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Course Study Guide

201112

Thematic Independent Studies

- RESE 1081

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Contents
1. WELCOME........................................................................................................................................... 3 2. INTRODUCTION TO THE COURSE.................................................................................................... 4 2.1AIMS................................................................................................................................................. 4 2.2LEARNING OUTCOMES........................................................................................................................ 4 2.2.1 Knowledge and understanding of: ......................................................................................................................................................... 4 2.2.2Intellectual Skills:...................................................................................................................... 4 2.2.3 Subject practical skills: ......................................................................................................................................................... 5 2.2.4Transferable skills: ......................................................................................................................................................... 5 2.3 LEARNING AND TEACHING ACTIVITIES................................................................................................. 5 3. CONTACT DETAILS............................................................................................................................ 6 4.1 SESSION READING............................................................................................................................ 7 5. ASSESSMENT DETAILS..................................................................................................................... 7 5.1 SUMMARY OF ASSESSMENT.............................................................................................................. 9 5.2 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ASSESSMENT........................................................................................ 10 5.2.1 Essay 1 ....................................................................................................................................................... 10 5.2.2Essay 2................................................................................................................................... 10 5.2.3 Reflective Report................................................................................................................... 11 5.2.4 Viva....................................................................................................................................... 12 5.3 ETHICS APPROVAL......................................................................................................................... 13 6. OTHER DETAILS............................................................................................................................... 13 7. APPENDIX.......................................................................................................................................... 14

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1. Welcome
For returning students, welcome back from your break! For new direct entry students, welcome to study at the University of Greenwich Business School and a particular welcome to the course Thematic Independent Studies (RESE 1031). This course is designed to allow you to demonstrate what you have learnt from the minimum of two years of academic study you would already have completed in Higher Education. The whole ethos of the course is about providing an opportunity for you to demonstrate your capacity as an independent researcher. This course will be challenging but will (hopefully) turn out to be one of the most valuable learning experiences you ever have in Higher Education. It is not often universities invite you to decide your own focus of inquiry so please take this opportunity to enjoy yourself and to produce work you are proud of. However, no primary research or any work involving human interaction should be conducted. Only secondary research, which consists of reviewing existing resources such as books, journal articles, published data in the form of charts, diagrams, surveys, etc, should be used when developing your essays. A lot of the questions you might have about this course will be addressed later in this handbook but if you have any queries about the running of this course please dont hesitate to me at college

Ian

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2. Introduction to the Course

The thematic independent study allows student the opportunity to cap off their degrees with a major project of self directed study through investigation and critical evaluation of an aspect or aspects of academic knowledge. The course also promotes the students acquisition of synoptic and analytic views of their degree studies. The key outcomes of the course are two extended essays on the same or related topics and a reflective commentary. The essays will draw on relevant literature and secondary data but will not involve primary research. Students will also be asked to defend one of their essays through a viva voce examination. As a theme of the school's PPD (personal and professional development) initiative, it also contains a requirement for reflective self assessment and provides the venue for personal tutoring. All sessions are led by your Personal Tutor.

2.1

Aims

This course has two aims: Allow students to undertake a major piece of independent or (semi-) self-directed study. Provide a venue for students to demonstrate their mastery of a topic or topics (within a theme) of their choice (in the form of two essays).

Unlike a traditional dissertation, this course will not involve original research in the form of collecting primary data.

2.2

Learning Outcomes

2.2.1 Knowledge and understanding of: Formulate a research question which challenges or explores academic knowledge. Locate appropriate secondary data to address the research question. Analyse and re-interpret secondary data. Formulate a relevant argument which is cognisant of secondary data. Utilise an argument to critically address a research question. Structure presentation in a logical way, which reflects the research and analysis undertaken.

2.2.2 Intellectual Skills: Breadth of Outlook Analyse a research question in a comprehensive and informed manner. Apply a critically evaluate approach to secondary data.

Wisdom Select an appropriate research question with sufficient scope and challenge.

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Reflect critically upon self performance.

Personal Effectiveness Exercise personal initiative in undertaking the research process.

2.2.3 Subject practical skills: Gain deep critical knowledge of a specific research area. Gather and evaluate secondary data which is relevant to a specific research area. Compose a reasoned argument and critical analysis on a specific topic.

