S c h o o l o f C r e a t i v e S t u d i e s a n d M e d i a a t B a n g o r U n i v e r s i t y Guidelines for Undergraduate Dissertations 2013/14 M od u le C od e s : U X S - 3 09 0; U X S - 30 9 1

The following provides an overview and style guide for completing and submitting your

dissertation for modules UXC/S-3090 (Dissertation) and UXC/S-3091 (Final Year Group Project)

Your Dissertation ..................................................... 1

The Dissertation programme ................................... 2

The Dissertation Timeline ........................................ 4

Dissertation format................................................... 5

Storing your work and data ..................................... 9

Dissertations and practice ........................................ 9

Assessment Criteria.................................................. 5

Ethics ......................................................................... 5

Recommended reading .......................................... 11

If we knew what it

was we were

doing, it would

not be called

research, would

it?

Albert Einstein

Deadlines 5th Nov 2013 Upload presentation files to TurnitinUK 6th Nov 2013 Make presentation on progress of work 2nd May 2014 Submit Dissertation on TurnitinUK and two printed copies

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Your Dissertation Your third-year dissertation is a chance for you to undertake a major research or

creative project on your own. For many students it is the culmination of their study. For

many employers, it will be the item on your CV that distinguishes you from the other

students on your course. It is worth forty credits of your degree and has a major impact

on your final degree classification. It is also your opportunity to explore ideas or fields

you have grown interested in during your studies here. It is an opportunity to test

yourself against a challenge of your own devising. It is a chance to develop your

creative skills through a larger piece of work.

The dissertation is due by noon on Friday the 2nd of May: 31 weeks from the start of

Semester one or about 8 months. If that seems like a long time, then you have not yet

worked out a realistic schedule of work for the coming year. In May you will be

expected to submit a piece of work (research or creative) that shows 31 weeks of effort;

you will not be able to do this if you try to do the entire dissertation in semester two.

Project and time management are two of the most sought-after skills and this is your

chance to develop them.

During the year you will have the support of your Dissertation Supervisor and the

Dissertation Director, as well as your personal tutor. A series of workshops will be

provided during the first five weeks of the semester as well. The School has a Facebook

page that allows you to share these and to share resources, experiences and solutions.

Blackboard has dissertations from previous years and other resources to help with your

work. You are also part of a community of people who are working on their own

dissertations and encountering similar problems and successes. Take advantage of

these resources and this community.

Learning outcomes 1. Apply a range of study skills and methodologies appropriate to research in the

Arts and Humanities. 2. Define a coherent research question, and design and implement a programme

of study to investigate this question. 3. Embed a substantial piece of academic or practice-based research within an

appropriate set of cultural, social, institutional, economic and/or critical frameworks.

4. Work independently to deadline over a sustained period of time.

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Assessment deliverables UXS-3090

10-minute presentation on the progress of research to date; worth 10% of the overall grade for the module.

10,000 word written dissertation or equivalent creative portfolio in semester 2, worth 90% of the overall grade for the module.

UXS-3091

10-minute presentation on the progress of research to date; worth 10% of the overall grade for the module.

Three individually-authored reports in semester 2, covering the pre-production, production and post-production phases of the project, worth 25% of the overall grade for the module.

15,000-word written report or equivalent creative portfolio in semester 2, worth 65% of the overall grade for the module.

Individual Presentation During week six you will make a presentation of up to ten minutes on the progress of

your research to date. This presentation will account for 10% of your final dissertation

mark. Specific guidelines regarding what should be included in the presentations will

be agreed with your supervisor in advance, but will normally include the planned

structure, topic, progress to date and reflection on that progress.

By 3:00pm on Tuesday, 5th November all presentations should be uploaded on

TurnitinUK. Online presentations should be saved (usually as a PDF) and upload in

TurnitinUK; you should also include the web address for online presentations.

Presentations will begin after 1:00 on Wednesday 6th November. You will make your

presentation to your supervisor and a group of fellow dissertation students. The exact

time and location of the presentations will be provided by your supervisor.

Students are required to bring a printout of the presentation with them on the day.

Where possible, print multiple slides on a single page. Ensure your username is on the

printout.

