LSMTTP: Full Dissertation Proposal

Module code: LSMTTP

Module provider: English Language and Applied Linguistics; School of Humanities

Credits: 20

Level: 7

When you’ll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Professor Parvaneh Tavakoli , email: p.tavakoli@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2025/6

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 3 April 2025

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module supports the key research elements of the MRes in Applied Linguistics programme, by providing the essential information required to design a viable and original research project, conduct a piece of research using appropriate data analyses techniques and write up a dissertation which could potentially form the basis of a PhD proposal. The module involves one to one supervision meetings and writing a 20,000-word Dissertation. The aims of this module are to help students formulate research questions, construct a methodology, suggest analyses and outline outcomes of their dissertation research. Through reflection and feedback, they will learn to design a viable and valid piece of research. They will learn the writing skills to produce a coherent research proposal.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of this module it is expected that the student will be able to:

• Outline the different types of research designs used and articulate the reasons why different designs are used to test different hypotheses;
• Identify and evaluate the various stages of the research process both from the perspective of a critical reader as well as a researcher;
• Organise and use this knowledge in the process of designing a research proposal providing justifications and rationales where appropriate.
• Identify and respond to the relevant ethical considerations, where appropriate, in their proposed research.

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Additional outcomes:
In acquiring drafting skills, students will gain a broader understanding of how to conduct research in linguistics and applied linguistics. An essential part of the process is the feedback provided by the lecturer at different stages in the writing of the proposal. Students will develop their bibliographic and IT skills through writing up the research proposal and will develop their academic writing skills. They will be provided with the knowledge to become critical consumers of the research literature. They will learn the writing skills to produce a coherent research proposal on which their dissertation will be based.

Module content

The module focuses on broader issues surrounding research methods and design. Basic research methods and designs are reviewed and consideration is given to their applications across different contexts. Data collection, organisation and analysis, both qualitative and quantitative, are explored. Ethical issues in planning and conducting a research project are discussed. The entire research process from the development of a topic to writing the report is explored

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

There will be 5 seminars totalling 10 hours over the 10 weeks. Students will bring and present drafts of their work for discussion with the lecturer and the other students.

Study hours

At least 3 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 50% to pass this module

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: /cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Reassessment

Additional costs