2.2.4 Transferable skills: Independent critical thinking Managing information Written communication skill Verbal skills

2.3 Learning and teaching activities

The principle learning method will be supervised independent study. Supervision of the research project will be provided to ensure a suitable topic and research question is chosen and to ensure that a student makes suitable progress throughout the year. Feedback on the first essay and the preparation for the viva voce examination will focus the student's performance. The roles of the Supervisors are: providing an environment which encourages the exchange of academic ideas; giving advice on matters of presentation of the essays; working with students to fine-tune the chosen theme and its essay question/s; advising on the development of the essays; reading sections of the essays and advising on coherence discussing any problems students encounter; and making suggestions as to the focus of the essays.

but it is not the Supervisors role to: read complete drafts of the essays give specific directives about the development of the essays provide the essay topics or questions .

The responsibility for making contact with your Supervisor and arranging support is yours. Students will have four main points of contact with their Supervisor: Class room time Face-to-face meetings E-mail

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3. Contact Details
Room Email address Phone number

Course Leader Ian Norman

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4.1 Session Reading

This course has the following recommended (but not required) text: Author
Stott, R Smith, A & Rylance, R

Date
2001

Title
Making your case. A practical guide to essay writing

Publisher/ ISBN
Longman/Pearson, ISBN 0582382440.

Further reading and useful websites The following books are also recommended to supplement and reinforce the learning from the course: Soles, Derek, 2005 The academic essay : how to plan, draft, revise, and write essays, Bishops Lydeard : Studymates1 ISBN: 842850652 Zemach, Dorothy E., 2005 Academic writing : from paragraph to essay, Oxford : Macmillan ISBN: 9781405086066 Greetham, Bryan, 2008 How to write better essays, Basingstoke : Palgrave Macmillan ISBN: 9780230224803 Mounsey, Chris, 2002 Essays and dissertations, Oxford : Oxford University Press ISBN: 0198605056 Clanchy, John, 1992 How to write essays : a practical guide for students , Melbourne : Longman Cheshire ISBN: 0582874971

5. Assessment Details
To pass this course you must successfully engage in the assessment. There will be guidance and assistance given by the course team but also remember that the University have a dedicated study skills team who deliver support sessions. Setting the Themes of the Essays: The work presented for assessment in this course must be original in the sense that work undertaken for another piece of research or coursework cannot be used it is not a venue for simply reworking a part of some other course. When setting a topic you must choose a subject of suitable, final-year undergraduate academic challenge. Accordingly, appropriate themes for the essays should be based on academic theory and be critical and questioning essays which are very descriptive or are unsynthesised collections of secondary data, will therefore include little analysis and are unlikely to gain a good mark. Good essays for this course will argue a point or question assumed academic wisdom. It will also be important not to set essay themes/ questions that are either too ambitious or too narrow.

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The two essays need to be related and therefore the theme/topic has to be large enough to write two substantial essays on. Chose the topic and then set your own essay question/s and address these utilising literature (especially journal articles) and, if it is relevant, data from secondary sources i.e. statistics reported in journal articles or published research reports. Themes open to students will generally be limited by the degree the student is enrolled on. The proposal will be reviewed and it will be ascertained whether topic is challenging enough for final year undergraduate studies and is nevertheless, manageable. In general a topic might be best devised by looking for an angle on the accepted wisdom of your discipline area or something that doesnt sit right or isnt well explained in the literature that requires further questioning. Examples of these general approaches: Are their cultural differences sufficient to mean that a specific theory or model is flawed in some settings? Whether a specific theory or model is based on assumptions that might be flawed Whether the tendency in academia to focus on large organisations means that theory or models are inappropriate to smaller organisations Whether there are theories or models from two different academic disciplines that can be brought together to give a richer basis for understanding an phenomenon Whether a specific set of data should undermine confidence in a specific model or theory. Is there unexplored contradiction between theory or best practice in a single disciplines knowledge base.

The nature of the flexibility of this course is such that concerns about cheating in the form of plagiarism need to be directly addressed. In order to address these concerns, there are two pieces of assessment additional to the two essays already discussed: A viva (oral defence) of one of the essays must be entered into by all students. Your Supervisor will let you know which essay you have been asked to discuss after the first one is handed in. A reflective report in which you address the questions posed on the proforma (TIS-R v 1.0 see appendix of this document).