Dissertation Submission Date The final submission date is noon on Friday 2nd May 2014, both electronically via

Blackboard/TurnitinUK and in hard copy via the School assignment box. You should

submit two identical copies, bound in soft covers. (Please make sure you leave enough

time for binding.) A School submission cover sheet must be included with each copy.

Research is formalized

curiosity. It is poking

and prying with a

purpose.

Zora Neale Hurston

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Late submission of up to one week after the deadline without an extension will be

capped at a grade of D-. Work that is presented more than one week after the due date

will receive a fail grade of F3. Please note that extensions for late submission of your

dissertation will only be granted in exceptional circumstances such as medical

circumstances or bereavement. Applications for (limited) extensions must be made to

the Senior Tutor (Gerwyn Owen) at least a week before the deadline. Computer error or

printing failure will not be accepted as an excuse, so please make sure you complete

and print out your work in good time.

The Dissertation programme

Dissertation Workshop A workshop will be held during the first week of the semester for all students during

week one in JP Theatre on Monday, from 4:00-6:00pm. Attendance at this workshop is

mandatory. It will provide important information at the start of the dissertation process

and is designed to help you plan the coming year’s work effectively.

Your Supervisor Students are entirely responsible for the work for their dissertation. Your supervisor

will help you to identify a topic, to draw up a suitable preliminary bibliography and to

plan the primary and secondary research you will need to do for the dissertation. Your

supervisor will be available to advise you on approach, coverage, questions to be asked

and the outline structure and research design.

Supervisors may read and comment on a draft of one section of the dissertation or a

detailed plan. In their feedback, they can give advice on direction, content, and

structure of the dissertation; they will not engage in detailed commentary or proof-

reading. If you wish your supervisor to read or comment on a draft, you need to

arrange for this in advance and provide sufficient time to review the work.

You should plan to meet regularly with your supervisor during the course of the year.

It is often a good idea to arrange a schedule of meetings early on. The first meeting

should be held during the first two weeks of the semester and will include a discussion

of your proposal and how to plan for the work. The dissertation is your project, and it is

your responsibility to contact your supervisor and to turn up for all scheduled

meetings.

There is no single supervisor/student arrangement that works best for everyone.

Meeting with your supervisor early can therefore help you develop a relationship that

will allow you to succeed in your research. Supervisors expect to spend an average of

fifteen minutes each weak working with you, whether in a face-to-face session or via

email or chat.

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The Dissertation Director The Dissertation Director is responsible for the dissertation workshops and

coordination of the dissertation process. If any issues arise regarding the dissertation

which your Supervisor cannot solve, the Dissertations Director can be contacted.

The Dissertation Director is Dr Eben J. Muse (e.muse@bangor.ac.uk). You will be

advised of any changes in this regard.

Allocation of Supervisor You should already have been allocated a supervisor based on the content of your

proposal. If you are unsure who your supervisor is, please contact the Dissertation

Director immediately.

The Dissertation Timeline

Autumn 2013 Week 1:

Dissertation workshop on Monday at 4:00 to 6:00 in JP Hall; attendance is mandatory

Arrange initial meeting with supervisor.

Weeks 2-5

Meet regularly with your supervisor.

Decide if you will need ethics approval and, if so, submit the approval form.

Attend workshops on Mondays at 4:00 in JP Theatre. o Week 2: Researching & Managing Information o Week 3: Organising and drafting a dissertation o Week 4: Paraphrase and cite your dissertation sources o Week 5: Revising and editing a dissertation

Week 6

Students make 10 minute presentation on progress to date. This will be worth 10% of the final module mark.

Weeks 7-12

Students should meet regularly with their supervisors.

Spring 2014 Weeks 1-10

Meet with your supervisor at least three times and continue dissertation research and write-up

Spring break starts at the end of week 10 for three weeks. After returning you will have just one week before the submission date.

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Week 11

Submit final dissertation on TurnitinUK and two printed, bound hard-copies via the School submission box by noon on Friday the 2nd of May.

Assessment process Each dissertation is assessed by the dissertation supervisor and a second member of the

school’s academic staff without consultation but using the same assessment criteria.

