outlining the approach to be taken, and organising a schedule for completing the various stages of the project. It also assesses their skills in written communication. Its completion is preceded by a submitted proposal for which students received written feedback in ARA8290.

Submitted work tests intended knowledge and skills outcomes, develops key skills in research, reading and writing.

This module cannot be made available to exchange students under any circumstances. This applies to Erasmus, study-abroad, exchange proper and Loyola students equally.

General Notes

N/A