In addition you should pay particular attention to correctly referencing your work in Harvard style in the manner in which you cite quotes and paraphrase and list materials in a bibliography).

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5.1Summary of assessment
Assessment Title Weight Pass Mark Header sheet Due Date

Essay One: Outline topic and scope literature (4000 words) Essay Two: Extends essay one by deepening levels of analysis and critique (5000 words) Viva Voce: a student to demonstrate mastery of the topic and the veracity of the submitted assessment (10-20 minutes) Reflective commentary: Self-reflection upon personal development (1000 words) addressing the questions posed in reflective report proforma (TIS-R v1.0) 10% 40% 50% 40% 35% 40%

See in BANNER See in BANNER

See in 5% 40% BANNER

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5.2 Detailed description of assessment

5.2.1 Essay 1 1. Write 4000 words (+ or - 10%) including the text of your essay but excluding the cover page, reference list, footnotes and appendices. 2. Within the boundaries of your approved topic area (i.e. following you proposal), set yourself an essay question which outlines your topic and generally introduces the literature in the field. 3. Communicate with your essay question to your Supervisor and fine tune or proceed according to his/ her advice. 4. Write your essay in an appropriate academic style and particularly ensure you use third person narrative, Harvard style in-text citation and referencing. 5. Utilise at least 7 high quality academic-style resources (e.g. textbooks, books and journals) and try to ensure that you use no or only a small number of internet sources. 6. Do not undertake primary research. 7. Do not copy any materials you use word for word unless you identify these sections clearly as quotations. 8. If you paraphrase any materials you must identify the materials sources through in-text referencing. 9. This is an individual essay please do not work closely with anyone else. 10. Submit your essay on the VLE for marking with the appropriate Banner header-sheet. Essay One Marking Criteria: Marks allocated to criteria: 20% Criteria Focus Does the essay set up a clear essay question to address? Does the essay stay within and fulfil the topic parameters? Synthesis Does the essay bring together the literature in a significant manner that addresses an essay question? Soundness Does the essay indicate a comprehensive understanding of the topic area and literature discussed? Clarity of structure Is the essay well organised and logically constructed to achieve synthesis while being mindful of the needs of the reader? Mechanical Soundness Is the essay clearly written, spell checked and grammatically sound and referenced appropriately?

30%

30%

10%

10%

5.2.2 Essay 2

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1. Write 5000 words (+ or - 10%) including the text of your essay but excluding the cover page, reference list, footnotes and appendices. 2. Within the boundaries of your approved topic area and developing from your first essay, set yourself a second essay question which develops your own argument or position in relation to the literature. Your position should analyse and in some way critique the literature or discipline. 3. Communicate with your essay question to your Supervisor and fine tune or proceed according to his/ her advice. 4. Write your essay in an appropriate academic style and particularly ensure you use third person narrative, Harvard style in-text citation and referencing. 5. Utilise at least 10 high quality academic-style resources (e.g. textbooks, books and journals) and try to ensure that you use no or only a small number of internet sources. 6. Do not undertake primary research. 7. Do not copy any materials you use word for word unless you identify these sections clearly as quotations. 8. If you paraphrase any materials you must identify the materials sources through in-text referencing. 9. This is an individual essay please do not work closely with anyone else. 10. Submit your essay on the VLE for marking with the appropriate Banner header-sheet. Essay Two Marking Criteria: Marks allocated to criteria: 10% Criteria Focus Does the essay set up a clear essay question to address? Does the essay stay within and fulfil the topic parameters? Cogency and critique Is the essay well reasoned and well-informed? i.e. does it have a critically-reflective position or argument which shows insight into the topic and the academic discipline? Synthesis Does the essay bring together the literature in a significant manner that addresses the essay question? Soundness Does the essay indicate a comprehensive understanding of the topic, literature, theory and evidence utilised? Clarity of structure Is the essay well organised and logically constructed to achieve synthesis while being mindful of the needs of the reader? Mechanical Soundness Is the essay clearly written, spell checked and grammatically sound and referenced appropriately?