The two assessments are compared and a final mark agreed. If there is substantial

disagreement between the two marks, a third assessor reviews the dissertation in order

to achieve agreement. All dissertations and their assessments are then sent to an

external examiner who reviews the marking for fairness. Final marks are confirmed at

the Board of Studies in June.

Assessment Criteria Research

question(s) or

basis for project

Focus and Rationale: scope of the project and reason for choice

Reasoned

argument or

case

Ideas are presented coherently with clear progression from research question to conclusion

Use of information from authorities or evidence and data collected to sustain argument

Demonstration of analytical and critical judgement in regard to previous work, data and evidence, and critical paradigms from the discipline

Quality of conclusions and their relevance to other research and theories prevalent in the field

Originality, vision and depth in engagement with ideas

Review of

previous work

(e.g. literature

review or state

of the art

review)

Range of reading and relevance to research question or creative practice: sources are relevant, up-to-date and cover necessary and sufficient ground

Critical evaluation or critique of previous work: not just a summary but an objective evaluation

Positioning research or creative practice within conceptual framework of the field or discipline(s): overt statement of how your research or practice relates to previous work in the field

Ability to creatively implement rules and conventions combined with sophisticated formal experimentation [if appropriate]

Methodology An explanation of the reasons behind the choice of methods and any problems/ limitations that might arise

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Explanation of steps taken to ensure the method chosen is appropriate and will yield results suitable for analysis

Awareness of strengths & weaknesses of methodology

A thorough and well organised approach to creative production [if appropriate]

Acknowledgement of ethical issues/aspects of the work[if appropriate] e.g. data collection

Analysis and

synthesis

Making sense of data, results, information and/or findings

Presenting data coherently, logically, clearly & succinctly

Thorough, accurate & rigorous analysis of data

Linking the analysis of the data to theories and data presented by other researchers or practitioners and evaluating own and others’ data and theories

Presentation &

Communication

Structure of material (List of contents, headings, subheadings, footnotes, appendices)

Clear and appropriate presentation of data and findings (e.g. graphs, tables etc.) [if appropriate]

Presentation appropriate to purpose & audience (e.g. use of academic language for an academic audience)

Referencing (both in-text and in the reference list)

Correctness of spelling & grammar

Compliance with word count

Creative

practice (if

applicable)

Proficiency with technology and technique working in chosen media

Self-critical awareness of creative and production processes

Integration of themes and content within narrative or other form

Understanding of critical theory related to the chosen medium & practice

Ability to creatively implement rules and conventions combined with sophisticated formal experimentation

Comprehensive production documents [if appropriate]

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Dissertation format

Length The dissertation should 10,000 words

(±10%) in length including notes but

excluding references. You must indicate

the length of the dissertation in words on

the cover sheet of the dissertation.

Citations in the text (e.g. Smith and Jones

2008), tables and figures do not count

towards the word limit.

Structure The structure of your dissertation will be

determined in part by the nature of your project. Your supervisor will be the best guide

to the requirements for your own individual dissertation or portfolio, but you should

adhere to the following guidelines for the written element, unless you are advised

otherwise by your supervisor.

Title page [Title, author, student number, date, title of degree scheme, module code]

Declaration page, consisting of the following declaration: o ‘I hereby declare that this dissertation is my own work in partial

fulfilment of the requirements for the BA (Hons) [name of degree].’ [signed and dated]; also note the number of words of the work at the foot of the page.

Permissions page, stating that you give your permission for your dissertation to be used for teaching purposes in subsequent years (if appropriate).

List of figures (if appropriate)

List of tables (if appropriate)

Acknowledgements

Contents page

Chapters, with chapter subheadings as necessary

Bibliography, using the Harvard system of referencing (not part of word count)

Appendices (if appropriate; not part of word count)

Style Guide Page: The dissertation should use an A4 page size with page numbers

appearing in the margin.

Font and Print Styles: The font size should generally be 11-12pt and clearly legible. The same standard typeface (e.g., Times New Roman) should be used throughout the thesis. Print should appear only on one side of the page.

And the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.

T.S. Eliot

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Margins: Set the top, bottom and right margins at 2.54 centimetres. The left margin (binding side) should be set at around 3.8 centimetres.

Spacing: Double-space the main text throughout, with the exception of block quotations, which should be single -spaced and indented.

