Dissertation and oral exam (MLIMAS)

Content

The students produce an academic thesis based on their own research. In addition to independent work on the dissertation, the course includes a research seminar and supervision meetings, both with obligatory attendance. The students are required to submit a research proposal, regular written work to the supervisor and (together with the dissertation an individual reading list. The students will also deliver a test lecture on a given topic, based on the individual reading list,before receiving their mark.

The dissertation is a piece of academic written work, based on individual research, on a topic that has been agreed upon by the student and the supervisor. The topic should normally relate to one of the areas studied in the taught part of the course. With one of the taught modules as a starting point, the dissertation may build upon perspectives from several areas, such as linguistics, literature, didactics, history or media studies.

The dissertation should consist of 85-115 pages (12-point Times New Roman, 1.5 spacing), not including appendices and large tables. It should follow accepted academic conventions. The topic should be clearly delimited, and the principal objectives and source materials should be defined. The methodology should be adequately described, and the work placed within its context in relation to earlier research. Students are encouraged to base their work on primary data collected by themselves.

The final mark for the course is based on the dissertation, but may be adjusted up or down (by one mark only) on the basis of the oral exam.

Learning outcome

Knowledge

The student will gain:

• An understanding of the main theoretical issues relevant for the field of research of her/his Master's thesis
• Knowledge of the central literature and issues of debate within the field of research
• An understanding of basic research ethics, including plagiarism and copyright issues as well as research involving living human participants

Skills

By the end of the course, the student will be able to:

• Apply their knowledge to independent research work
• Apply a range of practical and methodological skills required for their research work
• Account for the theories and methods current within their field of research and explain their own choice of theoretical framework and methodology
• Develop a line of argument based on their own findings
• Present their findings as an academic thesis, following accepted convention

General competence

By the end of the course, the student will be able to:

• Make a realistic and structured project plan
• Work independently on a long-term project
• Communicate their findings clearly and efficiently both in speech and writing
• Present and discuss their work in good academic English

Required prerequisite knowledge

Exam

Coursework requirements

• A project proposal (1,500-2,500 words) to be handed in by a specific deadline (usually in October)
• A minimum of eight supervision meetings
• Attendance and presentation of work in progress at a dissertation writing seminar throughout the year, with no more than 25% absence

The obligatory activities must be completed before the dissertation can be submitted. The student must have completed all the taught modules (altogether 60 sp) before submitting the dissertation.

In exceptional cases students can get exemption from parts of the seminar due to fieldwork abroad

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Method of work

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Course assessment

Literature