30%

20%

20%

10%

10%

5.2.3

Reflective Report

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1. Reflect your personal development this year. 2. Write 1000 words which summarises your personal development this year and which addresses the specific questions outlined in the proforma document (see the appendices of this document). 3. You may write your reflection in first person narrative, and although you need not include any academic content, if you do, please use Harvard style in-text citation and referencing. 4. Submit your reflective commentary on VLE for marking with the appropriate Banner header-sheet. Reflective Commentary Marking Criteria:
Marks allocated to criteria: 30% Criteria Self evaluation Does the student demonstrate some capability in identifying his/her personal strengths and weaknesses? Self development Does the student discuss developments in his/her own technical academic skills over the course of the year? Insight Does the student engage in self questioning reflection?

30% 40%

5.2.4

Viva

As mentioned above, one of the two essays you write will need to be defended in a viva. A viva involves you providing an explanation or justification of one of your written essays. Students will be randomly selected for vivas either Essay 1 in Term 2 or Essay 2 in Term 3. A viva will be an opportunity to allow you to explain your thinking in an essay but it also allows staff to ascertain whether you wrote the work you have handed in. It is not an inquisition and you will not be dealt with roughly or harshly. The meeting will take around 10-20 minutes and you are not expected to prepare beyond reading your own essay over. During the viva, a minimum of two staff will ask you questions based on what you have written on one of your essays i.e. 1 2 3 4 5 - Why you said something - Why a theorist you discuss says something - Whether data you have included is generalisable - How you located some data or why you used it - How you picked your topic

The degree with which you are convincing in your engagement in the topic may (or may not) influence the grade of your essay up or down (usually by up to 10 marks).

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Please note that sometimes there may be a requirement that the external examiner attend your viva or that it be audio taped so that it can feed into the quality assurance mechanisms for the course. Viva Marking Criteria:
Marks allocated to criteria: Criteria

70+

60-69 50-59

In depth knowledge and a thorough understanding of ALL aspects (topic, literature, theory) which allows questions to be answered accurately and fluently. The discussion was extended with confidence into difficult or unfamiliar areas. In depth knowledge and a thorough understanding of MOST aspects, with some ability to extend the discussion into difficult or unfamiliar areas. Knowledge and understanding of most aspects in depth, with the ability to extend the discussion so as to make relevant links between topic, literature, or theory. Adequate knowledge and understanding of most aspects, with SOME ability to extend the discussion so as to make relevant links between topic, literature, or theory.

40-49

5.3 Ethics approval

Note: The following statement does not apply to Thematic Independent Studies as NO PRIMARY DATA should be collected by students during the development of essays; however, you may encounter needing ethical approval during others courses at University. An Ethics Approval Form should be completed for any coursework involving research with human participants conducted by students on taught degrees of the Business School. The coverage of this procedure includes human beings and records (such as medical, genetic, financial, personnel, criminal or administrative records and test results including scholastic achievements). Research should not commence until written approval has been received from the Business School Teaching and Learning Committee, or where a more detailed review is required by the Universitys Research Ethics Committee.

6. Other Details
The majority of information relevant to you while you study at the University has been brought together into your programme handbook. Please refer to your programme handbook for any further information you might require including methods of submitting assignments, advice and administrative procedures.

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7. Appendix
1 - Thematic Independent Study Proposal This proposal document should be completed by students and submitted either in hardcopy form to their personal tutor. 2 - Learning contract A learning contract is an agreement between an tutor and a student. It is a mechanism for detailing the nature of a piece of work so that both parties have similar expectations and so that students in particular, realise that they have responsibilities for the outcomes that are produced and they are not simply passive recipients of in the process. 3 Mind Map Template Mind maps are used to link words or ideas concepts around a central key concept. They are useful tools to brainstorm and generate ideas while studying, problem solving, and writing. Mind maps are to be submitted with the Reflective Report 4 Research Log A Research Log is a diary of the process in which students think about the searches they conduct about their topics, which search terms are used and how/where articles were found to develop Essay One and Essay Two. Keeping track of the resources and terms used will assist with conducting a thorough and systematic search, and it can help students avoid duplicating and wasting their research efforts. Your research logs are to be submitted with the Reflective Report Please note that Wikipedia should NEVER be used das an academic reference! 5 - Reflective Report Proforma This proforma document is intended to guide students during their reflection upon the course. Students may treat the indicated word counts as guidelines and may vary scale of commentary on a particular area if they think that this might be useful. Students should complete the document and submit it electronically on VLE by the specified due date. Students are also directed to consider the marking criteria and marking schedule for this element of coursework.