Tables, images and figures: If you intend to include tables, images or figures, label them clearly and sequentially (Table 1, Table 2, Figure 1, Figure 2) and explain their significance at an appropriate place in the text; figures and tables should appear shortly after their first mention in the text.

Table of Contents Candidates should list the main sections of their dissertation in a table of contents following the title page with the relevant page numbers for each section.

Page numbering All pages after the table of contents should be numbered, including the appendices.

Headings It is seldom necessary to have more than three levels of heading, e.g. Chapter 3: Methodology, 3.1 Introduction, 3.2 ???, 3.2.1 ???, 3.2.2 ???, 3.3 ???.

Creative deliverable At minimum, there must be an audio/visual record of any performative or media

work. Written work should be printed and submitted. All creative work must also be

delivered on DVD or CD as appropriate. It is students’ responsibility to ensure discs

work on PCs and Apple Mac’s. DVDs in a plastic or paper slip-cover may be attached

to the inside back or front cover.

Binding Dissertations should be at least ring-bound and although it is preferable they are hard-

bound, you will not be penalised if this is not done. The usual assignment sheet should

also be submitted and attached to the front (or placed within a plastic wallet with the

dissertations).

The University has its own Print and Binding Unit (see http://goo.gl/mgmqdJ). Zip

Print in town (top end of the high street) can bind dissertations in the correct way and

keep a stock of covers. Our suggestion is that you plan this in advance and call

respective binders so to establish turnaround time. While it should only be a day or

two, it is best to think ahead at busy times.

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Storing your work The safest place to keep your work is on the University server. The large capacity of

Google Mail means that emailing yourself a copy of your work is also a simple way of

storing data. Many other forms of Cloud storage are available (e.g. Google Docs,

Dropbox etc.) and are often free for small storage amounts. Computer failure or lost

data is not a legitimate reason to ask for an extension to the deadline. Back up your data

against the following common causes of data loss:

Human error Making mistakes when saving work and naming files is a common cause of data loss. Save versions of your work as separate files as you go along; save your work regularly. If you delete a file accidentally, do not panic. The chances are that it is not lost forever and that the programme has made an automatic back-up copy. If all else fails contact the IT Support Office.

Hard disk failure Use multiple media and keep a hard copy in case of disaster.

Theft or fire Keep multiple copies of your files in multiple locations; there is no point having three copies of your data if they are all in the same place.

Practice Dissertations Some of you will work on a practice-based or practice-led dissertation project. The

content of these dissertations differs substantially from standard dissertations because

they must include both the creative piece and a critical piece. Together, these should

constitute an original

or creative

contribution to the

field of practice or to

critical

understanding. The

creative and critical

pieces must be

integrated in terms of

their ideas and scope.

This typically means

that the critical piece is used to elucidate aspects of the creative, or vice versa. Another

method is for the critical piece to put the creative practice into a context. It is vital that

you discuss your proposal carefully with your supervisor and agree early on how you

wish to use the two parts of the dissertation.

A related issue is that of size of the two aspects. The overall dissertation should be

10,000 words or the equivalent. You must agree early on what that equivalent should be

in the case of your work, and what percentage of the dissertation will be creative and

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what will be critical. A common split is 70/30, but this may not be appropriate to your

work. Discuss this early on with your supervisor and keep her or him informed if

things change.

Research Ethics

BU Ethics Policy Any research activity that involves collecting primary data from human subjects

requires ethics approval from the College of Arts and Humanities. This applies to all

staff and students (undergraduate and postgraduate).

1. All participants must be fully informed of the purpose, methods, and intended possible uses of the research, and what risks (if any) are involved.

2. The confidentiality of materials and information supplied by research subjects and the anonymity of respondents must be respected.

3. Human research participation will normally be voluntary. 4. Risk to human research participants must be minimized. 5. The independence of research must be clear, and any conflicts of interest or

partiality must be explicit. 6. All research involving animals must adhere to the principles of Replacement,

Reduction and Refinement. 7. Approval for carrying out research with ethical implications is by independent

peer review.

To submit an Ethics application Ethics approval for research

involving people is

compulsory. If you are in any

doubt, speak to your

supervisor. Getting ethics

approval needs to be done

early in the dissertation

process; it needs to happen in

the planning stage in Semester

One, not after having done the

data collection or a few weeks before submission.

• Download a student application form from the CAH Ethics website. • http://www.bangor.ac.uk/cah/ethics.php.en?catid=8435

• Meet with supervisor and complete the application with him or her. • Submit application to the School’s Ethics Officer: Dyfrig Jones.

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Plagiarism The University’s definition of plagiarism includes unacknowledged use of another

person’s work, use of another’s work/ideas with slight modification or paraphrasing,

use of essay banks or similar services, use of unacknowledged material downloaded

from the internet, and re-use of one’s own material. A useful list of the forms that

plagiarism can take may be found on the Plagarism.org web site and includes the

following:

turning in someone else's work as your own

copying words or ideas from someone else without giving credit

failing to put a quotation in quotation marks

giving incorrect information about the source of a quotation

changing words but copying the sentence structure of a source without giving credit

copying so many words or ideas from a source that it makes up the majority of your work, whether you give credit or not

Any suspected academic dishonesty will be

investigated thoroughly. Marks will be withheld

where it is suspected and you will be notified in

writing that your work is under investigation and given details of the process which

will be followed.

CRB checks If your research proposal includes working with children below the age of eighteen or

with adults who may be considered vulnerable, you may need CRB (Criminal Records

Bureau) clearance. This may be the case even if the child or vulnerable adult is a

member of your family. If you are in any doubt whether you will need a CRB check you

should contact your Supervisor as soon as possible.

Recommended reading Adamson, A. (1986) A Student’s Guide for Projects, Field Studies and Research.

London: Thamesman Publications. Berger, A.A. (2011) Media and Communication Research Methods. Thousand Oaks,

CA: Sage Publications: Sage. Creswell, J. W. (2003) Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Method

Approaches. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

"Facts are

stubborn, but

statistics are more

pliable."

Mark Twain

12

Dawson, C. & Dawson, C. (2009). Introduction to research methods: a practical guide for anyone undertaking a research project, Oxford: How To Books.

Denzin, N. K., & Lincoln, Y. S. (2000) Handbook of Qualitative Research (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Kumar, R. (2011) Research methodology: a step-by-step guide for beginners, Los Angeles: SAGE.

Mason, J. (1996) Qualitative Researching. London: Sage. Miles, M., & Huberman, M. (1994) Qualitative Data Analysis. London: Sage. Rudestam, K., & Newton, R. (2001) Surviving your Sissertation: A Comprehensive

Guide to Content and Process. CA: Sage. Sapsford, R., & Jupp, V. (1996) Data Collection and Analysis. London: Sage. Smith, H. & Dean, R.T. (2009) Practice-led Research, Research-led Practice in the

Creative Arts. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. Swetnam, D. (2000) Writing your dissertation: how to plan, prepare and present

successful work, Oxford: How to Books. Walliman, N. (2006) Your Undergraduate Dissertation. London: Sage. Winstanley, C. (2010) Writing a dissertation for dummies, Chichester, West Sussex;

Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley.

Frequently Asked Questions

General FAQs What do I do if I hear

unexpected rumours from other students about the dissertations?

Consult your course guidelines.

Speak to your supervisor.

Speak to the dissertation director.

Do NOT assume the rumour is correct. Many of these get started because everyone is doing different projects, and so each student gets different guidelines and advice from their supervisor.

Do I have to stick to the project my research proposal for my dissertation?

Nope. You can change your focus, your topic, your case study, your methodology, your research, etc. You just have to turn in a dissertation at the end of the year, regardless of whether it matches your proposal.

I want to see examples of best practice. Where are they, and how can I see them?

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First, ask your supervisor, because they will be able to recommend the best examples for your particular project.

Second, the library has a selection of the best MA dissertations; while these are bigger projects, the principles are the same. Have a look at the catalogue.

We also usually put up dissertation samples on the Blackboard module under “Dissertations”.

How do we get our results and pick up our dissertations?

Dissertation marking is not complete until after the exam boards in mid-June. You may pick up your dissertations, including marker comments, at the SCSM Administration office during graduation.

If you will not be attending graduation, contact the SCSM administrator to arrange for your dissertation to be mailed to you.