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Thematic Independent Study Proposal Form (TIS-P v2)

This is a working document to focus on the purpose and structure of student essays, which reflects the intent and outlook of their research. It is quite likely and permissible that as students progress with their essays, several aspects of content, direction or emphasis of their essay will change. It is vitally important that students keep their academic supervisor informed of any such changes as such changes may require students to reconsider any or all of the content of this proposal form. Name: Main e-mail: Daytime Phone #: Mobile Phone #: Student No:

Section 1: Briefly describe your research topic for Essay 1

Section 2: Briefly outline any frameworks, theories or models you anticipate using:

Section 3: Briefly provide main authors and themes relevant to your topic.

Section 4: Identify opportunities for further study in Essay 2 and/or gaps in research understanding that will refine your research questions.

Notes:
1. 2. Please return this form to your PPD3 Thematic Independent Studies personal tutor. Please note that completion of this form does not imply a guaranteed acceptance of your topic.

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Learning Contract Project Plan (TIS-LC v1.2)

Section 1: Name: Main e-mail: Daytime Phone #: Mobile Phone #: Student No:

Section 2 Initial Phase: During the initial phase, the student will undertake preliminary research to tighten up on the proposed topic. It is agreed that it is the students responsibility to: Develop a mind map of topic Conduct article searches Maintain research log Bring articles to tutorial for discussion/review It is agreed that it is the Supervisors responsibility to: Student and Supervisor will meet to finalise the topic on the following date: Section 3 Researching and Writing Essay 1: During the second phase the student will research and write Essay 1. Outline essay using concepts from articles Bring drafts for peer review and discussion Student and Supervisor will meet to discuss progress on Essay 1 on the following date: Student and Supervisor will meet to discuss fine-tuning of Essay 1 on the following date: Completion dates

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Students will be randomly selected for vivas either Essay 1 in Term 2 or Essay 2 in Term 3. Selections will be posted in the VLE by the end of Term 1 and by the end of Term 2.

Section 4 Researching and Writing Essay 2: During the third phase, the student will research and write Essay 2. It is agreed that it is the students responsibility to: Develop a mind map of topic Conduct article searches Maintain research log Bring articles to tutorial for discussion/review Outline essay using concepts from articles Bring drafts for peer review and discussion It is agreed that it is the Supervisors responsibility to: Student and Supervisor will meet to finalise the topic on the following date: Student and Supervisor will meet to discuss progress on Essay 2 on the following date: Student and Supervisor will meet to discuss fine-tuning of Essay 2 on the following date: Completion dates

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Mind Map Template Essay 1

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Research Log Essay 1

Database Time Spent
1 and a half hour

Results Search Terms

(# of records) Too many articles found for topics 60+ articles

Evaluation of material
(how/what will it contribute to your essay or support your argument?) Quick review, used topics to narrow down search terms

Swetswise

Recruitment & selection

Business Source Premiere

half an hour

customer service, customer loyalty, customer feedback

Will help find ideas for essay and question

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Mind Map Template Essay 2

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Research Log Essay 2

Database Time Spent
1 and a half hour

Results Search Terms

(# of records) Too many articles found for topics 60+ articles

Evaluation of material
(how/what will it contribute to your essay or support your argument?) Quick review, used topics to narrow down search terms

Swetswise

Recruitment & selection

Business Source Premiere

half an hour

customer service, customer loyalty, customer feedback

Will help find ideas for essay and question

Google Scholar

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Reflective Report Proforma (TIS-R v 1.0)

Section 1 Give the title and explain the aim of essay 1 (maximum 80 words) Summarise the feedback you received on essay 1 (maximum 100 words) If you had your viva in the mid-year round, analyse your performance in the viva process (maximum 150 words)

Section 2 Give the title and explain the aim of essay 2 (maximum 80 words) Explain how essay 2 builds on essay 1 (maximum 150 words) If you are awaiting your viva - what do you expect the panel to ask you and why? (maximum 150 words)

Section 3 Reflecting on the Thematic Independent Studies course what have you done well and what could you have done better? (maximum 250 words) Reflecting on the course what have you learnt about your research skills? Do not reflect on your topic, as that was already discussed in Sections 1 and 2 (maximum 250 words)

Section 4 Attach your mind maps and research logs for both Essay one and Essay two.

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