Results will be posted on Bangor 360, same as module results.

Overall degree results are sent out in letters after the exam boards in mid-June.

Dissertation Mechanics How long should my dissertation be?

10,000 words, which may be entirely critical, or may include both creative and critical pieces.

The word count includes any in-text citations, quotations, and footnotes. It does not include the summary, bibliography, front matter, or appendices.

As with all assessments in SCSM, the word count is +/- 10%.

When is the dissertation due?

Submit final dissertation on TurnitinUK and two printed, bound hard-copies via the School submission box by noon on Friday the 2nd of May.

If I am including both critical and creative work, how much should I include of each?

This depends on the project and should be discussed with your supervisor. There is no set ratio

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but the whole should be the equivalent of 10,000 words.

Can I re-use material from my proposal in my dissertation?

Yes and no. It is quite common for your proposal to form a substantial contribution to your introduction, methodology, and/or conclusion sections. So some duplication of information is okay, but you should rewrite it, and avoid using cut-and-paste.

Be very careful to revise and update any material you use again. For instance, your proposal was likely written in future tense, as you were discussing work that you were going to do. But the dissertation is about the research you’ve already done, so it should be in past tense.

Does my dissertation have to be bound?

Yes. See the guidelines set out in the Blackboard module. Be sure you check with IT Services' Print Unit (http://www.bangor.ac.uk/itservices/printing/printing_printunit.php) regarding timeframes and cost for binding. (You may also use other print services, such as Zip Print in Bangor.)

There is no specific type of binding required. Many students prefer the soft binding with gold seal and title, as they keep the dissertation and it looks nice. But spiral or comb binding is also sufficient, as long as the dissertation is securely bound.

Dissertation Content How many words are we supposed to aim for in the Introduction?

A good rule of thumb is 10% of the total. So if your work is 10,000 words long, the introduction should be around 1000.

The same rule of thumb can be applied to the conclusion, though this section can be 5-10% of the total.

What goes on the acknowledgements page?

You can acknowledge/thank whomever/whatever you want here. It is traditional to thank your supervisor.

Do I have to get ethics approval for my project? If so, how do I do that?

If your project involves observing people, using people as subjects, interviewing people, surveying, collecting data on people in general, then YES, you must request ethics approval. If in doubt, ask your supervisor.

Forms and information can be found here: http://www.bangor.ac.uk/cah/ethics.php.en?menu=12&catid=8435&subid=0

My supervisor has asked for a literature review. What is it, and how do I do it?

The function of

education, therefore, is

to teach one to think

intensively and to

think critically.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

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First, be aware that not all projects or supervisors require a literature review. If you think you have to do one, please speak to your supervisor to confirm.

If your supervisor confirms you need a literature review, you can find guidelines on BlackBoard.

What do I do if I can’t figure out a reference?

Consult the Harvard Referencing Guide (this is a good one: http://libweb.anglia.ac.uk/referencing/harvard.htm)

Google it. Someone’s probably already figured it out. Use keywords like “Harvard citation for YouTube” or “Harvard citation multiple directors”.

Ask your supervisor.

How do I cite my own work, for example when I discuss my creative practice in the critical exegesis?

Cite it as an unpublished title. See the Harvard Referencing Guide.

When is it appropriate to use first person perspective in critical writing?

If your project is practice-based, it is appropriate to use first person when you are discussing your own practice and/or activities. Please restrict it to these instances.

Avoid using second-person perspective and contractions. Ask your supervisor.

Supervisors & Facilities What do I do if I identify a necessary text that our library doesn’t have, and I can’t

afford to buy it?

You may request an interlibrary loan from your supervisor. Bear in mind these are limited, so you should reserve these requests for materials that are essential to your project.

The request form may be found here: http://www.bangor.ac.uk/library/using/docdel.php.en

What do I do if I can’t reach my supervisor?

If you have tried to contact your supervisor, and they have not responded within 2 working days, contact the dissertation module coordinator identified on the Blackboard module or your personal tutor.

What access do I have to computer labs and software?

See the following link for updated opening times and facilities on campus:

http://www.bangor.ac.uk/itservices/for_students/facilities.php.en?catid=3603